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As part of diabetes week, Diabetes UK is launching a campaign to give people living with the condition the chance to tell their stories.
People from across the UK are coming together in diabetes week to share their experiences of living with diabetes and raise awareness of what it is like to live with the condition.
The theme of Diabetes UK’s Diabetes Week (14-20 June) is #DiabetesStories and the charity has recorded a special film looking back on the last year, in the words of 15 people from the diabetes community.
Those involved include people with different types of diabetes, health care professionals, and Marcel Somerville (Blazin’ Squad, Love Island), who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last year.
How has the pandemic affected people with diabetes?
They talk about what they found hard during the pandemic, what they learned, how they’ve adapted, and the things they are looking forward to as life begins to return to normal.
After the film launch on Monday, June 14, Diabetes UK is handing over the microphone to the diabetes community for the rest of the week.
Each day, the charity’s social media channels will be taken over by a different person living with diabetes who will be telling their #DiabetesStories and encouraging other people in the diabetes community to share theirs using the hashtag.
You can watch the film here.
Almost a million people have diabetes and don’t know it
Diabetes affects 4.9 million people in the UK, including almost a million people living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
If not managed well, all types of diabetes can lead to devastating complications, including sight loss, amputation, kidney failure, and stroke.
There is currently no known cure for any type of diabetes.
Diabetes week is a chance to share people’s experiences
Chris Askew OBE, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, said; “This Diabetes Week we’ll be looking back on an extraordinary year and looking forward to what’s to come. And, above all, we’ll be celebrating the incredible diabetes community by sharing stories of people with diabetes and what the last year has been like for them.
“So, let’s come together and tell our #DiabetesStories – to help raise awareness of what life with diabetes is really like, and show other people living with diabetes that they’re not alone.”
You can find out more about Diabetes Week here. Diabetes UK’s free online Know Your Risk tool helps individuals measure their risk of type 2 diabetes, while you can find out more about the signs and symptoms of diabetes here.
If you have any questions regarding your diabetes or need extra support, you can call the Diabetes UK Helpline on 0345 123 2399 or email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk.
