#dedoc° blog
Learn about what really matters to people living with diabetes around the world.
The #dedoc° blog features articles and opinion pieces written by our international network of diabetes advocates: the #dedoc° voices. From scientific conferences to the latest diabetes research and technology, from challenges faced by those living with diabetes to global disparities in healthcare — our #dedoc° voices cover it all.
Diabetes advocates wishing to contribute to the #dedoc° blog are welcome to submit a guest post using the link below. Don’t hesitate to get in touch — we love to hear from you, and so do thousands of others!
All opinions are those of the authors.
Contact: blog@dedoc.org
A new era in diabetes care: key takeaways from ISPAD50
“The 50th Anniversary of the ISPAD (International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes) Conference, held in Lisbon from October 16-19 2024, was an extraordinary gathering of experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, and advocates, all united by a shared mission: to advance paediatric diabetes care globally,” writes #dedoc° voice Tinotenda Dzikiti.
“Themed “Inclusion & Innovation in Paediatric Diabetes”, this year’s conference marked a significant milestone in ISPAD’s half-century of groundbreaking work, encapsulating decades of progress while laying the foundation for future advancements.”
Breaking the silence: sexual dysfunction in diabetes
“Sexual health in diabetes is a topic that is often overlooked and not given the attention it deserves,” writes #dedoc° voice Heather Koga.
“Conversations about sexual function and dysfunction are considered “taboo” or “too private” for public platforms or even clinical and social settings. I decided to bring the issues to the context of my diabetes community in Zimbabwe. Participants found the discussion interesting and informative, and a refreshing departure from the normal silence on it.”
Diabetes stigma, new technologies and access: learnings from EASD 2024 as a #dedoc° voice
Mark Barone was one of 50 diabetes advocates who attended EASD — the world's largest diabetes congress — as a #dedoc° voice. From new technological developments to global access, diabetes stigma to mental health, Mark recaps his learnings from the conference in this blog post.
Our children: a toast to the children of mothers with diabetes
“The one thing I really appreciate and cherish above everything else is the possibility of connecting and bonding with peers from all over the world,” writes Ana M Alvarez Pagola, who attended EASD in Hamburg in 2023 as a #dedoc° voice.
“This time was no exception. A group of us with grown (or almost grown) children began to talk about having children while managing and coping with our diabetes. But our conversation was not about pregnancies (as hard and difficult as some were). And it was not about bringing up our children while managing our diabetes.
“What we discussed is how we need to acknowledge the effort and the hard work our children have done in coping with a mother with diabetes.”
Navigating hyperglycaemia avoidance and emotional wellbeing in type 1 diabetes
“I’ve always felt incredibly passionate about the mental and emotional aspects of our condition, having been through several — no scratch that — MANY periods of burnout and the associated bouts of depression,” writes Tony Fox, who attended DUKPC this year as a #dedoc° voice.
“This is something I feel we don’t talk about enough (even more in T1D men): mental health in general, and particularly health related aspects of our emotional wellbeing.“
After attending a session on hyperglycaemia avoidance, Tony had a lightbulb moment in relation to his own diabetes management and emotional wellbeing. Find out what Tony learned and how he’s adapted his diabetes management since in this personal and impactful read.
Diabetes in school: a fundamental human right
“When a child lives with diabetes, there are many aspects of life that change,” writes #dedoc° voice Alyssa Faulkner, “and that includes ensuring that their caretakers are equipped with the knowledge to adequately manage their diabetes. When you add in schooling, and the child’s right to an education, things start to get a lot more complex.”
“At ISPAD, Peter Goss shared a couple of cases where children have been let down so much by their schools in terms of care for their type 1 diabetes that they lost their lives. Two devastating case studies, two very preventable deaths in two very different parts of the world.”
A light through the shadows: my personal odyssey with T1D
“Embarking on my journey with type 1 diabetes (T1D) over 31 years ago, I traversed through a landscape shadowed by secrecy and silence,” writes journalist, diabetes advocate and #dedoc° voice Sebastián Haro, “This voyage has been one of profound transformation, marked by challenges, revelations, and the eventual embrace of technology and community that illuminated my path to empowerment.
“This is not just a story of managing a chronic condition but a deeply personal narrative of finding my voice and place in a world that often misunderstands T1D.”
How to have a pre-conference pep talk with your diabetes
Going to a diabetes conference usually leads to one thing: a lot of conversations. But there’s a special one that Huda, one of the #dedoc° voices, had with her diabetes before going to ISPAD.
The next step in patient involvement in diabetes conferences
“Including people with lived experience in diabetes conferences is no longer just a ‘nice to have’,” writes patient advocate and #dedoc° voice Emma Doble.
But what is the Patients Included charter? How can a conference become ‘Patients Included’? And why is the inclusion of people with lived experience so important?
EASD 2023: the women agenda
“Discussions about menopause are gathering momentum all over the world: women are demanding more support for this stage of life, be it at work or medically,” writes diabetes advocate Alex Haggett, who attended EASD 2023 in Hamburg as a #dedoc° voice.
Alex arrived at the conference ready to ask loads of questions about getting older with diabetes, and particularly the impact of menopause on people with diabetes. But were her questions answered?
Exploring cutting-edge insights from ATTD 2024: a journey into diabetes technology and management
“The recent ATTD 2024 conference was a beacon of innovation and insights into the realm of diabetes technology and management,” writes Tino in today’s recap of March’s scientific conference. “It is evident that we stand on the cusp of a new era in diabetes management.”
#dedocº voices at ISPAD 2023: Crystal’s vlog
Diabetes advocate Crystal Diaz had the opportunity to attend ISPAD 2023 in-person as a #dedoc° voice — and made sure to vlog every moment of it!
“It was so amazing to meet and learn from other patient advocates from all around the world who are pioneering such innovative and impactful frameworks and organisations for people living with diabetes,” writes Crystal.
Read — and watch! — her experience here.
Raising diabetes awareness through art and design
Image-making has the power to create social change and drive transformative conversations within our diabetes community. It can shift the entire narrative and help us move away from fear-based imagery or the pervasive, and often horrific, medical aesthetics.
Art can captivate us, stirring a mix of awe and curiosity within us. Some pieces effortlessly tap into our inner creativity and appreciation for beauty, while others provoke deep contemplation on social issues.
Scientific conferences: attending in person or online? A comparison for new diabetes advocates
After attending several scientific conferences virtually as a #dedoc° voice, diabetes advocate Lucía Feito Allonca had the opportunity to attend ISPAD 2023 in person in Rotterdam.
Here she shares some personal reflections on what it’s like to attend events in person and virtually.
Navigating airport security with type 1 diabetes: advocating for a smoother experience
Living with type 1 diabetes often involves relying on essential medical devices, such as CGMs and insulin pumps, to manage blood sugar levels. When it comes to air travel, manufacturers of these devices strongly recommend against putting them through airport body scanners, as the radiation can potentially damage them.
This requirement is not just a matter of convenience; it's a matter of health and safety. For people living with diabetes and wearing diabetes tech, the airport security process can be particularly stressful.
My own experience at Hamburg Airport on my way back from EASD 2023 exemplifies the difficulties we often face. What should have been a straightforward process turned into a distressing ordeal.
Attending EASD as a #dedoc° voice: a look back at last year’s conference
Dawn Adams attended EASD 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden, as a #dedoc° voice — and she’ll soon be doing it all again and setting off for Hamburg, Germany, to attend EASD 2023. If you’re wondering what it’s like to attend EASD, then Dawn’s article covering last year’s conference will give you an insight into what to expect!
Diabetes advocacy: a beginner’s guide to scientific conferences
Scientific conferences can be overwhelming — even for a seasoned diabetes advocate. #dedoc° voice Ana always wants to fit in as much as possible: attending every session she can, learning all about new developments in diabetes research and technology, networking, as well as catching up with friends old and new. Here she shares some tips and tricks to make scientific conference weeks a little less stressful!
So, shall we dance? Basic steps to open scientific conferences to people living with diabetes
Patients living with diabetes are not often invited to scientific conferences. The #dedoc° voices scholarship program wants to change that. Nina Tousch, who attended EASD 2022 as a #dedoc° voice, explains why healthcare professionals and scientific researchers can benefit from hearing the patient voice at conferences.
Attending ATTD 2023 as a diabetes advocate
Diabetes advocate and #dedoc° voice Heather Koga attended ATTD 2023. Innovation in diabetes medicines and treatments, cutting-edge technologies, and research into the treatments of diabetes were among her highlights.
JDRF T1D Index: measuring the impact of type 1 diabetes, and expressing grief and hope through numbers
The JDRF T1D Index measures the impact of type 1 diabetes around the world. Diabetes advocate and #dedoc° voice Hubban Khan illustrates some of these figures, which depict grief for lives and healthy years lost to diabetes and hope for the future of diabetes management through access to insulin for all.