#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
#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.
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.