By Janisha Nathu.
One in four Aucklanders are estimated to have diabetes or prediabetes. About 20 people a day join the nearly 100,000 people living with diabetes in Auckland alone.
Diabetes NZ Auckland Branch aims to support every individual affected by diabetes and those at risk of diabetes. They’re one of The Good Registry’s 65 partner charities.
Christine Petrie, Funding Manager at the Diabetes NZ Auckland Branch, says the work they do shows how, “diabetes doesn’t have to limit your opportunities”.
The most common and well-known form of diabetes is Type 2, where an individual is either resistant to the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough to keep their glucose (sugar) levels in the normal range. This is most common in Māori, South Asian and Pacifica populations, and is prevalent in South Auckland. There is no cure for Type 2 diabetes, but it can be managed with healthy eating habits and exercise.
The lesser known form of diabetes is Type 1, which is an auto-immune condition. The cells that should be producing insulin are unable to, therefore raising the glucose levels in the individual’s blood.
Type 1 diabetes covers 10% of all diabetes diagnoses and this is often diagnosed by blood test in the early stages of childhood — 7–12 years. Type 1 diabetes must be treated with insulin injections, which often need to be given four or more times a day.
Diabetes Youth Auckland (DYA), a subsection of the Auckland Branch of Diabetes NZ, aims to support young people with diabetes with a particular focus on Type 1 diabetes. Through the Live Every Day Brave youth programme, these kids are able to feel supported and know that they are not alone in the journey.
The main activity supported by this programme is youth camps, which allows for kids with Type 1 diabetes to form friendships and have fun with people their age in a monitored and safe environment.
Natalie Hanna, Youth Services Coordinator of DYA, says: “Every child there is going through the same thing with injections so it’s less embarrassing and awkward.”
Adjusting to having Type 1 Diabetes can be quite difficult for these kids and their families. The donations made through The Good Registry help fund education days, camps, day events, and other fun and collaborative activities.
If you would like to find out more about the Diabetes NZ Auckland Branch and the incredibly good work they do, check out their website.
Or if you’d like a simple way to support their work including the Live Every Day Brave programme, you can do that at The Good Registry.
We have created two simple ways to give and receive the gift of giving through our website:
- Create your own Good Registry for a special event (e.g. a wedding or a birthday) and ask friends to donate to a charity you choose (like Diabetes NZ Auckland Branch!), instead of buying gifts.
- Give Good Gift Cards instead of traditional gifts, to enable others to make donations to charities they care about.
You can hear from people who have used Good Registries and Good Gift Cards to help their favourite causes, on our inspirational Giving Wall.
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