It’s World Diabetes Day!

Cartoon image of five people standing in a row. The figure in the middle is a mysterious dashed outline, suggesting that person is invisible.

Sunday 14 November is World Diabetes Day, and this year marks 100 years since the discovery of insulin in 1921. Just one century ago, being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes was more or less a death sentence, whereas today the disease is a manageable condition that you live with. There are roughly 15,000 to 20,000 people in New Zealand living with type 1 diabetes (including my younger son!) but unless they told you about their condition, you might never know…

Diabetes is just one example of a hidden disability. An estimated 10% of the population have a medical condition which could be considered a hidden disability, and many chronic medical conditions are invisible.

Cartoon image of five people standing in a row. The figure in the middle is a mysterious dashed outline, suggesting that person is invisible. The text says: Many disabilities are invisible! e.g. Diabetes, Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Chronic pain, Chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis, Epilepsy, Dyslexia, Anxiety, Autism (Neurological Difference), caregiver for a family member with disability...

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