Diabetes is a hidden condition, but the people living with diabetes should never be put to the back of the queue because of that. One in 14 of us live with diabetes and even more care for a loved one who does. 

Earlier this year, Diabetes UK ran a survey of more than 10,000 people to understand better the experiences of people living with diabetes in accessing care over the past two years during the Covid pandemic. In the south west, 45% of respondents told us they had difficulty managing their condition in 2021. Of these 63% attributed this in part to not having sufficient access to their healthcare team, and 14% per cent reported having no contact with their healthcare team about their diabetes since the pandemic began in March 2020.

That's why, this Diabetes Week (13-19 June), we're calling on decision makers across the UK to do more to support people living with and affected by diabetes. Let's stand together and tell them to listen. We're calling for a commitment that diabetes is put at the heart of national and local health plans so people living with, and at risk of, diabetes get the care they need.

Visit diabetes.org.uk today, to sign up to receive the latest updates from our campaign, Diabetes Is Serious, and find out more ways you can get involved.

Susannah Hickling

Regional Communications Officer