Diabetes NZ Youth - Live Brave Mana Ora

19/02/2026

Attention whānau,

The 2026 Action and Management Plans are now available via The Paediatric Society of New Zealand:

https://tinyurl.com/3kydfrct

Before completing your child's plan, we encourage you to connect with their school to ensure the plan you create works well for your child, their teachers, and their classes.

As always, we’re here to help. Contact one of our amazing youth coordinators in your local area for more information - https://www.diabetes.org.nz/youth-teams

25/11/2025

Are you facing long wait times for insulin pump starts?

The University of Otago are running a study called Access-AID, which is open to people with type 1 or type 3c diabetes who want to transition onto an automated insulin delivery system (AID) to manage their diabetes.

The 3-month study will help existing health teams across Aotearoa to get safe and supported access for people wanting to move to AID and see whether participants experience better glucose control, burden reduction, improved quality of life and treatment satisfaction.

If you are interested to know more, there are two upcoming information sessions where industry reps will help you decide which pump and CGM options might be right for you.

The next sessions are now open for registration:

TONIGHT: Wednesday, 19 November, 7pm - 8pm
Tuesday 25th November, 12pm-1pm
Thursday 27th November, 7pm-8pm

Register using the links on our Events page: https://www.diabetes.org.nz/events-calendar

These sessions are free for people living with type 1 diabetes anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you have any questions, please contact: youth@diabetes.org.nz

19/11/2025

Check out the latest from Diabetes NZ Nelson Youth One Million Minutes team as they clock up more and more minutes of movement!

It's not too late to join our challenge for Diabetes Action Month! Sign up for a fundraising profile now and count your minutes! All movement counts!

one-million-minutes.raiselysite.com

12/11/2025

Are you facing long wait times for pump starts?

The University of Otago are running an Access-AID study, if you are thinking of self-referring to this study you can attend an information session to hear from industry reps to help decide what pump and CGM options are right for you.

The next sessions are now open for registration

Tuesday, 18 November, 12pm - 1pm https://events.humanitix.com/diabetes-nz-diabetes-technology-information-sessions-3

Wednesday, 19 November, 7pm - 8pm https://events.humanitix.com/diabetes-nz-diabetes-technology-information-sessions-4

These sessions are for people with Type 1 Diabetes anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Questions: contact youth@diabetes.org.nz

04/11/2025

Diabetes NZ with support from the University of Otago is pleased to launch the Diabetes Technology Information Sessions: automated insulin delivery (AID) for people living with Type 1 diabetes.

Join one of our online education sessions to learn more about AID and the Pharmac funded Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) available.

During these one-hour sessions we will be joined by experts from Dexcom/NZMS, Mediray and Pharmaco to hear more about AID and device compatibility. You will hear more about both the Tandem T:Slim x2 and mylife YpsoPump with CamAPS FX Pumps, along with details on the compatible Continuous Glucose Monitors, (Dexcom G6 and G7 and the Libre 3+).

Open to all across New Zealand.

The first sessions are on Tuesday 11th November at 12noon and 7pm.

For more information & registration:

12noon https://events.humanitix.com/diabetes-technology-information-session-1

7pm https://events.humanitix.com/diabetes-nz-diabetes-technology-information-session-2

Diabetes NZ looking forward to seeing you there.

All those who attend are invited to join the research ‘Access AID - Accelerating care, capacity and equity in AID systems for New Zealanders with type 1 diabetes’. Led by the University of Otago.

Questions: contact youth@diabetes.org.nz

29/10/2025

Look who's arrived at Diabetes NZ HQ!

Two brand new in-the-box Barbies with diabetes, ready for new homes 🤩

YOU can win one of these two in our Term 4 Kaha's Connect newsletter. Just make sure you're signed up to receive it (it'll be sent on World Diabetes Day 14th November) and you'll see the details on how to enter!

Good luck!

16/09/2025

A couple of new research opportunities available, one including tamariki and rangatahi who may be interested in trying an automated insulin delivery system..

Check out our website for details: https://tinyurl.com/653awc9c

Do you or your child have type 1 or type 3c diabetes and are you interested in trying an automated insulin delivery system (AID) with the support of a research team at Otago University?

Have you been using a diet or exercise routine to manage type 2 diabetes for at least 3 months and would be willing to share your experiences with a research group at the Southern Institute of Technology?

The two teams behind these studies are recruiting now and would love to hear from you.

More information and contact details are on our website: tinyurl.com/653awc9c

03/09/2025

Diabetes NZ Auckland Youth are hosting an online series of diabetes education sessions this Spring, featuring expertise from the Starship Children's Hospital diabetes team.

This first education session will cover diabetes distress, what it is, why it happens and ways to cope. We welcome Jessica Hardley (Clinical Psychologist for Paediatric Diabetes) to present this session.

Delivery: via Zoom for all whānau within Auckland and the rest of New Zealand.
Cost: Free

For more information and to register visit: https://events.humanitix.com/diabetes-nz-auckland-youth-education-spring-series-1-diabetes-distress

For any queries, contact: shantelle@diabetes.org.nz

Look out for more online education sessions on a variety of topics coming this Spring.

Register on Humanitix - Diabetes NZ Auckland Youth: Online education Spring series #1 - Diabetes Distress hosted by Diabetes NZ Auckland Youth. Online. Wednesday 17th September 2025. Find event information.

25/08/2025

Kia ora tamariki!

Are you living with diabetes and do you have a passion in the arts? Sports? Academia?

Would a grant from our John McLaren youth award help you further your dreams and goals in one of these areas?

If so, please think about nominating yourself for a Diabetes New Zealand Award this year. Nominations close on 7 September!

04/08/2025

To all you brave tamariki and rangatahi living with diabetes - nominations are now LIVE for this year's Diabetes New Zealand Awards!

There is a specific category for young people called the John McLaren Youth Awards, which encourages you to achieve your arts, sports and academic goals despite managing your condition every single day.

Find out more in the post below and good luck if you're entering!

Nominations now OPEN for this year's Diabetes New Zealand Awards!

Every year, we present a series of awards to individuals who have demonstrated successful management of their diabetes, including dedicated youth awards for young people with particular strengths and goals in the arts, sport and academia.

We also have awards that recognise achievements or contributions to the care and support of people with diabetes and who have created significant benefits - directly or indirectly - for the diabetes cause in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Find out more about each of the awards available and the criteria you need to meet to be eligible on our website: https://tinyurl.com/4kac7jnf

You can nominate yourself or someone else, and you have until September 7th to do so.

The nomination form is an online Google Form: https://forms.gle/Eex1WCMzqxfySUzq7

Please contact us via email at info@diabetes.org.nz or by calling 0800 342 238 if you or someone else needs support to be able to fill this in.

27/06/2025

Have you got a Jerry the Bear?!

We're so thankful to our funders and supporters for helping us provide Brave Bear Packs to all 4-10 year olds living in Aotearoa New Zealand with type 1 diabetes.

If you'd like to find out more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/3zkx8rn8

Thanks to the generosity and support of our funders and donors, we are able to offer all children aged 4-10 years in Aotearoa New Zealand who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a Brave Bear Pack, containing our friend - Jerry the Bear!

Jerry the Bear also has type 1 diabetes and with his help plus the his special App, you’ll discover that you can carry on enjoying life to the full, all while learning more about managing diabetes too.

We know that a type 1 diagnosis can be a steep learning curve for everyone in the whānau and at times feel scary, overwhelming and lead to other questions. And we want you to know you are not alone, we are here to help and support you every step of the way.



Find out more about the Brave Bear Pack and how you could donate a child a Jerry the Bear on our website: tinyurl.com/3zkx8rn8

20/05/2025

This week is Youth Week in Aotearoa New Zealand - and for us, that means a chance to celebrate all of the tamariki and rangitahi around the motu living bravely with diabetes 💙

The theme for the week is: Take our place | Whai wāhitanga

We have lots of youth-specific information on our website at: www.diabetes.org.nz/youth as well as Facebook groups for different regions and dedicated youth coordinators who organise events, camps, support groups and more!

This week, special youth events and activities are being promoted by Ara Taiohi - Peak Body for Youth Development and we will be sharing your stories on social too.

Plus, our Term 2 youth newsletter Kaha's Connect will land in inboxes so watch out for that. If you haven't signed up, but would like to receive the newsletter - head to: https://tinyurl.com/4xw56sez