This Diabetes Week, Diabetes UK Northern Ireland is shining a spotlight on mental health and its relationship with diabetes. Diabetes is relentless and for people living with the condition their physical health and mental health go hand in hand. As part of this awareness, we want to talk about the added pressure of living through the menopause while also living with diabetes.

Diabetes UK is urging healthcare professionals who are committed to transforming care for people living with diabetes in their community to apply to be a part of the inspiring Clinical Champions leadership programme.

Teenager Lavena McStocker has spoken of how her emotional health has been transformed thanks to an online Wellbeing programme run by Diabetes UK NI's youth project Our Lives, Our Voices.

Lavena, 14, has gone from someone who struggled to cope with her diabetes to someone who now confidently talks to over one hundred student nurses about living with the condition. Thanks to her involvement in the Our Lives, Our Voices and its Wellbeing programme, made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund NI, she now plans to become a specialist diabetes psychologist to help others.

Our Northern Ireland National Director, Tina McCrossan, has now been with us for a year. She marks her first anniversary by reflecting on her team's accomplishments. In particular, Tina looks at how the unique challenges of the last 12 months have been tackled head-on, so that she and her team have been able to keep supporting people with diabetes.

A mother living with diabetes credits Echo, her gorgeous golden retriever, and an online peer support group for helping her get better from coronavirus.

Wendy Smith, from East Belfast, contracted the virus last October and is still experiencing its effects, with a loss of taste and smell.

A retired nurse is encouraging others living with diabetes to pick up the phone and use our Befriender Service, here at Diabetes UK Northern Ireland, to combat loneliness since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions.

Volunteer Roberta McCullough is providing a friendly, listening ear to local people living with diabetes who are feeling anxious or isolated.

Do you want an opportunity to change the lives and futures of people living with diabetes in Northern Ireland? Then our Diabetes Care Improvement Ambassador role could be for you. 

Two groups of volunteers, who have tirelessly raised awareness about diabetes, have jointly won a volunteering Inspire Award.

A teenager who has helped give a voice to young people living with type 1 diabetes has won a volunteering award at our annual Inspire Awards.

A dietitian has won an Unsung Hero award from Diabetes UK NI for her longstanding dedication in helping people living with diabetes.