Learn about what really matters to people living with diabetes around the world.
Insights, Stories & Perspectives
The #dedoc° blog features articles and opinion pieces written by our international network of diabetes advocates: the #dedoc° voices. From scientific conferences to the latest diabetes research and technology, from challenges faced by those living with diabetes to global disparities in healthcare, our #dedoc° voices cover it all.
Diabetes advocates wishing to contribute to the #dedoc° blog are welcome to submit a guest post using the link below.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch — we love to hear from you, and so do thousands of others!
All opinions are those of the authors.
Contact: blog@dedoc.org
#PayItForward-Building Diabetes Advocacy from the Ground Up
From finding comfort through the diabetes online community to speaking on international platforms, this powerful story reflects how lived experience, connection, and opportunity can spark meaningful local change.
Through the #dedoc° Voices network and scholarship program, South African advocate Lurina Fourie transformed global exposure into grassroots action: from school-based diabetes awareness and healthcare education to community screening initiatives and the creation of the Pay It Forward Diabetes Conference.
Rooted in the principles of #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs and #PayItForward, this is a story about advocacy, courage, community, and turning lived experience into lasting impact.
A #dedocº voice reflection: From Mauritius to Montréal - When Compassion Becomes Influence
From Mauritius to Montréal, this deeply personal reflection explores the intersection of lived experience, advocacy, and global community. Writing as both a father of a young adult living with type 1 diabetes and a person living with type 2 diabetes himself, Didier reflects on his experience at ISPAD 2025 as both speaker and #dedoc° Voice. Through moments of connection, quiet emotion, and shared humanity, this article highlights how compassion, when paired with structure and credibility, can evolve into meaningful influence and lasting change, even from the smallest of islands.
Breaking the silence: sexual dysfunction in diabetes
“Sexual health in diabetes is a topic that is often overlooked and not given the attention it deserves,” writes #dedoc° voice Heather Koga. “Conversations about sexual function and dysfunction are considered “taboo” or “too private” for public platforms or even clinical and social settings. I decided to bring the issues to the context of my diabetes community in Zimbabwe.
Exploring the depths of diabetes: insights from the 28th PSAD Annual Scientific Meeting
In April, #dedoc° voices Liron Meidan and Lucía Feito Allonca were given the opportunity to represent the voice of people with diabetes from across the global community at the PSAD Study Group.
Multidisciplinary experts from a variety of countries came together to discuss the latest scientific advancements in the field of diabetes and its psychosocial aspects.
How to have a pre-conference pep talk with your diabetes
Going to a diabetes conference usually leads to one thing: a lot of conversations. But there’s a special one that Huda, one of the #dedoc° voices, had with her diabetes before going to ISPAD.
The next step in patient involvement in diabetes conferences
“Including people with lived experience in diabetes conferences is no longer just a ‘nice to have’,” writes patient advocate and #dedoc° voice Emma Doble.
But what is the Patients Included charter? How can a conference become ‘Patients Included’? And why is the inclusion of people with lived experience so important?
EASD 2023: the women agenda
“Discussions about menopause are gathering momentum all over the world: women are demanding more support for this stage of life, be it at work or medically,” writes diabetes advocate Alex Haggett, who attended EASD 2023 in Hamburg as a #dedoc° voice.
Alex arrived at the conference ready to ask loads of questions about getting older with diabetes, and particularly the impact of menopause on people with diabetes. But were her questions answered?
Scientific conferences: attending in person or online? A comparison for new diabetes advocates
After attending several scientific conferences virtually as a #dedoc° voice, diabetes advocate Lucía Feito Allonca had the opportunity to attend ISPAD 2023 in person in Rotterdam.
Here she shares some personal reflections on what it’s like to attend events in person and virtually.
So, shall we dance? Basic steps to open scientific conferences to people living with diabetes
Patients living with diabetes are not often invited to scientific conferences. The #dedoc° voices scholarship program wants to change that. Nina Tousch, who attended EASD 2022 as a #dedoc° voice, explains why healthcare professionals and scientific researchers can benefit from hearing the patient voice at conferences.
Attending ATTD 2023 as a diabetes advocate
Diabetes advocate and #dedoc° voice Heather Koga attended ATTD 2023. Innovation in diabetes medicines and treatments, cutting-edge technologies, and research into the treatments of diabetes were among her highlights.
#dedoc° voices at ISPAD 2022: Caro’s experience
Diabetes advocate Caro attended ISPAD 2022 scientific conference as a #dedoc° voice. DIY hybrid closed loop systems, digitalisation in diabetes education and healthcare management, and mental health were among her highlights.