National Diabetes Week 2026 National Diabetes Week is 12–18 July 2026. This year we’re turning up the volume. Living Out Loud Every day, 2 million Australians live with diabetes, managing something most people never fully see. This National Diabetes Week (12–18 July 2026), Diabetes Australia is amplifying their voices through Living Out Loud: a campaign inviting people living with diabetes, their carers, researchers, health professionals, and clinicians to say, out loud and without apology, the one thing they’ve always wished people knew. Real change doesn’t come from one voice speaking louder, it comes from many voices speaking together. Under the theme Stronger Together, Living Out Loud is built on a simple truth: real change doesn’t come from one voice speaking louder, it comes from many voices speaking together. Every individual declaration, different in its experience and type of diabetes, adds to a collective wall of voices that grows louder the more of us who speak up. Get involved “I wish people knew… you can do anything with diabetes.”Lachie Kennedy – Australia’s fastest man, lives with type 1 diabetes Share your diabetes wish with Australia Complete the sentence “I wish people knew…” and add your voice to the campaign. Create and share on social media Use our Canva template to create your wish and share it with the world. Share your wish Prefer to keep it simple? Submit your wish through our online form. We’ll add it to the growing wall of voices for you. Add your wish Need a little inspiration? If you’re looking for ideas, social tiles, or campaign assets, visit our resources page for everything you need to get involved. Explore resources From our community We asked, what do you wish people knew about diabetes? Here’s what they told us. I wish people knew… you can lead with diabetes.”~ Warren Bingham, Executive Chairman MedTech International, lives with type 2 diabetes I wish people knew… listening to people with diabetes leads to better outcomes.”~ Ken Rowles, lives with type 1 diabetes I wish people knew… you can represent Australia with diabetes.”~ Lara McSpadden, Professional Basketballer, lives with type 1 diabetes Hear their stories: Life on the Level podcast Wishes are just the beginning. For the full story, listen to Life on the Level, Diabetes Australia’s podcast where real people share the highs, lows, and everything in between of living with diabetes. Check out our latest episode with Brodie Sargent. I wish people knew… type 1 diabetes doesn’t just change your life; it changes your whole family’s. ~ Brodie Sargent, lives with type 1 diabetes Listen now Advocacy and community More than diabetes — Join Diabetes YOUnited You’ve shared your wish. Now imagine a whole community who already understands it. Diabetes YOUnited is more than a membership; it’s your community, your connection, your journey. Beyond expert information and resources, you’ll find a supportive network who genuinely get it, and a space to belong that goes far beyond a diagnosis. This National Diabetes Week, take the next step by moving from speaking out loud to standing stronger together with more than 500,000 Diabetes YOUnited members. Find your community Step into the Circle — turn your voice into action Some voices want to go further than one declaration. Meet the Blue Circle Collective: Diabetes Australia’s national network of Ambassadors, Advisers, and Advocates reshaping how Australia sees and responds to diabetes. Right now, we are looking for passionate people to join this movement. Your voice can help shape programs, support others, and make a real difference in the lives of people living with diabetes. Learn more We’re bringing you the IDF Western Pacific Region Congress 2026 Every wish shared this week joins Australia’s collective voice, carried to one of the most significant diabetes meetings in the region: the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region Congress, delivered in conjunction with the Australasian Diabetes Congress and Metabolic Diseases 2026. Bringing together global leaders across research, clinical care, education, and advocacy, this is where the voices from Living Out Loud reach the people shaping the future of diabetes care. Your wish doesn’t end on a social feed; it becomes part of the conversation driving real change. Read more Glucerna – Now available at Diabetes Shop. “Diabetes is a challenge everyday, but with Glucerna I know I can win”, Cathy Freeman – living with type 2 diabetes and gold medallist. Food for Special Medical Purposes. Use only under medical supervision. ANIAPAC-P-AU-202600234 Abbott. Visit Diabetes Shop Share the campaign Where to find resources and social media assets Turn up the volume this National Diabetes Week. Download posters, support resources, and social media tiles to share with your community. Check out resources What is diabetes? Diabetes is a condition where the body can’t properly manage the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It affects people of every age, background, and body type, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people manage it through daily insulin, others through medication, diet, or a combination of approaches. There are several types, including type 1, type 2, gestational, and other less common forms. Want the full picture? Read our Diabetes 101 guide for a simple breakdown of the types, causes, and everyday realities of living with diabetes. Who is Diabetes Australia? Diabetes Australia is the national peak body supporting people living with, and at risk of, diabetes. We are leading the national response to Australia’s largest health crisis, working in collaboration with people with lived experience, member organisations, peak bodies, health professionals, state-based organisations, researchers, and the community. Our work focuses on supporting people with diabetes to live well, providing information, resources, and support services, as well as investing in prevention, and reducing the impact of diabetes on people, health systems, and society. We advocate for positive change that will create a healthier future for everyone. What is National Diabetes Week? National Diabetes Week is Australia’s major annual moment to raise awareness of diabetes and stand with the people living with it. Each year carries a new theme and campaign. This year’s campaign is Living Out Loud, under the broader theme Stronger Together. You can get involved by sharing your own wish, supporting someone you know, or simply helping spread the word. Find out more. Thank you to our partners National Diabetes Week has been made possible thanks to the generosity of our partners, and photographers Nick James Fraser, Yvette Scott, and © David Kelly/Copyright Agency, 2026.
