Dr Ashley Ng

The theme for World Diabetes Day this year was “diabetes in the workplace” with a focus on how workplaces support people with diabetes. For some of us, pancreatically challenged individuals, dealing with diabetes wasn’t enough and we choose to work in the field as well. Sometimes, this can be a lot. In November, with diabetes awareness month and world diabetes day – the diabetes overload is real.

Usually I just tune out of World Diabetes Day/Week/Month – a thing of privilege in itself. Now, being quite embedded in the diabetes space for work, it’s hard to avoid it. November is the month of all things diabetes – whether that be announcements, celebrations, commiserations, advocacy campaigns. Outside of diabetes, life gets incredibly busy in November – grant deadlines, squeezing in “one more thing before end of year”, birthdays, Christmas prep, events. You get the gist. November is crazy.

What keeps me floating are the incredible people within the community. Over the past week I have heard some amazing research updates, met with passionate clinicians, researchers and partners and caught up with the most big-hearted of friends. These are the people that balances out all the crappy things about diabetes – the ongoing connectivity issues with my CGM; my CamAPS app completely dying on me the day soon after; the constant worry about complications, medication side effects, reliance on having access to supplies to live.

It gives me great hope that there are bright minds and hearts around us working to improve the lives of people affected by diabetes. I feel privileged to bring diabetes into my workplace and to give back in my own way. There have been many years where World Diabetes Day have felt overwhelming. Although it has been an exhausting few weeks, my cup feels very full and I am looking forward for things to come.