Sometime last year, I presented a webinar about how to be a good diabetes ally. The webinar was for a startup that would be working closely with people with diabetes. Earlier this week, someone who attended the webinar sent me this neat graphic which captured the main points of my presentation. I know that there are lots of other things that could be added, (and during my talk I covered more than what made this list), but I think that this is, perhaps, a good starting point. I’m especially pleased my point about avoiding hypo simulators made the cut!!

When I think of the diabetes allies I’ve worked with over the last 21 years in the diabetes world, I realise that their main strength is that they made point number one the foundation of their work. I find myself being drawn to the activities of those who centre people with diabetes in meaningful, not token, ways. They are the people who happily step into the shadows so that people with diabetes can be in the spotlight.

A real diabetes ally works with us. They stand with us, not speak for us, because when anyone claims to ‘be the voice of diabetes’ they are simply silencing people with diabetes. We have voices, we have words – our own words – we don’t need others to speak for us. Hand us the microphone.

Being an ally is easy. It really is.

List in black writing on a pink background that says: HOW TO BE A DIABETES ALLY a non-exhaustive guide for people working in the diabetes world 1. Centre people with diabetes 2. Hand people with diabetes the microphone; 3. Understand that being adjacent to diabetes isn't the same as living with it 4. If diabetes is the topic, make sure there are people in the room influencing outcomes 5. You're not being person-centric if people with diabetes are not front & centre 6. Don't cosplay diabetes (AKA: no hypo simulators!) 7. Believe people with diabetes when we say you are not acting in our best interests 8. Don't excuse diabetes stigma when you see or hear it, and always call it out 9. Share the words & work of people with diabetes, acknowledging our contributions 10. Recgonise the emotional labour that goes into sharing our lived experience 11. Don't make us feel like a burden when acknowledging people who support us 12. If people with diabetes aren't in the room, ask why not Diabetogenic.blog

More? I’ve written before about how healthcare professionals can be allies to people with diabetes when they see and hear stigmatising comments from their colleagues. A lot of what was in that post is relevant here too.