Diabetes UK

{{Infobox company

| name = Diabetes UK

| logo = DiabetesUKlogo.gif

| logo_alt = Diabetes UK logo

| former_name = The Diabetic Association (1934-1954), British Diabetic Association (1954-2000)

| type = Charity

| foundation = 1934

| location = Wells Lawrence House, 126 Back Church Lane, London, E1 1FH

| num_locations = 7 including, London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, Warrington, Wolverhampton, and Taunton

| founder = H. G. Wells, Robert Daniel Lawrence

| key_people = Colette Marshall (CEO) 2023-present,

Chris Askew (CEO) 2015-2023

| website = {{url|http://www.diabetes.org.uk}}

}}

Diabetes UK is a British-based patient, healthcare professional and research charity that has been described as "one of the foremost diabetes charities in the UK".{{cite book|author=Clive Petry|title=Gestational Diabetes: Origins, Complications, and Treatment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nQjSBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA195|access-date=14 February 2019|date=2014-02-07|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4398-7997-9|pages=195–}} The charity campaigns for improvements in the care and treatment of people with diabetes.

History

Diabetes UK was founded in 1934 as The Diabetic Association, by the author H. G. Wells and Robert Daniel Lawrence.{{cite news |last1=Parkinson |first1=Caroline |title=HG Wells: The first celebrity charity campaigner? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26175150 |access-date=14 February 2019 |publisher=BBC News |date=15 February 2014}} Diabetes UK's first research grant was made in 1936.In the beginning… - J. Mace, 1994. Balance, Feb–Mar: 8–14. The organisation has since had two name changes—in 1954 to The British Diabetic Association and again in June 2000 to Diabetes UK.{{cite journal |last1=Lehmann |first1=ED |title=British Diabetic Association review of the AIDA v4 diabetes software simulator program |journal=Diabetes Technol Ther. |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=87–96 |date=2004 |quote=the British Diabetic Association (BDA)-now called Diabetes UK|pmid=15000776 |doi=10.1089/152091504322783477 |citeseerx=10.1.1.608.1325 }}{{cite book|author=John Keeler|title=Living Life with Diabetes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BM_Gu2jAvwoC&pg=PR15|access-date=14 February 2019|date=14 May 2004|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-87003-7|pages=119–128}}

Both founders were living with diabetes, and their aim was to make sure that everyone in the UK had access to insulin, regardless of their financial situation.

In 1999, the charity reviewed its services for people in their 20s to 40s, hoping to get more of that age group involved; at the time, 70% of younger people with diabetes were members but only 5% of people aged 20–40 with diabetes.{{cite news |last1=Ramrayka |first1=Liza |title=Active service |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/1999/apr/07/guardiansocietysupplement5 |access-date=14 February 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 1999}}

As of 2010, the charity's yearly income was £29,334,000.{{cite news |title=Britain's top 1,000 charities ranked by donations. Who raises the most money? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/apr/24/top-1000-charities-donations-britain |access-date=14 February 2019 |work=The Guardian}}

Services

=Research=

Diabetes UK provides funding for United Kingdom-based research into the causes and treatment of diabetes and its complications.{{cite web |url=https://www.wellheeled.net/getting-diabetes-support-from-diabetes-uk/ |title = Getting Diabetes Support from Diabetes UK - Well Heeled|date = 7 August 2019}}

The charity's first research grant was made in 1936, which led to a major discovery in how the liver produces glucose.

The charity provides financial support for "project grants, funding to purchase laboratory equipment, and research-training opportunities ranging from PhD studentships to research fellowships."{{cite web |url=http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Research/About-our-research/ |title = Diabetes research {{!}} Our approach and projects {{!}} Diabetes UK}}{{better source needed|date=February 2019}} The research they fund covers all areas of diabetes, and there have been significant breakthroughs for both Type 1 treatment and Type 2 prevention and remission. They continue to invest more in research in the hope that, one day, they will find a cure.

In 2011, the charity awarded £1,035,743 to five new research grants, and £440,051 to five new PhD studentships.{{cite web |url=http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Research/Current-research/ |title = Our research projects {{!}} Diabetes UK}}{{better source needed|date=February 2019}}

In 2017, they invested over £6.7 million in diabetes research and agreed to support 38 new studies.

= Campaigns =

Diabetes UK are at the forefront of the fight against diabetes. With the help of their supporters, they've run campaigns like the 4Ts to help raise awareness of the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, made sure children get the care they need in schools with their Make the Grade campaign, fight for equality of care and treatment across the UK with their Flash campaign and are working to make the healthy choice the easy choice with their food labeling campaign.

= Partnership =

Diabetes UK work with a range of companies, trusts, foundations and philanthropists to help fund research breakthroughs and prevent Type 2 diabetes.

In 2008, Diabetes UK together with Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) created the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS-IP) group. The group generates guidelines for management of inpatient diabetes {{Cite web |title=Joint British Diabetes Societies (JBDS) for Inpatient Care Group {{!}} ABCD (Diabetes Care) Ltd |url=https://abcd.care/joint-british-diabetes-societies-jbds-inpatient-care-group |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=abcd.care}}{{Cite web |title=Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient care |url=https://www.diabetes.org.uk/professionals/resources/shared-practice/inpatient-and-hospital-care/joint-british-diabetes-society-for-inpatient-care |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Diabetes UK |language=en}}

In 2018, Diabetes UK began a new five-year strategic partnership with long-standing partner Tesco, alongside British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK, to tackle the UK's biggest health challenges through behaviour change.

=Groups and Events=

Diabetes UK has 330 local groups across the UK.{{cite web |title=Our Story: Annual report and accounts 2019 |url=https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/public/2020-06/Diabetes%20UK%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202019-web_0.pdf |website=Diabetes UK |access-date=17 June 2021 |date=2020 |quote=Join a local group: If you love to meet and talk to people in your area, check out your local support group – we run more than 330 of them up and down the UK.}}

=Conferences=

The society runs conferences for people with diabetes, volunteers and healthcare professionals.

=Telephone support services and helpline=

In 1993, the organisation launched an information line for patients, family and friends.Who cares? We do. - R. French, 2004. Balance, July–Aug: 47–48{{cite news |last1=Matthewman |first1=Diana |title=Appeals: British Diabetic Association launch new campaign |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/appeals-british-diabetic-association-launch-new-campaign-1383108.html |access-date=14 February 2019 |work=The Independent |date=1 August 1994}}

=Holidays=

The charity has been providing holidays for children since the 1930s.{{cite journal|last1=Court|first1=S|date=1999|title=Diabetic camps — who benefits?|url=https://www.paediatricsandchildhealthjournal.co.uk/article/S0957-5839(99)90091-X/pdf|journal=Current Paediatrics|volume=9|issue=3|pages=169–172|doi=10.1016/S0957-5839(99)90091-X|access-date=14 February 2019|url-access=subscription}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NMCZwaQU9oC|title=Moving up with Diabetes: The transition from paediatric to adult care|author=Jessica Datta|date=4 April 2001|publisher=JKP|isbn=978-1-907969-44-7|page=189|access-date=14 February 2019}} Family and adult holidays have been introduced since.Give us a break! - G. Hood, 1994. Balance, Feb–Mar: 82–83.

=Publications=

Diabetes UK produces a range of information leaflets and booklets that help raise awareness of diabetes, and offer support and knowledge to help in prevention of Type 2 and management of all types of diabetes.

These include the magazine "Balance" (formerly The Diabetic Journal), first published in 1935, changing its name to Balance in 1961, and "Diabetes Update" for professionals.

Via John Wiley and Sons, Diabetes UK produces the academic journal, Diabetic Medicine.

The charity has also published practice guidelines for professionals.{{cite book|author=Trisha Dunning|title=Nursing Care of Older People with Diabetes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BF9z93mZXDkC&pg=PA19|access-date=14 February 2019|date=15 April 2008|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-4051-7286-8|page=19}}

= Website =

Diabetes UK website links people to clear information available for anyone who needs it. This includes healthcare professionals, parents, carers, and people living with diabetes. Their Learning Zone is an area where through sign up, people can gain access to personalised support and tips in diabetes management from peers.

Since 14 November 2008,https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/forum-10-years-on-how-it-all-began.75684/ {{User-generated source|date=August 2022}} the Diabetes UK site has hosted a forum. This was originally under the URL diabetessupport.co.uk. On the 13th of October 2015,https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/forum-upgrade-important-news.55408/ {{User-generated source|date=August 2022}} the forum had a major makeover to make clear the DUK connection; this involved moving to a new URL (the DUK URL prefixed with "forum"), changing the board logo (including favicon) and colour scheme to match the main site, and upgrading to new forum software.