Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK: Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes.

Tell us about your organisation/department/project (your aims, what you do, who you work with):

Our mission is to tackle diabetes, day in and day out, until it can do no harm. We do this through campaigning for better diabetes care, supporting people living with diabetes through information, resources, online and face to face peer support, supporting healthcare professionals through training, resources and improvement programmes, and funding research into better prevention, treatment and ultimately a cure for diabetes. 


Tell us why being a Haref Ally is important for you and your organisation

Diabetes UK is committed to tackling inequalities. Being a Haref Ally helps us to learn and improve, giving us a deeper understanding and practical tips for becoming fully inclusive, whilst also linking us up to marginalised communities so we can share key diabetes messages and resources with those who want them.


Tell us about anything that you or your organisation has done to improve how you work with ethnically marginalised communities

Diabetes UK launched its Tackling Inequalities Commission in 2023 to view the multiple factors that contribute to health inequality through the lens of those most at risk of inequality in diabetes, including those experiencing poverty, as well as Black and South Asian communities.

This includes focusing our resources on ensuring those experiencing the greatest inequalities understand their risk of diabetes and know what care and support to expect. Engaging people with lived experience to inform how we adapt and develop our ways of working, resources and support to overcome barriers people face to accessing information, care and support and collaborating with trusted community organisations and networks so we can work with them to reach people most likely to experience inequality. 

In our team, we have a dedicated Engaging Communities Officer who concentrates on reaching communities most affected by inequality. We inform ourselves through learning and development opportunities (such as Haref skills sessions, NHS Boost webinars, and Poverty Proofing). We are also currently developing volunteer training to ensure our volunteers understand and buy into our commitment to tackling inequalities and how to better support people from marginalised communities. 


Contact details for organisation: