Sweet Support: Annie's Fruit Bars Powering Diabetes NZ in Newly Diagnosed Packs
Annie's is proud to support Diabetes NZ with our 100% natural fruit bars. Made from just fruit, nothing else, our bars provide a convenient, on-the-go snack that's packed with natural sugars, making them the perfect boost for anyone who needs it. Easy to carry, they fit right in your back pocket, offering a healthy and satisfying option whenever you need it. We're thrilled to contribute by supplying our fruit bars for Diabetes NZ's ‘newly diagnosed’ packs. Read on to learn more about this incredible charitable trust, and visit their website for upcoming events and ways we can all support loved ones living with diabetes.
Diabetes New Zealand is a Charitable Trust that provide people living in Aotearoa with information and resources to help identify and manage diabetes symptoms, they have been doing it for more than 60 years.
Their mission is to ensure that every person living with diabetes or at risk of diabetes has equitable access to affordable, quality diabetes care and education, because an average of 45 people per day are being diagnosed with the condition.
The first connection with a child or teen diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is the ‘newly diagnosed’ pack. These packs are gifted to every under 16-year-old via their paediatric team. The packs contains information and resources to help both the individual, their whānau and teachers.
Each newly diagnosed pack also has an example of a ‘hypo kit’. This kit goes out and about with the individual and contains everything that would be needed if their blood sugars go too low – including an Annie’s fruit bar!
There's also have the ‘Brave Bear pack’ for children aged between 4 and 10 years old. The pack contains a new friend for them - Jerry the Bear - a teddy who also has type 1 diabetes. Children can use Jerry with an interactive learning app, and through a gaming platform, help Jerry compete in school sports day. Children learn to count the carbs in Jerry’s food to make sure he is eating and drinking correctly and using the right amount of insulin. This unique learning bear not only helps the child living with diabetes, often the extended family - especially siblings – learn a lot too.
Another great resource they have is a regular monthly newsletter – Connect - which contains news and updates from the world of diabetes including recipe ideas, latest research, events and any progress on advocacy work. For young communities, they have a youth newsletter called Kaha’s Connect – celebrating young people living their best lives with diabetes.
To contact Diabetes NZ with any questions or concerns about diabetes, prediabetes, managing the health of a loved one or services and programmes – they have a free helpline number (0800 342 238) that is open Monday – Friday, as well as a website: www.diabetes.org.nz where you can see an events calendar, news, stories and resources.
Much of the work they do relies on donations from the public, to boost the funding they get from Te Whatu Ora, plus their other grant funders and supporters. Please support them when you see a Diabetes NZ event happening this year!
Sneaker Friday Do Blue - Bayview Primary