Sweet Life Diabetes Community are on a mission to make a difference on the ground this World Diabetes Day. They’ve set up 100 Diabetes Walks around the country and are encouraging everyone to wear something blue to show their support for people living with diabetes.
South Africa (11 November 2026) – This year, there’s been a lot of noise around the fact that diabetes is the number one killer of South Africans – as it should be. But it’s been the number one killer of South Africans for the last two years: these are not new stats.
There is no doubt that the National and Provincial Departments of Health need to prioritise diabetes. Whole-person wellness (where a person is treated for all their conditions, rather than one condition receiving extra attention) is a lovely concept, but in reality, it just means that diabetes isn’t given the urgent attention – and the budget – it needs.
According to the Sweet Life Diabetes Community, this is an ongoing problem that requires policy change. But policy change takes time, and sadly, for most diabetic South Africans, time is what they don’t have.
“The reality is that the diabetes crisis will not be solved from the top down. South Africa is famous for having beautiful policies that take time to translate into lived experience,” Sweet Life shares.
“What we need is champions on the ground, in communities, who can empower the individuals they live amongst.”
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Meet Julie Oates: The South African Woman Behind Julz Shoes!To help make a difference on the ground, the diabetes awareness movement has set up 100 Diabetes Walks around South Africa this year. It’s also encouraging everyone to turn South Africa blue by wearing something blue to show their support for people living with diabetes this World Diabetes Day (14 November 2026).
“We’ve sent out 100 DIY Diabetes Walk boxes, packed full of educational materials and a guide for how to hold a diabetes event, a quiz and prize and diabetes-friendly snacks and even a T-shirt with the 5 symptoms of diabetes: everything you need to spread diabetes awareness in your community.”
Over 250 people applied, and 100 were chosen. The boxes have now been sent out across every province in South Africa – from Phalaborwa to Senekal, Griekwastad to Welkom, Thohoyandou to Upington to Kanyamazane, and of course all over Cape Town, Joburg and Durban – like golden seeds of diabetes education and awareness.
“World Diabetes Day is on Saturday 14th November, and we’re inviting the whole of South Africa to wear blue that day. Companies and schools are invited to wear blue on Friday 13th November to show their support for people with diabetes. Wearing blue is such an easy thing to do – everyone has something blue in their wardrobes – but the impact it has on people living with diabetes is immense.”
Find out more about #WearBlueforDiabetes and join one of 100 diabetes walks across the country here: https://sweetlife.org.za/wear-blue-for-diabetes/
Sources: Sweet Life Diabetes Community
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