Diabetes Dawdle participants on Spice Island

DRWF Events 2024

Run, walk, abseil, sky dive, cycle, learn ... and get very muddy!

Join us in 2024, for fun, fundraising and diabetes wellness education, to support people living with all types of diabetes...

All DRWF Events   

  • 4,900,000

    4.9 million people are currently diagnosed with diabetes in the UK

  • Increasing

    The number of people living with diabetes has more than doubled in the last 20 years

  • 537,000,000

    537 million people are affected by diabetes globally and this will likely increase to 640 million by 2040

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people living with all forms of diabetes.

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Home Test

Join the Diabetes Wellness Network

By joining Diabetes Wellness Network, you will instantly become part of an established, like-minded community, ensuring that you are not facing diabetes on your own! Our network already has over 7,000 members who all share an interest in diabetes.

Find out more

Type 1 Diabetes

In type 1 diabetes the pancreas fails to produce insulin, a hormone which transports sugar (glucose) from foods into the body’s cells, where it can be used to produce energy.

If insulin is not produced by the pancreas, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of getting into the body's cells, causing high blood glucose levels which can lead to serious complications. 

People of all ages are affected by type 1 diabetes and treatment is usually required for life. Thankfully, type 1 diabetes is now a perfectly manageable condition and range of treatment methods are available to help people live healthy and comfortable lives.

A medical professional assisting a child and mother with diabetes equipment.
A woman checking her blood sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetes 

In Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas struggles to produce enough insulin, or is producing insulin which cannot be effectively used by the body (insulin resistance).

For people living with type 2 diabetes, glucose builds up in the bloodstream due to a lack of effective insulin, triggering the pancreas to release more insulin to cope. Over time, this process can overwork the pancreas, which becomes less efficient at producing insulin. If too much glucose (sugar) enters the bloodstream, glucose levels may continue to rise.

Our online community
A healthcare professional helping a patient.

Understanding Diabetes

Our Understanding Diabetes section aims to provide you with all the information you need to know about diabetes, it's causes, treatments and how we can support you at DRWF.

An elderly woman checking her blood sugar levels.

Living with Diabetes

Whether you have been newly diagnosed, or know someone living with diabetes, this section will help you understand how to make lifestyle changes and overcome challenges to achieve a healthy life.

A group of our DRWF fundraisers on a cycling trip.

Get Involved

Find out how to get involved with the vital work we support at DRWF. There are lots of ways to raise money to support people living with all forms of diabetes. Your generosity can help our dreams become a reality.

A group of DRWF funded researchers holding our research funding award.

Our Research

Put simply, it is our ultimate goal to discover a cure for diabetes. We know that this is a long road, but we are intent on maximising the potential by funding the highest quality clinical and scientific research at the very best research institutions in the UK and around the world.

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News and Events

Read the latest news about diabetes and learn more about events we are running across the UK. We also have a series of podcasts available to download.

A group photo of DRWF fundraisers

About Us

DRWF was established in 1998 to raise awareness of all types of diabetes and associated complications; provide information and support to promote good self-management and to enhance quality of life. Read more about our mission here.