VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS: Why this diabetes awareness campaign matters

Last week, we reported a striking statistic: 17 percent of Jewish people over 65 are living with diabetes. This week, we have seen what that statistic looks like in real life.

Research suggests diabetes rates among older British Jews are more than double those seen in the wider population. At the same time, Britain’s Jewish community has an older demographic profile than the country as a whole, making type 2 diabetes an increasingly urgent communal health concern.

That is why this awareness campaign, in partnership with Jewish Blind and Disabled, matters.

Over the coming weeks, we will continue to explore the realities of diabetes within the Jewish community through personal testimonies, expert medical advice, practical guidance and new research into the challenges people face. We will examine prevention, early intervention, and the long-term consequences of unmanaged diabetes – including sight loss, amputations, kidney disease and mobility problems.

Too often, diabetes is spoken about only after serious complications emerge. Yet many of those complications can be delayed, reduced or even prevented through earlier diagnosis, greater awareness and better support.

The personal stories featured in Jewish News this week have shown what those consequences can look like in real life.

One of the most striking themes to emerge from the stories shared with us so far is how isolating and overwhelming a diagnosis can feel. Some people described being given little information when first diagnosed. Others spoke about the stigma that surrounds type 2 diabetes, including assumptions that it is simply the result of poor lifestyle choices.

The reality is far more complicated.

Age, genetics and family history all play a significant role. So does education. Across the UK, millions of people are now considered at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while many remain unaware of symptoms until serious health problems begin to emerge.

The Jewish community has long understood the importance of collective responsibility when it comes to well-being. We support one another through illness, bereavement and crisis. We invest in mental health support, disability care and social welfare. Diabetes deserves the same communal attention and openness.

This campaign is not about creating fear. It is about creating awareness.

It is about encouraging people to ask questions, attend check-ups, recognise symptoms earlier and feel empowered to seek support. It is about helping families better understand risks that may affect parents, grandparents, siblings and children alike.

Next week, we will focus on action – looking at how individuals, community organisations and healthcare professionals can help reduce risk and improve outcomes.

Most importantly, it is about recognising that diabetes is not a distant public health issue affecting somebody else. Increasingly, it is affecting our own community, our own families and our own future.