Families, carers and individuals from across North Wales are being invited to help reshape diabetes care at an innovative NHS Wales health ‘hackathon’, as new figures show the condition now affects one in five adults across Wales.
The event, hosted jointly by Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, brings people with lived experience of diabetes together with clinicians in a fast‑paced, problem‑solving environment designed to rapidly generate practical ideas for improving care and prevention.
Around 48,000 people in North Wales are currently registered with their GP as living with diabetes. Thousands more are estimated to have undiagnosed or prediabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, which often develops gradually and may go unnoticed without testing.
Without the right support, diabetes can lead to serious, life‑changing complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and sight loss.
But with high‑quality care, strong self‑management tools and early intervention, people with diabetes can live full and healthy lives. For many at risk of Type 2 diabetes, the condition can even be delayed or prevented.
The hackathon forms part of the Tackling Diabetes Together Programme, a national initiative led by Public Health Wales to transform diabetes care for people living with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
The programme aims to:
- Improve access to community‑focused support
- Strengthen prevention pathways
- Amplify patient voices in shaping services
- Promote healthier lifestyles across Wales
Engagement events such as this hackathon are central to ensuring changes reflect the real needs and experiences of people living with diabetes.
The hackathon will invite people with diabetes, their families and carers to collaborate directly with NHS teams in a series of interactive workshops. These sessions will explore real‑world challenges around:
- Day‑to‑day diabetes self‑management
- Access to services and advice
- Barriers to early diagnosis
- Support for prevention and lifestyle change
By combining lived experience with clinical knowledge, organisers hope to generate ideas that can be tested locally in North Wales and influence national diabetes plans.
Transformation Director at Public Health Wales, David Taylor, said:
“We know that care tailored to local needs, that addresses the root causes of poor health and not just the consequences, ensures everyone in Wales can prosper and enjoy better health and wellbeing.
“As a result of our hackathon in South Wales we are now developing a new, user-friendly NHS Wales digital diabetes resource hub, a healthcare professional support pack for Type 2 diabetes, NHS Wales App enhancement that will prioritise diabetes-specific functions and a strengthened peer support system across Wales.
"Now we are excited to hear about the specific challenges people living with diabetes face in North Wales and how we can shape our plans to better support them."
The findings and ideas gathered at the event will help shape next steps for both local improvements and national strategy.
Image credit: iStock
