I've been diagnosed with diabetes, what about now?

Cohort: 2025-2027

Project Contributor

This project aims to create an informative pamphlet, “I’ve Been Diagnosed with Diabetes, Now What?”, to guide individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes and connect them to peer support resources. The pamphlet includes a QR code that links to a website with regularly updated resources. It will be launched internally at my association and then distributed more broadly. The project aims to provide immediate emotional support, practical guidance, and increased participation in peer activities. With low-cost printing and a QR-linked website, the project is scalable, sustainable, and easily updated. By bridging the gap between diagnosis and community support, this initiative empowers individuals, strengthens the diabetes community, and improves the quality of life for people navigating a new diabetes diagnosis.

Mariana Manita

Portugal

Hi, I’m Mariana Manita from Portugal. I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes since 2014. From the outset, I immersed myself in diabetes advocacy—and as I’ve grown, so has my dedication. I’m completing a degree in Political Science and International Relations, giving me a unique perspective on healthcare and patient advocacy.

Advocacy isn’t just a passion, it is a way for me to connect, support, and amplify the voices of others living with diabetes. I organise monthly peer‑support meetings for my association, mentor at summer camps, and actively contribute to international diabetes platforms like IDF Europe, #dedoc° Voices, and patient advisory committees.

In Portugal, about 1.1 million adults are living with diabetes—nearly 11 % of the adult population. While most cases are type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes also carries significant weight and recent national data suggest that many young people go undiagnosed.

These numbers reflect a widespread need for peer support, early detection, and improved access to care. That’s why I focus on community, communication, and collaboration—ensuring no one faces diabetes alone in Portugal or beyond.

Project Contributor

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