November is Diabetes Action Month. This year Diabetes NZ is calling on Aotearoa to join the “One Million Minutes” movement challenge.

You are invited to join the collective effort to reach one million minutes of movement in November 2025 and encourage others like friends and whānau to sponsor your sweat.

Participants need to keep track of their minutes of movement and upload them to their individual fundraising page. Activity tracker sheets are also available to download.

You can be part of the challenge as an individual, or create a team with friends, whānau or work colleagues.

Funds raised with go to national and local diabetes programmes that support tamariki, rangatahi and whanau living with diabetes (Types 1 and 2).

Movement can be big or small, like walking to work, taking the stairs instead of the lift, dancing in your living room, going for a run or a bike ride, or stretching at a yoga class. How you choose to move is completely up to you! What’s your move?

Find out more about the One Million Minutes Challenge, including how to sign up.

Learn more on the Diabetes Action Month.

Physical activity is very good for all people and especially those with diabetes or at risk of diabetes.

Regular physical activity helps to keep your blood glucose within a healthy range.

You don’t have to do a huge amount of exercise to improve your health. Just 20 to 30 minutes each day is enough! You can try chair or resistance exercises if your ability to do physical activity is limited.

You may need to see your health care team (such as doctor, diabetes nurse educator or diabetes specialist) and have a medical check before increasing your level of physical activity. This is especially important if you have:

Physical activity increases your body's sensitivity to insulin. So you may need to test your blood glucose levels before you exercise and carry a quick-acting carbohydrate with you just in case.

Read a pamphlet on physical activity and diabetes [PDF].