14–20 September 2026

Every year, thousands of people living with diabetes experience a hypoglycaemic episode, a "hypo", while in hospital or under the care of primary care teams. Recognising the signs early, responding quickly, and treating hypoglycaemia correctly can be the difference between a minor blip and a serious, even life-threatening, event. That's why Hypo Awareness Week exists, and why nursing teams across the UK are being encouraged to take part this September.

What is Hypo Awareness Week?

Hypo Awareness Week is a national campaign dedicated to raising awareness of hypoglycaemia among healthcare professionals. It began life as a local initiative in Portsmouth hospitals back in 2012, before being rolled out nationally the same year. It's now run annually by Orange Juice Communications, with support from partners including CDEP, DISN UK Group and TREND Diabetes, and sponsorship this year from Roche, Ascensia and Sanofi.

Hypo Awareness Week 2026 runs from 14–20 September, and hospitals, primary care organisations, and community teams across the country are invited to take part.

Why it matters for nursing teams

Hypoglycaemia doesn't just affect people with diabetes at home, it's a common and often under-recognised event on hospital wards and in primary care. Nurses are frequently the first to spot the signs, and the first to respond. Confident, consistent recognition and treatment of hypos across a team can:

• Reduce the severity and duration of hypoglycaemic episodes.
• Cut down on unnecessary escalations and prolonged admissions.
• Build patient confidence and trust in the care they're receiving.
• Reinforce safe, standardised practice across shifts and departments.

A week-long campaign gives teams a focused reason to refresh training, start conversations, and put hypo awareness back on the agenda, not just for specialist diabetes nurses, but for every member of staff who might encounter a patient having a hypo.

How your team can get involved

Getting started is straightforward:

1. Register your site. Registration is open to hospitals, and primary care organisations are warmly encouraged to join too.
2. Access the free online resource pack, which includes posters, leaflets, guidelines, logos, screensavers and a press release template, along with practical tips for planning your week.
3. Request a printed resource pack: posters, leaflets, balloons, pens, stickers and t-shirts to help bring your campaign to life on the ward or in clinic. These go out on a first come, first served basis, so it's worth registering early.
4. Plan activities for the week: teaching sessions, ward-based quizzes, poster displays, or simple prompts at handover can all help keep hypo recognition and treatment front of mind.
5. Share what you've done. Teams that run a strong campaign can enter the Hypo Awareness Week Excellence Award, recognising outstanding local initiatives. Recent winners include Humber Health Partnership, alongside past campaigns from trusts such as Norfolk and Norwich, Milton Keynes University Hospital, and Cambridge University Hospitals.

A simple ask with a real impact

Hypo Awareness Week doesn't require a big budget or a complex plan, just a willingness to spend a week putting hypoglycaemia awareness back in the spotlight.

Whether that's a lunchtime training session, a poster on the ward, or a five-minute reminder at handover, small actions across a team add up to safer care for patients living with diabetes.

If your ward, unit or practice hasn't taken part before, this September is a great time to start. Registration and full details are available at hypoawarenessweek.com.