Diabetes: twelve panels for two readers

Two sequences on diabetes: one for adults living with a diagnosis, one for parents who need to recognise the symptoms in a child.

At a glance
Year	2024
Programme area	Disease prevention
Formats	Social media
My role	Visual designer and layout. The substance follows the standing diabetes guidance; I set the order of the messages and made the illustrations.

The situation

Diabetes is among the most common reasons for a Puskesmas visit, yet the material in circulation only explains what diabetes is. Two groups of readers with different needs, adult patients and parents of at-risk children, get the same piece.

Who it was for

The first reader is an adult patient already diagnosed who needs to know what to do every day. The second is a parent who is not looking for diabetes information at all, and will only read it if the symptoms are recognised first.

Approach

I split the material into two sequences with different openings. The adult sequence opens on daily actions and explains the disease afterwards, because its reader already knows they have it. The child sequence opens with normal blood sugar levels and one direct question, because its reader does not yet think there is a problem.

Craft and compliance

Twelve 1:1 panels, in two sequences of six. The adult sequence uses a light ground with blocks of colour; the child sequence uses a soft pink ground so it does not frighten parents. Each sequence carries one panel of reference figures, because those are what gets asked again at the clinic.

Outcome

The six panels of the adult sequence have been published through the institution's official channel, and the six panels of the child sequence have not been published yet.

Evidence The only evidence is the material files, one sequence published and one not. No blood glucose measurements were taken before and after, so a fall in diabetes figures cannot be claimed.

Reflection

The child sequence used the terms type 1 and type 2 in its second panel, though a parent who has just recognised a symptom does not need that distinction yet. The symptom panel now comes first and the terms are explained afterwards.

Work samples

Panel with three daily rules for someone with diabetes: exercise, eating and medication. — Opening panel of the adult sequence: three things to keep to every day. 667 × 1414 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel with a line making the point that diabetes does not mean never enjoying your favourite food. — Second panel: one line to answer the idea that diabetes means giving up good food. 667 × 1414 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel headed diabetes mellitus with an illustration of a blood glucose meter and a drop of blood. — Third panel: a short introduction to diabetes and the testing equipment. 667 × 1414 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel explaining what diabetes is, including the everyday Indonesian name for it. — Opening panel of the reference sequence: diabetes defined in everyday language. 667 × 1414 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel listing diabetes symptoms and causes, including excess weight and too little physical activity. — Second panel: symptoms and causes, including weight and physical activity. 667 × 1414 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel listing the consequences of diabetes such as heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, plus foods to avoid. — Third panel: the long-term consequences and what to avoid. 667 × 1414 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel with a table of normal blood sugar levels by age group, alongside an illustration of testing equipment. — Opening panel of the child sequence: normal blood sugar by the child's age. 667 × 1545 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel asking the reader what they will do, with an illustration of testing equipment and a child reading. — Second panel: one direct question, no list. 667 × 1545 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel headed with becoming aware of diabetes in children, calling on readers to recognise and prevent it. — Third panel: an appeal to recognise and prevent diabetes in children. 667 × 1545 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel explaining diabetes and the difference between type 1 and type 2 in children. — Opening panel of the child reference sequence: what diabetes is, including type 1 and type 2 in children. 667 × 1545 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel listing eight symptoms of diabetes in children, the risk factors, and the body mass index formula. — Second panel: eight symptoms, the risk factors, and how body mass index is calculated. 667 × 1545 px, panel from a three-part sequence

Panel listing three ways to prevent diabetes in children: regular blood sugar checks, healthy eating and physical activity. — Third panel: three preventive steps, from blood sugar checks to physical activity. 667 × 1545 px, panel from a three-part sequence

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