Growing up, Lauren Cusack was heavily involved in her Mum’s type 1 diabetes care but never expected to live with the condition herself. In this uplifting episode of the Life on the level podcast, Lauren describes feeling relieved, terrified and determined to turn her diagnosis into a superpower when she discovered she had diabetes too.     

Childhood skills: a sixth sense for hypos  

“I am the oldest child in a close-knit family and quieter than my sister,” Lauren says. “We experienced severe hypos with Mum, and I developed a sixth sense when it came to knowing when one was coming.”  

“Even though I helped Mum throughout my childhood, I still wasn’t prepared for my own diagnosis,” Lauren says. “I was diagnosed at 28 years, after the birth of my first child, and before my second. I had gestational diabetes while I was pregnant with my son, which may have triggered type 1 diabetes, but we don’t know for sure.” 

“I felt relieved because I didn’t have to educate my family but also scared. I knew how dangerous a severe hypo was and I had a young son to care for.”  

Peer communities: finding support  

In the hospital after her diagnosis, Lauren remembers immediately looking up diabetes community groups.  

“I knew I had to find my people quickly,” she says. “I joined a peer support network I found online, started upskilling myself and took my Mum along. Through the group, I discovered the PDC Health Hub, a multidisciplinary allied health clinic in Perth, and an exceptional Credentialled Diabetes Educator, Teresa Di Franco, who is kind and non-judgmental.” 

“My journey has been very different to my Mum’s. She didn’t have the amazing tech that we have today, like insulin pumps and CGMs, and she certainly didn’t have the people around her that I discovered. My diagnosis gave me a new appreciation for what my Mum had gone through.”    

Career change: honing her superpower 

Lauren describes herself as an “accidental advocate”, thanks to her lived experience. Her first degree was in marketing and public relations. After her dad had a mild heart attack and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she shifted to preventative health.  

“Before my diagnosis, I worked in corporate health for a decade,” Lauren says. “But when I got the opportunity to champion diabetes care and reduce stigma, I jumped at the chance. I absolutely love using my experience to give back to the community as part of an innovative and passionate team.”  

Tune in: Lauren’s full story 

In this episode of the Life on the Level podcast, Lauren shares how diabetes did not stop her from achieving her life goals. After what she describes as a “messy” second pregnancy with type 1 diabetes, she was thrilled to welcome her daughter.  

“I’m grateful for the peer support I received during my pregnancy and to be navigating mum-life with my sister, who also has two children,” she says. “While I try not to concern my children, I know how important it is to educate them, and they understand why I finger prick them sometimes, too.” 

From 12 to 18 July, Australians living with diabetes, alongside their carers, researchers, health professionals and clinicians, did something powerful. They said, out loud and without apology, the one thing they have always wished people knew. Under the theme Stronger Together, the Living Out Loud campaign gave 2 million Australians a platform that was entirely their own.  

What made the wall of voices so powerful was not just the number of declarations, but the breadth of who was speaking and who was listening. People living with diabetes used their wishes to speak directly to the community around them, including to friends and family who have never fully understood the daily load, to health professionals who see the clinical picture, to researchers, to the medical industry, to pharmaceutical companies and to the government. These were not just personal statements. They were acts of advocacy, calling for better access, fairer funding, less stigma, and more understanding from the very people with the power to act on them.

What made it even more remarkable was that the conversation ran both ways. Health professionals, clinicians, researchers, and allied health workers stepped up alongside those living with the condition, adding their own wishes to the wall. When organisations beyond the diabetes community, including the neuroendocrine cancer community, spoke up about the unexpected link between their condition and a diabetes diagnosis, it reinforced something this campaign has always believed: diabetes rarely comes alone, and every voice that surrounds it matters.

Together, these declarations did not just raise awareness. They mapped the full, complex, and interconnected reality of living with diabetes in Australia, and sent a clear message to every decision maker who encountered them that this community is organised, informed, and ready for change. Here is a look back at what we achieved together.

600+ wishes and counting

This National Diabetes Week, over 600 Australians completed the sentence “I wish people knew…” and added their voice to the wall.

From people newly diagnosed to those who have lived with diabetes for decades. From carers and parents to researchers and clinicians. From type 1 to type 2 to gestational diabetes and beyond, every type had a voice, and every voice had a place. Here is a selection of the wishes we received:

There is still time to add your voice

The conversation does not stop here. We are still collecting wishes to showcase at the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region (IDF-WPR) Congress in Melbourne, and we want to take as many Australian voices with us as possible.

If you have not yet shared your wish, it is not too late. Complete the sentence “I wish people knew…” and submit it through our online form or share it on social media using #DiabetesOutLoud. Selected wishes will be featured as part of Australia’s presence at the IDF-WPR Congress. Add your wish.

The campaign that reached Australia

Living Out Loud was not just a digital campaign. It reached Australians in their cities, on their drive to work and through their radios.

Out of home

In the media

The campaign made international, national, state and local news throughout the week, with Australians living with diabetes sharing their stories across television, print, digital, and radio, reaching nearly 4 million Australians.

The week was previewed with a story that ran nationally on Win regional TV news with an interview with Perth Diabetes Centre’s Tayla Dyson, who lives with type 1 diabetes, and â��ֱ��’s Group CEO Justine Cain.

It was followed on Saturday, 11 July, with an opinion editorial by Ms Cain in the Weekend Australian Magazine, which also features in the Qantas Magazine. Ms Cain told readers: “I wish people knew that diabetes is a very serious chronic condition that can develop for many different reasons, and that the individuals who live with it are inspiring and resilient.” 

Lara McSpadden, WNBL champion, Blue Circle Collective Ambassador and type 1 diabetes advocate, headlined the national media launch, describing what it means to represent Australia with diabetes. Ms Cain and the director of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Melbourne Children’s Hospital, Professor Fergus Cameron, were also interviewed. Lara’s story was broadcast by 9News and 10 News across the nation on afternoon and 6pm news bulletins, reaching thousands of Australians with a message that diabetes never has to be a barrier to success. Lara and Ms Cain were also featured in the Herald Sun.

Monday, 13 July, kicked off from 5am with FM and AM radio news stories across every state and territory on capital city stations and throughout the regions. Throughout the week, â��ֱ��’s Ms Cain, Nicole McMahon, Hannah Jackson, Minke Hoekstra and Deanne Minniecon were interviewed for program chats on commercial and ABC stations including Adelaide’s FiveAA, Bathurst, Canberra, Wollongong Wave FM, Sydney, Newcastle, Darwin, Alice Springs, Perth’s 6PR, and West Gippsland. Deanne’s Saturday morning chat on SRN regional radio network was broadcast by 47 stations around Australia.

A member of â��ֱ��’s Health Professional Advisory Council, Dr Konrad Kangru, spoke with ABC regional presenter Susan-Graham-Ryan and later in the week with ABC Tropical North’s Rob Kidd about the importance of recognising even mild symptoms, getting regular health checks, and the possible complications that can develop with diabetes.  

online explored the hidden health challenges Australia’s top athletes manage behind the scenes, shining a light on everyday realities that elite performers navigate alongside their diabetes, including Blue Circle Ambassadors Lara McSpadden and Lachie Kennedy.

In Western Australia, Lucy Woods spoke openly about breaking the stigma of diabetes through social media. Her story featured in as part of a state-based exclusive that put real lived experience at the centre of the conversation.

told the extraordinary story of James Griffiths, a proud Wangaaypuwan man and Blue Circle Collective Community Advocate from Sale, who lost his sight, his kidneys, and the career he was building to type 2 diabetes, before finding a new purpose in archery and setting his sights on the Paralympic Games.  James’s story resonated with editors around Australia and was published online in the Herald Sun (Melbourne), the Daily Telegraph (Sydney), the Adelaide Advertiser, the Courier Mail (Brisbane), and NT News (Darwin), as well as other regional newspapers. You can read more about James’s story below.

Ken Johnson and Minke Hoekstra told Hobart’s Mercury newspaper about Ken’s determination to live a healthy life after his type 2 diagnosis and efforts to achieve remission. Ken’s story, “How a type 2 diabetes diagnosis set this 77yo on the path to a marathon” was republished in Melbourne’s Herald Sun, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, and the Cairns Post.  

The Adelaide Advertiser featured Lara Wilson, a young woman living with type 1 diabetes who channelled her knowledge gained through living with a chronic condition to help children and parents at the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital school, going on to win the National Trainee of the Year Award in 2024. Now studying to be a teacher, Lara’s message was: “I wish people knew how many extra decisions I make every day because of my diabetes.” Lara coaches tennis and volunteers several times a week at the Flinders Park Tennis Club.

Channel 7’s national health editor interviewed Shalisse Thompson and revealed to a national and international audience for the first time that Shalisse’s Dad, , died eight years ago, aged 40, from diabetic ketoacidosis, caused by dangerously high glucose levels. Lance was diagnosed in his late 20s, and was a respected and popular professional rugby league player for the St George Dragons and later Cronulla.  Shalisse’s wish was simple and devastating: “I wish people knew diabetes can be life threatening.” Her story reached audiences on 7News Australia (online), , the West Australian, and the Daily Mail UK.

Online

Socials were buzzing throughout the week with over 450 people using #DiabetesOutLoud or #NDW2026 on Instagram, Facebook and X. We also saw a further 200+ wishes submitted through the online form, which continues to receive submissions leading into IDF-WPR Congress.

Beyond individual voices, the campaign inspired collective action. There were over 150 downloads of the campaign toolkit assets, showing strong uptake of the resources across the community. Diabetes Credentialled Educators, health practitioners and their clinics built their own physical wall of wishes, inviting patients to write and pin their declarations for all to see. A big shout out to the PDC Health Hub for their standout contribution over the week. 

Last week’s standout wish

Among hundreds of powerful declarations, this one stopped us in our tracks:

James Griffiths, a proud Wangaaypuwan man, Blue Circle Collective Community Advocate and aspiring Paralympic archer, knows better than most what diabetes can take from a person. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at just 19, he lost his sight, his kidneys, and the career he was building, all because of a condition he was never warned about. After surviving kidney failure and undergoing a kidney-pancreas transplant, James rebuilt his life with extraordinary determination, finding a new purpose in archery and community advocacy. He has been involved with the Sale to Sea Disability Kayak Challenge, served on advisory boards, and chaired the Wellington Access and Inclusion Advisory Group. Today, he continues to pursue his archery ambitions while using his lived experience to drive change in his community. His wish carries the full weight of a life transformed by diabetes and a determination to ensure the disease does not define his future, or the futures of others.

What the wishes told us

The declarations we received covered every corner of the diabetes experience. They spoke to the daily reality of managing a condition that never switches off, challenged the stigma that too often follows a type 2 diagnosis, celebrated what is possible in sport, leadership, and life with diabetes, and called for better access, improved technology, and more understanding.

Together, they painted a picture of a community that is resilient, determined, and ready to be heard. Not statistics; these were many distinct, powerful, and individual voices.

The next step: Join the Blue Circle Collective

If speaking up felt like the beginning of something, the Blue Circle Collective is your next step.

Our community of Ambassadors, Advocates, and Advisers uses lived experience to influence policy, shape research, and drive real change for the diabetes community across Australia. We are recruiting Advocates now, looking for people who are ready to turn one declaration into lasting advocacy. Express your interest.

Thank you

To everyone who shared a wish, posted a tile, tagged #DiabetesOutLoud, shared the campaign with someone they love, or simply listened; thank you.

To our Blue Circle Collective Ambassadors Lachlan Kennedy, Lara McSpadden, and Warren Bingham, who led the way with courage and generosity; thank you.

A big thank you to the talented photographers Nick James Fraser, Yvette Scott, and © David Kelly/Copyright Agency, 2026.   

To the 2 million Australians living with diabetes every day, this campaign was always for you. We hope last week felt like what it was: a moment where Australia stopped, listened, and heard you.

The voices do not stop here.

#DiabetesOutLoud #NDW2026

As Australian basketball star Lara McSpadden prepares to fly to Glasgow to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games, she is carrying far more than the green and gold.

The 25-year-old Gangurrus 3×3 representative lives with type 1 diabetes, making her a powerful example of this year’s National Diabetes Week message that when people living with diabetes share their experiences, everyone is stronger together.

This year’s National Diabetes Week (July 12-18) campaign, Living Out Loud, is encouraging the two million Australians living with diabetes to speak openly, without apology, about the realities of living with the condition and the support that helps them thrive. â��ֱ��’s campaign invites people with lived experience, carers, health professionals and diabetes researchers to share a declaration that finishes the sentence: “I wish people knew…”

As a â��ֱ�� Blue Circle Collective Ambassador, Lara hopes her story gives confidence to others, especially young people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“I wish people knew you can represent Australia with diabetes,” Ms McSpadden said.

Diabetes has never stopped this 193cm-tall champion from chasing her dreams. Instead, it has become another part of preparing to compete at the highest level.

Diagnosed at the age of seven, Lara has represented Australia at junior and senior levels, won world championship and Asia Cup gold medals, and now heads to Glasgow determined to see Australia succeed once again.

“I never pretend type 1 diabetes is easy,” Ms McSpadden said.

“It means making hundreds of extra decisions every day and constantly thinking ahead, particularly when I am training or competing. But I have never believed diabetes should decide what I can achieve.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to have supportive parents, teammates, coaches and health professionals around me. That support has made all the difference.

“I want young people living with diabetes to know they can still chase big dreams. There will be difficult days, but diabetes does not define who you are or what you are capable of,” she said.

Speaking at Keilor Basketball Stadium in Melbourne for the launch of National Diabetes Week, â��ֱ��’s Group CEO Justine Cain said Lara perfectly captures the spirit of this year’s campaign.

“Lara is living proof that diabetes is not a barrier to ambition, achievement or success. She is also honest about the daily work that goes into managing type 1 diabetes, and that honesty is incredibly important,” Ms Cain said.

“Living Out Loud is about making sure the voices of people living with diabetes are heard. Too often, diabetes is reduced to statistics or misunderstood through myths and stereotypes. The people living with it every day are the experts in what life with diabetes is really like.”

Ms Cain said many Australians living with diabetes still experienced stigma, misunderstanding and isolation.

“When people share their stories, they help others feel less alone. They challenge misconceptions, build understanding and create momentum for better care, better policies, better research and stronger support.

“This National Diabetes Week we are inviting every Australian living with diabetes to speak up about the one thing they have always wished people understood. Every voice matters because real change happens when we speak together,” Ms Cain said.

Whether living with diabetes, caring for someone who is, working in the health sector or simply wanting to learn more, Australians are encouraged to join the conversation during National Diabetes Week and help create a future where nobody living with diabetes feels invisible or alone.

About â��ֱ��

â��ֱ�� is the national peak body supporting people living with, and at risk of, diabetes. We are leading the national response to Australia’s largest health crisis, working in collaboration with people with lived experience, member organisations, peak bodies, health professionals, state-based organisations, researchers and the community. Our work focuses on supporting people with diabetes to live well, providing information, resources, and support services, as well as investing in prevention, and reducing the impact of diabetes on people, health systems and society. We advocate for positive change that will create a healthier future for everyone.      

People living with diabetes spend a lot of their lives explaining themselves to a world full of assumptions. This National Diabetes Week (12–18 July 2026), we’re flipping that. Instead of explaining, we’re declaring.

â��ֱ�� is asking the 2 million Australians living with diabetes to say, out loud and without apology, the one thing they’ve always wished people knew.

The campaign is called Living Out Loud, and it’s built on a simple truth: real change doesn’t come from one voice speaking louder. It comes from many voices speaking together. That’s why this year’s theme is Stronger Together.

What’s a “wish”?

It’s one sentence. Just complete the line:

“I wish people knew… [your wish].”

Maybe it’s about the 180 decisions someone makes every day to manage type 1 diabetes. Maybe it’s about the stigma that comes with a type 2 diagnosis. Maybe it’s about what it’s like caring for a child with diabetes, or spending years being misdiagnosed because your type doesn’t fit neatly into “type 1” or “type 2.”

One wish is a story. Thousands of wishes, shared at the same time, become a wall of voices too big to ignore.

Why call it all “diabetes” when we’re not the same?

Good question and we agree with the premise. Type 1, type 2, gestational and other forms of diabetes are genuinely different conditions, with different causes and different daily realities. This campaign isn’t about blurring those lines.

In fact, it does the opposite. Every declaration is shared with the person’s type attached, alongside their name (this is optional; if you’re not comfortable sharing, that’s fine too). So, when someone posts their wish, the world sees exactly who’s speaking and what kind of diabetes they live with.

A type 1 declaration looks different from a type 2 declaration. A carer’s wish looks different from a researcher’s. Those differences are visible, and that’s the whole point. Stronger Together doesn’t mean we’re the same. It means that when every distinct voice speaks up at once, the full picture of diabetes in Australia becomes visible.

Type 1 and type 2: what’s actually different?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. The body stops producing insulin altogether, and there’s currently no way to prevent it. People with type 1 manage it every single day, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, through insulin and constant decision-making. There’s no day off.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it. It’s influenced by a range of factors, including genetics, age, cultural background, and lifestyle.

Both are very serious conditions, and neither tells the whole story on its own. That’s exactly why this campaign asks people to speak for themselves.

More types than you might think

Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes are the most well-known, but they’re not the whole picture. Diabetes also includes:

• LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults)
• MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young)
• Neonatal diabetes
• Type 3c diabetes
• Wolfram Syndrome
• Alström Syndrome
• Medically-induced and steroid-induced diabetes
• Double diabetes

Each type comes with its own causes and challenges, and many are frequently misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2. You can read more about each type in detail on our What type of diabetes do you have? page. That’s exactly why this campaign invites everyone, no matter their type, to speak for themselves because no two diabetes stories are quite the same.

Meet some of the voices

This year, members of our Blue Circle Collective, â��ֱ��’s Ambassadors, Advocates and Advisers, are leading the way with their declarations, including:

Lachlan Kennedy

Lachlan Kennedy is one of Australia’s fastest men; an Olympian, national record-holder, and the second Australian man to legally break 10 seconds in the 100m. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 15 years old while overseas, Lachlan has turned what once felt like a setback into a source of discipline and focus.

As a Blue Circle Collective Ambassador, he uses his platform to prove that diabetes doesn’t limit ambition. This National Diabetes Week, his wish reflects exactly that mindset.

Warren Bingham

Warren Bingham is a leader in medical technology and healthcare innovation, with more than two decades spent advancing solutions that improve patient outcomes. As Founder and Executive Chairman of MedTech International, and Vice Chair of the Medical Technology Association of Australia, his work shapes how healthcare is delivered across the country.

Living with type 2 diabetes himself, Warren brings both professional expertise and lived experience to his advocacy as a Blue Circle Collective Ambassador. This National Diabetes Week, his wish is simple but powerful.

Lara McSpadden

Lara McSpadden is a professional basketballer and qualified high school teacher who has spent nearly two decades proving that type 1 diabetes doesn’t limit ambition or possibility. Diagnosed in 2007, Lara has played nine seasons in the WNBL and competed internationally in New Zealand and the Czech Republic.

As a Blue Circle Collective Ambassador, she’s committed to giving back to the community that has supported her journey. This National Diabetes Week, her wish speaks to what she’s proven on the world stage.

Throughout the week, more voices including advocates, carers, health professionals and everyday Australians, will be added to the declaration wall across social media, each with their own wish.

Where does it go from here?

Sharing a wish is just the start. For people who want their voice to go further:

Diabetes YOUnited

More than a membership; it’s your community, your connection, your people. Beyond expert information and resources, you’ll find a supportive network of people who genuinely understand what you’re going through, and a space to belong that goes far beyond a diagnosis.

If speaking your wish this week felt like the beginning of something, joining Diabetes YOUnited is the next step, connecting you with a whole community who already understands it.

The Blue Circle Collective

A national movement for voices who want to go further than one declaration. It’s a network of Ambassadors, Advocates, and Advisers; people living with diabetes who share their stories, raise awareness, and help drive real change across Australia.

We’re recruiting Advocates now. If you’re ready to turn your voice into ongoing advocacy, this is where it happens.

IDF Western Pacific Region Congress 2026

The voices don’t stop at Australia’s shores. Every declaration collected during National Diabetes Week will be taken to the in Melbourne, delivered alongside the Australasian Diabetes Congress and Metabolic Diseases 2026, carried there as Australia’s collective voice, asking the world to listen.

How you can get involved

This National Diabetes Week is for everyone, whether you’re living with diabetes, caring for someone who is, or simply want to understand it better. Here’s how to take part:

1. Share your wish: If you’re living with diabetes, complete the sentence “I wish people knew…” and share your declaration with the world.
2. Show your support: If you’re a carer, friend, colleague, or simply an ally, download our free Canva template and share a message of support.
3. Use the hashtag: Tag #DiabetesOutLoud #NDW2026 on every post so we can find, amplify and share every voice as part of the national movement.

However you choose to take part, the goal is the same: listen, declare, and stand stronger together.

You can find everything you need to create your wish, access resources, and get involved: National Diabetes Week campaign resources 2026.

This National Diabetes Week, we’re looking ahead to a landmark moment for our community, one that will see the voices, wishes, and lived experiences of Australians with diabetes shared on a truly global stage.

In August 2026, Melbourne will host one of the most significant diabetes meetings ever held in the Western Pacific Region: The (IDF-WPR Congress 2026).

What is the IDF‑WPR Congress, and why is â��ֱ�� co-hosting?

The IDF-WPR Congress 2026 is being delivered in combination with the Australasian Diabetes Congress (ADC 2026) and Metabolic Diseases 2026, bringing together an expected 3,000 delegates from Australia, across the Western Pacific Region, and internationally. It’s one of the largest diabetes and metabolic health gatherings held in the Southern Hemisphere for some time.

The combined Congress is co-hosted by â��ֱ��, the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA). It will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18–21 August 2026.

Hosting this Congress in Australia is a rare opportunity to bring global expertise together while focussing on regional challenges and national priorities. The 2026 program will feature approximately 250+ international and Australasian speakers across four days. As co-hosts, we can help shape a program where the perspectives of people living with diabetes sit alongside world-leading research, clinical care, education, advocacy, and policy.

What is the Diabetes Community Day?

â��ֱ�� is delivering the Diabetes Community Day, a dedicated, free event held on the opening day of the Congress, designed specifically for people living with diabetes, their families, and supporters.

The Diabetes Community Day brings together education, lived experience, advocacy, and innovation in an accessible, welcoming environment. Whether you want to learn more about managing diabetes, connect with others in the community, or explore the latest tools and support available, it’s a chance to engage with the Congress in a way that’s relevant, practical, and meaningful to you.

What to expect on the day

The full program runs all day across the Plenary Theatre, exhibition zone and the breakout sessions, but a few moments not to be missed include:

• Community Exhibition: Connect with leading diabetes organisations and support services, innovative technologies and treatments, education, advocacy and community initiatives
• Children with Diabetes Journey Awards: Celebrating young people living with diabetes and their families.
• â��ֱ�� Grand Innovation Challenge Final: Watch finalists present at the â��ֱ�� Grand Innovation Challenge, showcasing breakthrough ideas and technologies transforming diabetes care.
• Highlights of the Congress: A rolling showcase of bite-sized talks from the main Congress program, bringing together global and local perspectives on diabetes care, treatment innovation, advocacy, programs delivered across cultures, and more.

Plus, a Guru Dudu Silent Disco, art activation with Robert Lee Davis, and a relaxed chill-out area for those who just want to take it all in.

Taking the community’s voice to a global stage

This National Diabetes Week (12–18 July), â��ֱ��’s campaign is called Living Out Loud, and is asking the 2 million Australians living with diabetes to complete one sentence:

“I wish people knew…”

The aim is to aggregate the thousands of individual wishes shared under this year’s theme, Stronger Together, and build them into a wall of voices too big to ignore.

Every declaration is carried with the person’s diabetes type attached, so the full, distinct picture of diabetes in Australia, including type 1, type 2, gestational, and beyond, stays visible rather than blurred into one story.

And the voices don’t stop at Australia’s shores. Many of the wishes collected during National Diabetes Week will travel with us to the IDF-WPR Congress 2026, where they will be shared at a dedicated installation — carried there as Australia’s collective voice, asking the world’s researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to listen.

What our voices are wishing for

How to add your wish

Find everything you need and get involved on the National Diabetes Week page.

Some of the wishes shared this week will be carried all the way to Melbourne, helping ensure the lived experience of our community informs the conversations happening on the global stage.

How to register

Growing up in a quiet mining town in central New South Wales, Brodie Sargent didn’t know anyone with type 1 diabetes. It was only when he moved to Wollongong that he discovered a new community and a sense of purpose that would inspire him to chase world records. In this motivating episode of Life on the level, Brodie opens up about carving a path from country kid to a global role model for others with diabetes.    

A country childhood: creative beginnings 

“When I was young, my parents bought a farm block and raised us in the country,” Brodie explains. “I was a creative and chubby kid. In late primary school, I traded drawing for sport to fit in, including racing motorbikes with my adventurous older brother.” 

In Year 9, Brodie began losing weight rapidly and going to the toilet often. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Initially, self-conscious, by year 11, his desire to play rugby with his mates had taken over.  

Seeing diabetes through a new lens 

“Playing rugby with a blood glucose monitor strapped to my arm made me realise that I could do whatever I wanted,” Brodie says. “I returned to drawing and started tattooing. In my late teens, I moved to Wollongong and landed a job as a tattoo apprentice.”  

In Wollongong, Brodie started to meet more people living with diabetes. Talking with them shifted his perspective.  

“I think Mum sheltered me from some of the more serious consequences of this disease. When a mate’s friend told me about his Mum dying at 60, it hit me hard. I knew I needed to do something that made a difference,” Brodie says.  

A turning point on the road 

Brodie later quit tattooing and joined a family road trip from Darwin to Perth. With lots of time to think and a copy of Nedd Brockmann’s book from a friend, Brodie had a revelation.  

“I thought to myself, ‘I can run.’ I didn’t run the cross country at school until Year 10,” Brodie laughs, “But my roommate in Wollongong had got me running before work and doing half-marathons some weekends. While working two jobs, running became my thinking time.” 

Running with purpose 

Brodie began running more frequently, testing his limits. One day, he called his dad. 

“I told him that I wanted to run the 800 km Gibb River Road in Western Australia. He suggested that I start with something smaller and that I could make more of a difference by running to fundraise, rather than to push myself.”  

Brodie’s passion now had purpose. Six months later, Brodie ran 50km a day for five days, three in Wollongong and two in his hometown of Mudgee, raising over $9,000 for â��ֱ�� and JDRF (now Breakthrough T1D). 

Chasing a new world record 

Next, Brodie had a Guinness World Record in his sights. Starting in August 2025, he set out to break the record for the highest number of consecutive marathons completed by a male living with type 1 diabetes. After running 26 marathons in 26 days and finishing with a half‑ironman alongside his brother, Brodie achieved the Guinness World Record. An absolute legend, Brodie is now more determined than ever to turn his social media into an advocacy platform, @typerun_, that he hopes will outlive him one day. 

Tune in: Brodie’s full story 

On this episode of the Life on the Level podcast, Brodie opens up about his dream of one day finding a career that brings him the same sense of fulfilment as his long-distance runs. For now, his focus is on raising awareness and funds to support others living with diabetes, and that purpose alone keeps him moving forward. His story is a powerful reminder of the strength found in community, connection, and determination. Whether you live with diabetes or not, Brodie’s journey will inspire you to chase what matters most. 

You can follow Brodie’s progress on Instagram

Hosted by young Aussies Isabella Magee and Sebastian Harris, Life on the level is a podcast that keeps things honest. No sugar-coating, no lectures — just open conversations about what it’s like to live with type 1 diabetes as a young person. The challenges, the awkward moments, the wins you don’t always talk about —it’s all here.  

If you’ve ever felt like no one really “gets it”, this podcast will remind you that you’re not on your own. Or if you know someone with diabetes, it will give you new insights into what it’s really like to live with.  

Season 2 in a nutshell  

This season shares stories that are relatable, reassuring, and inspiring. Isabella and Sebastian chat with guests who manage their diabetes alongside study, work, sport, relationships, mental health, and everything else life throws your way. These episodes make you think, laugh, or just feel seen. 

You can expect conversations about: 

• Navigating a diabetes diagnosis  

• Adjusting to life with type 1 diabetes 

• Managing motivation and mental health 

• Trying new things (and sometimes messing up) 

• Finding confidence, balance, and support 

• Living your life — not letting diabetes call the shots. 

During this season, you’ll hear from young men and women with different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives with each willing to share their story in the hope that it helps others living with diabetes.  

Who’s joining us this season?  

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the people on the podcast this season: 

• Brodie Sargent on being a country kid and a marathon world record chaser – Kick back with Brodie Sargent, tattoo artist, rugby player, marathon runner, and proud T1D advocate.  Brodie shares his laid-back (but driven) approach to life with type 1, from smashing goals on the field to raising awareness with 50km runs. We dive into his journey, getting inked and why a diagnosis doesn’t define what’s possible.   

• Nikki Findlay on mental health and a life full of adventures – Talking about burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges isn’t always easy, especially when you feel invisible. Nikki Findlay is changing that by using her voice to advocate for real, lasting change. In this episode, we sit down for an open and honest conversation about mental health, including discussions around suicide. It might be heavy and, if this one’s not right for you, that’s completely okay. 

• Brett Findlay on parenthood, brain injury, and resilience – At 25, Brett Findlay was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and later experienced a traumatic brain injury due to his diabetes. While his mates were out living their 20s to the fullest, Brett was forced to rebuild his life. In this powerful episode, Seb and Isabella sit down with Brett to talk hypo awareness, healing after trauma, and finding new ways forward. It’s honest, moving, and a reminder that there’s strength in starting again. 

Brett Findlay had just started a new job when he learnt he had type 1 diabetes. He figured he could manage diabetes by keeping his blood glucose levels consistently low. Then, one fateful day, he had a severe hypo. In this raw episode of Life on the Level, Brett talks about hypo unawareness, rebuilding after trauma, and the enduring strength of family.  

A surprise diagnosis in his twenties 

“Aged 24, diabetes was not the diagnosis I expected,” Brett says. “I was managing a busy hotel venue on the Gold Coast, and I thought I was simply working too hard. I went to the doctor because I knew something wasn’t right. When the doctor got my test results, he called me straight back in.”  

Over the following years, Brett chose to manage his diabetes himself, rarely consulting health professionals. He thought that by running his levels constantly low, he could stay on track.  

Developing hypo unawareness 

Brett and his family relocated to Coffs Harbour, where he joined his brother in the banking industry. While he felt like he was on top of everything, Brett had developed hypoglycaemia unawareness, a dangerous condition when you become unaware of the early warning signs of a hypo. 

In 2023, Brett was shopping with his children when he had a seizure, losing consciousness and hitting the floor so hard that he fractured his skull. While Brett has no memory of the event, his six-year-old daughter grabbed her younger brother, covering his eyes. When the paramedics arrived, she told them her dad was a type 1 diabetic.   

Traumatic brain injury: a long road back 

“I woke up in the hospital yelling at everyone,” Brett recalls. “I didn’t understand what had happened.”  

Brett spent months in the hospital and rehabilitation in Sydney. Back at home, he receives support from the local brain injury rehabilitation service. While Brett tried to return to work six months after his injury, it didn’t go well. He is currently on a career break and planning a gradual return to work.  

Finding new ways to manage life with T1D and TBI 

Brett knows his story could have turned out differently had it not been for the Australian health system, income protection and his family. He’s keen to never put his loved ones through the trauma of another severe hypo. Brett now uses a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump, aiming to keep his blood glucose levels within a healthy range.  

“I want to be sure I’m here for my wife and kids,” Brett says. “It’s taken time to build up their trust again and show them that I can manage my diabetes.”  

Tune in: Brett’s full story 

In this episode of the Life on the Level podcast, Brett shares the pivotal experiences that forced him to re-evaluate his life and health. He also highlights the positives that have come from his journey, such as having more time for socialising and volunteering as a speaker to support other brain injury survivors. His story is a stark reminder of the importance of prioritising what matters in life and the resilience of the human spirit.   

The diabetes sector has welcomed the Federal Government’s response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes, which provides in-principle support for a number of key recommendations needed to arrest Australia’s diabetes epidemic.

The sector is encouraged by the government’s willingness to increase awareness about diabetes, improve diabetes care, expand access to GLP-1 medicines and grow diabetes research investments.

â��ֱ��’s Group CEO Justine Cain said the government’s response shows it has heard the strong advocacy from the diabetes sector.

“â��ֱ��, as the national peak body for all Australians living with diabetes, will continue to relentlessly pursue avenues to increase support for the diabetes community alongside the whole sector,” Ms Cain said.

“There was a comprehensive package of measures recommended in the Inquiry’s report, and the government’s response to them is an important step forward.

“In particular, we welcome support for public health campaigns to increase awareness of the early signs of all types of diabetes as well as prevention measures; an increase in MBS item numbers for diabetes educators; expanding eligibility for GLP-1 medicines; and the funding and coordination of diabetes research.”  

Ms Cain said the sector understands that the challenging economic circumstances facing Australia at this time meant some recommendations had been noted, but that ongoing advocacy would continue.

“We look forward to working with government as we continue to find a way to make insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors more affordable for people living with diabetes whose lives would be drastically improved by these technologies,” Ms Cain said.

“In this week’s Federal Budget, the government announced funding for important initiatives that will support the diabetes community including investments in research, the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, and My Health Record. We welcome this funding which will deliver practical support.

“Equity of access to technologies continues to be a critical focus and we must work together with government to find a way to make this standard care affordable for Australians. Health equity is critical. In a cost of living crisis, access to diabetes technology and services is more important than ever,” Ms Cain said.

Australian Diabetes Educators Association CEO Melanie Morris said “we welcome the government’s response and the support in principle for a number of key recommendations that will improve access to care, strengthen the diabetes workforce, and enhance prevention.

“Importantly, this includes support to improve access to Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs), including in high‑risk outer metropolitan, rural and remote communities, as well as expanding MBS‑subsidised allied health services and access to longer consultations,” Ms Morris said.

Australian Diabetes Society CEO Sof Andrikopoulos said there were a number of encouraging signs for diabetes research.

“When taken together, the announcement in the Federal Budget that MRFF funding will be increased to $1 billion by 2030, and the in-principle support for the diabetes research recommendation for the inquiry, we can see promising roads ahead for Australia’s diabetes community,” Mr Andrikopoulos said.

Dr Matthew Hare, President of the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society noted new initiatives in the Federal budget that will enhance opportunities for women living with diabetes to have the best health outcomes for them and their children, such as improved access to long-acting reversible contraception.

“We are committed to continuing to work with the Australian Government to ensure equitable access to life-changing technologies for women with diabetes that will improve health outcomes across generations,” Dr Hare said.

Twenty-three key recommendations were included in a comprehensive report tabled in 2024 by the Health, Aged Care and Sport Committee following its landmark .

The diabetes community will continue to work with government on increasing affordable access to diabetes technologies including insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.

“These technologies aren’t a ‘nice to have’, they are absolutely necessary,” Ms Cain said.

“Right now, we’re seeing a widening gap between what we know works and what people can afford. Cost should never determine whether someone can access life‑changing care.

“We very much look forward to continuing the discussions with government on how we can make this a reality,” Ms Cain said.

Meet the Blue Circle Collective — a national network of Ambassadors, Advocates, and Advisers united to drive meaningful change for all Australians.  

What is the Blue Circle Collective? 

A national network of passionate Ambassadors, Advocates and Advisers, united to amplify the cause, raise awareness, and drive meaningful change in how diabetes is understood, supported, and addressed.  

At â��ֱ��, we recognise that speaking means little unless it’s grounded in listening. The Blue Circle Collective strengthens our ability to hear directly from communities, reflect their lived experiences, and advocate for what truly matters. Whether it’s influencing policy, sparking grassroots action, or shifting public perception, the Blue Circle Collective is a driving force for progress. 

Ambassadors, Advocates, and Advisers each have a distinct role, all connected by a common purpose. Whether influencing national policy, sparking grassroots action, or shifting public perception, members aren’t bystanders; they’re the driving force. 

” There has always been stigma surrounding people who live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and I believe one way to change that is for those with lived experience to help educate others.” – Dominic Speranza, Community Advocate 

Meet the Circle 

With the Blue Circle Collective spanning nationwide, we’re proud to introduce the powerful voices that represent and uplift the diabetes community across Australia. Our Ambassadors, Advocates, and Advisers come from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, each bringing their own perspective to the Circle. 

#1 Ambassadors  

Ambassadors are high-profile voices who champion diabetes awareness on the national stage through media, public events, and major campaigns. As familiar faces, they share a real connection to the cause and a lifelong commitment.
 

Meet some of our 2026 Ambassadors: Warren Bingham, Lachlan Kennedy, Lara McSpadden, Isabella Magee, Bas de Ruijter, Gordon Bunyan 

#2 Advocates 

Advocates are passionate volunteers who speak from lived experience. They shape programs, share stories, and ensure real voices are heard where decisions get made — experts in what it’s like to live with diabetes. 

Meet some of our 2026 Advocates: Dominic Speranza, Lauren Cusack, Dr Amira Howari, Vicky Kavasilas, Sebastian Harris, Kate Wildermuth, Lucy Woods 

#3 Advisers 

Combining professional expertise with lived experience, Advisers guide â��ֱ��’s Board and Management on strategy and research, translating community perspectives into authentic, impactful solutions. 

Meet some of our 2026 Advisers: Leon Tribe, Yvonne Appleby, Emma Bond, Jenna Cantamessa, Saradhi Motamarri, Caitlin Rogers, Caroline Thomas 

How Circle members make a difference 

Members contribute in ways that suit them, either sharing stories or insights that shape programs and services, participating in events and media opportunities, contributing to research and advocacy efforts, providing formal consultation to the â��ֱ�� Board and Management, and supporting or leading community-driven initiatives. Some step into the spotlight; others work behind the scenes. Both matter equally. 

No matter how diabetes touches your life, your experience is important. Whether you live with diabetes, care for someone who does, work in the field, or are at risk, your experience matters. Your voice can help shape programs, support others, and make a real difference in the lives of families living with diabetes. 

“If you’re thinking about joining the Blue Circle Collective, please step in. Your voice, your story, and your individual circumstances truly matter. Each of your stories within the Circle can help us eliminate the impact of diabetes on all Australians.”  – Kirsten McMahon, National Manager Social Impact 

Want to learn more? 

Visit our website to discover how the Blue Circle Collective is creating change and get to know the stories behind the inspiring Australians driving it.