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鈥�” 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鈥�” 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 芒果直播’s Group CEO Justine Cain.

It was followed on Saturday, 11 July, with an opinion editorial by聽Ms Cain聽in the Weekend Australian Magazine, which also features in the Qantas Magazine.聽Ms Cain聽told readers: 鈥淚 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.鈥澛�

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, 芒果直播’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 芒果直播鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 漏 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

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

芒果直播 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鈥� [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鈥檚. 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
• Alstr枚m 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, 芒果直播’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鈥檚 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鈥�” 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鈥慦PR Congress, and why is 芒果直播 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 芒果直播, 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鈥�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?

芒果直播 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.
• 芒果直播 Grand Innovation Challenge Final: Watch finalists present at the 芒果直播 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鈥�18 July), 芒果直播鈥檚 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 鈥� 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

芒果直播 has signed a research agreement with Australian biopharmaceutical company Myopharm Limited to explore practical ways to improve diabetes management and prevent complications.

芒果直播 and Myopharm will each contribute $240,000 to co-fund two industry PhD scholarships through the Sheila Woodcock 芒果直播 Industry PhD program, that will focus on improving diabetes care in vulnerable populations including older adults and pregnant women.

The three-year partnership will include funding research and clinical trials into nutritional management solutions for gestational diabetes, and broader diabetes complications.

芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain said diabetes is one of the most urgent and complex health challenges of our time.

鈥溍⒐辈� is investing in partnerships that will accelerate research and innovation that delivers real-world impact, is shaped by lived experience, and addresses the most pressing needs of our community.

鈥淥ur goal is for people with diabetes to live longer, healthier and more productive lives enabled by the latest scientific discoveries,鈥� Ms Cain said.

芒果直播 Director of Research Professor Grant Brinkworth said the agreement with Myopharm demonstrates a new approach and direction in diabetes research.

鈥淚n line with the new 芒果直播 Research Strategy 2025-2030, the objective of the partnership is to develop real-world solutions to the problems experienced by people living with diabetes,鈥� Professor Brinkworth said.

鈥淲e want to harness the knowledge and expertise of 芒果直播 and Myopharm, our academic partners and scientists to look for breakthroughs that make a real difference in people鈥檚 lives. Importantly, these research projects will focus on older adults and women in pregnancy, which aligns with 芒果直播鈥檚 commitment to vulnerable populations.

鈥淓mbedding researchers within industry settings will not only foster cross-sector collaboration but it will also develop the researcher鈥檚 skill in entrepreneurship, translation and commercialisation that are necessary to accelerate research outcomes into real-world solutions,鈥� he said.

Karinza Phoenix Chief Executive Office from Myopharm said 鈥渄iabetes is the number one challenge facing Australia鈥檚 health sector and unless major investment is made in type 2 diabetes prevention the number of Australians living with this complex condition could reach 3.6 million by 2050.鈥�

芒果直播 will administer the PhD scholarships in collaboration with academic institutions and Myopharm.

About 芒果直播

芒果直播 is the national organisation supporting all people living with or at risk of diabetes. We put people first. We work in collaboration with member organisations, consumers, health professionals, state-based organisations, researchers and the community.

For more information visit: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

Australians at risk of type 2 diabetes now have access to a free information and referral service helping to stem the tide of the nation鈥檚 type 2 diabetes epidemic.

芒果直播 has launched 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes), a free national hotline and website that will support individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes to navigate health resources.

Two million Australians are living with diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes which costs our health system $9.1 billion dollars every year. Without further investment in type 2 diabetes prevention up to 3.6 million Australians could be living with diabetes by 2050.  

Although genetics play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes may help to prevent or delay the onset of the condition in up to 58% of cases.

芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain said 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) will help people know where they can find local support.

鈥極ne Australian is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every 8 minutes, but unfortunately there is still a worrying lack of awareness about how serious it is and where to find information to support prevention,鈥� Ms Cain said.  

鈥�1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) is designed to cut through the noise and give every Australian at risk of type 2 diabetes access to information and free local services in their state or territory.  

鈥楾his free information and referral service is part of 芒果直播鈥檚 commitment to reduce rates of type 2 diabetes and its impact on individuals and the health system,鈥� she said.

Callers to 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) will speak with a 芒果直播 staff member who will support them in navigating health information services. Staff will be encouraging callers to speak to their GP for further advice, and where appropriate, callers will also be given information about existing government-funded programs delivered by respected health organisations.

North Queensland General Practitioner Dr Konrad Kangru said initiatives that help to prevent type 2 diabetes are vitally important.

鈥楶reventive health is a critical part of general practice. Having a phone line and website that health professionals can provide to their patients is a useful way to support them to navigate the services that are available,鈥� Dr Kangru said.

鈥楧octors work hard to help people take steps to avoid type 2 diabetes where possible because it comes with serious and costly complications like an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

鈥�1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) will support that work,鈥� he said.

Brisbane woman Andrea Stevens said 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) will be a lifeline for people like her who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

鈥楾here is a lot of information out there but it isn鈥檛 always easy to find and sometimes it鈥檚 hard to know if it is good advice or not,鈥� Ms Stevens said.

鈥楬aving a number that you can just call up and speak to someone at 芒果直播 is a real gamechanger.

鈥業 urge anyone who may be at risk of type 2 diabetes, or if they know someone who might be, to call 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes).

鈥楯ust a few small changes to your lifestyle and diet can make a huge difference, that certainly was the case for me,鈥� she said.

芒果直播 Chief Medical Officer, Professor David Simmons said 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) is not a clinical service and does not provide clinical advice.

鈥楾he service is firmly grounded in peer-reviewed, best-practice. Our call centre staff are well trained and experienced in supporting callers in navigating health information services. All related web-based content and lifestyle modification resources have been developed and peer-reviewed by experienced allied health professionals, including Credentialled Diabetes Educators, ensuring clinical accuracy and soundness,鈥� Professor Simmons said.

1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) operates between 8.30am and 5.00pm (local time), Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) on 1800 773 8368. The 1800PREVENT (type 2 diabetes) website provides 24/7 access to type 2 diabetes prevention resources and tools.

芒果直播 delivers a range of other prevention programs and services such as the NSW , Queensland鈥檚 and The COACH Program in Tasmania.

About 芒果直播

芒果直播 is the national organisation supporting all people living with or at risk of diabetes. We put people first. We work in collaboration with member organisations, consumers, health professionals, state-based organisations, researchers and the community.

For more information visit: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

Tasmania鈥檚 deputy premier, Guy Barnett, who lives with type 1 diabetes, is joining Pollie Pedal again this year to support Tasmanians living with diabetes.

Pollie Pedal Tasmania 2025 will be run from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2. This unique three-day road cycling event will see participants ride alongside Mr Barnett to support the more than 32,000 Tasmanians living with diabetes and to help prevent others from developing the condition.

Next year will mark 18 years of 芒果直播鈥檚 involvement with Pollie Pedal, a milestone of commitment to reducing the impact of diabetes. Since its inception in 2006, the event has covered more than 5,000km and raised $850,000 for vital diabetes programs and research.

芒果直播鈥檚 Group CEO, Justine Cain, said the event is a testament to the strength and generosity of the Tasmanian community.

鈥淧ollie Pedal Tasmania is more than just a cycling event: It鈥檚 a powerful statement of unity and support for those living with diabetes. Over the past 18 years, we鈥檝e seen incredible courage from participants and generosity from sponsors who have helped us make a real difference,鈥� said Ms Cain.

鈥淓very kilometre pedalled, every dollar raised, and every story shared brings us closer to a future where diabetes has less impact on individuals, families, and communities. We鈥檙e so proud to partner with Deputy Premier Guy Barnett, whose personal journey with type 1 diabetes inspires so many.鈥�

Deputy Premier Barnett, an advocate for diabetes awareness and a Pollie Pedal champion, is passionate about the event鈥檚 mission. Reflecting on previous rides, he told Tasmania鈥檚 Parliament:

鈥淧ollie Pedal is designed to make a difference鈥攁nd it has. Through this incredible event, we鈥檝e raised funds and awareness that have supported thousands of Tasmanians. I鈥檓 honoured to ride alongside our community once again and look forward to another successful year.鈥�

Cyclists of all levels are invited to join this inspiring journey through Tasmania鈥檚 stunning landscapes, from rolling hills to coastal roads. To register as a rider or sponsor the event, contact 芒果直播 via email at PolliePedal@diabetesaustralia.com.au or visit our website at .

芒果直播 has announced a new partnership with PDC Health Hub, welcoming the organisation as an Associate Member in a move that will strengthen the voice of the Perth diabetes community at a national level.

The collaboration is a crucial step in bringing together the combined expertise and advocacy of both organisations to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.

The announcement comes at a time when Australia is grappling with the impact of a diabetes epidemic. With 140,000 people in Western Australia living with diabetes and many more at risk, the health, economic, and personal costs of the condition are staggering.

芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain said it is critical for diabetes organisations to work together to effectively address the crisis.

“If we act together, we can make a real difference. We can improve the lives of those living with diabetes, reduce the burden on our healthcare system, and protect future generations from the potential devastating effects of this condition,鈥� she said.

鈥淎 recent survey conducted by 芒果直播 found 60% of people living with diabetes want to be better connected to support. One of the ways we鈥檙e doing that is by forming strong local partnerships and creating a united voice.

鈥淧DC Health Hub undertakes outstanding work supporting individuals living with diabetes and improving diabetes care.

“It is an absolute privilege to partner with PDC Health Hub as another important Associate Member of 芒果直播. Their efforts are making a real difference in people鈥檚 lives,” Ms Cain said.

PDC Health Hub Director Teresa Di Franco said the partnership marks a new chapter in their ongoing work to support the diabetes community.

鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of the work we do here in Perth and it鈥檚 exciting to partner with 芒果直播 to grow our impact,鈥� she said.

“PDC Health Hub currently supports more than 14,000 people living with all types of diabetes, and we are encouraging all our clients to become members of 芒果直播.

“This allows us to ensure our community has both a national voice while being supported locally.

“We look forward to maximising our collective impact through this very exciting partnership.”

Australians living with diabetes are doing it tougher than ever.

That鈥檚 why today, on World Diabetes Day (Thursday 14 November), 芒果直播 is launching Diabetes YOUnited 鈥� our new, free national membership program available to everyone in Australia. 

To celebrate the launch of Diabetes YOUnited, we鈥檙e teaming up with chef Miguel Maestre to host a series of cooking demonstrations around Australia. Miguel鈥檚 challenge? To cook a tasty, easy, and affordable meal. After appearing with 芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain on Channel 9鈥檚 Today show this morning, the first stop is Perth!

鈥淭his is such an important campaign for me to be involved in. I鈥檝e been on my own health journey with my nutrition and my fitness because I want to feel good and have energy. I鈥檓 so passionate about good food but I know it鈥檚 challenging times for people right now,鈥� said Miguel.

鈥淓verything is expensive. I want to help show people that you can make really tasty food that鈥檚 not expensive and is very nutritious. While I鈥檓 an expert in good food, 芒果直播 are the experts in diabetes support and I鈥檓 looking forward to cooking up a storm around the country!鈥�

The (ADC) is underway, with over one thousand delegates from across the region gathering in Perth.

The three-day conference is hosted by 芒果直播鈥檚 unifying partners Australian Diabetes Society and Australian Diabetes Educators Association and is taking place from 21 to 23 August.

Speaking at the Congress, 芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain said the voice of the diabetes community had never been stronger as, together, we continue the work that鈥檚 needed to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.

The program includes eminent researchers and diabetes educators, sharing the latest breakthroughs in research, education and care in diabetes.

From 2013 to 2023, the total number of Australians known to be living with all types of diabetes rose by 32%.

In Western Australia, where this year鈥檚 ADC is being held, there are now more than 140,000 people living with all types of diabetes, and more than 122,000 West Australians are living with type 2 diabetes.

Innovative solutions to enhance prevention and management strategies, including targeted investments in research, are needed to stem the tide of this epidemic.

Events like ADC support people living with diabetes, diabetes researchers and health professionals in this work.

During the Congress, 芒果直播 is sponsoring travel scholarships to support Congress participants to also attend the 2025 International Diabetes Federation World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok. Ten scholarships are available to help broaden the knowledge of frontline health workers and researchers, support their education and grow the global diabetes network.

Australians living with all types of diabetes should have equitable access to the technology they need to live well. Right now they don鈥檛 and this needs to change.

That was the simple, yet powerful, message for National Diabetes Week 2024 (July 14-20).

National Diabetes Week featured many powerful stories of people living with diabetes, highlighting the current inequities many Australians experience accessing the technology they need to live well.

Throughout the week, a series of community engagement events, media opportunities, and announcements amplified the voices of the diabetes community and showcased the need for fair and equitable access to diabetes technology.

鈥楧iaBuddies鈥� help launch National Diabetes Week

A big group of 鈥楧iaBuddies鈥� children living with type 1 diabetes and their families helped launch National Diabetes Week 2024 in Brisbane. In sharing their stories, these children and their families highlighted the difference diabetes technology makes in their lives but, also the financial hardship for many trying to access this technology.

Position Statement outlines the steps needed to create more affordable access to diabetes technology

To kick-off National Diabetes Week, 芒果直播 released a new policy paper calling on the government to make life changing technology more affordable for people living with all types of diabetes.

In the paper, we have outlined the steps needed to create more affordable access to CGM devices and insulin pumps, including economic modelling that shows a $200 million package of investment would support nearly 40,000 people living with diabetes to access these technologies, prioritising those with the greatest need.

Acknowledging that subsidies to improve access will likely need to be delivered in a staged approach over time, the paper recommends key priority groups in the first instance, with further expansion in the future.

The paper also outlines recommendations for changes to the way diabetes technologies are assessed and approved in Australia and investment in the diabetes workforce to support people living with diabetes get the most out of technology.

New funding announced for diabetes technology research

During National Diabetes Week, 芒果直播 announced a new funding program to support research into life-changing diabetes technologies.

The Diabetes Technology Research Accelerator Grant Program has been designed to fast-track the development of new diabetes technologies.

The research program will bring together technology and pharmaceutical industries with world leading researchers to get new technologies into the hands of people with diabetes who need them most.

芒果直播 will be investing seed funding of $250,000 and we are calling for matched funding from industry partners to help generate $1 million to spear-head this initiative and create real change.

Marrin Weejali event highlights need for technology access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Federal MP backs campaign with activation in Sydney鈥檚 West

In collaboration with Federal Member for Fowler, Dai Le MP, 芒果直播 hosted an activation at Cabramatta Plaza, in Sydney鈥檚 West. Fowler has a strong multicultural community with rates of diabetes much higher than the national average. Hundreds turned out to engage in the event, chat with a diabetes health professional and hear about the campaign for fair and equitable access to diabetes technology.

Victorian Virtual Emergency Department-Diabetes Service launched

芒果直播 is proud to be backing the new Victorian Virtual Emergency Department-Diabetes Service, launched during National Diabetes Week.

The first of its kind in Australia service aims to provide emergency specialist support services for people living with diabetes and revolutionise the management of diabetes emergencies across Victoria.

Expert modelling shows huge cost savings for diabetes technology

News coverage during National Diabetes Week highlighted new research which shows CGM devices can dramatically reduce the risk of life-threatening diabetes-related complications including blindness, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure for people living with type 2 diabetes.

芒果直播 Chief Medical Officer Professor David Simmons is a co-author on research presented recently at the American Diabetes Association conference. It studied people with type 2 diabetes on intensive insulin therapy in Australia.

The analysis shows CGM would massively reduce eye, renal, neuropathy, and cardiovascular complications of the condition by 17.7, 21.1, 8.7 and 2.5 per cent respectively.

April Welsh shares the life changing impact of diabetes technology

April Welsh, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of three, knows the life changing impact of diabetes technology. It鈥檚 helped her chase her dreams and compete professionally in motorsport, racing in Formula Vee in WA.

At a National Diabetes Week event hosted by Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre based at Perth Children’s Hospital and Telethon Kids Institute, April met with a group of children newly diagnosed with type 1 who are just starting out on their journey with diabetes tech.

Perth Diabetes Care roundtable highlights need to keep the conversation going

To cap off the week, a roundtable event hosted by Perth Diabetes Care provided a forum to hear from more people about how much fair and equitable access to technology would mean to them.

Let鈥檚 keep the conversation going

The national conversation, which commenced in the months leading up to National Diabetes Week, will continue well beyond July as the diabetes community continues to unite around this issue.

This fight starts and ends with community. Together we can make a difference!

Let鈥檚 unite in the fight for tech.