Winter can mean cosy nights, comfort food, and the perfect excuse to stay under a blanket a little longer. But as the days start to stretch out and the weather warms up, spring brings a natural sense of fresh energy and new beginnings.

If you’ve found some healthy habits have drifted over the cooler months, you’re certainly not alone. The good news? You don’t need a complete lifestyle overhaul. A few small tweaks can help you feel more in control and make diabetes management feel a little easier.

Let spring do some of the heavy lifting

There’s a reason many of us feel more motivated at this time of year. Longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures can naturally boost your mood, help regulate your body clock, and motivate you to reconnect with routines that may have slipped during winter.

Rather than aiming for perfection, think of spring as an opportunity to check in with yourself. What’s working well? What could use a refresh? Even one or two small changes can make a meaningful difference over time.

Fresh season, fresh food

Spring delivers an abundance of colourful produce that can add variety and flavour to meals. Think crisp greens, asparagus, berries, and other seasonal favourites that are lower in carbohydrate and packed with nutrients and fibre.

Instead of focusing on what you shouldn’t eat, consider what extra salad leaves or spring veggies you can add to your plate. Spring is聽also a great time聽to try new recipes or lighter cooking methods using the latest, fresh produce.聽Get some inspiration from our recipe pages, or try these ideas:

Salmon and Spring Greens Salad Recipe | 芒果直播
Beef and Spring Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe | 芒果直播
Spring Vegetable and Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe | 芒果直播

If you鈥檝e聽fallen into less healthy habits, such as聽mindless snacking or skipping meals,聽use the start of spring as an opportunity聽to reflect and reset.聽You can use聽a聽simple聽food聽diary聽or a diabetes-friendly app聽to聽help you stay accountable聽for your food intake. By聽tracking聽and recording聽any聽patterns, you can see聽what聽affects聽your blood聽glucose levels.聽You may not need to make drastic changes, but if聽you鈥檙e聽not sure,聽book a聽review聽with an or make an appointment at聽芒果直播鈥檚聽telehealth聽clinic.听听

Find ways to move that you actually enjoy

If your activity levels dropped during the colder months, the seasonal shift聽is the perfect time to get moving again. Physical activity is one of the most powerful tools for diabetes management because it helps your muscles use glucose for energy, improves insulin sensitivity, and can lower your blood glucose levels. The effects may last for hours, depending on the type and intensity of your activity.听听

Adding more physical activity to your day doesn鈥檛 mean spending hours in a gym. The milder weather聽makes聽it easier to聽get outdoors聽to聽exercise. Walking,聽gardening,聽or gentle stretching in the sun becomes more enjoyable.聽Plus, you will get your daily dose of vitamin D (sun-protected, of course). A morning walk, gardening, cycling, or swimming laps at your local pool are all good options.

Why not invite your friends to join you? Socialising will also help support your mental wellbeing.  

The best form of exercise is often the one you’ll keep doing. Start small, build gradually, and focus on movement that fits naturally into your lifestyle. But be聽mindful of聽how exercise affects your blood glucose levels, especially if you take insulin.聽

If you鈥檙e older, have been inactive, or have other health conditions, please consult with your GP or health care team before embarking on a new exercise regimen. They can help you choose activities that are safe and appropriate for your fitness level.   

Give your diabetes gear a quick once-over

Just as many of us tackle a kitchen clean-out in spring, it’s worth taking a few minutes to review your diabetes supplies.

Check medication and test strip expiry dates, make sure devices are working properly, and update any apps you regularly use. While聽you鈥檙e聽reviewing your聽equipment, review your glucose trends. If you’re using a continuous glucose monitor, this can also be a good opportunity to review your data and see if any patterns have emerged. Think of it as housekeeping for your health.

Check in with your wellbeing

Looking after diabetes isn’t just about blood glucose levels. It’s also about how you’re feeling.

Living with diabetes requires constant decision-making, and it’s normal to feel tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed at times. As you head into a new season, take a moment to reflect on your overall wellbeing and . Are you getting enough sleep? Feeling connected to family and friends? Making time for activities you enjoy? Sometimes the healthiest change isn’t adding another task to your day. It’s being a little kinder to yourself.

A season for small changes

Spring doesn’t have to mean a dramatic transformation. Sometimes the most effective changes are the simplest ones: taking a walk after dinner, trying a new recipe, booking a health check, or spending more time outdoors.

So rather than adding more to your to-do list, think about one small thing you could do to feel a little happier or more energised this season.

The safety of people living with diabetes must always come first. For many Australians, technologies such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors are essential tools that help prevent dangerous high and low blood glucose levels, reduce the daily burden of living with diabetes and improve long-term health outcomes. For some individuals they can be life-changing or even life-saving.

People living with diabetes need access to balanced, evidence-based information so they can make informed decisions in consultation with their healthcare professionals. When public discussions focus solely on potential risks without also explaining proven benefits, there is a risk that individuals may lose confidence in technologies recommended by their healthcare team that could improve their health outcomes. Informed decisions are best made when people understand both the risks and benefits.

People living with diabetes deserve safe, well-regulated technologies, robust oversight when issues arise, and public conversations that accurately reflect both the risks and the substantial benefits of these important medical devices.

芒果直播 supports rigorous regulation, monitoring and oversight of all medical devices used in Australia. An individual or a healthcare professional can report adverse events to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Any adverse event involving a medical device is concerning and should be thoroughly investigated.

People living with diabetes can benefit greatly from diabetes technologies and rightly expect that those available in Australia meet appropriate quality, safety and regulatory standards, and that regulators, manufacturers and healthcare professionals work together to continuously improve patient safety.

Diabetes affects around two million Australians and can cause serious complications including cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss and amputation. Many of these complications can be delayed or prevented through person-centred diabetes management, appropriate healthcare and access to evidence-based treatments and technologies.

There is a substantial body of Australian and international evidence showing that diabetes technologies, including continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps and automated insulin delivery systems, can improve health outcomes, reduce serious complications, help keep people out of hospital and improve quality of life. For many Australians, these technologies have been transformational, helping people achieve better glucose management, reduce the daily burden of diabetes and live longer, healthier lives.

Diabetes technologies are not immune from potential failure. For this reason, it is essential that people using them have an individualised back-up plan in place and know what steps to take if a device is not working as expected. That plan should be developed with a diabetes care team.

Anyone experiencing difficulties with their diabetes technology should contact the device manufacturer, and seek advice from their healthcare professional, as soon as possible.

Public discussion of medical technologies plays an important role in maintaining confidence in our health system and ensuring that safety concerns are identified and addressed. It is equally important that these discussions reflect the full picture. Alongside legitimate concerns about adverse events, Australians should also understand the significant benefits that these technologies provide to many people living with diabetes every day.

As the national peak body representing Australians living with diabetes, 芒果直播’s advocacy and policy positions are formed independently and are informed by evidence, expert clinical advice and the lived experience of people living with diabetes. Everything we do is guided by one priority: improving the health, safety and wellbeing of the community we serve.

Informed choice matters. Safety matters. Evidence matters.

Justine Cain
Group Chief Executive Officer
芒果直播

For more information about evidence based clinical guidelines for diabetes   for Medical device technology for the management of type 1 diabetes have been developed by the Living Evidence for Diabetes Consortium, which is a collaboration between the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), 芒果直播 (DA), the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) and the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group (APEG), with representation from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Australian Government Department of Health and Cochrane Australia.

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鈥檚 National Diabetes Week message that when people living with diabetes share their experiences, everyone is stronger together.

This year鈥檚 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. 芒果直播鈥檚 campaign invites people with lived experience, carers, health professionals and diabetes researchers to share a declaration that finishes the sentence: 鈥淚 wish people knew鈥︹��

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

鈥淚 wish people knew you can represent Australia with diabetes,鈥� 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.

鈥淚 never pretend type 1 diabetes is easy,鈥� Ms McSpadden said.

鈥淚t 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.

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

鈥淚 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,鈥� she said.

Speaking at Keilor Basketball Stadium in Melbourne for the launch of National Diabetes Week, 芒果直播鈥檚 Group CEO Justine Cain said Lara perfectly captures the spirit of this year鈥檚 campaign.

鈥淟ara 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,鈥� Ms Cain said.

鈥淟iving 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.鈥�

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

鈥淲hen 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.

鈥淭his 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,鈥� 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 芒果直播

芒果直播 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.      

Diabetes and depression/anxiety are common health problems. Many people around the world live with them. Some people only have one, but others live with both. Diabetes can make a person more likely to feel depressed, and depression can make it harder to manage diabetes. This article explains how these two problems are connected and why it is important to treat both.

What is depression?

Depression is an illness that makes you feel very sad or tired for a long time. You may not want to do things you used to enjoy. Other signs include trouble sleeping, eating too much or too little, and difficulty concentrating. Depression can affect both your daily life and your physical health.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is when your brain feels worried or scared鈥攅ven if nothing dangerous is happening. It鈥檚 like your body鈥檚 alarm system going off when you think something bad might happen. It鈥檚 normal to feel anxious sometimes, such as before an important life event. However, if you often feel anxious, even when things are going well, it can make life harder.

How common is it?

People with diabetes can be depressed or anxious more often than people without diabetes. show that if someone has diabetes, they are almost twice as likely to be depressed, regardless of the type of diabetes. That鈥檚 why health professionals check for depression in people living with diabetes.

How diabetes can lead to depression/anxiety

• Daily stress: Taking care of diabetes is hard work. Monitoring glucose, medications, food choices, and appointments can feel overwhelming. People living with type 1 diabetes have the even greater burden of carbohydrate counting, insulin calculations, a greater risk of high and low glucose levels, and frequent glucose monitoring
• Worry about complications: Concerns about future health (like vision or nerve problems) can cause stress and depression
• Feeling alone or judged: Some people say they can feel judged or left out in social situations
• Physical changes: Diabetes can change the balance of hormones in your body and brain, which can add to feelings of depression

Depression can affect diabetes

Depression can make diabetes harder to manage. For example, it may lead to:

• Less physical activity
• Unhealthy eating
• Smoking
• Missing medications or appointments

Depression also affects how your body handles stress, which can raise glucose levels. It can also cause inflammation in the body, which can make diabetes more difficult to manage.

The cycle between diabetes and depression

Diabetes and depression can make each other worse. If you are depressed, you might not take care of your diabetes. If your diabetes gets worse, you may feel more depressed. This can make both problems harder to manage. It can even lead to more hospital visits.

Shared risk factors

Some factors increase the risk of both type 2 diabetes and depression:

• Being above a healthy weight
• Low physical activity
• Poor diet
• Financial stress
• Family history (genes)

How health professionals assess this

Doctors use special to find depression/anxiety in people with diabetes, such as:

• PHQ-9 (depression)
• GAD-7 (anxiety)
• HFS-II W (fear of hypoglycaemia)

They help to identify when you need extra support.

Treatments

Talking therapies

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This helps change negative thoughts and teaches new ways to cope
• Motivational interviewing: This supports healthy behaviour choices

Medicines

• Some people benefit from antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications
• Diabetes medications may also need adjusting

Your healthcare team will help balance both safely.

Healthy habits

• Exercise, eating healthy foods, and getting enough sleep can help both depression and diabetes
• Relaxation and joining support groups can also assist

Working together

The best outcomes happen when care is coordinated between doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and diabetes educators.

Mental health medications and diabetes

Antipsychotic medications and diabetes

Some medicines used to treat mental health conditions can affect how your body handles glucose. They can increase the risk of weight gain and alter glucose levels. Because of these changes, people taking these medicines might have a higher chance of getting type 2 diabetes. Some antipsychotic medications are more likely to cause these changes than others. If you are taking the following medications it is essential to monitor your glucose levels regularly:

aripiprazole	clozapine	olanzapine
quetiapine	risperidone	asenapine
amisulpride	paliperidone	brexpiprazole

Antidepressant medications and diabetes

Some show a small increase in type 2 diabetes risk with antidepressants, but it is not clear why. This may relate to:

• The medication
• Underlying depression
• Lifestyle factors

However, treating your mental health is essential and should not be delayed.

How diabetes medicines affect mood

Recent shows that the type of diabetes medicine taken may be linked to mood changes.

Medicines with a lower risk of depression:

• Metformin
• DPP-4 inhibitors
• GLP-1 analogues
• SGLT2 inhibitors

Medicines with a possible higher risk:

• Higher doses of insulin
• Higher doses of sulfonylureas

Why?

Studies and real-life experience indicate that increases in body weight can reduce mood, while decreases in body weight can improve it. Both insulin and sulfonylureas may contribute to weight gain if a person consumes a high-carbohydrate diet. Metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 analogues, and SGLT2 inhibitors may all help reduce body weight.

Even so, starting insulin treatment shouldn’t be delayed because high glucose levels can cause problems over time. When you begin using insulin, it’s important to watch how much carbohydrate you eat. Talking to a dietitian can help you figure out the right amount.

Insulin is usually started if you find out you have type 1 diabetes or after having type 2 diabetes for a long time. Both situations can be stressful, which increases the risk of depression and anxiety.

Problems with getting help

Sometimes people don鈥檛 get the support they need for depression and anxiety because:

• They feel embarrassed or judged
• Mental health services are hard to access
• Care is not well coordinated
• People don鈥檛 always know the right questions to ask. 芒果直播 can help with those questions

Since diabetes and depression are linked, they should be recognised and treated together early. Mental health is part of diabetes care and working as a team provides the best results. Medications for one condition can have both positive and negative effects on the other condition. Your health team will take this into consideration. Treating the whole person and offering support can prevent long-term effects and improve quality of life.

By Donna Itzstein, Credentialled Diabetes Educator and Pharmacist

If you live with diabetes, chances are you鈥檝e heard it before:

鈥淪hould you be eating that?鈥�
鈥淎re you allowed cake?鈥�
鈥淚 thought people with diabetes can鈥檛 have sugar?鈥�

These comments often come up at the worst possible times鈥攂irthday parties, Christmas lunch, Easter gatherings, or when you鈥檙e simply trying to enjoy a meal out. While usually well-meaning, they can feel intrusive, judgmental, and frankly exhausting.

If you are nodding your head, you are not alone. Diabetes stigma is still very real and is an important topic for discussion.

The problem with 鈥渇ood policing鈥�

As you know, diabetes management is complex, individual, and influenced by many factors鈥攎edication, other medical conditions, activity, stress, timing, and overall eating patterns.

Yet people often reduce it to a single moment:
– one slice of cake
– one dessert
– one meal

This kind of 鈥渇ood policing鈥�:

• Oversimplifies diabetes
• Reinforces outdated myths
• Can create shame or guilt around food
• Undermines a person鈥檚 autonomy and lived experience

The reality? People with diabetes can include a wide variety of foods in their diet. What matters most is the overall pattern, not one occasion.

Special occasions are part of life

Food is more than fuel鈥攊t鈥檚 connection, culture, and celebration.

Whether it鈥檚:

• Christmas dinner with all the trimmings
• Birthday cake
• Easter chocolate
• A meal out with friends

These moments matter. Managing diabetes doesn鈥檛 mean missing out, it means making informed, flexible choices that work for you.

What to do when someone comments?

Having a few go-to responses can make these situations easier. The goal isn鈥檛 to argue, it鈥檚 to set boundaries, educate (if you want to), or simply move on.

Calm and confident

• 鈥淚鈥檝e got it under control, thanks鈥�
• 鈥淚 work this into my plan鈥�
• 鈥淚 know how this affects me鈥�

 Light but firm

• 鈥淚f I had a dollar for every time I heard that鈥︹��
• 鈥淕ood thing you鈥檙e not my dietitian!鈥�
• 鈥淚 can assure you, I鈥檝e done this before鈥�

Educational (if you feel like it)

• 鈥淧eople with diabetes can eat all kinds of foods, it鈥檚 about balance鈥�
• 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about sugar; there鈥檚 a lot more to it鈥�
• 鈥淥ne food doesn鈥檛 define my health鈥�

Boundary-setting

• 鈥淚鈥檇 rather not talk about my food choices鈥�
• 鈥淚 appreciate your concern, but I鈥檝e got this鈥�

And sometimes, the best response is no response at all.

The bigger picture: tackling stigma

Comments like 鈥渟hould you be eating that?鈥� might seem small, but over time they contribute to:

• Feeling judged or watched
• Anxiety around eating in public
• Misunderstanding of diabetes in the wider community

Reducing stigma starts with awareness:

• Diabetes is not caused by a single food
• Management looks different for everyone
• People living with diabetes are the experts in their own care

Remember:

You don鈥檛 need to justify your food choices.
You don鈥檛 need permission to enjoy a celebration.
And you don鈥檛 need to carry the weight of other people鈥檚 misunderstandings.

By Rebecca McPhee, Accredited Practising Dietitian

Tasmania鈥檚 Parliament has welcomed a delegation of people living with diabetes, raising awareness of life with the condition, highlighting the importance of preventing complications, and sharing their stories about the positive impact that diabetes technology has on their daily lives.  

Meeting with lawmakers from across the political spectrum, the 芒果直播-led event heard about the impact preventative telephone health coaching programs like The COACH Program have in the Tasmanian community.  

Attendees also heard about the national campaign for more equitable access to technology including continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and automatic insulin delivery (AID) systems. 

芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain thanked members of Parliament from all sides and all chambers for their interest and support of people living with diabetes in Tasmania.  

鈥淣o one chooses diabetes, and thanks to the support of the Tasmanian Parliament, we鈥檙e taking big steps to support people living with diabetes in Tasmania to live healthy and fulfilling lives,鈥� she said.  

鈥淛ust last weekend, Deputy Premier Guy Barnett led the 19th Pollie Pedal charity bike ride through 300 kilometres of Tasmanian scenery to raise money to support people living with diabetes, cutting-edge research, and activities to help prevent and delay diabetes.  

鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for the support of the Tasmanian Government, through prevention programs like The COACH Program, which help support people in many vulnerable and at-risk communities right across Tasmania. 

鈥淎 big thank you to every Council and Assembly member for your ongoing support of people living with diabetes in Tasmania.鈥� 

Tasmanian Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Wellbeing, the Hon. Bridget Archer, welcomed the delegation to Parliament.  

鈥淚 thank 芒果直播 for its strong support of The Health Revolution, Tasmania鈥檚 20-year preventive health strategy, and for its tireless work and ongoing partnership in improving diabetes outcomes for Tasmanians,” Minister Archer said. 

“Hearing first hand from people living with diabetes helps us to understand how we can ease the challenge of living with diabetes for people across the state.” 

芒果直播 State General Manager, Impact and Innovation (Tas) Minke Hoekstra said delivery of local prevention programs like The COACH Program were helping to prevent and delay diabetes and associated complications, like cardiovascular disease, by helping Tasmanians lead healthier lives.  

鈥淢ore than 32,000 people live with diabetes across Tasmania, with another estimated 12,000 silently living with type 2 diabetes,鈥� she said.  

鈥淭he COACH Program has seen positive outcomes over the last two years including improved glucose levels and increased physical activity.   

鈥淭hese results show the importance of prevention programs that give people the tools and resources to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.  

鈥淭hank you to all Assembly and Council members for your ongoing support of people living with diabetes in Tasmania 鈥� your support helps our community to thrive.鈥� 

Around 50 people living with diabetes and their families and supporters gathered at Tasmania鈥檚 State Parliament on 18 March to discuss life with diabetes across all sides of Parliament. 

As Australians prepare for a festive season filled with food, family and good wishes, people living with diabetes are being encouraged to approach the holidays with confidence by planning ahead and making mindful choices to protect their health.

Christmas is traditionally centred around shared meals, and this year a range of fresh, vibrant and nourishing recipes have been developed to help households create a festive table that is both delicious and diabetes-friendly.

The recipes include colourful veggie Christmas trees, jewelled quinoa with salmon, strawberry Santa hats and spiced nuts, offering lighter, balanced alternatives to traditional festive fare. The focus is on flavour, presentation and enjoyment, while supporting stable blood glucose levels.

Planning is particularly important during an Australian summer, when heat, travel, disrupted routines and increased social activity can all affect diabetes management.

Health professionals advise people with diabetes to prepare early for public holiday pharmacy closures by ensuring they have sufficient medications, insulin, monitoring supplies and hypo treatments . Maintaining regular medication timing and glucose monitoring, even during busy holiday periods, can help reduce unexpected fluctuations.

Alcohol and rich festive foods can also present challenges.  Alcohol can unpredictably raise or lower blood glucose, especially with diabetes medications. Risks can be reduced by eating carbohydrate-rich foods with alcohol and avoiding drinking on an empty stomach.

More frequent glucose monitoring may be needed after large meals or social events. People using GLP-1 medications are also advised to be cautious with portion sizes as overeating can increase the risk of nausea and digestive discomfort.

Travel is another key consideration. Medications and diabetes devices should always be carried in hand luggage, as checked baggage may be exposed to temperature extremes or delays. Insulin should be stored in a cool environment but never frozen. Those travelling overseas are advised to carry a doctor鈥檚 letter outlining their diabetes management needs and any devices they use.

Emotional wellbeing is also an important part of diabetes management during the festive season. If feeling overwhelmed, reach out to your diabetes support network or a mental health professional. You鈥檙e not alone in navigating holiday challenges.

With early preparation, thoughtful food choices and consistent routines, Australians living with diabetes can enjoy a happy and healthy festive season .

Festive recipe ideas are available at:/blog/create-a-festive-spread-for-all-to-enjoy/

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Living with diabetes can be challenging. It takes daily effort, and we know there can be serious complications related to diabetes. Beyond the physical side, diabetes can also affect emotional health. Conditions like diabetes distress and burnout are real and affect many people living with diabetes.

What are they?

• Diabetes distress
  The daily frustrations, worries, and demands of managing diabetes can pile up, leaving you feeling discouraged or weighed down. It鈥檚 common to feel stressed about blood glucose levels, food choices, activity options or medication routines.
• Diabetes burnout
  This is when you feel emotionally and mentally exhausted from the constant demands of diabetes care. You might feel like giving up or ignoring your management plan because it all feels too much.

These feelings are common鈥攂ut they don鈥檛 have to take over your life. There are ways to reduce them; protect your emotional health, and bring more joy into your day.

Why joy matters

Managing diabetes isn鈥檛 always easy, but it doesn鈥檛 have to feel overwhelming. Building mental wellbeing can be a gradual, enjoyable process. Small steps, like doing activities you love, connecting with others, looking forward to fun things, and celebrating small wins can make a big difference.

Psychologists say that celebrating small wins and looking forward to positive experiences can improve emotional health. When we notice and enjoy the things that make us happy, we create moments of joy that reduce stress and help prevent burnout.

What are you looking forward to?

Research shows that anticipating something enjoyable can boost happiness and resilience. Ask yourself what are you looking forward to. Joy doesn鈥檛 have to be big, it can be simple, like planning a walk or looking forward to cooking a favourite meal.

Anticipation is excitement, waiting eagerly for something you know is going to happen.

Simple ways to add joy and anticipation

Here are some practical ideas to help you focus on positive experiences:

• Plan a catch-up with a friend. Put it on your calendar so you can look forward to it.  Making it a regular occurrence is even better.
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine. A warm shower, a good book, or calming music can make evenings special.
• Schedule quiet time for mindfulness. Pick a favourite spot and notice the sounds and smells around you. Planning this time ahead brings in the joy of anticipation.
• Reflect on the positives. Each day, write down one good thing that happened and something you鈥檙e excited about.  Build up the habit of thinking about the good things to come.
• Plan your weekly meals. Try a new recipe with a favourite ingredient鈥攍ike 鈥�Mango Monday鈥� or 鈥�Taco Tuesday鈥�.
• Host a dinner. Invite someone you enjoy spending time with. If they return the favour, you鈥檒l have more fun events to anticipate.
• Find joy in nature. Take a walk and notice colours, plants, and birdlife.  Book a weekly outdoor outing.
• Set specific goals. Instead of 鈥淚 want to be happier,鈥� try 鈥淚鈥檒l spend 30 minutes on my art project on Tuesday evenings.鈥�
• Learn something new. Join a class that鈥檚 fun and social. If it is on a Thursday, that day becomes special.
• Make a homecoming ritual. When you get home, do something that feels good鈥攕hare a hug, check in with your partner, play your favourite song, view your plants, or make a cup of tea.
• Leave a little treasure. Organise a small surprise for someone else鈥攊t can bring joy to both receiver and giver.
• Be creative 鈥� express yourself.  Joy often comes from self-expression. You might want to try:
  • Writing. Start a journal, write a short story or develop an expressive poem.
  • Music. Play your instrument, dance or make a playlist that lifts your mood.
  • Art. Paint, draw, or craft with emotion, just for fun.

Remember:

Joy doesn鈥檛 have to be complicated. It鈥檚 about noticing, planning, looking forward to, and enjoying the moments that matter to you. Simple, fun changes can make diabetes management feel more positive and give you something to look forward to. These small changes can also help you stay strong and healthy over time.

By Monica McDaniel-Wong, Credentialled Diabetes Educator

More than 150 Kellion Victory Medals have been awarded in 2025 to Australians living with diabetes across seven ceremonies in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland.  

This year鈥檚 awards recognised recipients right across Australia, with events held in seven capital cities including the nation鈥檚 capital.  

Awarded annually, the Kellion Victory Medal recognises and celebrates strength, resilience, and self-management, and honours the extraordinary commitment of people living with diabetes.  

A key theme among recipients was the impact of changes and improvements in technology, overcoming early adversity, and their achievements to live a full life living with diabetes.  

Many medallists spoke about early management practices involving glass syringes, home testing kits that relied on test tubes, and sharpening needles at home, reflecting on how far diabetes management has come.  

They also spoke about how their family and supporters have been key to their longevity, thanking the family, carers, friends and supporters who鈥檝e contributed to their diabetes journey.  

At the Brisbane ceremony, 80-year Medal recipient William Buston reflected on how much care and treatment has changed, and the impact that family and friends have had over the years.  

Diagnosed after his first birthday in the mid-1940s, William reflected on the challenges of balancing diet, exercise, and insulin without the technology we take for granted today.  

Thanks to determined parents, who struggled to find the foods recommended at the time, and later supported by his wife, he graduated with degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Queensland.  

William went on to practise medicine, later qualifying in occupational health and safety, for more than 40 years.  

In Sydney, 50-year Medallist Vivian Stanners was a newly arrived English migrant when she was diagnosed, crediting in-laws being close by for being very helpful.  

Early management revolved around a daily injection, sterilising glass syringes in boiling water with the help of a chip basket, and yellow paper tape level monitoring.  

Support has been important to Vivian, with her husband Neil being by her side and making sure they didn鈥檛 miss out on what life has to offer.  

Australian Kellion Victory Medal Ambassador, Gordon Bunyan, who received his 50 Year Kellion Medal in Melbourne this year, said the stories shared by all the medal recipients were inspiring and recognise that, although their long lives demonstrated it was possible to live 鈥渁 normal life鈥�, it was not without a lot of hard work.  

鈥淟iving a long and full life with diabetes is something to be celebrated. Each Kellion Victory Medal recipient has a unique story to tell, and each of those stories is an inspiration to the community.鈥�  

Among the stories shared, many told us the difference that Stan Clark made by inventing the first home glucometer.鈥� Stan鈥檚 daughter Lisa has lived with diabetes for 53 years and was one of 15 芒果直播 community advocates attending Kellion Victory Medal events. In memory of her father, Lisa has published a book detailing her father鈥檚 pursuit of innovation through the first home blood glucose monitor. It is the ultimate example of co-designed research and innovation that evolved over time to meet the needs of people living with diabetes including underrepresented groups.  

Named in memory of John聽Kellion, who passed away due to complications from type 1 diabetes,聽the聽Kellion聽Diabetes Research Foundation was聽established聽by聽his father Claude聽Kellion聽in聽1974聽,聽with a donation聽of聽聽more聽than $1 million for diabetes research and education.听听

The聽Kellion聽Victory聽Medal was聽established聽in 1984 by聽芒果直播. The idea was聽聽proposed聽and developed聽by聽the late Dr Alan Stocks, a renowned endocrinologist living聽with type 1 diabetes, who also received 50 and 60-year Medals.听听聽

Children living with type 1 diabetes and their families enjoyed a free day out at Luna Park in Sydney, at a special event made possible by 芒果直播 in the lead up to World Diabetes Day (14 November).

芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain said the aim of the day was to bring fun, laughter and community to families navigating life with type 1 diabetes.

More than 150 people, including children with diabetes and their families, attended the free day out.

Type 1 diabetes is a complex and serious autoimmune condition that affects 14,200 children and teenagers in Australia.

鈥淟iving with diabetes is about more than numbers鈥攊t鈥檚 about people, progress, and possibility. At 芒果直播, we鈥檙e doing everything we can to support children and their families who live with diabetes,鈥� Ms Cain said.

鈥淎 diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children can be incredibly stressful for parents, carers and families 鈥� it requires constant vigilance and can impact the whole family.鈥� 

鈥淲hilst we don鈥檛 yet know the cause, early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of complications and serious illness.鈥�

鈥淩aising awareness is key and this World Diabetes Day, one of our goals is to shine a light on the importance of screening and early detection of type 1 diabetes.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to be aware of the early warning signs or what we call the 4Ts 鈥� Tired, Thirsty, Thinner and Toilet.  If you notice your child has signs of type 1 diabetes, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.鈥�

Emma Bond, Blue Circle Collective Youth Advocate, joined the group at Luna Park and shared about her own experience living with type 1 diabetes.

鈥淗aving grown up in the central-western region of NSW, I truly treasure and understand the importance of creating spaces and active communities for everyone living with diabetes.

鈥淭his year I will be celebrating having lived with type 1 diabetes for twelve years (1 year longer than when I was diagnosed at 11) and whilst I know that I still have many more years to go, I love encouraging children and young people who are on the same journey,” Ms Bond said.

芒果直播 provides a range of resources, educational videos, and programs to support children living with type 1 diabetes and their families. One of these is the DiaBuddies program, which helps children with type 1 diabetes, their families and carers feel connected, confident, and part of a community through social activities that support education, peer support, and leadership opportunities.