Deanne Minniecon, Group Executive, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement, has been appointed as an聽Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland (UQ).

This appointment is a wonderful recognition of Deanne’s more than 30-year career in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and the significant contributions she has made across community, policy, leadership, research, teaching, and learning. It also acknowledges the valuable work Deanne has already undertaken with UQ and provides an opportunity for her to continue contributing to research, mentoring, teaching, and workforce development. 

For 芒果直播, this appointment creates opportunities to strengthen partnerships across the university sector and contribute to shaping future research, education, and workforce development. It helps ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, knowledge, and lived experiences continue to inform health research, education, and practice, while supporting the development of the next generation of health professionals and researchers.

This is a particularly meaningful appointment for Deanne, as it is her second Adjunct Associate Professor role alongside her existing position at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). It will enable her to further connect her work across community, policy and practice with the academic sector, helping to translate knowledge into improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Congratulations to Deanne on your well-deserved appointment.

A new partnership between 芒果直播 and the Medibank Better Health Research Hub will support Monash University to develop a primary care model to better detect and prevent type 2 diabetes in women living with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). 

PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), is a hormonal and metabolic condition affecting 1 in 8 women in Australia, with impacts on weight, mental health and wellbeing, skin and the reproductive system.  

Despite women living with the condition having a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, they often face challenges in diagnosis and prevention options in primary care settings. 

The project will pilot a new screening and management tool for women living with PMOS that integrates into existing general practice workflows, aiming to streamline identification, referrals to specialists and prevention programs including the Get Healthy Service administered by 芒果直播, as well as shared decision-making, into existing approaches to care.  

芒果直播 Group CEO Justine Cain said the project highlighted a significant gap in women鈥檚 health research, with PMOS a well-known risk factor that could help identify and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.  

鈥淲omen living with PMOS are four times more likely to develop diabetes over their lifetime. That鈥檚 a statistic we鈥檙e hoping to change through the development of better screening and prevention tools,鈥� Ms Cain said.  

鈥淧MOS, like diabetes, can be hard to diagnose, and affects hormonal balance for up to one in eight women. 

鈥淗istoric and ongoing research gaps in women鈥檚 health further complicate this challenge, meaning many women who are diagnosed with PMOS aren鈥檛 informed about their elevated diabetes risk, which is a real concern.  

鈥溍⒐辈� is excited to partner with Medibank and Monash University to deliver research that will drive real change in women鈥檚 health outcomes.鈥� 

Dr Shona Sundaraj, Group Medical Director at Medibank said the research is an opportunity to improve health outcomes for women. 

鈥淭oo many women living with PMOS are not informed about their elevated risk of type 2 diabetes until much later in their healthcare journey,鈥� Dr Sundaraj said. 

鈥淏y better supporting GPs to identify and manage this risk in their patients, we have an opportunity to intervene earlier and improve the long-term health outcomes for our patients.  

鈥淔or the women themselves, it鈥檚 about giving them the knowledge and tools to empower them in their health and healthcare.鈥� 

Monash University Centre for Health Research and Implementation lead investigator Dr Stephanie Cowan said the award would help advance primary care and screening tools that better cater for women鈥檚 health needs.  

鈥淭his funding gives us the opportunity to move beyond knowing what good care looks like for women with PMOS and actually build the systems and tools that make it possible in everyday practice,鈥� Dr Cowan said.  

鈥淏y embedding guideline-recommended screening and lifestyle support directly into GP workflows, this project will ensure that the millions of Australian women with PMOS who face a four-fold higher risk of type 2 diabetes are identified early and connected to care before that risk becomes reality.鈥� 

The project will start in July 2026 and operate until June 2028.  

A total of $230,000 will be invested, with contributions from 芒果直播 and the Medibank Better Health Research Hub to support this important research led by Monash University. 

芒果直播 warmly welcomes Chief Health Officer Brett Fenton’s appointment as an Adjunct Clinical Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

This honorary appointment recognises Mr Fenton’s significant expertise and leadership across the diabetes and healthcare sectors, as well as his ongoing contribution to improving outcomes for people living with, or at risk of, diabetes.

The role further strengthens 芒果直播’s connection to academic and clinical research, supporting the organisation’s commitment to evidence informed practice, advocacy, and service delivery.

Through the appointment, 芒果直播 will benefit from closer engagement with contemporary research and emerging evidence, helping to build valuable partnerships and further strengthen its clinical leadership work 鈥� supporting its purpose to reduce the impact on people living with, or at risk of, diabetes.

Group CEO Justine Cain said 芒果直播 is proud of this well-deserved recognition.

“Brett’s appointment highlights his personal contribution to the diabetes sector, and the important role 芒果直播 plays in translating evidence into action for people living with or at risk of diabetes.

“We congratulate Brett on this significant achievement,” she said.

Mr Fenton said he was looking forward to building stronger connections between research, education and practice to help ensure the best available evidence informs 芒果直播’s work.

“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about ensuring that evidence translates into meaningful improvements in care, services and outcomes for people living with diabetes,” Mr Fenton said.

“I would like to thank Dr Shannon Lin and colleagues at UTS for their support, and acknowledge the many colleagues, consumers, researchers, clinicians and partners who continue to contribute to improving outcomes for people living with or at risk of diabetes,” he said.

New report shows free Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks are changing lives

Latrobe Health Services, a not-for-profit member-owned health fund, has partnered with the Shane Warne Legacy since 2023 and is proud to be the Legacy’s Founding Partner, supporting the delivery of free health checks to communities across Australia.

Together with Health Partner, 芒果直播, the partnership has supported Shane Warne Legacy to deliver free health checks across the country, raising awareness of cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risks.

The Shane Warne Legacy Health Check program has brought more than 490,000 free, accessible health checks into places where people already go such as major sporting events, Priceline Pharmacies, workplaces and community events, making early action in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes easier.

Recent research commissioned by Latrobe Health, in collaboration with IPSOS, surveyed over 1,224 people aged 18 to 65 from diverse demographics and metro and regional locations, comparing those who have undergone health checks with those who have not.

The findings reveal critical insights into health literacy, motivations and behaviours surrounding the health checks.

Results of the research show:

• 85% of health check participants took action as a result of their health check

• 78% of health check participants felt more able to take proactive steps to prevent serious health issues (84% for those participants with a risk factor)

• 52% of health check participants believe the health check improved their health, with regional participants (60%) more likely to agree with this statement

• 39% of health check participants felt the health check was the single most important thing they had done for their health in 12 months, jumping to 43% for regional Australians and 45% for those with a risk factor

• 20% of health check participants booked an appointment with a healthcare provider

• 94% of participants would recommend the health check to others

Additionally, the research indicates that the vast majority (85%) of Shane Warne Legacy Health Check
participants went on to do something good for their health, from improving diet and increasing exercise to seeking medical advice. For those at higher risk, that number is significantly higher at 91%, with many taking more proactive steps such as booking follow-up appointments with their doctor or researching their health further.

As a not-for-profit health fund, Latrobe Health Services is all in on improving inclusivity and equity in healthcare, especially for those in rural and regional areas. Regional participants, in particular, valued the Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks as a practical solution where health services can be harder to reach.

The primary motivator for taking a health check was it being free, followed by curiosity about personal
health, particularly in regional areas where access to health information and services is often limited.
Regional participants demonstrated proactivity post-check, notably in improving diet and scheduling
follow-up health appointments.

鈥淭his research confirms what we鈥檝e always believed: when barriers to health screening are removed, people engage with the screening and act on their results. Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks are helping more Australians understand their health, act on potential risks sooner and take meaningful steps towards a healthier future,鈥� said Ian Whitehead, CEO of Latrobe Health Services.

鈥淭he outcomes for people taking advantage of the free health checks are clear 鈥� they only take five minutes and can spark positive changes in your life,鈥� added Whitehead.

The checks, conducted on SiSU Health Stations, are non-invasive, fast, and free. They include
measurements of blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), diabetes risk, and estimated heart age – crucial indicators of cardiometabolic health.

鈥淭his research confirms what we鈥檝e seen on the ground since day one. People don鈥檛 avoid their health
because they don鈥檛 care, they avoid it because it鈥檚 hard to access and harder to understand. Strip away those barriers and give people clear answers, and they act. That鈥檚 the whole idea behind Shane Warne Legacy, and these results tell us we鈥檙e just getting started,鈥� stated Rob Tassie, CEO of Shane Warne Legacy.

鈥淎lmost half a million health checks and counting. But the number that matters most to me is 85 per
cent, that鈥檚 how many people did something about their health as a result. That鈥檚 real impact, and it鈥檚
why we鈥檒l keep pushing to get these checks in front of more Australians,鈥� added Tassie.

鈥淪hane Warne Legacy Health Checks are a powerful tool in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, and this
report demonstrates the powerful impact they are having in the community,鈥� said Justine Cain, Group
CEO of 芒果直播.

The Shane Warne Legacy Health Checks exemplify the critical importance of bringing healthcare to
where people are. With the right technology and partnerships, lives can be changed in mere minutes.

Thanks to support from Latrobe Health Services and 芒果直播, these life-changing health
checks are available for free across Australia, marking a new model for nationwide health intervention.

Growing up, Lauren Cusack was heavily involved in her Mum鈥檚 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.  鈥�� 

Childhood skills: a sixth sense for hypos聽聽

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

鈥淓ven though I helped Mum throughout my childhood, I still wasn鈥檛 prepared for my own diagnosis,鈥� Lauren says. 鈥淚 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鈥檛 know for sure.鈥� 

鈥淚 felt relieved because I didn鈥檛 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.鈥�  

Peer communities: finding support聽聽

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

鈥淚 knew I had to find my people quickly,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 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.鈥� 

鈥淢y journey has been very different to my Mum鈥檚. She didn鈥檛 have the amazing tech that we have today, like insulin pumps and CGMs, and she certainly didn鈥檛 have the people around her that I discovered. My diagnosis gave me a new appreciation for what my Mum had gone through.鈥�    

Career change: honing her superpower聽

Lauren describes herself as an 鈥渁ccidental advocate鈥�, 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.  

鈥淏efore my diagnosis, I worked in corporate health for a decade,鈥� Lauren says. 鈥淏ut 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.鈥�  

Tune in: Lauren鈥檚 full story聽

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 鈥渕essy鈥� second pregnancy with type 1 diabetes, she was thrilled to welcome her daughter.  

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the peer support I received during my pregnancy and to be navigating mum-life with my sister, who also has two children,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hile 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.鈥� 

Aussies living with diabetes have again claimed medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games overnight (Australian time), with Blue Circle Collective Ambassador Lara McSpadden鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Gangurrus victorious in the 3×3 basketball tournament.   

Defeating Uganda 21-11 in the final, McSpadden played a key role in a dominant team result, claiming gold for Australia, and headlining four Aussie medals across basketball.    

Competing in elite basketball while living with type 1 diabetes, McSpadden spoke about her life in sport as part of National Diabetes Week 2026 earlier this month.  

Joining the Living Out Loud campaign, she shared what she wished people knew about life with diabetes.  

“I wish people knew you can represent Australia with diabetes.鈥� 

芒果直播 has congratulated McSpadden on her achievement, which shows that diabetes is no barrier to elite team sport on the world stage.    

National Diabetes Week was held from 12-18 July, and also featured fellow Commonwealth Games athlete, and now fastest man in Australian history and 100m silver medallist, Lachie Kennedy.   

Find out more about the 2026 National Diabetes Week theme here: /national-diabetes-week/ 

The program for the combined International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region (IDF-WPR) Congress, Australasian Diabetes Congress, and Metabolic Diseases 2026 has been announced, showcasing a comprehensive agenda spanning research, clinical care, education, policy and lived experience.

Hosted by the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) together with 芒果直播, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18 to 21 August, the Congress will bring together leading experts from across Australia, the Western Pacific, and internationally.

Featuring an extensive international speaker line鈥憉p, the Congress will explore the latest advances in diabetes and metabolic disease, including prevention, treatment innovation, technology, health systems and models of care.

Dedicated regional symposia and collaborative sessions will highlight shared challenges and opportunities across diverse health systems throughout Asia and the Western Pacific.

Focusing on evidence-based care, the Congress will examine regional challenges to diabetes, including integrated care models in a region with an alarming increase in diagnoses.

With many near-neighbour countries across the Pacific and Asia facing significant challenges in managing the diabetes burden that they are facing, implementing integrated care models can assist the health system to provide effective and efficient management of diabetes and its complications.

The Congress will also examine the latest developments in technology, including insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, and the case for equitable and affordable access to insulin pumps for people with type 1 diabetes.

In research, a focus on diverse perspectives from Australian and international experts will discuss the latest in diabetes and wider metabolic disease advancement and consider how to address one of the most pressing health challenges facing the region.

Importantly, there will be a clear focus on lived experience, with a dedicated community day for people living with diabetes, and a Congress stream dedicated to focussing on lived experience, ensuring the perspectives of people living with diabetes are integrated alongside scientific, clinical and policy discussions.

The Congress will showcase the critical role of diabetes education in improving outcomes for people living with diabetes and their carers, friends, and family.

Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs) and other health professionals working in diabetes education, research and care, play a key leadership role in helping people navigate increasingly complex treatment options, technologies and care pathways while empowering them to successfully self-manage their condition.

By bringing together leading experts, emerging research and lived experience, the Congress provides a unique opportunity for learning, collaboration and the exchange of ideas that can help shape the future of diabetes care across our region.

About 215 million adults are currently living with diabetes across the Western Pacific Region, . Building a skilled and sustainable diabetes workforce is essential to meeting this growing health challenge, and the Congress provides a valuable opportunity to share evidence, innovation and best practice from across the region.

Hosting the Congress in Melbourne reflects the strength of Australia鈥檚 health and medical research sector and the city鈥檚 position as a hub for international collaboration and innovation.

The event is being delivered in collaboration with the Melbourne Convention Bureau and with support from the Victorian Government鈥檚 Business Events and Tourism Australia鈥檚 Events Bid Fund Program.

The International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region Congress is a biennial event held in collaboration with diabetes societies from across eastern Asia and the Pacific.

Registration and full program details are available at diabetescongress2026.com

Melanie Gray Morris	Sof Andrikopoulos	Justine Cain
CEO, Australian Diabetes Educators Association	Group CEO, Australian Diabetes Society	Group CEO, 芒果直播

Diabetes has proven no barrier for Blue Circle Collective Ambassador Lachie Kennedy as he became the fastest man in Australian history at the Commonwealth Games聽in Glasgow聽overnight聽(Australian time).聽聽

His time of 9.85 seconds is the fastest ever recorded by an Australian, quicker than the previous national record of 9.93 seconds, a new personal best for Kennedy, and ranks globally as a top 30 all-time record.  

Pipped on the line by mere hundredths of a second, his silver is the first medal by an Australian at the premiere track event in more than 60 years. 

Proudly racing with his continuous glucose monitor, Kennedy has made no secret of both the challenges and positives of living with type 1 diabetes.  

During National Diabetes Week earlier this month, Kennedy shared what he wished people knew about diabetes as a leading spokesperson for the 2026 campaign, Living Out Loud: 

“I wish people knew you can do anything with diabetes.” 

芒果直播 has congratulated Kennedy on his achievement, which is an inspiration not just to the diabetes community, but to all Australians.  

National Diabetes Week was held from 12-18 July, and also featured fellow Commonwealth Games athlete, women’s basketball star Laura McSpadden.  

Find out more about the 2026 National Diabetes Week theme here: /national-diabetes-week/ 

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.