ACTIVE LIFE WITH DIABETES
Type 1 diabetes can make you stronger. I’ve proved it
40+ years with type 1. Six marathons in six days. Ten ultra-marathons in ten years. What I learned became moves that I share to help other people living with diabetes exercise, train smarter, and pursue the sports they love.
Keeping your mind and body fit with T1D is not easy, but it is possible.
Free · 30 minutes · online intro · no pitch
· T1D Endurance Athlete · Diabetes Australia Advocate · Adjunct Fellow, Macquarie University Australian Institute of Health Innovation ·
40 years lived experience · Presenter, Australasian Diabetes Congress 2026 · Community Representative Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre
GROWTH MINDSET
What “it” means
Diabetes never takes a day off. Every meal, exercise session and night's sleep comes with extra decisions and higher risk.
As confidence grows and time passes, that daily load builds strengths like problem-solving, resilience, and body awareness that most people never will.
That's what I mean by Fitter for Having It. The things that make life harder can also make you stronger.
Stronger because of it, not despite it
WORK WITH ME
How I can help
Practical insights and experiences for living and exercising with T1D that will relate to you, your child, your work, or your research.
For people living with T1D. Help to train, play and live well with diabetes
- Ask me
For parents. My insights on what it’s like as a child, and ways you can keep your child in the game
- Send me an email
For health professionals. My lived experience works alongside your care and advice
- How I work
For researchers. Collaborate with me as a research partner
- My ideas and talks
Free · 30 minutes · online intro · no pitch
Practical tips and motivation to play sport and keep moving with T1D
Keep fit, play sport and exercise
What I’ve learned is easy to adopt and might help you deal with exercise, sport and T1D differently.
Drawn from real life, not a textbook, these are practical and effective moves that I’ve helped others adopt too.
Where do you want to get stronger?
Practical support and exercise accountability
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Move 1.1 Dream in colour. Anything is possible.
Once your routine is steady, go back to the dreams that T1D put on hold.
Read more on Motivation — -
Move 2.1 Own it. Tell people about diabetes.
Being open about T1D keeps you safer and opens doors to understanding.
Read more on T1D Basics — -
Move 3.1 Use naysayers to your advantage.
Every time someone says you can’t do something, use it as fuel to drive you further.
Read more on Mental Strength—
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Move 4.1 Buy shorts with zip pockets.
Keep your T1D essentials within easy reach, and zipped so you don’t lose them.
Read more on Training & Kit —
PODCAST
Conversations
World Champion basket-ballers, international footballers, endurance athletes and dog walkers. Everyone with T1D faces the same challenges. Listen to their favourite songs, spirit animals and what gets them out of bed in the morning.
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Lara McSpadden
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Roger Hanney
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Roger Hanney
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Karolina Sherrack
Want more?
WHAT’S NEWS
Subscribe to ‘The Move’. A FREE newsletter which includes latest news on my runs and research projects, plus early access to Fitter for Having It Conversations, tickets to upcoming talks and events, and new moves.
BOOK A TALK OR GROUP SESSION
I share motivational talks, lived experience, and research insights at corporate functions, advocacy events, and health conferences. With health professionals I also encourage people living with diabetes set exercise goals, and understand the practical ways to participate in sport with T1D.
