The Move

Newsletter, August 2026

Welcome to The Move. July was a massive month for people living with T1D. Athletes from Australia performed brilliantly at the Commonwealth Games, diabetes made headlines during National Diabetes Week, and I’ve made progress on my own research idea about what happens ‘Beyond the Clinic’ — exploring how solid structural foundations, a supportive family, and conversations with other people living with T1D have helped build an active, adventurous and fulfilling 40 years with T1D.

In this edition I’m also sharing why three Fitter for Having It moves that resonated deeply this month.

Sport and T1D News

July saw athletes living with T1D compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It was special, especially since my first guest on Conversations, Lara McSpadden won Gold with the Aussie 3X3 Gangurrus!

Other athletes competing with T1D were featured by Breakthrough T1D (BT1D) who do fabulous work sharing stories of lived experience, hard work, and achievement. Support from BT1D and others, including Diabetes Australia and local advocacy groups, is inspiring future generations.

Seeing role models like this in sport at the highest level is what set me on a positive mindset path when I was 14. Given the wide variety of sports covered, and the different demands each places on people living with T1D, it goes a long way to showing that - with the right tips, knowledge and conditions - participating in any sport or exercise is possible.

Congratulations to T1D athletes in Glasgow including:

  • Boxing: Emma-Sue Greentree (AUS)

  • Sprinting: Lachie Kennedy (AUS)

  • Para Powerlifting: Natasha Price (AUS)

  • Basketball 3X3: Lara McSpadden (AUS)

  • Netball: Sarah Klau (AUS) and Jess Shaw (ENG)

Please let me know if you think someone’s missing, or if you have a similar inspiring story. I’ll share it here.

Not everyone wants to share their T1D diagnosis openly. Some sportsmen and sportswomen keep it to themselves, and I respect that. T1D is challenging and unfortunately there is still misinformation, stigma, and fear around it. Fear that teammates, coaches and selectors might bring judgement, non-selection or exclusion to bare may keep some people quiet or, worse still, of the pitch altogether.

Those that do - like my mentor Gary Mabbutt did back in 1986 - send a powerful, positive message about being active and what’s possible in sport. I am certain that overcoming challenges, and the crappy parts of T1D, makes people mentally and physically stronger.

My Fitter for Having It research journey is about exploring whether a mix of stable structural foundations + extra dedication, inspiration and motivation + and practical insights from peers who live with T1D makes that difference. I think it does, and I’m trying to work out how to define and replicate it so it’s accessible to everyone. Not everyone has the same solid foundations to build from, and I want to find out what’s needed to change that.

To get a feel for the mindset and effort it takes, have a listen to my Conversation with Lara McSpadden on YouTube and I’ve added two more with Roger Hanney, and Karolina Sherack. These add fuel to my research fire.

Gangurrus Gold for Lara

29 July


Congratulations Lara McSpadden, who won Gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Anyone’s who’s already listened to my Fitter for Having It conversation with her in February wont be surprised, this World Champion is setting out on a pathway to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The Gangurrus cleaned up in Glasgow, and Lara added to her incredible highlights reel. She has her sights set firmly big goals, and I wont be surprised if she takes them all the way to LA.

New Podcast 🎙️

Just dropped

Karolina Sherack speaks to me about her life with T1D. She shares an emotional story about overcoming the really challenging early weeks, when she was ready to give up on food and activities she enjoyed.

She has great insights and a wonderful selection of musical choices - from Mazzy Star “Fade Into You,” which reminds her of nearly fading away at diagnosis, to “Feelin’ good again” with the Turnpike Troubadours.

Karolina shares the knowledge, insights and confidence she gained from health professionals and other people living with T1D that got her there. I hope you find time to listen.

Australasian Diabetes Congress

Coming soon: Aug 18-21, Melbourne

In August, I’m presenting my 40-year journey with T1D at the International Diabetes Federation and Australian Diabetes Congress in Melbourne.

My presentation, ‘Beyond Clinical Care,’ explores the key lessons that I’ve learned outside the consulting room.

I’ll explain to the researchers and health professionals there how it was them - the T1D Doctors, educators and health professionals - who kept me alive, and how it was the stories and inspiration from outside the clinic with my peers that bring me quality of life and mental strength.

Next event

September

My next run is scheduled for September, and I’m going back for another crack at Sydney’s Backyard Ultra.

More to come on this soon too.

Once again I’m pushing myself further than the 20hours I completed in March, to test practically whether the things you do with T1D get easier the more you do them.

If I’m right, I’ll run for at least 24 hours and break my personal best.

  • "Be courageous. Continue to do the things you love"

Moves of the month

  • The Moves

    The Fitter for Having It moves are practical, simple steps I’ve developed over 40 years to make T1D smaller in my life and help me do the things I love to do.

    They are structured around four themes and more available here:

    > Mojo - finding inspiration

    > T1D Management

    > Mental Strength

    > Physical Training

  • Move 1.2 | Be Courageous. Continue things you love

    Dream to be ‘normal’ if that’s what you want, especially early after diagnosis when T1D is new and hard.

    Once you can handle the crappy bits, and you are more confident in your routines, be brave to return to things you love to do, or re-ignite colourful dreams of your past.

    Listen to my conversations on YouTube about being Fitter for Having It with Karolina, Roger and Lara. It is what they all did.

  • Move 2.3 | Work as a team

    Find the right doctors and support. This is what I do and what Karolina did. It works.

    Search for doctors who focus on you, the person, not just the condition. The best healthcare is collaborative. You are the expert on you; they are the experts on diabetes. Tackle problems and explore solutions together.

    Insight: My first doctor worked this way, he asked “what do you like doing?” then we worked out how to keep doing those things with T1D. That set the tone for everything that followed. If yours isn’t into partnerships, it's okay to look for someone who is.

  • Move 4.1 | Double up to squeeze more in

    People living with T1D develop extraordinary skills to multi-task. We learn to take blood glucose tests on the run, count carbs while shopping, dose insulin while talking on the phone, work while waiting for appointments, change pump-sets and needle tips watching TV. You can apply this to the big things in life too.

    Double up your training time with the other passions in life: have walking meetings at work, jog round the pitch when watching partner or kids play sport, take up a sport with your friends. Bundling your friends, family, work, and health together is the only way you can fit everything in.

    I bet you its what the Commonwealth Games T1D Tribe were doing in Glasgow.

In the next edition:

The next issue will include:

  • feedback on my sessions at the Australasian Diabetes Congress and my research interests

  • who I’m lining up for the next Conversation and

  • plans for Back Yard Ultra 2.0.

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