Brett Findlay had just started a new job when he learnt he had type 1 diabetes. He figured he could manage diabetes by keeping his blood glucose levels consistently low. Then, one fateful day, he had a severe hypo. In this raw episode of Life on the Level, Brett talks about hypo unawareness, rebuilding after trauma, and the enduring strength of family.  

A surprise diagnosis in his twenties 

“Aged 24, diabetes was not the diagnosis I expected,” Brett says. “I was managing a busy hotel venue on the Gold Coast, and I thought I was simply working too hard. I went to the doctor because I knew something wasn’t right. When the doctor got my test results, he called me straight back in.”  

Over the following years, Brett chose to manage his diabetes himself, rarely consulting health professionals. He thought that by running his levels constantly low, he could stay on track.  

Developing hypo unawareness 

Brett and his family relocated to Coffs Harbour, where he joined his brother in the banking industry. While he felt like he was on top of everything, Brett had developed hypoglycaemia unawareness, a dangerous condition when you become unaware of the early warning signs of a hypo. 

In 2023, Brett was shopping with his children when he had a seizure, losing consciousness and hitting the floor so hard that he fractured his skull. While Brett has no memory of the event, his six-year-old daughter grabbed her younger brother, covering his eyes. When the paramedics arrived, she told them her dad was a type 1 diabetic.   

Traumatic brain injury: a long road back 

“I woke up in the hospital yelling at everyone,” Brett recalls. “I didn’t understand what had happened.”  

Brett spent months in the hospital and rehabilitation in Sydney. Back at home, he receives support from the local brain injury rehabilitation service. While Brett tried to return to work six months after his injury, it didn’t go well. He is currently on a career break and planning a gradual return to work.  

Finding new ways to manage life with T1D and TBI 

Brett knows his story could have turned out differently had it not been for the Australian health system, income protection and his family. He’s keen to never put his loved ones through the trauma of another severe hypo. Brett now uses a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump, aiming to keep his blood glucose levels within a healthy range.  

“I want to be sure I’m here for my wife and kids,” Brett says. “It’s taken time to build up their trust again and show them that I can manage my diabetes.”  

Tune in: Brett’s full story 

In this episode of the Life on the Level podcast, Brett shares the pivotal experiences that forced him to re-evaluate his life and health. He also highlights the positives that have come from his journey, such as having more time for socialising and volunteering as a speaker to support other brain injury survivors. His story is a stark reminder of the importance of prioritising what matters in life and the resilience of the human spirit.   

Hosted by young Aussies Isabella Magee and Sebastian Harris, Life on the level is a podcast that keeps things honest. No sugar-coating, no lectures — just open conversations about what it’s like to live with type 1 diabetes as a young person. The challenges, the awkward moments, the wins you don’t always talk about —it’s all here.  

If you’ve ever felt like no one really “gets it”, this podcast will remind you that you’re not on your own. Or if you know someone with diabetes, it will give you new insights into what it’s really like to live with.  

Season 2 in a nutshell  

This season shares stories that are relatable, reassuring, and inspiring. Isabella and Sebastian chat with guests who manage their diabetes alongside study, work, sport, relationships, mental health, and everything else life throws your way. These episodes make you think, laugh, or just feel seen. 

You can expect conversations about: 

• Navigating a diabetes diagnosis  

• Adjusting to life with type 1 diabetes 

• Managing motivation and mental health 

• Trying new things (and sometimes messing up) 

• Finding confidence, balance, and support 

• Living your life — not letting diabetes call the shots. 

During this season, you’ll hear from young men and women with different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives with each willing to share their story in the hope that it helps others living with diabetes.  

Who’s joining us this season?  

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the people on the podcast this season: 

• Brodie Sargent on being a country kid and a marathon world record chaser – Kick back with Brodie Sargent, tattoo artist, rugby player, marathon runner, and proud T1D advocate.  Brodie shares his laid-back (but driven) approach to life with type 1, from smashing goals on the field to raising awareness with 50km runs. We dive into his journey, getting inked and why a diagnosis doesn’t define what’s possible.   

• Nikki Findlay on mental health and a life full of adventures – Talking about burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges isn’t always easy, especially when you feel invisible. Nikki Findlay is changing that by using her voice to advocate for real, lasting change. In this episode, we sit down for an open and honest conversation about mental health, including discussions around suicide. It might be heavy and, if this one’s not right for you, that’s completely okay. 

• Brett Findlay on parenthood, brain injury, and resilience – At 25, Brett Findlay was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and later experienced a traumatic brain injury due to his diabetes. While his mates were out living their 20s to the fullest, Brett was forced to rebuild his life. In this powerful episode, Seb and Isabella sit down with Brett to talk hypo awareness, healing after trauma, and finding new ways forward. It’s honest, moving, and a reminder that there’s strength in starting again. 

Medtronic and the Therapeutic Goods Administration have issued an Urgent Product Correction for a MiniMed Mobile App Android software version 3.2.0.

Medtronic has identified a problem where the app disconnects from the pump.

Users of MiniMed Mobile App Android 3.2.0 should update to version 3.2.1 or higher as soon as possible to resolve this problem.

Please click on the following link to download the new version of the app.

To confirm the latest app version on your Android device, follow these steps:

• Open the Google Play Store app.
• Tap Menu and then Manage apps & devices.
• Apps with an update available are labelled “Update available.” You can also search for a specific app.
• Tap Update.

If you have further questions or need assistance, please call the Medtronic 24-Hour Technical Support line at 1800 777 808.

The first new therapy for type 1 diabetes in nearly a century, which works to delay the need for insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes, has been approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. 

Tzield (teplizumab) works to preserve beta cell and insulin production, delaying the autoimmune mechanism that drives type 1 diabetes, and could see thousands of Australians able to delay insulin therapy for an average of two years. 

It’s the result of nearly forty years’ of career-defining research from a dedicated team of researchers, and represents a major development for people aged 8+ and living with stage 2, type 1 diabetes.  

The therapy’s arrival in Australia represents a game-changing shift in treatment and management made possible through long-term funding support for critical research. 

Preserving beta cells and insulin, alongside understanding the autoimmune system mechanism, has long been a major goal of diabetes research globally. With this new listing, Australians will have access to cutting-edge medicine that will help thousands of Australians delay insulin therapy. 

Australian Diabetes Alliance member Breakthrough T1D have supported the research that led to this therapy since its inception in the late 1980s, funding a dedicated team of researchers for nearly forty years. 

Tzield will now be available for people living with stage 2 type 1 diabetes, however is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).  

More than 145,000 Australians live with type 1 diabetes, with a further 25,000 estimated to be living with early-stage or undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.  

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition where the body’s own immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin.  

We don’t yet know the cause and currently there is no cure.   

Insulet has issued a critical recall affecting specific lots of Omnipod 5 and Omnipod DASH Pods after identifying a manufacturing issue through routine product monitoring.

The issue relates to a small tear that may occur in the Pod’s cannula (tubing), just above the skin. If this happens, insulin may leak outside the Pod instead of being fully delivered into the body, which can result in less insulin being delivered than intended.

People using an affected Pod may notice signs such as moisture on the skin or Pod adhesive, or the smell of insulin. However, in some cases, the leak may not be obvious. This means blood glucose levels may rise and may not respond as expected to insulin delivery. While users of Omnipod 5 in Automated Mode may receive an alert, this issue can also occur without any notification, so it’s important not to rely solely on Pod alerts.

Affected lots include:

• Omnipod^Âź 5: PH1U10212421
• Omnipod DASH^Âź: PD1U09042421, PD1U11122421, PD1U11202421

Reduced insulin delivery can lead to high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia). In more serious cases, prolonged high blood glucose can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical treatment. Globally, there have been 24 reports of serious adverse events, including hospitalisation and DKA. There have been no reported deaths and no serious adverse events reported in Australia.

This issue does not affect continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems or CGM readings.

Insulet has identified the cause of the problem and implemented corrective actions. Pods that are not included in the affected lots remain safe to use, and supply is not expected to be disrupted.

Impacted customers are being contacted directly with instructions on how to check lot numbers, stop using affected Pods, and arrange free replacements. If you think your Pods may be affected, stop using them immediately and switch to a Pod from an unaffected lot.

For support, contact Insulet Product Support on 1800 954 074 (available 24/7), or speak with your healthcare professional.

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—even if nothing dangerous is happening. It’s like your body’s alarm system going off when you think something bad might happen. It’s 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’s 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’t 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’t always know the right questions to ask. șÚÁÏÍű 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

is a time for Australians to reflect on our shared history and to recommit to building respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, “All In”, is a call for every Australian to take meaningful action towards reconciliation and to recognise that lasting change requires a collective effort.

For șÚÁÏÍű, reconciliation is central to improving health outcomes and addressing inequities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This week is not only a moment for reflection, but also a reminder of the ongoing responsibility to listen, learn and act in partnership.

The need for action is clear. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are experiencing the world’s highest rates of youth onset type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among young people aged 15 to 24 has doubled between 2019 and 2024. Overall, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are also almost four times more likely than non Indigenous Australians to live with diabetes or pre diabetes. These disparities are reflected across the health system, with diagnosis rates around three times higher and hospitalisation rates up to five times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians.

Addressing these inequities cannot occur in isolation from reconciliation. șÚÁÏÍű acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of this country and recognises that improving health outcomes requires long term partnerships and culturally safe care. Reconciliation provides the framework for this work, ensuring that solutions are shaped with, and led by, communities.

A key step in this journey is șÚÁÏÍű’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which sets the foundation for and embeds reconciliation across the organisation’s work and culture.

RAPs are designed to create practical and measurable change, and today more than 5.9 million Australians work or study in organisations with a RAP, demonstrating the growing national commitment to reconciliation.

șÚÁÏÍű’s Reflect RAP focuses on building organisational capability, strengthening partnerships and embedding accountability. That includes integrating reconciliation goals into business planning, improving reporting and tracking of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation within the workforce and membership, and developing policies that support equity and inclusion.

Building cultural capability is also a key focus. Staff education, recognition of NAIDOC Week, Coming of the Light, Sorry Day and Close the Gap Day, as well as ongoing engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders are helping to deepen understanding and strengthen respectful partnerships.

Membership with Reconciliation QLD and Reconciliation NSW is another important step, enabling șÚÁÏÍű to collaborate, learn and take practical action alongside others committed to reconciliation. These partnerships help ensure that efforts are informed, respectful and responsive to community needs.

Following the successful implementation of its Reflect RAP, șÚÁÏÍű is now progressing towards an Innovate RAP, which will focus on practical long term actions to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This next stage reflects a deepening commitment to reconciliation as an ongoing process, one that requires sustained action, accountability and collaboration.

Reconciliation is not achieved through a single initiative or moment in time. It happens person by person, community by community, through sustained, collaborative effort. National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June each year, marking significant milestones in Australia’s history including the and the .

The 2026 theme, “All In”, reminds us that reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians if we are to move forward together. Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued a notice that AA-Med Pty Ltd is recalling two lots of Dexcom G7 sensors.

The lots affected are 1725204004 and 1725069002.

These lots were identified for disposal and destruction in the USA due to incomplete sterilisation and deployment failure during testing. The devices from both lots were stolen during the disposal process, and sold to third parties via unauthorised supply channels.

As the supply channels for these lots cannot be established, the risk of some devices reaching the Australian market cannot be excluded.

No Dexcom G7 sensors received through the NDSS will be impacted by the recall.

The TGA advised that if you have any of the affected products, immediately discontinue use and dispose of them. 

For more information, please refer to the market action .

New data from self-serve health check stations reveals as many as one in three Queenslanders could have risk factors that they should discuss with their health professional. 

The data reinforces the need for greater access to early screening, an area that’s being addressed through a pilot partnership between șÚÁÏÍű, Target Australia, and SiSU Health, that could help people catch their risk of chronic conditions sooner. 

The data also highlights the need for preventative screening that’s accessible and affordable, and reduces stigma for consumers. 

Some of the risk factors identified included high blood pressure, very high body mass index (BMI, greater than 35), and type 2 diabetes risk, as measured by AUSDRISK criteria. 

The findings also highlight the significant potential of preventative screening to reduce complications, benefiting individuals and easing pressure on the health system.  

Health check stations are self-serve TGA-registered medical devices that can provide validated screening results in minutes, which can give baseline health data which supports conversations with health professionals. 

Thanks to the partnership, health check stations have been available in selected Target stores in South Australia for 4 weeks and so far almost 5,000 people have undergone a health check. 

The partnership now has 10 stations available across selected Target stores in Queensland, allowing shoppers to check things like blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, body composition, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes (against AUSDRISK criteria), all discreetly delivered directly by secure app.  

Currently, almost 260,000 Queenslanders live with type 2 diabetes, with a further 102,500 estimated to be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Nationally, 2 million Australians are living with all types of diabetes.  

șÚÁÏÍű’s Group CEO Justine Cain said the initiative was an important step forward in exploring new ways to make preventive health more accessible to the community.  

“These early numbers strongly suggest that we’re taking the right steps in getting preventative healthcare out into the community. It’s never too early or too late to take your health seriously,” Ms Cain said.  

“We know that delivering an easy-to-access, stigma free health check could be all that someone needs to get life-changing health data. 

“A five-minute health check could be the best thing you put in your shopping basket today. 

“Millions of Australians are either living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes, and many don’t realise it.  By partnering with a trusted brand like Target, we have a powerful opportunity to reach people earlier. Early detection is one of the most powerful tools we have to help people take control of their health.” 

Ms Cain said the partnership with Target reflects șÚÁÏÍű’s commitment to innovative approaches to prevention.  

“These health stations at Target stores provide a simple way for people to learn their risk, track their results, and, if needed, seek support early through their GP or health professional. Small steps like this can make a big difference.” 

Target will host the health stations in 10 participating Queensland stores, in addition to the 10 already-deployed locations in South Australia, as part of the pilot, providing customers with a convenient five-minute check while they shop.  

Kmart Group (Kmart and Target) Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer Alexandra Staley said Target is proud to partner with șÚÁÏÍű to bring accessible health solutions into everyday retail environments.  

“At Target, we’re committed to supporting our local communities. By hosting these health stations in our stores, we’re helping make it easier for customers to access simple, free health checks as part of their everyday routines.”  

“This pilot reflects our broader focus on creating positive community impact — using our national store network to help explore ways to remove barriers to early detection and support better health outcomes for Australians.”  

The health checks have already proven successful in other settings, with thousands of Australians using health stations each year to proactively monitor their health.  

Machines are now available in Target stores across Queensland. Participating stores include: Bundaberg, Carindale, Strathpine, Rockhampton, Morayfield, Ipswich, Browns Plains, Mt Gravatt, Mt Ommaney, Runaway Bay.