Stories from the type 1 community

Read stories from people who live with T1D, their loved ones, researchers, fundraisers, and more.

Stories from the

Discover type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis stories, inspiring journeys from people at all ages and stages of living with T1D, articles about researchers, fundraising superstars, and lots more.

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Stacey and Adam: ‘We’ve built a strength you didn’t realise a family could have’
Community

Stacey and Adam: ‘We’ve built a strength you didn’t realise a family could have’

Stacey and Adam Constantini were busy parents of two girls when their youngest daughter, Georgia, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at 10 months. Here they share their story, including how Stacey went on to write a series of books to help kids living with T1D (You, Me & T1D), how Adam was later […]
Jenna and Giulia: ‘Mum’s been there from the second I was diagnosed’
Community

Jenna and Giulia: ‘Mum’s been there from the second I was diagnosed’

Jenna Cantamessa has been living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) since she was a young adult. At 30, she’s now a Young Leader in Diabetes for the International Diabetes Foundation, and runs the popular @TypeOneVibes Instagram account. Her mother Giulia was with her when she was diagnosed with type 1, and has been her biggest […]
Chloe’s T1D diagnosis: ‘JDRF turned something bad into something good’
Fundraising

Chloe’s T1D diagnosis: ‘JDRF turned something bad into something good’

Jenna's family was given life-changing news when Chloe was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 2 - and it eventually led to a new career, too.

Meet the Olympic/Paralympic coach who’s logged 300km to defeat T1D
Living With Type 1 Diabetes

Meet the Olympic/Paralympic coach who’s logged 300km to defeat T1D

Shaun Caven is an internationally renowned Olympic and Paralympic coach who is currently training the Australian paracanoe team for Tokyo 2021. He is also the father of 8-year-old Liam who lives with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Shaun has recently been participating in JDRF’s Aqua Challenge to raise money for type 1 diabetes research and has […]
100 years ago, a type 1 diabetes diagnosis was terminal – learn how far we’ve come
Research

100 years ago, a type 1 diabetes diagnosis was terminal – learn how far we’ve come

Before 1921, a type 1 diabetes diagnosis was terminal. It spelt a death sentence with few effective treatments. 2022 marked 100 years since a few Canadian scientists successfully administered insulin to a human patient… but how did we get here? If you had T1D, you were likely put on one of many strict, fad diets. 1886 Bernhard Naunyn, one of the biggest […]
Talking T1D Research with Prof Tom Kay
Research

Talking T1D Research with Prof Tom Kay

Prof Tom Kay is Director of St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, and Principal Investigator of the recently launched BANDIT clinical trial. BANDIT is looking at a drug called baricitinib, currently used in rheumatoid arthritis, that has the potential to slow or stop the destruction of beta cells in people with newly diagnosed […]
Talking with T1D Researchers: Highlights from IDS 2020
Research

Talking with T1D Researchers: Highlights from IDS 2020

Every 18 months, the Immunology of Diabetes Society (IDS) Congress brings together the world’s brightest scientific minds to discuss the latest progress in understanding and treating T1D.     This year’s virtual congress took place over 4 days in October, and featured presentations and discussions from a number of JDRF-funded Australian researchers at the top of their […]
How does a clinical trial work?
Research

How does a clinical trial work?

Clinical trials are an essential part of T1D research. Before any new intervention – whether it’s a drug, device, or test – can be made available to the public, researchers need to gather evidence that it is safe and effective for people to use. A clinical trial is the gold standard way to do this. Running […]
Spotlight on fundraisers Robyn and Greg King
Living With Type 1 Diabetes

Spotlight on fundraisers Robyn and Greg King

This National Diabetes Week, JDRF Australia is highlighting the stories of just some of the spectacular people in the T1D community and the unique experiences they’ve had while living with diabetes. This year, the focus is on highlighting the mental and emotional health impact of T1D.  Perth siblings Robyn King and her brother Greg had […]
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