Growing up, Lauren Cusack was heavily involved in her Mum’s 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.     

Childhood skills: a sixth sense for hypos  

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

“Even though I helped Mum throughout my childhood, I still wasn’t prepared for my own diagnosis,” Lauren says. “I 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’t know for sure.” 

“I felt relieved because I didn’t 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.”  

Peer communities: finding support  

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

“I knew I had to find my people quickly,” she says. “I 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.” 

“My journey has been very different to my Mum’s. She didn’t have the amazing tech that we have today, like insulin pumps and CGMs, and she certainly didn’t have the people around her that I discovered. My diagnosis gave me a new appreciation for what my Mum had gone through.”    

Career change: honing her superpower 

Lauren describes herself as an “accidental advocate”, 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.  

“Before my diagnosis, I worked in corporate health for a decade,” Lauren says. “But 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.”  

Tune in: Lauren’s full story 

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 “messy” second pregnancy with type 1 diabetes, she was thrilled to welcome her daughter.  

“I’m grateful for the peer support I received during my pregnancy and to be navigating mum-life with my sister, who also has two children,” she says. “While 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.”