When Isabella Magee was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 11, she wanted nothing to do with the disease. It took her years to accept that it wasn’t going away. But as the years rolled on, she realised this wasn’t something she could ignore. Isabella’s story did a complete 180, from denial to total commitment. Now, she’s chosen to focus on improving diabetes awareness and knowledge, including as co-host of the Life on the Level podcast.    

From diagnosis to determination  

“Getting diagnosed was a harsh wake-up call,” Isabella says. “When I was younger, I almost died because I refused to accept my illness. Now, I want to help others avoid making the same mistake.” 

As Isabella chased her dream of becoming a health journalist, she connected with Diabetes Australia and became their first ambassador in 2019. Today, Isabella is studying nutrition and dietetics, combining evidence-based knowledge with her lived experience to become a strong and credible advocate for change. 

Sharing stories and building a community 

Co-hosting the Life on the Level podcast allows Isabella to connect with listeners and guests, share stories and keep things real.  

“The podcast aligns perfectly with my goal of sharing my voice as a representative of the T1D community,” Isabella says. “I strongly believe in speaking up and advocating for your health. Living with diabetes often comes with judgment—people assume you look fine. What they don’t see is the constant effort it takes to manage the condition every minute of every day.”  

Real moments, real conversations 

“On the mic, I’m myself – there’s no sugar coating (ha ha). But my perspective is just one, so it’s great to co-host with Sebastian. We often have completely different views on a topic—we challenge each other, and this makes for great chats on and off air.” 

A global perspective 

Alongside the podcast and her studies, Isabella works part-time for a not-for-profit health organisation and is an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Young Leader. At an IDF Congress, Isabella had a “wow” moment that reminded her how supportive the diabetes community is worldwide.   

“I was in Thailand in a lift with four girls I didn’t know yet. Suddenly, someone’s CGM beeps—she’s going low. Within seconds, we’re all digging out sugar sachets we’d saved from our plane rides. It was an instant understanding.” 

The power of connection 

While Isabella is surrounded by people who understand diabetes, including her younger sister, who was diagnosed after her, recording this season’s podcast reminded Isabella that not everyone ‘gets it’.   

“It’s difficult to be reminded that some people have the privilege of not knowing anything about this disease,” Isabella says. “Listening to our guests share their stories created so many emotional, funny, and reassuring ‘I’m not alone’ moments,” Isabella says.  

“Recording this season drove home to me that diabetes makes you want to become more. It doesn’t get to decide what your life looks like, you do.”