Coffee in Perth on a Saturday morning is a great way to start the weekend.

During a recent visit to this beautiful part of the world for the Diabetes YOUnited national roadshow, I had the pleasure of meeting a remarkable person living with type 2 diabetes.

Lina di Franco was originally diagnosed with gestational diabetes over 30 years ago, and then, as so often happens, she later developed type 2 diabetes. A recent breast cancer battle also affected Lina’s life, and she knows first-hand how a serious health issue like that can affect a person, and impact their diabetes management.

Lina spoke to me about the power of support and how having people around her to connect with about diabetes has been a game changer. When Lina was first diagnosed with diabetes, she really noticed the stigma attached to the condition and found community support made the journey easier.

Lina has lived with diabetes for many years now and has a lot of hard-earned wisdom to share.

Hearing Lina’s story reminded me how different each person’s diabetes journey is, which is why Diabetes YOUnited is so essential. We launched this free, national membership program to ensure that all Australians with diabetes can access the resources and support they need, regardless of where they live or their financial situation.

As I continue to meet people across the country, I’m inspired by the strength and resilience of our diabetes community. Each story fuels our mission to make diabetes care more accessible and equitable.

Whether it’s a person who is newly diagnosed or someone like Lina who has decades of lived experience and a lot of wisdom to share, community lifts us all up. YOUnited we are stronger.

The “On the Go with the GCEO” series is amplifying the voices of people with lived experience of diabetes and frontline healthcare professionals to build awareness and drive policy change. Stay tuned as Justine continues her journey across Australia, meeting with more families and communities who inspire us all with their stories.