On a beautiful Sunday morning at the Adelaide Showground’s Farmers Market, I finished our Diabetes YOUnited cook-off with chef Miguel Maestre and sat down for a chat with Molly and Jane.

Molly Brooksby is a rising AFLW star with Port Adelaide, and Jane Giles is a dedicated nurse and credentialled diabetes educator.

Fresh off the plane from a game in Melbourne the day before, Molly arrived at our cook-off full of energy and positivity, the same approach she brings to managing her type 1 diabetes.

At 19, Molly’s life is a whirlwind of training and study, yet she maintains an impressively balanced routine to manage her diabetes.

Diagnosed almost five years ago, she shared how important it is to have a supportive family and community, as well as access to the latest technology, such as her continuous glucose monitor, which helps her keep her blood glucose stable on and off the field.

Her story underscores the importance of Diabetes YOUnited, our free national program designed to help Australians like Molly stay healthy and informed no matter where they are in life.

Jane Giles, a former president of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association, joined us to talk about the urgent need for better access to diabetes supplies and services.

Working in the remote Western Australian Tjuntjuntjara Aboriginal Community, she sees firsthand the challenges people face in managing diabetes in remote areas. Jane spoke with me about how we have to listen closely to people living with diabetes to understand what support they really need.

Hearing from Molly and Jane reinforced my commitment to making Diabetes YOUnited a vital resource for every Australian, helping ease the burden of diabetes with accessible, practical support.

Stay tuned as I continue my journey across Australia, sharing more stories from our inspiring diabetes community.

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.