Good day, I’m Rachel Hicks from Australia. I have been living with type 1 diabetes since 1995 and also manage other chronic immune conditions.
My journey has given me over 30 years of lived experience navigating public and private healthcare, advocating for person-centred, empowered continuity of care. I am also a diabetes researcher and PhD candidate, specialising in the lived experiences of diabetes and pregnancy. When I was diagnosed at 5, my family was told I might not have children — yet I went on to have two successful pregnancies and two beautiful children.
Australia, part of the IDF Western Pacific Region, has around 1.7 million people living with diabetes in 2024, expected to rise to 2.2 million by 2050, with 28% living undiagnosed.
I joined Blue Circle Voices to amplify lived experience in research, improve collaboration between communities and healthcare professionals, and advocate for equitable, inclusive access to diabetes care, technology and support across all stages of life.
“My journey has given me over 30 years of lived experience navigating public and private healthcare, advocating for person-centred, empowered continuity of care. When I was diagnosed at 5, my family was told I might not have children — yet I went on to have two successful pregnancies and two beautiful children.”
