Better Understanding Diabetes Support -BUDS

15/10/2026

💙 BUDS on the Radio! 📻

A big thank you to Kris Seabert and the team at 3CS Colac for having me on air to chat about BUDS – Better Understanding Diabetes Support!

We spoke about what BUDS is all about, building connections, sharing experiences and supporting one another while navigating life with Type 1 diabetes.

One of the most important things we're doing is bringing people together through our monthly Community Cuppa & Catch-Up ☕💙

📍 Lake View Café, Colac
🗓️ The last Sunday of every month
⏰ 10 am

Whether you're living with Type 1 diabetes, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to connect with people who understand, there's a place for you at our table.

You don't have to navigate diabetes alone. Sometimes, a cuppa and a conversation with someone who gets it can make all the difference.

👉 Check out our socials for upcoming catch-up details!

Thanks again to Kris and 3CS for helping spread the word about BUDS and the importance of community support. 💙

BUDS — Better Understanding Diabetes Support. Growing together, one conversation at a time.

14/10/2026

💙 3 am. High blood glucose. A brain that won't switch off.

This is a pretty personal video to share, but I think it's an important one.

At 3 am, I'm awake, trying to problem-solve a high blood glucose event that just doesn't make sense. Running through the possibilities, questioning decisions, trying to work out what I've missed, and searching for an answer.

I've lived with Type 1 diabetes for over 25 years. I'm a teacher, a dad, an athlete, and someone who has spent countless hours learning about diabetes. I have the knowledge. I have the experience. But sometimes, diabetes simply doesn't play fair.

And when you're exhausted, frustrated and struggling to find an answer, the mental load can be overwhelming.

This is diabetes distress. It's the frustration, the exhaustion, the constant problem-solving and the feeling that, no matter how much you know, you can't always make sense of what's happening.

I want to share this because I think people need to see what living with Type 1 diabetes can actually look like. Not just the CGM graphs, the technology, the good numbers or the days when everything falls into place.

But the 3 am moments, too.

The moments when you're doing everything you can, and it's still hard.

I'm human. I get frustrated. I get exhausted. And sometimes, even with all my experience, I don't have the answers straight away.

Knowledge doesn't make you immune to diabetes distress. Experience doesn't mean you have it all figured out. And a high blood glucose reading doesn't tell the whole story.

That's a big part of why I'm building BUDS — Better Understanding Diabetes Support. To help people understand not just the condition, but the person living with it.

If you live with Type 1, I hope this reminds you that you're not alone.

If you don't, I hope it gives you a little more understanding of what's happening behind the scenes.

Because diabetes is more than numbers. It's a 24/7 job that nobody clocks out of. 💙

10/10/2026

BUDS member highlight - Code Name E (for child protection purposes)

Yes I got Mum's permission before sharing!

This a real story from one of my favourite BUDS.

She's and her Mum absolute legends and this story highlights the importance of a parents intuition and standing firm on your own beliefs 💙.

I got emotional hearing this story from E's mum.

Goes to show the importance of speaking up doing your own research.

As well as how incredible a child (and Parents) can be when learning how to manage type 1 for the first time.

Thanks

your BUD Todd

10/10/2026

💙 BUDS October Update! 🌱

What a month it’s been for BUDS! New connections, exciting opportunities and plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future of diabetes support in our community.

💬 Building Connections – Had some great conversations with Diabetes in Schools, a leading organisation in Victoria, about supporting students with type 1 diabetes.

🏫 Taking BUDS into Schools – Also connected with school principals interested in bringing BUDS professional development (PD) into their schools. Every conversation is a step closer to making schools safer and more supportive for students living with type 1!

☕ Community Cuppa – We held our third BUDS community catch-up, sharing stories, having great chats and supporting one another. These connections are what BUDS is all about! 💙

📻 On the Radio! – Had a great chat with Kris on 3CS. The support and encouragement from our local community has been incredible!

🌟 A Little BUD Making Big Moves – Keep an eye out for a special story about one incredible young BUD who is absolutely smashing life with type 1 diabetes. Their story is one you won’t want to miss! 💙

🗓️ Looking Ahead to November!

🏃 Running for Research – Taking on a charity run for the Perkins Foundation. You can find the link to support the cause in my bio!

📍 BUDS Goes to Melbourne – Taking BUDS to the Diabetes Expo in Melbourne to keep learning, connecting and spreading the word.

☕ Another Community Catch-Up – More opportunities to bring people together, share experiences and support one another.

Every conversation, every connection and every little step helps us build a stronger community. BUDS is growing, and we're only just getting started!

Better Understanding Diabetes Support 💙

01/10/2026

NO MORE MORNING SPIKES! 💙

One of the simplest changes I’ve made to my morning routine?

🚶‍♂️ A 10-minute walk.

Build 10 minutes of walking into your morning and you might be surprised at what it can do for your BGL. Instead of starting the day with that frustrating morning spike, a little movement can help smooth things out and get you feeling good for the day ahead.

And it’s not just about blood glucose…

🧠 Can help lift your mood
😊 Supports mental wellbeing
❤️ Gets your heart moving
⚡ Helps wake you up and boost energy
🌅 Gives you a positive start to the day

You don't need an hour-long workout. You don't need a gym.

Sometimes 10 minutes is enough to make a difference.

Give it a go and see what works for you. 💙

29/09/2026

💙 DIABETES DOES NOT STOP YOU! 💙

One of my favourite BUDS moments started with my son, Ro.

Ro chose one of our Glucose Guardians colouring pages and decided he wanted to reach out to his hero, Paddy McCartin — a retired AFL footballer who played for both St Kilda and Sydney, and someone who has shown that living with type 1 diabetes doesn't mean giving up on the things you love.

So Ro sent Paddy his colouring in… and waited.

Then came the most incredible response. 🥹💙

Paddy took the time to write back to Ro, and his words meant so much to him.

Paddy was the inspiration behind one of our Glucose Guardians, but his response inspired us even more.

These are the moments that remind me why I started BUDS.

Sometimes a child just needs to see someone who has walked the same road and think:

“If they can do it… maybe I can too.”

Diabetes can make things harder.
It can throw challenges at you.
It can demand a lot from you.

But diabetes does not get to decide what you can achieve.

Whether you're an AFL footballer, an athlete, a parent, a teacher, a kid colouring in their hero… or simply someone getting through another day with type 1 —

Diabetes does not stop you. 💙

Thank you, Paddy, for inspiring Ro and so many others.

And thank you, Ro, for reminding me that sometimes the biggest impact starts with something as simple as a colouring page. 🥰

StKilda SydneySwans WithDiabetes DiabetesHeroes 💙

29/09/2026

29/09/2026

Nothing better on a hot day than a guilt free ICE COFFEE!

Just after breakfast I will have a short black coffee it's just a part of my routine guilt free, helps me feel less tired after a "restful sleep" and it barely scratches my BGL at all!

Now when the weather gets warm I have a sweet tooth and that's where this beautiful protein/ice coffee comes in 💙.

Black coffee poured over ice.

1 scoop of vanilla protein powder with ice and light milk.

I have it after my morning run/exercise and I gotta say it's been a perfect way to recover boost energy and keep my blood glucose in check!

Woooohooo 🙃🤪