Sweet As! The Diabetes Podcast

Aotearoa Diabetes Collective

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Health & Fitness
Updated Biweekly

Sweet As! The Diabetes Podcast is for people living with all forms of diabetes, including whānau and the people who support them. Each fortnight, we’ll sit down with people from across Aotearoa to share real stories, honest experiences, expert insights, and practical conversations. Hosted by Anika Moa & Solita, presented by Aotearoa Diabetes Collective. Podcast produced by Fanaticals.

2d ago

Diabetes Specialist Explains: Pregnancy, Childbirth & Gestational Diabetes

This week on Sweet As! we’re joined by Dr Stephanie Cox for a deep dive into diabetes and pregnancy. Dr Stephanie Cox is a physician specialising in endocrinology, obstetric and general medicine, and is the Clinical Lead for Diabetes in Pregnancy at a large city hospital. Her work focuses on caring for people with diabetes and other medical conditions before, during and after pregnancy. In this episode, Dr Cox explains how type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes can affect pregnancy, why blood glucose targets change, and what treatment can look like as pregnancy progresses. We also talk about glucose testing, insulin and medication, how diabetes can affect your baby, what happens during labour and birth, and why planning ahead for pregnancy is so important when you have diabetes. . Importantly, Dr Cox also tackles some of the fear and guilt that can come with diabetes in pregnancy. A gestational diabetes diagnosis doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong, increasing insulin requirements are normal for every pregnant person whether you have diabetes or not. Dr Cox explains the goals of managing diabetes in pregnancy in a simple and often funny way that makes it easy to understand why we care so much about having healthy glucose levels in pregnancy. Whether you are pregnant with diabetes, have had diabetes in pregnancy or are planning to grow your whānau while managing diabetes, this episode is packed with clear information to help you understand what lies ahead and feel more prepared. Enjoying Sweet As!? If you’ve found value in our kōrero, we’d love your vote in the NZ Podcast Awards Listener's Choice Award. Vote via the link in our bio by 26 November. Thanks for your support! https://www.nzpodcastawards.com/nominate Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.
Oct 6

Gemma Bradley: Our Baby Was Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 8 Months Old

This week on Sweet As! we’re joined by Gemma Bradley, who shares the incredibly powerful story of her daughter Tiara being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just eight months old. Gemma is a mum of three, business owner and content creator who has been incredibly open about the reality of caring for a baby with diabetes. What began as what seemed like a normal childhood illness quickly became a medical emergency, with Tiara developing severe DKA and being rushed to paediatric intensive care. In this episode, Gemma takes us through the moment she knew something wasn’t right, trusting her instincts after initially being sent home, and the terrifying reality of learning just how sick Tiara had become. She also shares what came next: learning an entirely new language of insulin, pumps, hypos and ketones, the mental load of managing diabetes 24/7, and the impact the diagnosis had on her work, her whānau and her own mental health. It’s an emotional conversation, but also one filled with love, resilience and hope. Gemma talks about becoming more confident as Tiara’s advocate, the importance of having people around you who genuinely want to understand, and the promise she wants Tiara to grow up knowing: we’ll always have your back. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.
Sep 22

Type 2 Diabetes: The Benefits Of Moving Our Bodies

This week on Sweet As! we’re joined again by journalist Megan Whelan, this time alongside her personal trainer Carl Hammington, for a conversation about exercise, strength training and type 2 diabetes. Megan came to strength training later in life and now describes movement as one of the most important parts of managing her diabetes. What began with simply wanting to feel better in her body has grown into a love of lifting weights, powerlifting & discovering just how capable her body can be. In this episode, Megan and Carl unpack how movement and building muscle can support blood glucose management, why exercise doesn’t need to be centred around weight loss, and how starting small can make movement feel far more achievable. They also talk about finding movement you genuinely enjoy, building strength over time and why everyday activity absolutely counts. Whether you’re already active or wondering where to begin, this conversation is a reminder that movement can look different for everyone, and becoming stronger can change far more than what happens in the gym. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.
Sep 8

Diabetes Specialist Explains: Complications, Risk & Living Well

This week on Sweet As! we’re back with Dr Tamatea for Part 2 of our conversation about diabetes. Dr Tamatea is a diabetes specialist (diabetologist & endocrinologist), researcher, and leader in Māori health. In our first conversation, she helped break down what diabetes actually is and explain the different types. This time, we’re looking at one of the parts of diabetes that can carry the most fear: complications and what the future might look like. In this episode, Dr Tamatea explains the risks associated with diabetes, what can be done to help prevent complications, and why someone else’s experience of diabetes does not determine your own. We also talk about the impact of intergenerational trauma, the language we use around diabetes, and why blood glucose levels and other health markers should be treated as information rather than something “good” or “bad.” Most importantly, this is a conversation about living well. Diabetes can be challenging, but the future does not have to look the way people fear. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.
Aug 25

Ozempic, GLP-1s & Diabetes: What the Experts Want You to Know

This week on Sweet As! we're joined by dietitian Rachael Wilson and diabetes specialist Dr Ryan Paul to unpack Ozempic, Wegovy and GLP-1 weight loss medicines, and their role in diabetes care. Rachael has more than 20 years of experience working in diabetes and now specialises in supporting people with nutrition, eating challenges and their relationship with food and their bodies. Dr Paul is an endocrinologist and diabetes specialist who regularly uses GLP-1 medicines in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this episode, they explain how GLP-1 medicines work, including semaglutide, widely known through the brand Ozempic and currently available in New Zealand as Wegovy, while Ozempic itself is not available here. They also discuss the benefits beyond weight loss, who can access GLP-1 medicines in Aotearoa, side effects, eating enough while taking them, protecting muscle mass, food noise and what people should realistically expect. With so much attention on these medicines as weight-loss drugs, this conversation brings the focus back to diabetes and why GLP-1s can offer wider benefits for blood glucose, heart and kidney health. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.
Aug 11

Type 2 Diabetes: Carbs, Weight Loss & Food Freedom

This week on Sweet As! we're joined by journalist Megan Whelan and registered dietitian Rachael Wilson for an honest conversation about type 2 diabetes, nutrition and our relationship with food. Megan is an accomplished journalist, weightlifting enthusiast and someone living with type 2 diabetes. She shares what followed her diagnosis, from fear and confusion around food to rebuilding trust in her body and finding a way to care for her health without losing the joy of eating. Rachael brings years of experience working in diabetes and supporting people with eating challenges and difficult relationships with food and their bodies. In this episode, they unpack carbs, weight loss, emotional eating, weight stigma and what a ‘Health at Every Size’ approach really means. Together, they explore how people can manage diabetes without punishing themselves, cutting out entire food groups or treating weight loss as the only measure of health. Whether you've recently been diagnosed, feel overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice or are looking for a kinder and more sustainable way to care for your health, this conversation offers honesty, reassurance and practical insight. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals
Jul 28

Childhood Diabetes Diagnosis: A Journey to Independence

Emily is a well-known author, journalist and advocate, recognised for her honest voice and the way she shows up for communities across Aotearoa. Alongside her is Eddie, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 6 years old and has been advocating for other young people ever since. In this episode, Emily shares the reality of parenting a child with type 1 diabetes, from the trauma of diagnosis to learning to gradually hand over independence as Eddie has grown up. Eddie also opens up about what it's really like living with diabetes day to day, navigating school, friendships, technology, and why diabetes has never stopped him from living a full life. Whether you're a parent, living with diabetes yourself, or supporting someone who is, this conversation is full of honesty, hope, and practical insights that remind us no one has to navigate diabetes alone. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.
Jul 14

Diabetes Specialist Explains: Type 1, Type 2, Gestational & More

This week on Sweet As, we’re joined by Dr Tamatea. She’s a diabetes specialist (diabetologist & endocrinologist), researcher, and leader in Māori health — known for her insight, her compassion, and the way she shows up for people in her care. In this episode, Dr Tamatea breaks down what diabetes actually is, explains type 1, type 2, gestational and some of the rarer types of diabetes, before answering some of the most common questions people have: Can you get rid of it? How do you know which type you have? What does remission actually mean? Whether you’re living with diabetes, supporting someone who is, or simply wanting to understand diabetes better, this episode will leave you feeling more informed, empowered, and confident. Please help support the podcast here: Buy Me A Coffee Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠.
Jun 30

Westie Lee: Living a Full Life with Type 2 Diabetes

This week on Sweet As, we’re joined by Westie Lee from The Rock FM. He lives a full life with type 2 diabetes — alongside being an award-winning radio host and producer, one of the busiest celebrants in the country, and a proud husband and father of three. In this episode, Lee opens up about his journey from diagnosis and self-blame through to self-compassion. Together, we unpack the shame and stigma that so many people experience, why type 2 diabetes is far more complex than many people realise, and why a diagnosis is never a personal failure. If you’ve ever felt judged because of diabetes, blamed yourself, or know someone who has, this conversation is for you. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.
Jun 16

Anika Moa: The Diabetes Diagnosis That Changed Everything

In our very first episode, Anika opens up about her own diabetes journey — from being misdiagnosed with gestational diabetes, and type 2 diabetes, and eventually discovering she was living with type 1 diabetes. It’s an honest kōrero about the shock, the stigma, the grief, and the reality of managing diabetes every single day — all while still showing up as a māmā, an entertainer and a creative. Please help support the podcast here: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ Hosted by Solita & Anika Moa and brought to you by ⁠⁠Aotearoa Diabetes Collective⁠. Podcast filmed & produced by ⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠.

10 Episodes

Sweet As! The Diabetes Podcast is for people living with all forms of diabetes, including whānau and the people who support them. Each fortnight, we’ll sit down with people from across Aotearoa to share real stories, honest experiences, expert insights, and practical conversations. Hosted by Anika Moa & Solita, presented by Aotearoa Diabetes Collective. Podcast produced by Fanaticals.

Creator

Aotearoa Diabetes Collective
Years Active

2026
Episodes

10
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Aotearoa Diabetes Collective
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Sweet As! The Diabetes Podcast

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Running

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