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WOMen
November 14, 2025
Georgia speaks out on World Diabetes Day
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One of British basketball’s best loved stars has broken her silence on life as a top-class athlete managing Type 1 diabetes. Manchester Basketball and former Great Britain international Georgia Anderson has proved it’s possible to excel at the highest level despite a challenging diagnosis.
And on World Diabetes Day, Georgia hopes to inspire young people facing the same fight to chase their dreams and aim high.
“It’s possible to play sport and manage your diabetes,” insists the 35-year-old mother. “I hope I’m an example of that.
“I didn’t have many diabetic athletes to look up to but I want others to know they can still achieve everything they want.
“Looking back I’d tell my seven-year-old self ‘you’re going to be okay. Everything’s going to work out. You’ll play basketball for a long time and you’ll have a family.’
“Anything is possible.”
Commonwealth Games silver medalist Georgia is backing Diabetes UK’s Strike Out Stigma campaign. And she is the face of a brand new film commissioned by Super League Basketball (SLB) to shine a light on one of the most inspirational figures in the women’s game.
“When I was diagnosed as a child I’d never even heard of diabetes,” adds Georgia. “I remember feeling scared and not knowing what was going to happen.
“But my parents handled it incredibly well. I never felt their stress. I owe them so much.”
Type 1 diabetes means Anderson’s body no longer produces insulin, the hormone that regulates blood glucose.
Managing it means constant vigilance — and, for a professional athlete, the stakes are high.
“When I first moved to college, I was cooking for myself and dealing with the pressure to perform,” she says.
“I became fearful of going low during practices and games, so I let my sugars run high.
“At the time I didn’t see it as a problem, but later my doctors warned me about future health risks. That was the wake-up call I needed to make a change.”
Georgia is back in action for Manchester Basketball on November 23 when Leicester visit the National Basketball Performance Centre.
And the experienced campaigner aims to keep on playing — busting the myth that diabetes is a barrier to success.
“There’s this idea that you shouldn’t play sport,” she adds. “I heard that after I was diagnosed but my parents never changed anything for me. I carried on playing basketball and I hope I’m proof that it’s possible.”
The full video is available for viewing on Super League Basketball TV here or on YouTube here.
One of British basketball’s best loved stars has broken her silence on life as a top-class athlete managing Type 1 diabetes. Manchester Basketball and former Great Britain international Georgia Anderson has proved it’s possible to excel at the highest level despite a challenging diagnosis.
And on World Diabetes Day, Georgia hopes to inspire young people facing the same fight to chase their dreams and aim high.
“It’s possible to play sport and manage your diabetes,” insists the 35-year-old mother. “I hope I’m an example of that.
“I didn’t have many diabetic athletes to look up to but I want others to know they can still achieve everything they want.
“Looking back I’d tell my seven-year-old self ‘you’re going to be okay. Everything’s going to work out. You’ll play basketball for a long time and you’ll have a family.’
“Anything is possible.”
Commonwealth Games silver medalist Georgia is backing Diabetes UK’s Strike Out Stigma campaign. And she is the face of a brand new film commissioned by Super League Basketball (SLB) to shine a light on one of the most inspirational figures in the women’s game.
“When I was diagnosed as a child I’d never even heard of diabetes,” adds Georgia. “I remember feeling scared and not knowing what was going to happen.
“But my parents handled it incredibly well. I never felt their stress. I owe them so much.”
Type 1 diabetes means Anderson’s body no longer produces insulin, the hormone that regulates blood glucose.
Managing it means constant vigilance — and, for a professional athlete, the stakes are high.
“When I first moved to college, I was cooking for myself and dealing with the pressure to perform,” she says.
“I became fearful of going low during practices and games, so I let my sugars run high.
“At the time I didn’t see it as a problem, but later my doctors warned me about future health risks. That was the wake-up call I needed to make a change.”
Georgia is back in action for Manchester Basketball on November 23 when Leicester visit the National Basketball Performance Centre.
And the experienced campaigner aims to keep on playing — busting the myth that diabetes is a barrier to success.
“There’s this idea that you shouldn’t play sport,” she adds. “I heard that after I was diagnosed but my parents never changed anything for me. I carried on playing basketball and I hope I’m proof that it’s possible.”
The full video is available for viewing on Super League Basketball TV here or on YouTube here.
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