#324: Diagnosed at 7, and Told She Should Never Have Kids - Jillian Khounchanh

In this powerful and deeply human episode, I sit down with Jillian, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 7 years old in 1991 — growing up in what many now call the dark ages of diabetes care.Jillian’s story is layered, emotional, and incredibly insightful. Raised by a mother who also lived with Type 1 diabetes, she navigated childhood, adolescence, eating disorders, evolving technology, and eventually three healthy pregnancies— all while learning what actually works for her body through Dr Richard K. Bernstein's teachings.🔑 Key TakeawaysGrowing up with T1D shapes your relationship with food, control, and self-trust.“Eat whatever you want and dose for it” is incomplete advice for many people.Protein and fat do impact blood sugars — often hours later.Low-carb works well for some people, but restriction is a fast path to burnout.Diabetes management must feel livable, not punishing.Pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes is absolutely possible — even multiple times.Hormones (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum) dramatically affect insulin needs.Algorithms and automation can help — but they’re tools, not solutions.📌 Resources & Topics Mentioned in This EpisodeLow-carb & high-protein nutrition strategiesProtein and fat delayed glucose spikesExtended boluses & pump featuresCGM accuracy & algorithm limitationsDr. Richard K. Bernstein & The Law of Small NumbersPregnancy & insulin resistanceBreastfeeding and blood sugar variabilityDiabetic retinopathy treatmentsSelf-advocacy in medical settingsDiabetes stigma around motherhoodI’m Coach Ken Kniss, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast. I help people living with T1D cut through the overwhelm, confusion, fear, and distrust in their daily decisions, so they can feel confident and live without consistently worrying about lows, their body image, or long term complications.🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching 📩 Join my newsletter: Subscribe📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.Ways to Support the ShowLeave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & SpotifyShare this episode with a diabuddyFollow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3nPodcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.Support the show