Beyond Carb Counting: A Real-Life Approach to Type 1 Diabetes Nutrition

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!   Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Megan Cremins, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer specializing in Type 1 Diabetes, for a conversation about the value of lived experience, the importance of meeting clients where they are, and how dietitians can build meaningful work in a specialty they care deeply about.   Megan shares how her own diabetes diagnosis shaped the way she supports clients today, helping them move away from fear-based food rules and toward more confidence with blood sugars, technology, and real-life eating. Jennifer and Megan discuss the various ways dietitians can work in the diabetes space, the importance of community, and what it can look like to build a sustainable private practice. Megan's Personal Diagnosis Story (04:17) Megan shares the story of her type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age five and reflects on how challenging it was to grow up managing blood sugars, food, insulin, and confidence. Becoming the Dietitian She Needed as a Kid (06:51) Megan explains how her own health journey helped her realize that she wanted to support others with type 1 diabetes in a more empowering, compassionate way. Moving Beyond Fear-Based Diabetes Advice (08:46) Jennifer and Megan discuss how type 1 diabetes care has often been shaped by food fear and restriction, and why a balanced, flexible approach can better support clients. Helping Clients Build Flexibility and Confidence (11:07) Megan explains common client pain points, and Jennifer reflects on how powerful it is for clients to have a provider who can help them experiment with food, blood sugars, and technology without fear. Supporting Clients Through Life Transitions (15:11) Megan talks about the importance of extra support during major transitions like pregnancy, college, perimenopause, and other life changes that can affect blood sugars. Building a Practice With Multiple Offers (16:39) Megan walks through the evolution of her business, including her group program, one-on-one work, insurance-based practice, recipe club, and brand partnerships. Finding a Sustainable Business Model (20:21) Megan reflects on how her mix of offers helps her feel balanced, and Jennifer shares how business owners can continue evolving their boundaries, services, and definitions of success. Understanding Scope in the Diabetes Space (24:52) Jennifer and Megan discuss the different layers of diabetes care, including type 1, type 2, insulin resistance, insulin use, medications, pumps, CGMs, and the importance of understanding each client's actual needs. Growing Through Community, Social Media, and Consistency (33:58) Megan reflects on how building an online presence, connecting with the type 1 diabetes community, and staying consistent helped open doors for brand partnerships and speaking opportunities. Advice for Dietitians Entering the Type 1 Space (38:21) Megan offers advice to dietitians interested in this niche, and emphasizes getting involved in the type 1 community both online and in person.   Megan's story offers a roadmap for turning personal challenges into professional triumphs. She turned her lived experience into a sustainable, purpose-driven practice, helping clients navigate their own Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis with more ease. This episode focuses on both the client experience and the business decisions that come when running a practice, and offers inspiration for dietitians looking to start their own practice, grow their audience, or gain more knowledge about diabetes care.   ✨ Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner.   Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/   Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice   About Megan: Meg Cremins is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer who has lived with Type 1 Diabetes since 1999 and Celiac Disease since 2010. Her private practice is dedicated to helping women with T1D feel more confident with food, health, and life!  Her passion for helping others with T1D comes from her own experience of struggling with T1D management for many years and eventually finding a way to feel more supported and in control. Now, she helps others build that same sense of freedom in their own lives with T1D. She loves running marathons, yoga, traveling around the world with her husband, reading romantasy books, and nailing a pizza bolus.   Find Megan on Instagram at @megtypeone.