Building The Noise with Shay Webb: EPISODE 012

They called type 1 diabetes “type white” a dangerous stereotype that can leave Black patients misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and excluded from critical healthcare conversations.Diagnosed at eight years old with a blood sugar level approaching 600, Shay Webb transformed her experience with type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis into a career dedicated to clinical research, healthcare policy, and patient advocacy.In this episode of Building the Noise, Shay shares what it was like growing up as one of the only Black girls with type 1 diabetes in many healthcare and advocacy spaces. She explains how racial assumptions can affect diagnosis and treatment, why lived experience is a valuable form of expertise, and how patients can advocate for themselves in ways that feel natural and effective.Shay and Matt also discuss why pharmaceutical companies must involve patients earlier, how the lack of diversity in clinical research affects trust and outcomes, and why healthcare resources should be brought directly into underserved communities.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN: Why type 1 diabetes was sometimes described as “type white”  How racial assumptions can contribute to diabetes misdiagnosis  What Shay experienced when she was diagnosed at eight years old  How patients can use their voices effectively  Why lived experience cannot be replaced by a presentation or textbook  What pharmaceutical companies still get wrong about patient advocacy  Why Black patients remain underrepresented in clinical research  How healthcare organizations can earn community trust  Why patients must be treated as more than diagnoses or data  Why a diagnosis is “a word, not a sentence” Patient advocacy and health equity cannot be separated. Different patients face different barriers, and giving everyone the same resources does not guarantee equitable access to excellent care. Meaningful change begins when healthcare organizations listen to patients, involve them early, and build lasting relationships within their communities.Subscribe to Building the Noise for more honest conversations with patients, advocates, researchers, and healthcare leaders.Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that their diagnosis does not define them. Please leave a rating or review to support the show and help more listeners discover these important conversations.What must healthcare address first: racial bias, patient representation, or community trust?#Type1Diabetes #PatientAdvocacy #HealthEquity #BlackHealth #DiabetesAwareness #ClinicalResearch #BuildingTheNoiseSupport the showBuilding the Noise with Matt Toresco