Real Life Diabetes

I’m breaking new ground with a special guest: Dr. Kevin Pantalone, an endocrinologist whose insights offer a fresh perspective on patient care. In a recent poignant reflection, Dr. Pantalone shared the emotional impact of losing one of his patients, a woman living with Type 1 diabetes. His words shed light on a side of healthcare […]

Welcome to Unearthing Diabetes Discoveries, your inside look at cutting-edge diabetes research. In this episode, I chat with Ulf Hannelius, CEO of Diamyd Medical, about their groundbreaking investigational immunotherapy that aims to safely and specifically slow down or halt the autoimmune destruction of insulin producing cells.  BIO: Meet Ulf Hannelius, the CEO of Diamyd Medical. […]

After her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Mia Fasanella became a certified yoga instructor, using yoga and meditation to navigate the uncertainties. As a second-grade teacher, she fosters a supportive classroom environment by embracing her diabetes, inspiring her students to celebrate their uniqueness. In this episode we discuss how her father traced back her unusual T1D family […]

This particular podcast subject, diabetes in animals, sparked my interest after I learned about Quincy, a koala bear at the San Diego Zoo, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2018, was insulin dependent, and wore a CGM. It made me think – why do animals have diabetes and is it the same as […]

Saira Khan-Gallo is on a mission to bridge the gaps in diabetes outcomes by championing equitable and patient-centered healthcare. In this episode we delve into Saira’s unique story of meeting her husband through matching insulin pumps, her time in the Peace Corps, a passion project close to her heart, and how Type 1 diabetes is […]

I’ve recently had the opportunity to connect with three fathers who shared their experiences of raising daughters, aged 11 to 16, living with Type 1 diabetes. In this groundbreaking episode, Dan Kendall, Brooks Ratzlaff, and returning guest Scott Kinsel, provide insights into the unique challenges and joys of being a father to a T1D daughter. […]

I connected with Molly Schreiber after reading a heartfelt LinkedIn post about her family history of Type 1 diabetes and the tragic loss of her father. Molly is a patient living with multiple health conditions and an active patient advocate within those communities. In this episode we discuss growing up with a T1D dad, her […]

Jazz Sethi, is the founder and director of The DiaBESties Foundation – a global movement to make those with Type 1 Diabetes feel heard, understood, supported and celebrated. She is also a certified diabetes educator, a professional dancer, choreographer, theatre artist, and a published author. In this episode we discuss what living with T1D in India looks […]

Kayla Chorley, is a certified Canadian Counsellor and therapist whose practice extends her support for individuals living with Type 1 diabetes and focuses on areas of burnout, diabetes distress and hypoanxiety. Having lived with T1D for 23 years, she is deeply passionate about supporting mental health in our community. In this episode we discuss diabetes and mental […]

Zippora Karz is a former soloist ballerina with the New York City Ballet, and a diabetes spokesperson who hopes to continue to inspire people to live healthy active lives through her work as an author, teacher, and motivational speaker. In this episode we discuss her misdiagnosis, life as a ballerina from an early age, the importance […]

Farhaneh Ahmadi is the Founder and CEO of eddii, a virtual in-app character designed to engage people living with diabetes. Her vision is to make every eddii user feel motivated to achieve long-lasting health outcomes, and enjoy doing so! In this episode we discuss her personal Type 1 diabetes journey, the inception and benefits of […]

Harold Hamm is world renowned for his entrepreneurial spirit and successful career in the oil and natural gas industry, but there is SO much more to this story. In this episode we discuss how a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis was a personal game changer, the Giving Pledge, the International Biomedical Research in Diabetes Award, and […]

Scott & Poppy Kinsel popped up on my radar after reading a heartfelt Facebook post about not letting type 1 diabetes slow life down after her recent diagnosis. In this episode we discuss Poppy’s misdiagnosis, navigating competitive sports, parenting, and what an epic adventure to Norway looks like with T1D. BIO:  Scott Kinsel – I […]

Katie Bone had the diabetes community in awe of her drive and competitive spirit as she dominated the third ever American Ninja Warrior Women’s Championship. In this episode we discuss a T1D family history, incremental boluses, teenage hormones, when to compete in wet shoes, and her motivation to continue a strict workout regimen.  BIO:  Katie Bone is […]

It’s been awhile since I interviewed a T1D parent, but Sara Spencer-Kinoti stands out. Her LinkedIn profile reads unapologetic, ridiculously excited diabetes advocate, ally and part-time pancreas. In this episode we discuss her college side hustle taking care of insulin dependent cats, her family history of Type 2 and how she uses her unique platform […]

I can’t remember a joke to save my life so finding someone who can, with the addition of diabetes humor, makes Bryan Flynn the perfect guest. In this episode we discuss Bryan’s advertising career with clients like Starburst and Mars candy, his crazy dog Darla who keeps him in shape, winning the funniest person in […]

The diabetes community is fortunate to have so many one of a kind warriors and Thom Solo is top of the list in my opinion. His advocacy efforts at an early age + pursuit of art as a career = my dream guest. In this episode we discuss Thom’s artistic journey, runway lows, diabetes and […]

It took me months to nail down an interview with Elizabeth Vesely after seeing her Facebook post about taking the polar plunge and it was well worth the wait. In this episode we discuss her misdiagnosis, addressing diabetes denial, and what living life to the fullest while you still can looks like for this T1D […]

May is mental health awareness month and is the perfect time to release this episode with Allison Nimlos, a licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of the Diabetes + Mental Health Virtual Conference who specializes in behavior change psychology for diabetes. In this episode we discuss the importance of addressing mental health for those living […]

I’ve known Marwin Begaye for years and stumbled across one of his pieces that stopped me dead in my tracks titled, Super Size Angels. In this episode we discuss he and his families journey to prevent a diabetes diagnosis, holistic medicine, the growing numbers of diabetes within the American Indian communities, and the controversial body […]

Reverend Mireya Martinez was a panelist on the Crushing: The Burden of Diabetes on Patients session during SXSW in Austin, Texas where she dominated the conversation in my opinion. In this episode we discuss her life as an insulin dependent person living with Type 2 diabetes, healthcare disparities and how she is writing her own […]

Sarah Petti is back on the show and her life has drastically changed since her last appearance three years ago. In this episode we discuss T1D pregnancy, body image and what’s new in her very active life with a guest appearance from Angus. BIO: Sarah Petti has been living with type 1 diabetes since 2005. She […]

Rachael Dyer and Scott Alexander Ruderman are the directors of Pay or Die, a feature documentary that provides an inside look at how the soaring price of insulin in America is threatening, if not deadly.  We’ve heard WAY too many stories about people rationing their insulin and this film documents what life is like with […]

Serena Valentine, was misdiagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in her twenties. This misdiagnosis is one of the many reasons she is a passionate advocate for health equity, eye health and diabetes education. In this episode we discuss Serena’s misdiagnosis, diabetes complications, healthcare disparities, food deserts and her advocacy efforts. BIO:  Serena Valentine, is an American Diabetes Association […]

Thapi Semenya is in her final year of law school, is an IDF Young Leader in Diabetes Trainee, a Dedoc voice, a professional advisor for the Luna Project UK and a strong diabetes advocate. We connected on LinkedIn after I read her mindful post about lowering her A1c and what steps it took to get there.  […]

Lauren Cox, the first ever WNBA player living with Type 1 diabetes, did not let a T1D diagnosis at an early age keep her from reaching personal and professional goals. In this episode we discuss her diabetes management tools on the road, and on the court. BIO:  Lauren Cox was the first ever WNBA player […]

Jessica Landon, like many T1D parents, is doing her best to put a positive spin on the new “normal” life she and her family are living. In this episode we discuss how and why her family celebrate Lindsey’s diagnosis date, a Facebook post and the flood of comments from the online community – both good […]

As we roll into the New Year, I’m reminded how living with Type 1 diabetes can make things a little challenging at times. In this episode, Justin shares how he wasn’t going to let his new diagnosis keep him from having the time of his life at Burning Man, an annual event in Nevada’s Black […]

Valerie Cantella’s message, recovering perfectionist, resonates with me on SO many levels. In this episode we discuss how different phases of her life and diabetes management helped her recognize and fully embrace the mindset – the gift of good enough. BIO: Valerie Cantella is an award-winning multi-passionate communications and public affairs professional living a life beyond […]

The connection between COVID and diabetes has been all over the news, but I hadn’t met anyone who can speak to this until interviewing Racheal Jacques. In this episode we discuss her family history of chronic conditions, including Type 1 diabetes, and how she received her T1D diagnosis shortly after recovering from COVID.  BIO: Rachael received […]

It’s always nice to connect with someone equally as passionate as I am about serving our community. Rob Howe is a fellow podcast host and serial entrepreneur making a difference in the diabetes space. In this episode we discuss Rob’s latest project and how we can work together to reach the underserved – one Regional […]

In June 2022, The Human Trial documentary film was released by writer and director, Lisa Hepner who was given unprecedented access to participants in the sixth ever embryonic stem cell trial in the world. Behind every breakthrough are those who risk everything for everybody else. In this episode we get into the hard hitting details […]

Chad T. Lewis’ new book, “Doing Diabetes Differently: Empower a Healthier You,” breaks the mold of traditional diabetes care. In this episode, Lewis touches on his Type 1 diabetes journey and thoughts on the diabetes care hierarchy. This provocative interview, comments from reputable sources referenced in the book, and takeaways, will have you thinking about […]

Can you imagine black ants being attracted to sugar as part of your diagnosis story? Well, today’s guest, Nupur Lalvani shares her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis and everything she has going on in her very active advocacy life. She is the founder of the Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, India’s largest patient-led support group for people […]

Seeing diabetes every day can develop denial and avoidance of the disease. In this episode, Patricia shares her journey to compassion for herself and other people living with this disease. She explains – diabetes should not define our purpose as she reflects on how denial, anger, bargaining, and depression are all connected to unresolved grief. […]

If you can name it, you can tame it! In this episode, Qiana Drew clears up some misconceptions and shares how, when it came to her diabetes, she would often do things to try and keep up with her thin peers. Eventually, she realized this mindset was not a healthy way to live and decided […]

I knew Ermo Egberts would be the perfect guest after reading his post about attending an ecstatic dance party where he connected with others on a spiritual level. Ermo’s story is a testament to the power of self-awareness and self-care, and he encourages others who are living with diabetes to stay positive and hopeful while […]

Every change that our body experiences as we age is connected to hormones, and should not be neglected. In this episode we discuss the changes our T1D bodies are experiencing in our forties. Azure also speaks passionately about the importance of connecting with others who are living with diabetes to support one another and recommends […]

You might think fashion is the last thing people living with diabetes have on their mind, but in reality, PWDs could benefit a great deal from clothing that is designed with both utility and style in mind. Naomi Kinnamon, who has lived with Type 1 diabetes since age 11, brings us those solutions that accommodate […]

Noah Averbach-Katz blew the doors off a recent Kickstarter campaign for a film that just began production. I believe his experience with live theater AND as a professional actor gave him the upper hand on creating TYPE 1, a short film chosen as one of Kickstarter “projects we love” after it was fully funded in under […]

Isn’t it time to start injecting some much-needed diabetes humor to cut through the doom and gloom we face? Kalex Williams is a master at extracting positivity and he has to be one of the coolest people I’ve met! In this episode, you will get a taste of Kalex’s resilience in the face of his […]

People living with diabetes are tired of waiting for a cure, but it’s not time to throw in the towel. Sean Kramer knows about this all too well. Sean is the fourth generation in his family to be living with diabetes. Today, he serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation […]

Demanding better care and not being afraid to ask for it, Esi Akyere Mali Arthur Snodgrass is helping others find their voice and live life knowing they are complete and whole. You got to get to know this dynamic woman! Dive into this action-packed episode and find out Esi’s story, diabetes management, and advocacy for […]

Imagine a future where diabetes is the last thing on the mind of people living with it – that is progress! In part #1 we got an inside look at how the insulin industry is spurring each other on to make advancements in diabetes management. In part #2 we continue the conversation with the leaders […]

I’ve joked, and/or compared my diabetes management to OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), but hadn’t met anyone living with both conditions until interviewing Brett Ryan Stewart. Brett is a Nashville based producer who shared – “ultimately what OCD kind of comes down to is this inability to accept what you can’t control and then obsessing about […]

The world of diabetes management is growing at an expeditious rate, so how do we define progress in this space? Great question, and one I couldn’t resolve myself so I brought in past podcast guest and fellow T1D, Mark Carter, who has worked within the industry. We had the pleasure of sitting with three insulin pump therapy […]

It’s time to get rid of the word ‘weak’ when talking about people navigating chronic illnesses. In reality, we are some of the strong, unique and resilient people in the world, and Madison Thorn is spreading that very message. She was fueled by a nasty protest sign and turned that energy into a thought provoking […]

Ginger Vieira learned quickly that it turns out there is a whole lot you can still do even while dealing with diabetes when you approach yourself kindly rather than getting stuck in self pity. She is a passionate writer and editor with a mission to turn complex health information into easy-to-read content. Ginger herself navigates […]

When Charles Mattocks was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he was given little to no education on how to manage this disease so he took matters into his own hands. After getting his own health back on track, Charles is sharing his journey into advocacy, and how he is effectively trying to reverse the forward […]

People living with diabetes don’t just need the latest and greatest tech, they need real solutions to unique problems! Kayla Mattingly always knew she wanted 3-4 kids from the start, but never imagined two of her four sons would be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She rolled with the autoimmune punches, but an insulin allergy has her […]