I work diligently to make sure patients receive the individualized healthcare they deserve and highlight others who share my passion to provide real support and resources for all people living with this disease. It is time to speak up!
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. This episode delves into poignant topics such as diagnosis stories, navigating puberty, the nuances of dating, and the delicate balance of paternal guidance without exerting excessive control over their daughters’ evolving lives.
FORTY. Forty years ago today, a worried, but determined grandpa took his sick 17-month-old toddler to her pediatrician. My grandpa flatly told the pediatrician that his granddaughter was sick and he knew she had not just diabetes, but Type 1 diabetes. The pediatrician basically laughed and said, “There’s no way this kid has diabetes—she’s too young,” but my grandpa didn’t quit.
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 personal T1D diagnosis, and how her role as Community Director gives her the privilege to spend time with patients, caregivers and patient advocacy focused organizations.
In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, I wanted to share some things I’ve learned about diabetes and mental health over the past 23 years of living with the condition and working as a counseling therapist within the community.
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 like, D-Coded, and her ever growing advocacy efforts.
In 2024, the Diabetes Daily Grind is celebrating a remarkable decade of weaving tales from the lives of individuals courageously living with diabetes, including yours truly. As I take a stroll down memory lane, I find myself revisiting the heartfelt and insightful posts I’ve had the privilege to share. What astounds me is the unwavering commitment to authenticity and vulnerability in narrating the rollercoaster ride of life with T1D over the years.
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 health, and her experience with Canadian healthcare.
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 of journaling, and learning how to manage diabetes while on stage.
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 his commitment to solving many of humanity’s greatest challenges including diabetes, energy poverty, literacy and education.
Living with diabetes for 17 years has been a journey that has shaped every facet of my life. From the initial diagnosis to the daily management and the emotional rollercoaster in between, this path has been one of challenges and triumphs, teaching me invaluable lessons about resilience, self-care, and the power of community.
