#47: Scott Johnson | Strive For Progress, Not Perfection

Finally,  the most welcoming force in all of the Diabetes Online Community joined the show: Scott Johnson. If you’ve ever composed an article about diabetes, odds are, Scott has given you praise. As one of the founding members of the diabetes blogging world, Scott has watched the DOC bloom into a world that hosts 1000s of posts per year, and he couldn’t be more proud. He’s honest, approachable, and has done a lot of diabetes introspection over the years. Amber labeled him the “most huggable” person of the DOC. You’ll soon understand after listening. (more…)



#46: Belle & Pooche | Approaching Diabetes Denial… From One Type Two Another

You know what takes courage? Looking at your weaknesses, then sketching out a path forward to wellness. Led by her well-intentioned sister Pooche, Belle sat down to chat with Amber (a good friend) about her complicated relationship with type 2 diabetes. As a person with type 1 diabetes, it stands as a fresh look at life with type 2 diabetes, helping us all understand each other a little better. (more…)



#45: Mark Carter | A Lot Of People Just Need A Hug

One of our favorite podcast guests is back! Back in the fall, he joined us on Podcast 32 where he shared his love of Chick-Fil-A, coffee, Equal and Omnipod. We highly suggest a retrograde listen before hopping into this show.

During this go round, we catch up on life, hear about an epic insulin prescription journey, discuss what diabetes maturity means, and laugh hard.

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#44: Chris Pickering | Sparking A Movement From Your Own Experience

We love realness. Much of type 1 diabetes marketing revolves around this idea of, “Hey, Nick Jonas is super cool and all people with type 1 can sing and dance!”. Don’t get us wrong, we love Nick Jonas and obviously he has struggles too, but what about just a couple of normal bros who have diabetes, their journey, and how they’re changing diabetes lives in the real world? That’s the story we tell today, with Chris “Pick” Pickering .

Whether it’s education in schools, one-on-one counseling, or challenges with athletes out in the community, Chris is taking his own experience and helping people feel what it’s like to have diabetes. We love that impact, and you’ll love his stories!

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#43: Elliot Gatt | Creating Your Own Test Strip Company From Scratch

Imagine you’re at work. It’s 10AM. You search through your belongings for your meter, maybe you need to calibrate the CGM. But… you left the meter on your kitchen table. If you’re Elliot Gatt, you simply walk down the hallway and open up a new box of Good Glucos strips, a company he developed after years of frustration with test strip price gouging. Without insurance, they offer accurate strips at an affordable price while giving strips back to someone in need. Ever heard of anything like this? We hadn’t either, and that’s why we’re breaking down his journey, including his involvement in the Bike Beyond adventure across the US starting June 3rd. (more…)



#42: Amber & Ryan | Ask Us Anything #3 (Type 2 Clarification, Lows, Exercise, and Parenting)

Finally, the long-promised, definitely under-delivered Ask Us Anything podcast is back. The questions rolled in from Oregon, LA, NYC, and a suspected location below the Mason-Dixon line. Of note, we looked back at those practices we loved from our parents… and those we would advise against, kindly. As it turns out, low blood sugar symptoms change over time, and we covered our own evolution. Par for the course in most episodes, we politely disagreed about the distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. (more…)



#41: Stephen Ponder, MD | You Can’t Stop The Waves, But… You Can Learn to Surf

Listening to someone give advice, you can usually tell the level of authenticity behind the statements. When chatting with Dr. Stephen Ponder, there’s no question about authenticity–this sugar surfing wisdom is a part of his being. Growing up with type 1 diabetes (for 50 years), becoming a CDE (certified diabetes educator) and then a pediatric endocrinologist, passion fuels a life committed to inspiring people with diabetes to live a normal, possibly extraordinary life. (more…)



#40: Sarah Swanberg | Through Pregnancy And Back… Twice

Pregnancy is intimidating. Your body changes. There’s another thing in there stealing the food you eat. You crave things like pickles and peanut butter. But, with all this normal stuff aside, what if you have type 1 diabetes and you’re pregnant? Sarah Swanberg walks us through both of her pregnancies–the blood sugar challenges, perilous diet decisions, and lessons learned. Per the norm, we held nothing back, and explored every pregnancy/diabetes-related question known to man. After the interview, Amber and Ryan looked at each other and said, “She’s freakin’ awesome” (give or take a few adjectives). (more…)



#39: Ideen Tabatabai | Wearing Diabetes on My Sleeve… Even in Medical School

Diabetes is the best thing that ever happened to us. This guy, Ideen Tabatabai, lives out that mantra, and diabetes continues to shape his path as he exits medical school. Alongside Ryan, they explore the subtle, and not so subtle, ways that diabetes shaped their medical school experience, oftentimes in absurd, hilarious ways. Ideen is a 4th year medical student at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City. He’s been living with T1D for 18 years, with Dad and brother as fellow folks with diabetes. He plans to specialize in pediatrics, and to further sub-specialize in pediatric endocrinology (takes one to know one). We can’t wait to follow his path.

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#38: Kim Boaz-Wilson, CDE | Own Your Diabetes Journey

When seeking diabetes healthcare, it’s rare to find a person who delivers advice that he or she has felt. In speaking with Kim, you know she lives and breathes every word of her life lessons with a no fear philosophy. Ryan and Amber went to school. (more…)