When a past podcast guest mentioned fasting for Yom Kippur, I wanted to learn more — and that curiosity led me to Willa Spalter who has spent much of her young adult life living, studying, and traveling throughout the Middle East. In this episode we talk faith, fasting, self-reflection, pump failures abroad, traveling with diabetes supplies, food, social life, and what it really looks like to take T1D along for the adventure.
Watching my friends’ kids navigate college, rush week, and all the new beginnings that come with it made me think back to my own experience — and how, with Type 1 diabetes, there’s always a little more going on behind the scenes. So I went looking for the perfect guest to talk about what it really takes to show up for college life, from rush week and new roommates to dating, exercise, finding your people, and managing diabetes through it all.
This year holds two markers I was never supposed to reach: my 50th birthday and my 42nd diaversary.
Celebrating “50” with friends from high school cracked open memories I hadn’t touched in decades—the highs, the crashes, the mood swings, navigating cheerleading camp, parties, dating… all of it. And threaded through every single memory was diabetes, even though I never talked about it back then.
I didn’t explain my Type 1 life. Honestly, I didn’t even consciously think about how different my life was. Diabetes was just there—always—quietly demanding everything from me while I worked overtime to appear normal.
It’s hard to believe I haven’t given myself an insulin injection in over a year.
After decades of navigating T1D with multiple daily injections, I took the Podder plunge on February 25th, 2024. Making the decision to start the Omnipod 5 wasn’t easy—there were tons of emotions, a healthy dose of fear, and a big dose of hope. Hope that this device might finally help ease the relentless overnight blood sugar rollercoasters.
I haven’t shared much about this journey—until now. Today, I want to acknowledge and celebrate what a difference this little device has made in my life.
It wasn’t love at first Pod. In fact, I knocked off my very first one within 24 hours. Cue panic.
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.
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 dating, his fashion family, the LGTBQ+ community, and speaking things into existence.
I had the pleasure of finally connecting with my dear friend Katie – a busy mother of two active boys, business professional, and person who dedicates time to so many causes. We don’t get to see each other often so I cherish when we can and I was thrilled to have her youngest son Vail (aka BEEF) join us for a stroll around town. I’ve known Vail since birth and he has always been interested in my life with diabetes. He asks the hard hitting questions – some that are honestly hard for me to answer and the very reason why I’m writing this post.
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 8 hours. Stay tuned for more information on the release date and screening opportunities.
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 diagnosis and how he didn’t sit on his pity party, but makes light of it and connects to attendees from across the globe.
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