#148: Zippora Karz | Be Open to Not Being Perfect

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.

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#140: Elizabeth Vesely | I Went Gung-Ho!

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 world traveler.

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#134: Serena Valentine | The Change We Want to See Starts With Us

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.

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#99: Manny Hernandez | Changing Paths = Code For You Have To Start Giving Shots

Manny Hernandez is a published author, recognized diabetes advocate, and speaker on the power of community for social impact who reminds us, while we are not on this journey by choice, it’s not a path we need to take alone. What better way to wrap up 2020 than with a brave soul who transformed his professional career to connect with others who understand similar challenges. 

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#30: Deirdre Murphy | From T2D to T1D – The Re-Diagnosis Saga

Amber loves to travel so she hit the road and ventured to Texas (one state away from our OKC home). What better way to meet fellow PWDs than traveling the southwestern countryside? Before heading out she contacted the American Diabetes Association to see if anyone in their part of town had a story to share. They totally hooked her up with Deirdre Murphy, a lovely woman who went from an original Type 2 diagnosis to eventually being re-diagnosed with Type 1. In the 30th show, Deirdre shares her 12+ year journey and reflects on living life with T2D… and now T1D, eventually coming to a place of relief at the type 1 prognosis (a rare event).

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#17: The Winters Family | Straight Up CSI Crime Scene: What It’s Like To Raise Two Boys with T1D

The Winters family strive to live in the now, while grinding with two children with type 1 diabetes under the age of 7. They were the perfect guests as they’re honest and open about the daily diabetes struggles; highlighting the daily battles force-feeding when low or having to pull out the Glucagon pen. If a black light were involved, their home might resemble a CSI crime scene, but they choose to use laughter as their number one form of medicine. We chat low BG manipulation, misdiagnosis, trusting your gut, donut Fridays, rolling with the punches and doing everything in your power to provide a “normal” life with two boys living with diabetes. This isn’t your parenting “how to guide”, it’s real life and they’re learning along the way. (more…)