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.  BIO:  I am a passionate diabetes advocate who has been living with Type 1 diabetes for 16 years. I use my social media platforms to educate the public about multiple...

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 living with type 1 diabetes. At the age of seven she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so she has spent nearly all her days as an athlete managing both her diabetes and...

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 and bad. BIO:  Jessica Landon is a devoted wife and mother of two children. She became a T1D momma in 2019, after her youngest child, Lindsey, was diagnosed at the young...

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 Rock Desert, where people gather for around nine days to celebrate artistic self-expression. Good times. BIO: Justin has been a content creator for over 5 years. When he was diagnosed with...

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 her wildest dreams. She is the author of Off-Script: a mom’s journey through adoption, a husband’s...

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 her type 1 diabetes diagnosis a year and a half ago after having COVID. Sheknew it was likely the case as she was exhibiting the...

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 Food Bank at a time. BIO: Rob Howe has been living with Type-1 Diabetes for 18 years. He is an Entrepreneur, Marketing Strategist, Podcaster and former...

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 as to what this means, moments of personal reflection, and if the cure really is on the horizon. I truly believe Lisa and her team are bridging the much needed gap...

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 your diabetes management – differently. BIO: Chad T. Lewis spent a career in higher education, at different times, as a...

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 living with all types of diabetes. BIO: Nupur Lalvani has been living with type 1 diabetes since she was 8 years old. She is the Founder of Blue...

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. BIO: Patricia Daiker is the owner and founder of Better Diabetes Life, a company that provides support and services to people...

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 to share her journey with Type 1 diabetes and diabulimia to help others live their best life. SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with a ton of brands who make life with diabetes a more...

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 living life to the fullest. SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with a ton of brands who make life with diabetes a more pleasant one. If you would...

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 a community approach to diabetes management. Join in to hear how Azure loves her ever-changing body. SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with...

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 insulin pumps and injection sites. SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with a ton of brands who make life with diabetes a more pleasant one. If you would like to...

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.  SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with a ton of brands who make...

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.  SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with a ton of brands who...

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 in Florida, the only national organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes with expert sources and human interest stories. In this episode, we learn more about Sean and...

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 those who aren’t getting the diabetes care they deserve! SPONSOR: This episode was brought to you by Ultima Replenisher – an advanced, balanced electrolyte drink that...

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 in the insulin pump industry, alongside my well-versed cohost, Mark Carter. As a little refresher, we had the pleasure of hearing from Michael Hill, VP of Global Portfolio Marketing at Medtronic, Dr....

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 a way to control the uncontrollable.” I’m sure many of you living with T1D can relate to this mentality and Brett’s ability to give us a look into...

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 leaders: Michael Hill, VP of Global Portfolio Marketing at Medtronic; Dr. Trang Ly, Senior Vice President and Medical Director at Insulet; and Dr. Steph Habif, a behavioral...

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 project highlighting other high risk humans like ourselves, a story that needs to be told. SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with a ton of brands who make life...

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 not only through T1D, but other autoimmune diseases as well, but not for a moment does she let herself get caught up in self pity. Instead she works tirelessly to...

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 progress of unmanaged diabetes. SPONSOR: The Real Life Diabetes Podcast has worked with a ton of brands who make life with diabetes a more pleasant one. If you would like to learn more...