16 Best Type 1 Diabetic Podcasts
Podcasts are a great resource to learn from because they offer such a convenient way to access a huge wealth of information and perspectives on, especially Type 1 diabetes. Many podcasts feature interviews with experts and thought leaders, or even other Type 1 diabetics, providing unique insights and perspectives that can be difficult to find elsewhere.
When you combine learning from your care team, books, online communities, and podcasts––you can have a well-rounded diabetes education!
Best Diabetic Podcasts
Click on each title to learn more.
The Juicebox Podcast is from the writer of the popular diabetes parenting blog Arden's Day and the award-winning parenting memoir, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Dad'. Hosted by Scott Benner, the show features intimate conversations about living well with type I diabetes.
Beta Cell is a show about people living with type 1 diabetes. It's the original diabetes storytelling podcast that covers an array of relevant and timely issues through interviews and discussions with diabetics. Host Craig Stubing draws on his over two decades with type 1 diabetes to show how it impacts our lives and how our lives impact it. The first show from the Beta Cell Podcast.
Just two Type 1 diabetic gals trying to live our best lives and share some of our literal highs and lows in navigating Type 1 diabetes.
I invite Type 1s on and they bring their Type None friends to ask all of their burning Type 1 questions. Tune in for real questions and honest answers from people actually living with Type 1 Diabetes. The answers may surprise you!
Type 1 on 1 | Diabetes Stories
Type 1 on 1 is a podcast that delves into the obscure, complex and challenging world of life with type 1 diabetes. Writer and broadcaster Jen Grieves, who was diagnosed at the age of 8, talks to compelling guests about their experiences of living with type 1 diabetes and how it’s shaped them - showing that there is no ‘normal’ when it comes to handling this wild chronic condition.
Season 2 of What Type 1s Eat looks at diabetes from the scientific community perspective. We talk to professionals in the diabetes industry: researchers, doctors, dieticians and people in the public eye. We aim to equip you with strategies based on research and experience of the people in the industry, and provide you with a selection of different methods to manage your diabetes and live life to the full.
Healing in Hindsight focuses on the experience of being a millennial living with diabetes. Taylor Daniele shares the struggles and everyday learnings of those living with diabetes, like herself, while navigating modern living, especially as a WOC. It’s a space of community, compassion, and understanding to let others know they’re not alone. With special guests who live with it themselves or who support those living with diabetes, Healing In Hindsight seeks to share different perspectives so that you can manage diabetes in a way that feels unique and sustainable to you.
Type 1 Diabetes is challenging, frustrating, and life-changing. Each Tuesday, join Colleen Mitchell and Jessie Tuggey, life-long diabetics, as they talk about real life with Type 1, discussing the impact it makes on their lives without defining them. If you have type 1, know someone with type 1, or just want to learn more about this incurable condition, this podcast is for you.
The Talking Type 1 Podcast is an award-winning type 1 diabetes podcast by Daniel Newman. Daniel, who has been living with type 1 diabetes since 1996, interviews people in the diabetes community from all over the world sharing their personal journeys of life with type 1 diabetes.
Sami and Dobie, a type 1 and type 2, challenge the perceptions of diabetes management by bringing a light-hearted tone to their discussions while offering tips and tricks along the way. From discussions of favorite diet coke flavors, to debates over the healthcare system, the co-hosts are excited to present Just My Type – The Diabetes Podcast with Sami and Dobie.
The Sugar Mama's Podcast is designed for parents and caregivers of children living with type 1 diabetes. Hosted by Katie Roseborough, a T1D mom, the show features heartfelt and insightful conversations with other T1D parents as well as influential members of the type 1 community. Each episode aims to equip, encourage, empower and entertain those raising children with type 1 diabetes. Get ready to learn a ton and gain a new perspective as Katie and her guests discuss the ins, outs, ups, downs and all arounds of caring for a type 1 warrior.
Listen weekly, as Diabetics Doing Things founder, Rob Howe, goes 1-on-1 with other Type-1 Diabetics in our #DDT Podcast. Get the firsthand accounts on how a Type-1 diagnosis was not the end, but the beginning of an incredible journey.
Engaging guest interviews, implementable takeaways, and candid conversations about the lessons Lauren is currently learning… all tied together by our belief that when our health transforms, so does everything else- our relationships, time, career, families, and, most importantly, ourselves.
The L podcast is about helping people LEARN tips and tricks for life, LETTING go of their past, LEVELING up, and LOVING yourself. Hosted by Liz Kopco, a daughter of immigrants, first-gen student, first in her family with a PhD, and someone who's obsessed with poop jokes. This podcast is meant for YOU. Together we'll do our best with what we've got as we navigate living life to the fullest.
Taking Control of Your Diabetes
From the latest advancements in diabetes medications and devices, to interviews with some of the best minds in diabetes, to personal stories about the ups and downs of dealing with this condition 24/7, we’re tackling what it means to live with diabetes in modern times. And we promise to make you laugh along the way, because sometimes we just need to laugh at the craziness that comes with living with diabetes.
Why does your blood sugar have to spike to 300 after sitting at 50 for what felt like an eternity? And why are people still asking if you ate too much sugar when you were diagnosed? Is it really possible to thrive with such a physically and mentally draining disease? Kate, a 24 year old with Type 1 Diabetes for going on 14 years, discusses her highs and lows living with a chronic illness and how she continues to overcome the everyday battle. Along with this, she sits down with a variety of guests that give insight on topics such as mental health, traveling, exercise, diet, and life's big moments with diabetes.
15 Best Snacks for Type 1 Diabetic Children
Snacks are an important part of every diabetic’s day, but it’s important to make sure they are blood-sugar friendly snacks. When we create blood-sugar friendly snacks and meals, we can help prevent blood sugar spikes and keep our blood sugars at a more consistent level throughout the day. Not every snack is going to be perfect, but we do our best!
Snacks are something we talk about inside The Type 1 Life, be sure to check it out!
Snacks for Type 1 Diabetics
Greek yogurt with berries and a handful of nuts
Greek yogurt has more protein than regular yogurt, which makes this snack more protein-packed. You could also swap nuts to add in peanut butter or almond butter. If you go the nut butter route, you could turn this snack into a smoothie for an on-the-go option.
Dark chocolate peanut butter chocolate squares
According to dietitian Kim Rose, dark chocolate contains polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds with antioxidant properties. The polyphenols in dark chocolate may improve insulin sensitivity which is a major PLUS for blood sugar balance.
Combine 4-6 oz 100% cocoa dark chocolate, coconut oil, protein powder, nut butter of any choice, blueberries or strawberries, and unsweetened coconut shreds. Get the full recipe here.
Cottage cheese with apple slices
Cottage cheese has 25 grams of protein per cup, so again, a great protein-rich snack! Apple slices aren’t the only thing you can pair with cottage cheese…. try any fruit, or even crackers!
Turkey and cheese roll-ups with avocado
Charcuterie, anyone? This snack could be made and altered in so many ways. Turkey or ham, different cheeses, with some crackers or bread, or even in a lettuce wrap. For an easier option, Lunchables are a nice travel option.
Homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
Trail mix is an easy win, because it can be customized to whatever you want it to be (and it’s an easy way to clean out your pantry). If you want to add in a little sweetness, you can try a few chocolate chips or sugar-free chocolate chips.
Edamame with sea salt and sesame oil
Edamame is a fun snack, especially if you buy it still in the shells. Kids can have fun “popping” it out of the shell as they eat their snack. Edamame is also a great addition to salads or stir-fry!
Low-sugar protein bars with nuts and seeds
There are so many protein bars on the market now, so if you need a snack on the go, these are a great option. Power Crunch Bars are my favorite as they aren’t as high-carb as many other bars.
Almond butter with celery sticks and raisins
Ants on a log, anyone? Who knew a fun snack could be such a blood sugar-friendly snack, too? For a slightly sweeter treat, you can swap the raisings for sugar-free chocolate chips.
Grilled chicken skewers with vegetables
While chicken and vegetables might seem more like a meal than a snack, a smaller portion size would make a great snack! Again, this could be very customizable with different seasonings, vegetables, and meat.
Apple slices with almond butter and cinnamon
Apples and dip are a yummy and very well-balanced snack. Plus, they are a delicious and easy-to-prepare option for a quick snack or as part of a balanced meal.
Deviled eggs with smoked paprika
Hard-boiled eggs or deviled eggs can make a good, protein-rich snack. But, it can be difficult to transport and it may not be a snack you want to eat at school or work. But, it can be a good option at home!
Homemade beef jerky
Making homemade beef jerky is surprisingly easy, and can be done with just a few simple ingredients and a dehydrator or oven. Plus, by making it at home, you can control the quality of the meat and the ingredients used, ensuring a healthier and more flavorful snack.
Protein balls
If protein bars aren’t your jam, try making some protein balls! These are usually made with oatmeal, nut butter, and a few other simple ingredients that make them simple to make, and a nice little (protein-rich) treat!
Hummus and vegetables
Hummus is made from chickpeas, which are a good source of protein and fiber. Pairing it with veggie sticks such as carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers adds extra nutrients and crunch.
Egg bites with vegetables
Bake mini frittatas in a muffin tin with spinach, feta cheese, and eggs for a high-protein, low-carb snack that is also easy to grab on the go.
These snacks are fairly balanced in their macronutrients and can help regulate your blood sugar levels. However, it's important to remember that everyone's blood sugar response to food is unique, so it's important to monitor your individual response and adjust accordingly.
The fat content in your snacks can be especially helpful in slowing your blood sugar spikes. While protein is helpful to pair with your carbs, sometimes protein can cause a bit of a spike, too.
What to Do When Your Diabetic Child is Sneaking Food
So, you’ve figured out that your son or daughter is sneaking food – maybe it’s at school, at a friend’s house, or during the night when everyone is sleeping.
But, it’s not the sneaking food that is the problem – it’s that they aren’t taking insulin for it.
First of all, know that it’s normal. (Not good, but normal.)
I, along with all of my other diabetic childhood friends, did this many, many times.
In grade school, I would walk to a friend’s house after school was let out to “play” for a few hours. Which, we did, but I also knew they would have snacks. (Lots of stories like this in my book, The Type 1 Life!)
Lots and lots of snacks.
I would eat cereal, chips, and pop-tarts…. all in one afternoon. Without insulin.
I wouldn’t check my blood sugar when I got home either.
Fast forward to being 28 years old, and I’m still alive and doing well – my A1c has been 6.2% for over a year!
So, why do we do this?
1. We’re tired. We’re tired of shots, tired of checking, tired of counting, tired of NOT BEING NORMAL. You know when you come home on Friday and just want to sit on the couch, eat pizza, and watch TV after a loooooong week at work? That’s how we feel…. everyday. Even when we’re 10 years old.
2. We might be emotionally eating. It’s unfair that a kid has to manage diabetes, on top of trying to figure out life. We feel weird at school. The mean kid in class makes fun of us. We don’t get to eat cupcakes at birthday parties. We’re mad at God for making us diabetic.
3. We’re rebelling. Like I said, we’re mad. We think if we can just ignore it, maybe it will go away. It won’t hurt us to just eat a few snacks one afternoon… and every afternoon after that.
What can you do to help your child?
1. Take them to counseling. There’s a lot to process in the mental and emotional side of being diabetic. Letting them process their feelings out loud with someone (who is not mom or dad) will be very healthy.
2. If you can, get them a pump and/or sensor. The sensor would be best to start with, so you can track their blood sugars and get alerts on your phone about their levels.
3. Don’t nag them. It’s not going to help. It’s going to make you the bad guy. If you can, take them to the doctor more often, so the doctor can be the “bad” guy in this situation.
4. Gently remind them of their future. Do they want to get married? Do they want to go to college and become a ______? They have to be alive and healthy to do these things.
How to Deal With Type 1 Diabetes Burnout
When we think of experiencing burnout as adults, we usually relate it to work. Maybe it’s been a stressful quarter, or you have to deal with a terrible boss. We get overworked, we experience a lot of stress, and that leads to burnout.
Well, burnout can also happen with Type 1 diabetes.
Look again at this sentence: We get overworked (Type 1 diabetes requires 24/7/365 work), we experience a lot of stress (fluctuating blood sugars, doctors, pressure to be perfect), and that leads to burnout.
Burnout as a Type 1 diabetic can look like:
Not checking blood sugars
Not giving insulin
Not eating healthy
Canceling doctor’s appointments
And yes, burnout can happen to children and teens – it’s not just adults.
Based on the typical symptoms of burnout, you can see that this can lead to really bad control of their Type 1 diabetes, and possibly severe complications.
So, there are a lot of ways to deal with burnout, but I have one starting suggestion:
Start small. Don’t expect perfection.
It can be really overwhelming to try to go from a 10.0% A1C to a 6.0% A1C.
It can be really hard to go from not checking your blood sugar at all, to checking 4-5 times a day.
So, if your child or teen is experiencing burnout and doesn’t want to control their Type 1 diabetes, set very small goals for a few weeks at a time. Maybe it’s just to start checking 1-2x a day again, and work their way up. (This is also a great reason to have your child wear a CGM! They don’t have to check as often, and you have more data about their blood sugars.)
Yes, total control is the goal, and that’s what all of the doctors and family want – but it can be too daunting to go from 0 to 100.
When they start to do things more consistently, reward them – whether it’s out for dinner at their favorite restaurant or a new shirt. Then, add in another small goal.
In my experience, one of the hardest parts of checking your blood sugar more often is seeing the “bad” numbers.
I often feel like a bad blood sugar meant I was a bad person. Reaffirm your child’s value, even if their blood sugar is too high. Tell them that you are there to help them, and you can work through this together.
Medtronic Minimed vs t:slim Insulin Pumps
I have been an insulin pump wearer for over 10 years now, and have tried out two different pumps in that time. There are a lot of insulin pump options out there (more than just the two I’m talking about today), but wanted to share my experiences. These are not in-depth reviews of all the tech, FYI.
Medtronic Insulin Pumps
When I first got a pump in high school (2007), I chose a Medtronic Minimed pump. It’s been so long that I don’t really remember why I chose that one, other than the few diabetic friends that I had, also had that brand of insulin pump.
One of the things I most appreciated about Medtronic pumps was the different length of tubing. While I was finishing up high school, I really liked having the extra length of tubing during sports. They also have two different inserters than you can use – one is a quickset, but is not recommended for people who are super active (which I am).
I’ve always loved Medtronic pumps – maybe because it was the only one I ever knew! But, I have had some hiccups with the Medtronic pump. Every time there’s been an issue, it was very sudden – like I went to give a bolus, and it froze on me. And then it just…. won’t do anything.
Luckily, it’s a very simple process to get a new pump.
Call the company and tell them what happened
They’ll review your warranty and/or insurance policy
They usually overnight or 2-day ship you a new pump, and you send the old one back
Luckily (knock on wood), I’ve still been in warranty whenever my pump went on the fritz.
So, I used the Medtronic pump for about 7-8 years, until I decided to try out the t:slim pump.
t:slim Insulin Pumps
I loved the t:slim! It felt newer (a.k.a. fancier) with a touch screen…. which was really one of the only things that stood out to me.
One big disadvantage with the t:slim (at least when I tried it out) was that there was SO much more packaging involved when you had a pump site change. The whole process felt a lot more tedious than when I changed sites on my Medtronic pump. I also felt like the menu of options inside the pump was harder to navigate.
But, the real reason I changed back to Medtronic was due to insurance and the companies. A lot of insurance companies don’t let you order supplies directly from the pump company, so you have to use a third party supplier. There was a lot of confusion and miscommunication, and rather than dealing with all of that hassle…. when I ran out t:slim supplies, I just switched back to Medtronic.
(Luckily, I still had a stockpile of leftover Medtronic supplies!)
Insulin Pump Training
If you’re considering getting your child on an insulin pump, or switching, you will also have insulin pump training! I’ll be honest – when I switched to t:slim, I didn’t even take any training. The company said to call my doctor’s office to schedule it, and I didn’t. I was 25, and tech-savvy enough to navigate an insulin pump without training.
Medtronic also has a rep (or multiple, sometimes) in each state, to help answer questions or train you. I don’t think t:slim is the same way, at least not that I knew of when I was on that pump for a few months.
If you have any questions about my insulin pump experience, feel free to contact me!