LiveFree with T1D

Telling someone you just started dating that you have T1D can be scary! When do you tell someone you're dating that you have T1D? People tend to overthink everything in new relationships. When to introduce your new partner to T1D can definitely be one of those things. You may worry they'll see you differently when they find out, or worse, the news you have T1D will extinguish any sparks they feel...

Type 1 diabetes doesn't know race, it doesn't know your economic status, and it doesn't know where you are from. We don't live in a bubble with T1D. Everyone living with T1D has a story, with different experiences and backgrounds they bring to their life with diabetes. Everybody's story is going to be different, and everybody's story matters. In this episode, I talk to Brandon A. Denson about the...

Resilience is the key to psychological health with T1D. We all know that living with T1D is not always easy, and sometimes it can be downright challenging. We all want to strive to bounce back from these challenges and become stronger in the process. My guest on this episode is Asha Brown. Asha is the Founder and Executive Director of We Are Diabetes, a non-profit organization that offers hope and...

Every time I give a presentation to people with T1D or health care providers, I start by talking about all the reasons why living with T1D is so stressful. I tell them about the constant work, the complex thinking involved, and the fact that there are no breaks and no vacations from T1D. I describe T1D as having a second job. This is a great story, and it captures some of the challenges of living...

If you want to live well with T1D, you have to come to a place of acceptance. Accepting T1D is a journey. Acceptance doesn't mean you like diabetes or that you want to have it. But it does mean putting your guard down and doing your best to live well with the hand you've been dealt. The opposite of acceptance is avoidance. And we all know avoiding diabetes never turns out well. In this episode, Ba...

Why is managing type 1 diabetes important to you? Answering this question is the key to holding yourself accountable with T1D. Managing diabetes is a means to an end. Being healthy, lowering your A1c, and staying on your endo's good side are all great things to aim for, but they're probably not going to be enough to keep you motivated when things get rough. Instead, you need to figure out how mana...

Many people are looking forward to getting their COVID vaccine right now. They see this vaccine as their ticket to getting back to a normal life, where they can do things like visit friends, go out to eat, and go on vacation. Life in the COVID world makes us feel trapped. In many ways, life with T1D is no different. The stress of diabetes can also make us feel trapped. What if there was a vaccine...

What do you do when your family doesn't understand the challenges of living with T1D? We've all been there. You're cranky and irritable because your blood sugar is out-of-range. Your loved ones are annoyed with you because of the way you are treating them. When you try to explain what's going on, you don't have the words to describe how you feel. Then this tension leads to more misunderstanding an...

In this episode I talk about the biggest mistake I make as a psychologist working with people with T1D so you don't make the same mistake. I don't know about you, but I like to try to fix problems. I have learned that sometimes T1D brings on challenges that don't have an easy solution. Every time I try to fix my patients' problems, it usually backfires. So how do you avoid making the same mistake...

Type 1 diabetes should never be a do-it-yourself condition. People with T1D need support from the people in our lives. But getting the support you need, isn’t always easy. Your friends and family probably want to be supportive, but they may not know how.  On this episode, Dr. Mark gives 5 tips to help people with T1D get the support they need from their friends and family. Find out more about...

In this episode, I talk to Lauren Salko about whether T1D should be considered a disability. Lauren has lived with T1D since she was young, and she competes as a professional skier on the US National Ski Team. Traveling internationally with her diabetes alert dog has given her an interesting perspective on looking at T1D as a disability. In our conversation, Lauren explains why she considers T1D t...

Having a low blood sugar is no fun for anyone. But for some people with T1D, the thought of going low is terrifying. Fear of hypoglycemia is a condition where people with T1D keep their blood sugar high and avoid activities in order to avoid the possibility of going low. Not only does a fear of lows have a big impact on the person’s diabetes management, but it can also stand in the way of living t...

In this episode, we talk to Mary Anderson about how using diabetes technology has impacted her mental health. Diagnosed with T1D in December of 2018 and dove into the world of diabetes tech right away and started using a CGM and a pump. After a while, her CGM started causing skin issues and she began feeling burnt out with the alarms. The tools that were supposed to make her life with T1D easier,...

When we think about T1D, our thoughts usually go to the negative. But, have you ever considered what type 1 diabetes (T1D) has brought to your life that you are grateful for? Research shows that gratitude increases happiness and reduces stress and depression – which can help everyone with T1D. We focus so much on the challenges of living with T1D that often we don’t even notice the positives that...

In this episode, we talk to Jen Hanson. Jen is the Executive Director of Connected in Motion (CIM). CIM works to create a culture of support & engagement in diabetes self-management through peer-based experiential diabetes education, sport, and outdoor adventure. Jen combines her love for the outdoors with her mission of improving the lives of people with T1D. Connecting with other people with...

Mindfulness is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? More importantly, what does mindfulness have to do with T1D? In this episode, we’ll talk all about mindfulness and T1D. Dr. Mark will give you four things you can do today to start incorporating mindfulness into your diabetes management routine. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychol...

Diabetes technology is a real game-changer. But can you get too much of a good thing? In this episode, you’ll hear Dr. Mark help Rob with his T1D tech burnout. Rob will talk about his stress related to using his insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor to manage T1D. Then you’ll hear Dr. Mark work with Rob to help him shift his mindset so he can use diabetes technology without getting overwhelm...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Calvin Wu, an endocrinologist at Steady Health. Calvin is a big advocate for integrating mental health care into treatment for T1D. He recognizes the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to medical care. He appreciates that diabetes is a highly personal disease that can touch or be touched by nearly every facet of life. Endocrinologists play a significant par...

In this episode, you’ll get to know The Diabetes Psychologist. Dr. Mark Heyman talks about his diabetes story and about his work. You’ll hear about the types of patients he sees, how he thinks about diabetes and mental health, and how living with T1D impacts his work. Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist .

This is the final episode of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk to Heather Cobb about how the time and effort involved in the logistics of managing diabetes in the US affected her mental health. Heather has been living with T1D for 16 years. A passionate public health advocate, Heather served in the Peace...

This is Episode 5 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about how T1D can fuel guilt and shame with Christina Burbelo. Christina was diagnosed with T1D a little over 15 years ago. And in the years since, she has struggled with guilt and shame because of T1D. She has found that writing and the online diabet...

This is Episode 4 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between anxiety and T1D with Alexi Melvin. Alexi was diagnosed with T1D 17 years ago when she was 14. She is the Chair of Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council Content Committee and is passionate about being a voice for people living...

This is Episode 3 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk to Adelina Pink about the mental health challenges of being diagnosed with T1D as an adult. Adelina was diagnosed with T1D in March 2019 when she was 31 years old, and she runs Project NEWBET1C , a non-profit funded by online sales of apparel designed...

This is Episode 2 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about feeling alone and isolated with diabetes with Michel Godbout. Michel recently retired as an elementary school teacher in Ontario, Canada and has been living with T1D for 42 years. T1D should never be a do-it-yourself condition. Living with T1D i...

This is Episode 1 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D. In this episode, we talk about diabetes burnout with David Mina. David is the digital creator behind TYPE1LIVABETIC on Instagram and has been living with T1D for over 11 years. Diabetes burnout is a state in which someone with T1D grows tired of managing their condition, and...