The Diabetic Mammy Podcast

In this week’s episode of The Diabetic Mammy , we explore what happens after we start noticing the language used around diabetes. Because once we tune in to our words, we can’t help but notice something else sitting quietly beneath them: stigma. I talk about the subtle, often invisible ways stigma has shaped how many of us live with diabetes – the hiding of injections, the quick tucking away of se...

In this episode, Catherine opens up a gentle but powerful conversation about the words we use in diabetes care, why they matter so deeply, and how they shape the way we see ourselves and our children. Inspired by the global #LanguageMatters movement championed by advocates like Renza Scibilia , the episode explores how everyday phrases can either uplift or undermine, connect or isolate. Catherine...

This week’s episode arrives a day late: thank-you for your patience and for the time you give this podcast each week. Life with type 1 diabetes, parenting, and real-world responsibilities sometimes shift the timetable, especially in a one-woman project like this. In this gentle check-in, I share what the past fortnight has looked like: busy, emotional, full of diabetes events, and equal parts insp...

This week, The Diabetic Mammy explores the quiet exhaustion that comes from making hundreds of diabetes decisions every single day. From carb counting to correction doses, diabetes never clocks off - and neither do we. But that mental overload can slowly wear us down, turning everyday decision fatigue into full-blown burnout. In this episode, Catherine unpacks what decision fatigue feels like, how...

In this reflective episode of The Diabetic Mammy , Catherine explores the subtle but powerful difference between truly listening and simply waiting to speak. With her signature warmth and honesty, she unpacks how this distinction shows up in diabetes life - whether we’re talking to our children, engaging with healthcare teams, or checking in with ourselves. Through relatable stories and gentle hum...

In this week’s episode of The Diabetic Mammy , we’re talking about advocacy — the quiet kind, the loud kind, and every version in between. Whether you’re explaining type 1 diabetes to a teacher, volunteering at a community event, or simply helping someone understand that sugar isn’t the enemy, you’re already advocating. As World Diabetes Day approaches, this episode is a gentle reminder that advoc...

In this episode, The Diabetic Mammy invites parents of children with type 1 diabetes to start thinking ahead to World Diabetes Day on 14 November - and to do it with calm, kindness, and a touch of joy. 💙 Catherine shares how small, simple gestures can make a big difference: a five-minute classroom chat, a “blue day” at school, a family walk, or even lighting a blue lamp at home. With ready-to-use...

In this heartfelt episode, Catherine opens up about a perspective that’s rarely discussed in families living with type 1 diabetes: the experience of the other child – the sibling without diabetes. Through her own family story and reflections from childhood, Catherine explores what it feels like to grow up beside diabetes rather than with it. She describes the quiet moments of being “the one watchi...

October brings shorter days, falling leaves, and World Mental Health Day – a gentle reminder to pause and look after ourselves. In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , we shine a light on the invisible emotional load that parents carry when raising a child with type 1 diabetes. Behind the carb counting, blood sugar checks, and school snack boxes lies a hidden mental spreadsheet that never switches...

In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , Catherine reflects on the shift from September’s chaos to October’s calm. With new teachers, sports, and timetables finally settling, October’s steady rhythm becomes an ally in type 1 diabetes care. Catherine explores how routine helps smooth blood sugars, makes lunchboxes and after-school snacks easier to manage, and eases decision fatigue for parents. She...

Halloween can be a stressful time for parents of children with type 1 diabetes. Trick-or-treating is full of joy, but the mountain of sweets that follows can feel overwhelming when blood sugars and insulin dosing enter the picture. In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , I share how our family found a magical solution — the Switch Witch. From the early days of sneaking away sweets, to the traditio...

Insulin Dosing – More Art Than Science If carb counting is the maths of type 1 diabetes, insulin dosing is the art. In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , we dive into what insulin dosing really means in day-to-day life. From the basics of why we need insulin and the difference between basal and bolus, to the unpredictable realities of growth, hormones, stress, and even the weather, this conversa...

In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , we explore one of the hardest, yet most important parts of parenting children with type 1 diabetes: letting go. Inspired by the back-to-school season and the milestone of teens heading off to festival events like Electric Picnic, we talk about balancing safety with independence. Catherine shares why allowing our children to face challenges is key to building...

Parenting a child with Type 1 diabetes is never simple, and when school enters the mix it can feel overwhelming. In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , I explore the role of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Irish primary schools and what that support really looks like for families managing Type 1 diabetes. From those fragile first weeks after diagnosis to the longer journey of helping our child...

Carb counting: the math part of diabetes that nobody asked for, but every type 1 has to learn. In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , I break down what carb counting really is (and isn’t), why it matters, and how to actually start without losing your mind - or the joy of food. We’ll talk about sneaky carbs (yes, lattes and ketchup, I’m looking at you 👀), why chasing perfection will drive you mad...

Food is never “just food” when type 1 diabetes enters the picture. Every bite becomes a calculation: carbs, insulin, timing, numbers — and sometimes guilt, frustration, or even tears. In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , I pause my planned carb counting series to reflect on a heartfelt message from a newly diagnosed mammy, struggling to keep her little one full. Together, we’ll talk about how f...

A sunny holiday. A kids’ club. An ice cream treat - but not for you, you’re diabetic! In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy , Catherine shares the moment a well-meaning staff member turned a simple treat into a lesson in stigma, and how we turned it right back into a lesson in inclusion. We’ll talk about where the “no sugar” myth comes from, why it’s still so common, and how these small moments ca...

In this nostalgic-yet-nuanced episode, we rewind to the seemingly simpler days of our childhood and ask: was it really easier back then - or just different? Catherine explores the joys of growing up in the 80s and 90s (cue outdoor play and zero WhatsApp groups) and contrasts them with the complexities and comforts of modern parenting - especially when diabetes is in the mix. From unsupervised summ...

In this heartfelt and revealing episode, Catherine takes us behind the scenes of the community pharmacy counter in Ireland- offering a rare look at the pressures, realities, and quiet acts of care that shape our experiences as people living with diabetes. She explores the logistics and some limitations of the Irish pharmacy system, especially around early or bulk medication requests, and shares wh...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Catherine, the Diabetic Mammy explores the complicated but empowering journey of learning to trust healthcare technology. From CGMs to insulin pumps and apps, she shares how these tools can transform diabetes care from reactive to proactive. But it’s not all smooth sailing—building trust in technology takes time, understanding, and a willingness to stay cu...

In this uplifting and empowering episode, The Diabetic Mammy dives into lifestyle medicine - a powerful, evidence-based approach to supporting diabetes management through everyday choices. Host Catherine shares how small, intentional changes in nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and community can improve life with diabetes. From turning playtime into exercise to swapping white rice for quinoa, Ca...

In this heartfelt episode of The Diabetic Mammy , we dive into the emotional and practical weight of choosing diabetes technology - particularly the decision to start using an insulin pump. Host Catherine shares her own story from 2005, when pumps were basic, alarms were loud, and stigma felt enormous. Fast forward to today’s tech-heavy world, and the decision is still just as personal, even if th...

In this heartfelt episode, Catherine explores the emotional weight of summer - especially for mums balancing diabetes, parenting, and the pressure to create nonstop fun. From the invisible labour of planning beach days to the guilt of feeling worn out before breakfast, this episode is a compassionate reminder that unrealistic summer expectations are destined to disappoint. With honesty, humour, an...

Every number in type 1 diabetes comes with a choice - and every choice carries weight. In this episode, Catherine explores the unseen toll of decision fatigue: the constant cognitive load, the pressure to get it right, and the emotional fallout that often follows. From tiny “should I bring backup?” moments to high-stakes insulin calls, we break down how relentless - and invisible - the decision bu...

🎙 When You Don’t Have It, But They Do 🎙 Being the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes is a constant act of love, advocacy, and vigilance - but what happens when you’re supporting a condition you don’t live with yourself? In this tender and empowering episode, Catherine speaks to the unique emotional space parents occupy when they’re managing diabetes from the outside . From navigating the inten...