Chronically Will Podcast - Type One Diabetes

Three days before her 21st birthday, Imani finally got the right diagnosis: type 1 diabetes. It came after months of being told it was type 2, and it was both a shock and a relief. At 19, she was in college and working about 40 hours a week as a Foot Locker manager when constant fatigue, thirst, and illness took over. The treatment she was given didn't fix anything. She got worse until an emergency room visit gave her the answer. T1D wasn't new to her family. Her younger brother was diagnosed with type 1 as a toddler and her grandmom is also T1D, so she grew up with it. When her own diagnosis came, lil bro was the person she called for help with injections. He has stayed in her corner since, with practical advice, support through insurance difficulties, and shared diabetes supplies.

Her story is honest about the hard parts and clear about what she's built from them. For Imani, the diagnosis was the beginning of a different life, not the end of her goals, and sharing her experience has given her a bigger purpose in helping others. Essential listening if you're newly diagnosed, were first told it was something else, or love someone who lives with type 1.

Follow Imani on her journey with T1D @d1mpled_diabet1c

In 2023, when I decided to launch this podcast, I knew my first guest had to be someone I wanted to know DOWN TO THE BONE.

That person was my father.

I approached him that winter, and his response was classic Dad:

"Yeah, I'll do it. I'll just have to make sure it's not on a dialysis day and that I don't have any appointments."

And in February 2024, we made MAGIC happen!

My Big Hero sat across from me for a conversation nearly four decades in the making. I thought I was simply recording a podcast episode. I had no idea how much I would learn about the man who had given me life.

Until October 3, 2026, there had never been a single day in my entire existence that I hadn't heard my father's voice.

Our last conversation was around 11:40 p.m. on October 2.

At 5:12 a.m. on October 3, my world changed.

"This morning, your father went into cardiac arrest. We've been trying to revive him for the past 15 minutes. We have no pulse, no heartbeat. Do you want us to continue life-saving measures?"

There was only ONE answer.

FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE!!

If you listened to our conversation, you already know: MY FATHER IS A FIGHTER!

At 5:30 a.m., another call came. They asked if we wanted them to continue compressions and administer adrenaline.

YES!! FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE!!

At approximately 7:20 a.m., we were told they had gotten his heart beating again.

By 8:20 a.m., we learned that he had likely suffered severe brain trauma due to a lack of oxygen.

For two days, we watched him hold on.

On October 5, we celebrated his birthday with cupcakes, cards, and more than 40 family members and friends coming to visit.

Around 1:30 a.m. on October 6, he went into cardiac arrest again.

I stood beside him. I watched him fight. I watched the medical team perform compressions for more than 20 minutes.

I couldn't leave his side.

At 2:03 a.m., my father transitioned.

My Big Hero was my EVERYTHING.

He diagnosed me with diabetes 23 years ago. He gave me life. He saved my life. And for nearly four decades, his voice was a constant in my world.

I still can't believe he's gone.

I'm not okay. And I don't pretend to be.

But I'm motivated.

I started this podcast wanting to know my father DOWN TO THE BONE. That February 2024 conversation gave me something I will cherish for the rest of my life. His voice, his stories, his wisdom, and a deeper understanding of the man I called Dad.

To my mom, my siblings, our family, and everyone who stood with us: I love you.

And to my Big Will...

I GOT US FROM HERE.

I will love you always.

Your Junior.
Lil Will Will. ❤️

On this episode we visit Australia and meet with Amberley, a 22-year-old disability support worker from Sydney. Amberley background is Polynesian Samoan. Ambereley shares her journey with type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at 17 after a severe DKA episode, she reflects on adapting to a life living with T1D as a young adult. She comes from a close family, being one of nine children! She also opens up about pageantry, her online advocacy, and being rejected on a date because of her diabetes. Through it all, Amberley emphasizes community, self-acceptance, and hope for a future cure. On the day she is fully functionally cured she's buying us all DOUGHNUTS!!

Troy thought he was just getting tired from football, but it turns out it was Type 1 diabetes changing everything. Troy was 13, playing at Bristol City, when he suddenly couldn’t run, couldn’t eat, and couldn’t ignore the signs anymore. What looked like “just growing up” was actually a life changing diagnosis. Troy was on the edge of a diabetic coma before his dad pushed him to the hospital.

From learning through trial and error to continuing his professional football career, becoming a PE teacher, and building a life rooted in community, Troy refused to let diabetes define him. His story is a reminder that diabetes isn’t just medical but it’s mental, emotional, and personal. Seeing someone who looks like you can make all the difference.

Follow Troy on Instagram @troywalters9

Type 1 diabetes can feel like a life sentence of science, math and relentless invisible trauma, but Yvonne shows what it looks like to turn that reality into community and hope. If you live with diabetes, love someone who does, or have ever felt alone in the chaos, this conversation will hit home fast. Raised in Indiana and diagnosed at just four years old, and also having a grandmother with T1D, Yvonne has spent nearly 29 years navigating the condition from childhood, through the middle school burnout years, into adulthood with CKD and a deep understanding of how diabetes rewires everyday life. She breaks down what most people miss about living with T1D, the emotional toll, the social misunderstandings, the difference between low and high symptoms over time, and why support from family, partners, and peers can be the difference between feeling isolated and surviving. Yvonne’s story is a reminder that community changes everything and that hope is still possible, even in the hardest times.

Follow Yvonne on Instagram @bynomeansavg_

On this episode we get to hear from Ryanne. Ryanne was diagnosed with T1D around February 2023, not too long after the passing of her grandfather. She breaks down what it was really like to learn she had type 1 diabetes at Howard University, why the symptoms were easy to miss, and how finding community changed everything. Ryanne opens up about the fear, confusion, and burnout that can come with a chronic diagnosis, especially when you are young and trying to keep up with school, friendships, and life on your own. She also shares the moment a routine doctor visit turned into a hospital stay, the misconceptions that make type 1 diabetes harder to recognize, and why representation matters so much when you are looking for proof that you can still thrive.

Together we unpack the hidden mental load of managing T1D and the confidence that comes from learning to speak up for yourself. Ryanne is the kind of voice newly diagnosed listeners need right now: honest, grounded, and full of hope.

If you are living with type 1 diabetes, supporting someone who is, or trying to make sense of a life changing diagnosis, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, informed, and a lot less alone.

Follow Ryanne on instagram @ryanne.coleman

Leslie Ann is a life coach and the founder of Brown Girls Embrace LLC, a community built to help women, especially Black women and girls feel seen, supported, and unashamed of who they are. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at nine shortly after losing her father, she grew up carrying grief, stigma, anxiety, and the pressure of managing a chronic illness. Those experiences shaped her into an advocate for self acceptance, mental health, and community care. She now uses her story to encourage others living with diabetes to get organized, protect their peace, and seek supportive spaces.

Follow Leslie and her movement on all social media platforms

browngirlsembrace_llc

In this episode we sit down with Teresa from the Bay Area for an emotional conversation about living with type 1 diabetes since age three. Teresa shares how growing up in foster care, being adopted before her 12th birthday, and navigating her family dynamic shaped her resilience and deepened her understanding of both health and identity. The conversation explores the challenges of managing diabetes as a child and teenager, including bullying, hiding medical devices, school routines, sports, nighttime lows, and the emotional toll of trying to feel “normal.” Teresa opens up about the fear of serious complications like DKA, blindness, organ failure, and losing a limb, while also reflecting on the support she received through her adoptive family, therapy, diabetes camps, and community connection. Together, we discuss the importance of self-advocacy, family education, and not letting diabetes become your whole identity. Teresa shares how she’s learned to set boundaries in friendships and relationships, make healthier choices, and move through life with more confidence, gratitude, and faith. Her story is a powerful reminder that type 1 diabetes is only one part of a much bigger life story.

Follow Teresa on instagram @tluboviski

RaKiya was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at 14. She shares those earlier teen years of rebellion/burnout but always having her families support to help her make it out ok. As a young adult she became a fierce advocate for mental health, community, and authentic representation in the T1D space, even creating a podcast. Kiya opens up about the emotional toll of living with T1D and the support that helped her thrive.

From day one of her diagnosis she had the support of her family. Today she is a young mother and recent MBA graduate.

Follow RaKiya on instagram @kiyajenell

Most people think living with type 1 diabetes means sacrificing your dreams—but Dr. Nimisha Gupta breaks that myth wide open. Nimisha was diagnosed 18 years ago with T1D at age 10. Living in India, part of the country with the world’s highest diabetes prevalence, she’s defying the odds with a radiant confidence that’s both inspiring and transformative. She's not only managing her condition with remarkable maturity but also advocating for change, technology access, and awareness in a system that still has a long way to go. This is her story, her insights, and her vision for a future where diabetes does not hold you back.