Diabetics Doing Things Podcast

By Diabetics Doing Things

Hosted by T1D Rob Howe, Diabetics Doing Things tells amazing stories of people with diabetes from across the globe, digging deep into everything it takes to Live Well with Diabetes and sharing exci

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FAQs about Diabetics Doing Things Podcast:

How many episodes does Diabetics Doing Things Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 477 episodes available.

Diabetics Doing Things Podcast episodes:

February 11, 2026 Episode 346 - The Insulin Sensitivity Playbook: Vinegar and Glucose with Dr. Carol Johnston
Dr. Carol Johnston—Arizona State University nutrition professor and
registered dietitian known online as “The Vinegar Lady”—joins Rob to break
down what decades of research actually say about vinegar, blood glucose,
and metabolic health. Johnston explains how her work began with an obscure
1988 rat study and led to a landmark 2004 Diabetes Care paper showing
vinegar could blunt post-meal blood glucose spikes in people without
diabetes, those with pre-diabetes, and those with type 2 diabetes. They dig
into why vinegar still gets treated like “fringe” advice despite strong
replication across countries—and why the mechanism overlaps with a major
target of metformin.
The conversation gets highly practical: why liquid vinegar matters (pills
don’t), how timing at the start of a meal changes outcomes, and the two
core mechanisms—reduced starch digestion plus increased glucose uptake into
muscle via GLUT4, similar to the effect of post-meal walking. Johnston also
connects vinegar to the gut microbiome and acetate’s growing role in brain
and energy metabolism, sharing her own routine (on vegetables) and emerging
findings on cognitive/depression measures supported by metabolomics. You’ll
also hear real-world implementations like homemade vinaigrettes (flip the
ratio to 2:1 vinegar to oil), mustard as a stealth vinegar vehicle, and
even “pickle sickles,” plus safety notes around dilution, enamel, and
gastroparesis risk.
Chapters:
00:01 Intro: “The Vinegar Lady” + why vinegar is on the table for diabetes
01:35 Johnston’s background + why she studies simple, sustainable nutrition
strategies
03:03 The 1988 rat study discovery → the first human trials with bagels +
vinegar
04:32 Publishing in Diabetes Care (2004) + replication across the world
05:53 Why clinicians resist vinegar (“we have drugs for this”) + metformin
overlap
10:28 Acetic acid, fermentation, and the gut microbiome connection (why it
matters)
14:04 The two key mechanisms: starch digestion interference + faster muscle
glucose uptake
22:46 Practical + safety: pills don’t work, dilution, enamel/aspiration
risk, timing with meals
25:53 Johnston’s personal protocol + brain/cognition/depression angle +
metabolomics support
46:47 Athletic applications: pickle juice, “pickle sickles,” mustard hack +
where research goes next
...more
0min
January 28, 2026 Episode 343 - Doing Well with Diabetes: Jyotsana Rangeen
On episode 3 of Doing Well with Diabetes Season 2, Rob and Jyotsana Rangeen
discuss the journey of living with type 1 diabetes, focusing on the
challenges of stigma, the importance of community support, and the
transformative power of advocacy. Jyotsana shares her personal experiences
from diagnosis to becoming a prominent advocate, emphasizing the need for
positive language and self-acceptance in managing diabetes. The discussion
highlights cultural perspectives on diabetes, the role of community in
empowerment, and the significance of turning personal challenges into a
purpose-driven life.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Diabetes Journey
01:07 Facing Diagnosis and Stigma
04:59 The Power of Language in Diabetes
08:52 Finding Motivation and Confidence
12:06 Embracing Public Advocacy
16:59 Cultural Perspectives on Diabetes
21:28 Transformative Advocacy Journey
25:19 The Importance of Community and Support
28:20 Reflections on Growth and Purpose
Resources:
Jyotsana’s Instagram
https://idf.org/what-we-do/advocacy/advocacy-networks/blue-circle-voices/bcv-stories/jyotsana-rangeen-india/

https://www.instagram.com/diabetes_india_youth_in_action/
...more
0min
January 21, 2026 Episode 345 - Leading with T1D featuring University Presidents Dr. Sally Kornbluth (MIT) and Ron Daniels (Johns Hopkins)
Summary
In this episode, two university presidents, Dr. Sally Kornbluth (MIT) and
Ron Daniels (Johns Hopkins) join Rob to talk about adult-onset Type 1
(LADA), leading in high-performance environments, and the single most
“practical” diabetes upgrade: making a friend with diabetes. What stands
out isn’t prestige—it’s how candidly they describe the everyday realities:
managing highs and lows during major speeches, checking pumps in meetings,
and staying open about diabetes to normalize it for everyone around them.
The conversation also connects diabetes progress to the university research
engine—past (insulin’s discovery era) and future (stem cell/islet
replacement, closed-loop algorithms, and emerging trials).
Chapters
* 00:26: Diagnosis stories through high-performance leadership lens +
“patients first” approach
* 01:02: Sally Kornbluth’s adult-onset Type 1 (LADA) diagnosis
* 02:55: Ron Daniels’ adult-onset Type 1 diagnosis
* 06:08: Adult-onset Type 1, LADA, and misdiagnosis risk
* 08:29: Carbs, discipline, and the real lifestyle tradeoffs
* 10:19: The biggest adjustment: mental load + fear of lows
* 13:30: How they found each other + why “a friend with diabetes”
changes everything
* 21:41: Universities power diabetes progress (and what’s next)
* 42:45: Closing lessons: openness, resilience, and gratitude
Resources
Dr. Sally Kornbluth
Ron Daniels
...more
0min
January 15, 2026 Episode 344 - Doing Well with Diabetes: Kerry Murphy
Episode 4 of Doing Well with Diabetes Season 2 features Kerry Murphy, wife
and mother to multiple people with type 1 diabetes and founder of Follow
T1Ds, who explains how her long, layered exposure to T1D—from her
sister-in-law and husband to her niece and daughter—pushed her from
terrified observer to frontline advocate. She describes the collision
between modern diabetes tech (CGMs, pumps, data-driven care) and school
systems still operating on 1990s protocols, culminating in nurses refusing
to follow CGM data during the school day.
After discovering Department of Justice rulings that treating CGM follow as
a reasonable ADA accommodation applies nationwide, she built Follow T1Ds
around three demands: follow T1D CGMs, follow parent input, and follow
federal law. The conversation covers how parents can move from raw fear and
frustration to strategic advocacy, why labeling kids “non-compliant”
ignores context and equity, and why school nurses are often the only line
of real safety for some students. Kerry’s long-term aim is systems change
so that parents don’t have to become de facto lawyers and policy experts
just to keep their kids safe at school.
Chapters
00:40 – Kerry Murphy and Follow T1Ds
01:47 – Kerry’s Deep Family History With Type 1 Diabetes
04:58 – Screening Her Sons, Avoiding DKA, and Early Symptom Hindsight
08:32 – Watching From the Sidelines, Then Becoming a Caregiver Herself
09:38 – Kindergarten Clash: Modern Tech vs 1990s School Protocols
14:27 – DOJ/ADA Rulings and the Three Pillars of Follow T1Ds
23:22 – How Parents Navigate Fear, Gaslighting, and Hard Conversations With
Schools
30:32 – “Non-Compliant” Kids, Equity, and Why School Nurses Must Step Up
38:21 – Long-Term Vision: Systems Change So Parents Don’t Have to Be
Lawyers
Resources:
https://followt1ds.org/
Kerry’s Instagram
...more
0min
January 07, 2026 Episode 342 - Doing Well with Diabetes: Overcoming Stigma in Sports
Episode 2 of Doing Well with Diabetes Season 2 focuses on “Overcoming
Stigma in Sports,” highlighting two elite athletes living with type 1
diabetes outside the traditional Western spotlight.
In part one, Rebeca Jara, a Costa Rican pole vaulter, shares her diagnosis
at age seven, the transformational impact of attending diabetes camp as a
teenager, and the long process of learning how stress, food, and insulin
affect performance. She describes major competitions where high blood
sugars, lack of fast-acting insulin, and broken vials wrecked her meets—and
how she initially leaned on diabetes as an explanation for poor results.
The turning point comes when a coach tries to keep her off a Central
American team “because she has diabetes,” and she not only makes the squad
but wins gold. That moment flips her internal narrative from “I can’t
because of diabetes” to “I’m capable, and I won’t let others use diabetes
as a reason to exclude me.”
In part two, Ousman Ceesay from Gambia recounts being discriminated against
and effectively cut from a football team because of his diabetes. Instead
of quitting, he helps form a new team of players with diabetes, is named
captain, and scores a decisive header in their first official match—against
the very coach who rejected him. From there he becomes a leading advocate
in Gambia, attacking myths about diabetes (like “it’s only caused by
sugar”) through social media, TV, and radio, while mentoring younger people
with type 1 who are afraid to be seen. His motto, “All Is Well Like Never
Before,” comes from a night of severe hypoglycemia, a morning spike, and
the realization that despite diabetes, he can walk, see, and live
independently—privileges many hospitalized people don’t have.
Together, Rebeca and Ousman show how stigma in sport can be confronted with
preparation, persistence, and visibility, turning diabetes from a reason to
be excluded into the engine for leadership and change.
Chapters
01:36 – Meet Rebeca: Costa Rican Track & Field Athlete with T1D
02:53 – Diagnosis, Early Years, and Finding Diabetes Camp
06:31 – First Track Competitions and Stress-High Blood Sugars
09:21 – Central American Championship: Broken Insulin Vial and DNS-Level
Highs
15:05 – Overcoming Lows and Highs in Competition
18:28 – Coach Tries to Exclude Rebeca Because of Diabetes
20:01 – Winning Gold and Changing the Narrative
22:19 – Advice to Her Younger Self and Enjoying Sport
23:22 – Rebeca’s Online Presence: “Rebebetes”
24:12 – Meet Ousman: Gambian Footballer with T1D
24:49 – Being Cut for Having Diabetes and Forming a New Team
26:06 – First Game, Captain’s Armband, and the Winning Header
28:58 – Beating the Coach Who Discriminated Against Him
29:32 – Misconceptions About Diabetes in Gambia
31:56 – Building a Public Advocate: Social Media, TV, and Radio
33:54 – Mentoring Young People and Normalizing Visibility
36:58 – Origin Story of “All Is Well Like Never Before”
40:31 – Turning Hypo/Hyper Swings into Gratitude and a Clothing Brand
42:31 – Health, Perspective, and Redefining “Well”
43:24 – Closing Reflections and Future Vision
Resources:
Rebeca’ Instagram
Young Leaders in Diabetes
Young Leaders in Diabetes Instagram
Ousman Ceesay Linkedin
Ousman Ceesay Instagram
...more
0min
December 18, 2025 Episode 341 - Doing Well with Diabetes: Global Nutritionist Panel
On episode 1 of Doing Well with Diabetes Season 2 Rob opens with a global
nutritionist panel featuring three voices from three continents—Ravi
Subramanian (India/Australia), Sally Anne Shirto (Zimbabwe/South Africa),
and Marina Cavalin (Brazil). Each shares how diabetes shaped their lives,
their careers, and the way they support others in their communities. The
episode tracks the realities of type 1 and type 2 diabetes across vastly
different health systems, highlighting gaps in education, access to insulin
and supplies, food insecurity, misinformation, cultural nutrition
challenges, and the emotional and physical toll of the condition worldwide.
Through personal stories—from childhood polo matches with royalty to
managing a teen’s diabetes in an under-resourced setting—the conversation
reinforces a central theme: education, movement, and community support
remain the strongest levers for improving global health and wellbeing for
people with diabetes.
Chapters
01:23 – Meet Ravi: Pilot Dreams to Type 2 Diagnosis
02:05 – Two Decades of Uncontrolled Diabetes & Complications
06:11 – Going Back to School: Becoming a Nutritionist
08:49 – Carbs, Fats, and the Omega-6:3 Problem in Indian Diets
11:39 – Portion Control, Festivals, and Insulin as a Double-Edged Sword
16:15 – Walking, Sweat, and Safe Exercise for Blood Pressure
19:14 – Resistance Training as Medicine
20:35 – Polo with Prince Charles: Childhood, Horses, and Loss of Function
23:03 – Meet Sally Anne: Mom, Coach, and Advocate in Zimbabwe & South
Africa
24:08 – Learning Diabetes From Zero as a Parent
27:02 – The Affordability Crisis: Insulin, Strips, and Food
31:11 – Education Gaps: Fixed Doses, Hypers vs Hypos, and No Corrections
33:09 – Doing the Most With Very Little: Education as the First Line of
Care
39:19 – Tackling Stigma at School and on the Netball Court
39:55 – Glucobuddies: Building Community in Under-Resourced Settings
42:08 – The Missing Link: Diabetes Educators, Not Just Dietitians
47:11 – Fighting Misinformation About “Healthy” Foods
50:42 – Meet Marina: Insulin Girl from Brazil
54:38 – Living With Type 1 in Brazil: Access and Inequality
58:46 – Brazilian Food Culture and the Carb-Counting Gap
1:02:54 – Learning to Count Carbs and Choosing Nutrition as a Career
1:05:24 – Mental Health, Burnout, and the Role of Exercise
1:11:42 – Young Leaders in Diabetes and Impact at Human Scale
1:15:40 – Self-Acceptance, Complications, and Redefining “Doing Well”
Resources:
https://www.instagram.com/guriadainsulina/
[email protected] - Ravi Subramanian’s email
Blue Circle Voices
IDF
Glucose Buddy
Sally Anne Shirto LinkedIn
...more
0min
December 10, 2025 Episode 340 - Jordan Keltner from Netlix' Love is Blind
Summary
In this special episode of Diabetics Doing Things, Rob Howe interviews
Jordan Keltner, a participant from Netflix's Love is Blind Season 9, who
shares his journey as a caregiver for his son with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
They discuss the challenges of misdiagnosis, the importance of advocacy,
and the impact of public awareness. Jordan also talks about his children's
book series, "Dear Luca," which aims to spread awareness and support for
T1D, with proceeds benefiting the charity Life for a Child.
Chapters
* 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome
* 00:03:00 Jordan's T1D Caregiver Journey
* 00:06:00 Luca’s Misdiagnosis and Challenges
* 00:09:00 Public Awareness and Advocacy
* 00:12:00 ‘Dear Luca’ Children's Book Series
* 00:15:00 Supporting Life for a Child
Resources
Dear Luca - Children’s Book Series
Life for a Child
...more
0min
November 05, 2025 Episode 339 - $11 Insulin for All: Civica Rx’s Breakthrough with CalRx and the Future of Affordable Insulin
In this episode of Diabetics Doing Things, host Rob Howe sits down with
Allan Coukell, Chief Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer at
Civica Rx, to discuss one of the most significant healthcare developments
in years: California’s announcement that insulin pens will be available for
$11 each ($55 for a five-pack) beginning January 1, 2026.
They unpack how CalRx and Civica Rx partnered to manufacture biosimilar
insulins—beginning with insulin glargine, the long-acting insulin—and how
this effort represents a national, non-profit model for lowering drug
costs. The conversation explores how these low-cost insulins will reach
patients across the U.S., how Civica Rx’s unique business model disrupts
traditional pharmaceutical pricing, and what’s next for rapid-acting
insulins (aspart, Humalog, Novolog) and other affordable drugs in Civica’s
pipeline.
Rob and Allan also dive into the broader implications of nonprofit
manufacturing, state partnerships, and how patients, advocates, and
policymakers can support the movement toward transparent, sustainable drug
pricing.
Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
01:51 – CalRX announcement
02:40 – Meet Allan Coukell
03:16 – Policy and Affordability
04:40 – Breaking down the CalRx Announcement
05:12 – How the Partnership Works
07:03 – Scaling Access Nationwide
08:34 – The Role of State Partnerships
10:08 – Beyond Insulin: Civica’s Drug Pipeline
13:02 – The Timeline and Transparency
14:47 – What’s Next for Patients
15:32 – Advocacy and How to Help
Resources:
* CivicaRx.org
* CalRx.gov
Key Takeaways
* Insulin Glargine (long-acting) launches January 1, 2026 for $11/pen
in California and nationwide.
* Rapid-acting insulin (aspart) is in development with no public
release date yet.
* Civica Rx’s nonprofit model eliminates rebates and profit markups,
targeting transparency and affordability.
* Other Civica products already cut prices on cancer, MS, and chronic
care drugs by over 90%.
* Patients can help by requesting coverage, spreading awareness, and
advocating for more states to partner with Civica.
...more
18min
September 15, 2025 Episode 337 - DKA In Real Life: a Caregiver’s Perspective with Leigh Fickling
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this video should not be used for
medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical
advice. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.
Sponsored by Abbott
Summary
In this conversation, Leigh Fickling shares her journey as a diabetes mom
after her daughter Ava was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of
three. She reflects on the signs and symptoms of diabetes and DKA that were
overlooked initially, the importance of education and awareness in managing
diabetes, and her role as a caregiver and advocate for others with
diabetes. Leigh discusses the challenges of navigating workplace
accommodations for diabetes and emphasizes the need for community support
and preparedness in managing diabetes effectively.
Chapters
00:00 The Diagnosis Journey Begins
08:02 Understanding DKA and Its Symptoms
17:03 Navigating Diabetes Management as a Caregiver
22:06 Workplace Accommodations for Diabetes
33:56 Empowering Others Through Shared Experiences
Resources:
https://childrenwithdiabetes.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighfickling
...more
38min
September 15, 2025 Episode 338 - DKA In Real Life: ‘It Can Happen to You’ with Danica Collins
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this video should not be used for
medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical
advice. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.
Sponsored by Abbott
Summary
In this episode, Rob Howe interviews Danica Collins, a long-time type 1
diabetes advocate, about her personal journey with diabetes and a recent
experience with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Danica shares her story of
living with diabetes for nearly 20 years, the importance of community
support, and the challenges she faced during a severe DKA episode while
traveling. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-advocacy,
understanding DKA, and the emotional aftermath of such experiences.
Danica's insights aim to educate and empower others in the diabetes
community.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Journey of Diabetes Advocacy
02:53 Reflecting on 19 Years with Type 1 Diabetes
05:50 The Importance of Community in Diabetes Management
08:47 Experiencing DKA: A Personal Story
11:35 Navigating the Hospital Experience
14:57 The Role of Self-Advocacy in Healthcare
17:55 Understanding DKA and Its Implications
20:42 The Aftermath of DKA: Recovery and Reflection
23:32 Sharing Stories to Raise Awareness
26:37 The Emotional Impact of Diabetes and DKA
29:49 Final Thoughts on Living with Diabetes
Resources
https://www.instagram.com/danicathediabetic/?hl=en
https://www.dia-log.co/
...more
40min

FAQs about Diabetics Doing Things Podcast:

How many episodes does Diabetics Doing Things Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 477 episodes available.

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