Diabetics Doing Things Podcast

Janet Dyer (@redsyren on Instagram), a 22-year Diabetic joins the podcast from Calgary, Alberta. Janet was diagnosed just before her 16th birthday, so of course we talk about the all-to-common struggle of T1Ds and birthday cake. ;)

This is one of the most raw interviews ever on the podcast, as Janet takes us through the emotions associated with misdiagnosis, tells a powerful story of how difficult a T1Ds life can become when health insurance isn't affordable and how her relationship with Diabetes has been challenging but that the Diabetes Online Community has her feeling more empowered than ever. 

If you are particularly inspired by Janet's incredible story, or have had a similar experience with healthcare, please reach out! I want to hear your story and help share it to show what life with T1D is really like. 

Jeremy Robertson (@Type_1_Pilot on Instagram) joins the podcast from Sydney, Australia, to tell his amazing story of his diagnosis at age 30 and how his life drastically changed as a result. Growing up, Jeremy always dreamed of becoming a pilot, and made it his life's mission to fly. He was successful, and became a commercial airline pilot for Qantas Airlines, flying routes all over the world including routes from Sydney to Los Angeles regularly. 

Though Type-1 Diabetes is always challenging, many of us continue on with our day-to-day lives & careers with few adjustments. But that wasn't the case for Jeremy. Type-1 Diabetics are not able to fly commercially (except in 2 countries), so Jeremy was forced to change careers in the middle of his life. He chose to enter the medical field in order to give back to the community and how he's helping to push change in aviation medicine, which is typically very conservative. 

Jeremy and I talk in-depth about what it's like to fly a commercial aircraft, how he was able to press on after his diagnosis took away his life's dream of flying, the journey through medical school and how he's been able to apply his skills as a pilot, a doctor and a Type-1 Diabetic to help push for reform around the rules for Type-1 Diabetics to fly aircraft. Jeremy is now able to fly smaller aircraft in Australia along with some other T1Ds, and has promised me a flight if I ever make it to Sydney (which I'm determined to take him up on). 

This was one of my favorite interviews, and Jeremy is one of the smartest, kindest and most giving people I've ever met, and I'm so fortunate to have met him. I hope you enjoy his interview. Jeremy also mentions a man named Douglas Cairns, who founded an organization called Flying With Diabetes, which I encourage you all to check out!  

Whitney Lewis (@HappyPancreas on Instagram) joins the podcast to discuss her journey with T1D over the past 4 years. Diagnosed at 26, Whitney takes us through a traumatic diagnosis experience, dealing with denial, adjusting to life with T1D as an adult and the realities of misdiagnosis that many T1D adults deal with in the early days of the disease. 

Fast forward to today, Whitney is living and thriving with T1D and her blog focuses on healthy living with T1D, maintaining proper gut health, exercising with T1D as well as many recipes she shares via Instagram. Whitney is an amazing member of the T1D community and sharing knowledge with her over the past few months has been super rewarding. I encourage you to follow her and utilize her as a resource! She has put a lot of time and effort into really understanding her body, and if you check out her website you can benefit from all the work she's done. I know you'll enjoy her episode!