LiveFree with T1D

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Cynthia, who’s lived with type 1 diabetes since she was 19. Cynthia reflects on how a lack of mental health support at diagnosis contributed to years of struggling with bulimia—something she now speaks openly about to help others.

The second half of the conversation focuses on parenting with diabetes. Cynthia’s daughter is almost eight, and the decision about whether or not to screen her for T1D antibodies is weighing heavily on her. She walks through the emotional complexity, the uncertainty of the results, and how the conversation around screening often overlooks mental health entirely.

This episode is a must-listen for parents with T1D—or anyone considering antibody screening for their child.

Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE. 

In this episode, Dr. Mark catches up with Anthony—who recently became a dad for the first time. As exciting as new parenthood is, it brought a wave of new challenges to his diabetes management. Anthony opens up about how the stress and sleep deprivation of caring for a newborn impacted his insulin needs and his mindset, and how that shift affected his relationship.

Together, they explore how to plan for unpredictability, communicate more clearly with a partner, and keep diabetes from taking over precious time with family. Whether you’re a parent with T1D or thinking about becoming one, Anthony’s story is full of wisdom, honesty, and hope.

 Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE. 

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Meg, a registered dietitian who’s lived with type 1 diabetes for 26 years. For much of her life, Meg kept diabetes in the background—taking insulin, but never really accepting the condition or believing she could manage it well. She avoided her pump and CGM, skipped checks, and did everything she could to hide diabetes from others.

A hospitalization in 2016 changed everything.

With honesty and humor, Meg shares how that wake-up call helped her take ownership of her T1D—and how, step by step, she rebuilt her confidence and transformed her daily life. From embracing diabetes tech to becoming a dietitian who now helps others do the same, Meg’s story is one of resilience and rediscovery.

If you’ve ever felt like diabetes is the only part of your life you can’t get a handle on, this episode will hit home.

Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE. 

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Kevin, who’s lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years. For most of that time, diabetes was in the background—until a sudden complication forced him to pay attention.

After developing diabetic retinopathy, Kevin overhauled everything. He cleaned up his diet, started using a closed-loop system, and brought his A1C down by more than 3 points. But his success came with a new challenge: burnout.

Now, Kevin checks his CGM obsessively. He micromanages every number. And he feels like if he doesn’t stay perfect, he could lose everything. This episode is a powerful reminder that fear can push us too far—and that even when we’re doing well, we still need to protect our mental health.

Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE. 

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Mike, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12 while living in a children’s home. With a family history of T1D—including four siblings who were also diagnosed—Mike learned early how to follow the rules. But decades later, burnout, unrecognized lows, and emotional exhaustion caught up with him.

In this honest and eye-opening conversation, Mike shares the turning point that changed everything: discovering Loop. He explains how automated insulin delivery gave him back his sleep, his mental clarity, and his family life—and why he’s now helping others do the same.

If you’ve ever struggled with T1D burnout, hypoglycemia unawareness, or just feeling overwhelmed by tech, Mike’s story will resonate.

 Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE. 

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Crystal, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while living abroad in Iceland. Navigating a new diagnosis in a foreign healthcare system was overwhelming, but Crystal’s story is one of resilience and adaptability. She shares how she leaned on her community, tackled the emotional ups and downs of her diagnosis, and found ways to continue traveling and building her business without letting diabetes limit her. If you’ve ever worried that T1D would get in the way of your dreams, this conversation will inspire you to see what's possible.

 Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE. 

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Sasha, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just weeks before war broke out in Ukraine. Suddenly, Sasha faced not only a new diagnosis but also the terrifying reality of managing her health in a country at war.

Sasha shares how she adapted to shortages of supplies, how she stayed connected to her values even when fear was high, and the unexpected ways living in a war zone changed how she sees diabetes and life itself.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re waiting for things to be "perfect" before you start living fully with T1D, Sasha’s story will leave a lasting impression.

 Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Trent, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 40 years. Growing up in the 1980s, Trent’s parents focused on helping him feel “normal”—but over time, he discovered that ignoring the reality of T1D came at a cost. He shares the emotional journey of learning to balance resilience with humility, the challenges of navigating life transitions like college and parenthood with diabetes, and how he grapples with the constant mental burden of managing T1D. If you've ever felt like you're carrying an invisible weight—or wondered how to reconcile living fully with the reality of diabetes—this conversation will hit home.

Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Casey, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 25 years. Casey was misdiagnosed with type 2 in his mid-20s, leading to a year of frustration, failure, and worsening symptoms before he got the correct diagnosis. That experience shaped how he approached T1D, and later, how he supported his son, who tested positive for antibodies and eventually developed type 1 himself.

Casey opens up about the emotional toll of T1D, his challenges with skin reactions to diabetes tech, and the overwhelm that makes consistent management feel impossible. Together, he and Dr. Mark explore simple, doable ways to rebuild consistency, starting small, using accountability, and finding a rhythm that works without adding more stress.

 Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.

In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Kristen, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 17—just months before graduating high school. The adjustment was rocky. Fear of lows led Kristen to stop taking insulin entirely during her honeymoon phase, and eventually, she ended up in the hospital again with DKA.

That second hospital stay marked a turning point. Kristen began to accept her diagnosis, change her mindset, and reframe how she saw insulin—not as something to fear, but as something that keeps her alive and thriving.

Now 19, Kristen is learning to trust technology, navigate new challenges with her Medtronic 780G pump, and even planning to get SCUBA certified—without letting fear get in the way.

Her story is one of resilience, reflection, and reclaiming freedom with T1D.

 Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.