LiveFree with T1D

Mindfulness is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? More importantly, what does mindfulness have to do with T1D? In this episode, we’ll talk all about mindfulness and T1D. Dr. Mark will give you four things you can do today to start incorporating mindfulness into your diabetes management routine.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

Diabetes technology is a real game-changer. But can you get too much of a good thing?

In this episode, you’ll hear Dr. Mark help Rob with his T1D tech burnout. Rob will talk about his stress related to using his insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor to manage T1D. Then you’ll hear Dr. Mark work with Rob to help him shift his mindset so he can use diabetes technology without getting overwhelmed and burned out.  

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Calvin Wu, an endocrinologist at Steady Health. Calvin is a big advocate for integrating mental health care into treatment for T1D. He recognizes the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to medical care. He appreciates that diabetes is a highly personal disease that can touch or be touched by nearly every facet of life.

Endocrinologists play a significant part in helping you manage T1D, but often they never ask about the emotional burden of T1D. Calvin offers us some insights as to why mental health issues often are not addressed by endocrinologists, and gives us some great suggestions on how to get the support you need from your health care team.

You can find out more about Steady Health at www.steady.health or on Instagram @steady.health.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

In this episode, you’ll get to know The Diabetes Psychologist. Dr. Mark Heyman talks about his diabetes story and about his work. You’ll hear about the types of patients he sees, how he thinks about diabetes and mental health, and how living with T1D impacts his work.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

This is the final episode of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D.

In this episode, we talk to Heather Cobb about how the time and effort involved in the logistics of managing diabetes in the US affected her mental health. Heather has been living with T1D for 16 years. A passionate public health advocate, Heather served in the Peace Corps in El Salvador.

The US healthcare system is a huge source of stress for people with T1D. Dealing with your insurance company, ordering supplies, and paying for insulin all add to the emotional burden of managing T1D 24/7. Heather shares her story about how she moved to Portugal because the stress of dealing with the US healthcare system got to be too much.

Heather offers some great advice on how to deal with the stress of navigating the healthcare system - even if picking up and moving out of the country isn’t an option for you!

You can read more about Heather's international journey with Type 1 diabetes here and you can follow her on Instagram @la_surfista_diabetica.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

This is Episode 5 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D.

In this episode, we talk about how T1D can fuel guilt and shame with Christina Burbelo. Christina was diagnosed with T1D a little over 15 years ago. And in the years since, she has struggled with guilt and shame because of T1D. She has found that writing and the online diabetes community have helped her through the ups and downs of living with T1D.

So many people with T1D experience guilt and shame. You may feel guilty because you are not doing everything you are ‘supposed’ to be doing to manage diabetes. You may feel shame because you’re having a hard time dealing with the stress of T1D, and you think you ‘shouldn’t’ be feeling this way. Guilt and shame are an added burden to the everyday challenges of living with type 1 diabetes.

Christina tells us about how her guilt and shame about T1D sparked her burn out, led to her being admitted to the ICU for DKA. She talks about how being more open about her struggles and the power of community have led her to a healthier place, both mentally and physically.

You can find Christina on Instagram @stainedinblue and @stina.burbelo.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

This is Episode 4 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D.

In this episode, we talk about the relationship between anxiety and T1D with Alexi Melvin. Alexi was diagnosed with T1D 17 years ago when she was 14. She is the Chair of Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council Content Committee and is passionate about being a voice for people living with T1D everywhere.

Anxiety is common in people with T1D. Living with T1D is full of ‘what ifs’ - ‘What if my blood sugar goes low during my presentation?’, ‘What if people think I’m weird?’, ‘What if I develop complications?’. If these worries get out of control, they can affect your behavior, quality of life, and your blood sugars.

Alexi tells us how anxiety around T1D has affected her life and what she has found helpful in managing her anxiety. The key takeaway is running from anxiety doesn’t make it go away - in fact, it usually makes it worse.

You can find Alexi on Instagram @alexienergyart.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

This is Episode 3 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D.

In this episode, we talk to Adelina Pink about the mental health challenges of being diagnosed with T1D as an adult. Adelina was diagnosed with T1D in March 2019 when she was 31 years old, and she runs Project NEWBET1C, a non-profit funded by online sales of apparel designed by fellow Type 1s that helps newly diagnosed T1Ds get access to helpful educational resources.

A T1D diagnosis it tough at any age, but being diagnosed as an adult comes with some unique challenges. Adelina talks about how, with the support of the T1D community, she has faced these challenges head-on and come away stronger.

You can find Adelina on Instagram @t1daddy.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

This is Episode 2 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D.

In this episode, we talk about feeling alone and isolated with diabetes with Michel Godbout. Michel recently retired as an elementary school teacher in Ontario, Canada and has been living with T1D for 42 years.

T1D should never be a do-it-yourself condition. Living with T1D is challenging, and it’s even more difficult when you don’t have support from other people. Michel was alone with T1D for many years. He hid that he had diabetes from many of his friends and coworkers. Even his family didn’t know how much he was struggling. This all changed after Michel had a serious car accident because of a severe low blood sugar. He had to open up about his diabetes, and he was shocked by the outpouring of support he got.

Michel tells us his story about how getting support and becoming involved in the diabetes community changed his life. He shares some great tips on how people with T1D can get the support they need.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

This is Episode 1 of a 6-part series talking about how to overcome the biggest mental health challenges of living with T1D.

In this episode, we talk about diabetes burnout with David Mina. David is the digital creator behind TYPE1LIVABETIC on Instagram and has been living with T1D for over 11 years.

Diabetes burnout is a state in which someone with T1D grows tired of managing their condition, and then simply ignores it for some time, or worse, forever. Although we don’t like to admit it, diabetes burnout is a normal part of living with T1D. Managing T1D is a 24/7 job, with no breaks, so experiencing burnout is to be expected sometimes.

David gives us some great strategies you can use to take care of yourself when burnout hits. You may not be able to avoid diabetes burnout, but you can find ways to minimize the impact of burnout on your life.

You can find David on Instagram @type1livabetic.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com and on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.