LiveFree with T1D

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Dr. Mark explores the power of gratitude—even in the face of life’s challenges, like living with type 1 diabetes. Instead of focusing on being grateful for diabetes, Dr. Mark encourages listeners to shift their perspective and find gratitude in other areas of life. Through a simple yet powerful practice, you’ll learn how to see beyond the “beach ball” of diabetes that often dominates your view and recognize the beauty, joy, and positivity that coexist alongside it.

In this episode, Dr. Mark explores how our thoughts about diabetes can either help or hinder us. Using relatable metaphors like shopping at Target, he illustrates how we often "buy" unhelpful thoughts without realizing it—and how this impacts our mental health.

Dr. Mark shares practical strategies for identifying and reframing unhelpful thoughts, like recognizing them as just thoughts and choosing whether to engage with them. He explains how to set these thoughts "back on the shelf" without pushing them away or letting them dominate your life.

Through these insights, you’ll learn how to reduce feelings of burnout, anxiety, and overwhelm by creating a healthier relationship with your thoughts about diabetes. With practice, you can build the mental flexibility to focus on what truly matters and live a more hopeful, empowered life.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, Dr. Mark dives into the ups and downs of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and their impact on life with type 1 diabetes. While CGMs have made it easier to monitor blood sugar and feel more in control, they also come with challenges that affect mental health. Dr. Mark explores how untrustworthy readings, constant data, and public attention can cause anxiety and overwhelm. He shares practical strategies to help manage these stressors, including setting healthy boundaries, adjusting alerts, and learning when to trust your readings. These tools can empower you to use CGM technology confidently, helping you find balance and peace of mind in managing your diabetes.

 In this episode, Dr. Mark dives into the idea of expanding your “panic runway”—the time it takes to go from calm to panic when low blood sugar strikes. He breaks down how this common reaction can feel overwhelming and explores how creating more space between anxiety and panic can give us the control we need to handle lows calmly. Dr. Mark shares practical strategies to help you stay grounded, including grounding exercises, visualization, and self-talk scripts. He explains how these tools can empower you to react with confidence, keeping panic at bay and helping you live with more freedom and peace of mind.

In this episode, Dr. Mark dives into the idea that managing diabetes is a full-time job. He challenges this common narrative, exploring how the language we use can make diabetes feel even more overwhelming than it needs to be. Dr. Mark shares practical tips to lighten the mental load and explains how changing our perspective can empower us to live with more freedom and flexibility. 

Click HERE to grab your copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle it.

Click HERE for a FREE resource to help you Conquer Your Fear of Low Blood Sugar.

In this episode, Dr. Mark shares a personal story from his early days managing T1D and why trying to explain every high blood sugar isn’t helpful. Learn why focusing on individual highs can leave you feeling guilty and defensive—and how accepting that highs are a part of life with T1D can help you feel more empowered. Dr. Mark also explains how healthcare providers can ask better questions to truly support people living with diabetes.

Click HERE to grab your copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle it.

Click HERE for a FREE resource to help you Conquer Your Fear of Low Blood Sugar.

In this episode, Dr. Mark  tackles one of the worst pieces of advice for people with T1D waiting until you're "ready" to make changes. Learn why waiting for the right moment may be keeping you stuck, and how taking action, even when you're uncomfortable, is key to progress.

Click HERE to grab your copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle it.

Click HERE for a FREE resource to help you Conquer Your Fear of Low Blood Sugar.

 Your fear of lows serves a very important function. It prompts you to take action and keep yourself safe. However, this same fear can also keep you stuck. In this episode, I talk about the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy fear of low blood sugar.

Click HERE to grab your copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle it.

Click HERE for a FREE resource to help you Conquer Your Fear of Low Blood Sugar.

On this episode, I look back at the past 2.5 years since my book, Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It, was published. You'll hear insights as to why I wrote this book, what I've learned since publishing the book, and the thing that surprised me the most.

Click HERE to grab your copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle it.

Click HERE for a FREE resource to help you Conquer Your Fear of Low Blood Sugar.

This is the final episode of a 13 part series on the podcast where each week, I share with you a chapter of 'Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It on the podcast. 

This week, you'll hear Chapter 12, where you'll start to think about how to live beyond in your life with T1D.

Click HERE to grab your copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle it.

Click HERE for a FREE resource to help you Conquer Your Fear of Low Blood Sugar.