LiveFree with T1D

Learning to sit with discomfort is a skill that can be learned, and over the next couple of weeks on ths podcast, I'm going to teach you how.

I'll start by sharing a simple, five-word trick to help you deal with annoying and uncomfortable thoughts about T1D.

To discover what these five words are, and how you can use them to your advantage, tune in to the latest episode of the LiveFree with T1D podcast.

In this week's episode, I discuss the importance of learning to tolerate unhelpful thoughts, especially those that you know aren't true. Plus, I'll share practical tips to prevent these thoughts from significantly impacting your life and diabetes management.

Click HERE to Become a Member of the LiveFree with T1D Community on Facebook – It’s Your Free Support Network! 

Being aware of when it's particularly important to be mindful of your emotional health can empower you to act proactively. Here are three key times when you should pay special attention to your emotions and mindset:

In this episode I talk more about each of these scenarios and give you examples from my own life about why it's been important to take time out when these situations come up.

My goal is to make sure that you're set up for success with your mental health around T1D, especially if you are dealing with a fear of low blood sugar. To do this, it's helpful to look at the top 3 mistakes you're probably making to deal with your fear of lows:

On this episode, I dive deeper into what you're doing that's likely not working, and give you some tips that will help you better manage your fear of low blood sugar!

Click HERE to Become a Member of the LiveFree with T1D Community on Facebook – It’s Your Free Support Network! 

Is it possible to be thankful for diabetes?

I believe the answer is yes.

But to be thankful for diabetes means holding two opposing concepts in your mind at the same time - gratitude and T1D.

Imagine for a moment: If you didn’t have T1D, what would you not have that you have because you have T1D? On this Thanksgiving episode of the LiveFree with T1D Podcast, I’ll dive into this question and consider the possibilities.

Remember, being thankful for diabetes doesn’t mean you want to have it, and you wouldn’t get rid of it if you could. It simply means that you are acknowledging the positives alongside the challenges.

Listen to this episode and discover the power of gratitude in your journey with diabetes.

Click HERE to Become a Member of Our Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook – It’s Your Free Support Network! 

The blood Sugar Cycle of Avoidance is  a common pattern for people with T1D, and it might be holding you back.

The cycle often starts with a simple decision, like turning down an invitation due to the fear of low blood sugar. But this avoidance can snowball, causing you to miss out on more activities and experiences.

Why is it a big deal? It limits your life, keeps you stuck in your comfort zone, and your brain, trying to keep you safe, only makes it worse.

But here’s the good news: You can break free!

 In the latest episode of the LiveFree with T1D Podcast I dive deeper into the blood sugar cycle of avoidance. I talk about how you got into it, why it’s not helpful, and what you can do to get out of this cycle.

If you feel like anxiety about your blood sugars is holding you back, and you don’t know how to move forward, you’re going to love this episode!

Click HERE to Become a Member of Our Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook – It’s Your Free Support Network! 

You may be wondering if you have a fear of low blood sugar. Today I want to give you THREE signs that you may be experiencing a fear of lows.

Sign #1: You Under-Bolus

You take less insulin to cover the carbs you eat because you worry about what might happen in your blood sugar drops low.

Sign #2: You Stay in Exercise Mode All the Time

You feel safe(r) when the target blood sugar on your pump is on the higher side.

Sign #3: You Avoid Activities

You would rather stay away from activities you enjoy than risk going low.

On this episode, I talk more about these three signs and tell you about three others that I did not list here.

Click HERE to Become a Member of Our Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook – It’s Your Free Support Network!

There’s no way around it: low blood sugars are no fun. Actually, to put it more accurately, low blood sugar SUCKS.

But the question always arises—what can you do to deal with lows when you have them, without letting them get in the way of your diabetes management or your life? It’s something I often think about, and I’ve been considering it even more over the past month, as I’ve had my fair share of lows.

In this episode, I dive into my diabetes management journey during October 2023, including the lows. I talk about some of the lows I’ve experienced, and what I’ve done to manage them so they impact my life as little as possible.

Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip 

Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

My guest on this episode of the LiveFree with T1D podcast is Falyn. Not only does she live with T1D, but her three-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed as well. In this episode, I coach Falyn on how to let go of her beliefs about her own diabetes so she can be there for her daughter.

Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip 

Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

What if it was possible not only to experience joy but to live a joyful life with T1D? I believe it's possible and I want to show you how.

On this episode of the LiveFree with T1D podcast, I talk all about joy and how you can experience joy, even with T1D is challenging. I give you some tools and strategies you can use to intentionally find joy in your life with T1D, and I invite you to a special event I am hosting next week on joy.

ReImagine T1D is on October 26, 2023. Click HERE to register now! 

Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.

When was your last appointment with your endocrinologist? Did you feel that your doctor allowed you to set the agenda for the appointment and genuinely listened to your concerns?

While there’s no excuse for a subpar diabetes care team, it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. With a little advocacy and asserting your own agenda, it’s possible to ensure your needs are met by your endocrinologist.

Laura’s daughter was diagnosed with T1D in 2020, and since then, they’ve encountered challenges in getting their diabetes care team to genuinely listen to them. Laura has developed some creative strategies to address her daughter’s needs. In this episode of the LiveFree with T1D podcast, I provide guidance to Laura on how she can advocate for her daughter and herself, even when the doctor may not be receptive to changing their approach.

Sign up now to get your FREE daily T1D + Mental Health tip! www.thediabetespsychologist.com/tip 

Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It can now be purchased on my website, www.thediabetespsychologist.com/book. Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist.