Simplifying Diabetes

Diabetes complications are one of the things people with diabetes fear most—and honestly, I understand why.

Heart disease. Kidney disease. Neuropathy. Vision loss. Amputation.

But I don't believe fear is an effective diabetes management strategy.

After nearly a decade working in diabetes, I've seen these complications show up in real people. I've seen what happens when someone loses sensation in their feet and doesn't realize they've been seriously injured. I've interned in a dialysis center and heard patients with diabetes tell me they wished they had managed their numbers differently.

So in this episode, we're having the conversation I wish more people with diabetes were having: honest, specific, and without the fearmongering.

I'll walk you through three major diabetes complications:

• Cardiovascular disease: how diabetes can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke and the numbers and risk factors you should actually be paying attention to.

• Chronic kidney disease: why kidney damage can happen silently, what your UACR and eGFR actually mean, and why I care so much about early detection.

• Neuropathy and foot complications: how nerve damage can change your ability to feel pain and temperature—and the real-life client experience that showed me just how serious that can become.

We'll also talk about what you can actually do to reduce your risk, including blood glucose management, blood pressure, cholesterol, medications, screenings, movement, and taking care of your feet.

Because here's what I don't want you to take away from this episode:

"If I have diabetes, I'm going to develop complications."

That's not the message.

The message is:

Know your risk. Know your numbers. Get your screenings. Use the tools available to you. And don't let fear keep you from taking action.

You don't need to be afraid of your diabetes.

But you do need to understand it.

Aware, not afraid. Proactive, not obsessive. Informed, not overwhelmed.

That's the goal.

Link to Kristies Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr

Click Here for a Free Masterclass:

https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

Application for Group Coaching: https://pzo3l60gfkw.typeform.com/to/lib7KMZF

Podcast Production & Editing by Michael Messerli

Interested in podcast production, editing, or video services? 📩 [email protected]

What if managing type 2 diabetes didn't have to feel like a full-time job?

In today's episode, I'm joined by my longtime client, Sogol, for a very honest conversation about her journey with blood sugar management.

Sogol has worked with me through both group coaching and 1:1 coaching, and what I love most about her story is that her success didn't end when the program did. She took what she learned and continued building the skills and confidence to manage her blood sugars in real life.

We talk about what she was struggling with before coaching, what she had already tried, how her relationship with food and blood sugar numbers changed, and why having support and accountability made such a difference.

We also talk about something I think so many women with type 2 diabetes need to hear: you don't have to cut out carbs, give up the foods you love, or be perfect to improve your blood sugar.

If you've ever thought, "I already know what I'm supposed to do, I just can't seem to make it work," Sogol's story is for you.

This episode is a reminder that you don't have to figure out diabetes alone—and that learning how to manage your blood sugar can give you back so much more than better numbers. It can give you confidence, freedom, and peace of mind.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start understanding your blood sugars, learn more about the Balance Blood Sugar Method in the show notes or DM me on instagram

Link to Kristies Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr

Click Here for a Free Masterclass:

https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

Application for Group Coaching: https://pzo3l60gfkw.typeform.com/to/lib7KMZF

Podcast Production & Editing by Michael Messerli

Interested in podcast production, editing, or video services? 📩 [email protected]

You're eating vegetables. You've cut back on carbs. You're trying to avoid sugar. You're choosing "healthy" foods.

So why are your blood sugars still high?

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything you're supposed to do for your diabetes but your numbers aren't reflecting your effort, this episode is for you.

In Episode 12 of Simplifying Diabetes, we're talking about why eating healthy isn't always the same thing as having a strategic approach to blood sugar management.

I'll break down some of the common mistakes I see, including:

• Putting too much emphasis on cutting carbohydrates

• Not getting enough fiber, fruits, and vegetables

• Starting the day with a breakfast that isn't satisfying or protein-rich

• Choosing more refined/simple carbohydrates without considering the bigger picture of the meal

• Waiting until you're starving to decide what to eat

• Overlooking hydration

• Making thousands of food decisions without having a plan to make those decisions easier

Because when you have diabetes, you're not just deciding what sounds good. You're constantly thinking about how food might affect your blood sugar, what you "should" eat, what you should avoid, and whether you're making the right choice.

That's exhausting.

And it's why meal planning isn't about spending your Sunday meal-prepping 20 containers of chicken and broccoli.

It's about creating a strategy so you don't have to make every food decision from scratch.

I'll also talk about what to do instead—including creating intentional strategies for breakfast, snacks and mini meals, incorporating foods you've made "off limits," and planning for your actual life rather than following another rigid meal plan.

And if you're tired of guessing what to eat and want help creating a personalized strategy for your blood sugar, I'm opening 10 customized 60-minute Meal Planning Intensives for September.

DM me INTENSIVE on Instagram or email me to learn more.

You don't need another diet.

You need a strategy.

Link to Kristies Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr

Click Here for a Free Masterclass:

https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

You've probably heard that type 2 diabetes is "reversible."

Maybe you've even been promised that if you lose weight, cut carbs, exercise enough, or follow the right diet, you can make your diabetes disappear.

But what if we've been using the wrong word?

In this episode of Simplifying Diabetes, I'm breaking down the truth about diabetes, remission, and what actually happens inside your body long before you're diagnosed.

I'll explain how insulin resistance can develop for years—or even decades—before a diabetes diagnosis, what happens to insulin-producing beta cells over time, and why having normal blood sugars doesn't necessarily mean your diabetes has been "cured."

We'll also talk about diabetes remission: what it actually means, how it's defined, why remission is possible for some people but isn't guaranteed, and why achieving remission can be much harder than social media makes it look.

I'll also share why I want to normalize something we don't talk about enough: sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough, and medication is an important—and completely valid—part of diabetes management.

In this episode, we'll cover:

• Why your diabetes didn't suddenly begin the day you were diagnosed

• What insulin resistance has to do with the development of type 2 diabetes

• What happens to your pancreas and insulin-producing beta cells over time

• The difference between improving your blood sugar, remission, and "reversal"

• The clinical definition of type 2 diabetes remission

• Why remission isn't a guaranteed outcome

• Why two people can make the same lifestyle changes and have completely different results

• Why needing medication does NOT mean you've failed

• How the "reverse your diabetes" narrative can create shame and unrealistic expectations

• What I want you focusing on instead of trying to erase your diagnosis

You don't need to "reverse" your diabetes to be successful.

You don't need perfect blood sugars.

And you don't get extra points for managing diabetes without medication.

You need to understand what's happening in your body, use the tools available to you, and find a way to manage your diabetes that actually works for your life.

Because while you can't erase the diagnosis, you absolutely can decide what happens next.

Link to Kristies Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr

Click Here for a Free Masterclass:

https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

Can intuitive eating and diabetes management coexist? Many people assume they can't—but that's exactly what we're unpacking in this episode.

I'm joined by intuitive eating dietitian Katy Harvey to explore what intuitive eating really is, what it isn't, and why it's often misunderstood—especially in the diabetes community. We discuss how intuitive eating goes far beyond "just eating whatever you want" and how it can actually support a healthier, more peaceful relationship with food while still honoring blood sugar management.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What intuitive eating actually means

• Common myths about intuitive eating

• How intuitive eating and blood sugar management can work together

• The ways dieting can damage our relationship with food

• Why food freedom doesn't mean ignoring your health

• Practical insights for anyone living with diabetes who wants to move away from the diet mentality

Whether you're curious about intuitive eating, feeling stuck in the cycle of dieting, or wondering if it's possible to care for your diabetes without food guilt, this episode offers a balanced and compassionate perspective.

Be sure to subscribe to Simplifying Diabetes so you never miss an episode, and if you enjoy the show, please leave a review—it helps more people discover the podcast!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr Masterclass: https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20 Katy Harvey is a non-diet dietitian and the host of the Rebuilding Trust With Your Body podcast. She specializes in intuitive eating and helps women who are tired of dieting but scared of weight gain finally break the food obsession cycle and build real health without letting the scale control their self-worth. Katy is all about eating the foods you love, unapologetically, without going overboard. She fully believes that you can eat for satisfaction while also honoring your health. Katy's Links

Website: katyharvey.net

Podcast: Rebuilding Trust With Your Body

Today's episode is one of the most personal I've ever recorded.

I'm taking you behind the scenes of my journey—from growing up surrounded by diet culture, to becoming a registered dietitian, to the patient who completely changed the way I thought about diabetes care.

For years, I believed what I had been taught: that weight loss should be the focus. But after witnessing the emotional toll that approach had on my patients, I knew there had to be a better way.

I'll also share how losing my dad in 2020 changed my perspective on health, why I left traditional healthcare to start my own private practice, and how that decision has allowed me to help thousands of women manage diabetes without shame, food guilt, or obsession over the scale.

If you've ever felt like you've been told to "just lose weight" without anyone actually teaching you how to manage your diabetes, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• My lifelong experience with diet culture and body image
• Why I became a registered dietitian
• The patient who transformed my philosophy on diabetes care
• What losing my dad taught me about health and self-care
• Why I started Simplifying Diabetes
• How I help women lower their blood sugars without restrictive diets or shame

If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear your story. Send me a message on Instagram, and if you're wondering which program is the best fit for you, let's chat. Together, we'll find the support that meets you where you are.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr

Masterclass: https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

In this Client Spotlight episode, I'm joined by one of my clients to share her real, unfiltered experience living with type 2 diabetes.

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like you're doing everything "right" but not seeing the results you want, this conversation will feel incredibly relatable.

We talk about what life looked like before things started to change, the key mindset and behavior shifts that made the biggest difference, and what she wishes she had known much earlier in her journey.

Inside this episode, you'll hear:

• What it felt like to feel stuck with diabetes • The turning point that changed how she approached her health • The biggest lesson she didn't expect to learn • What she would tell herself on the day of diagnosis • Advice for anyone who feels like nothing is working

This is not a story about perfection—it's a story about what becomes possible when you stop trying to figure it all out alone.

If this episode resonates with you and you want support heading into my next group coaching program starting in July, send me a DM with the word GROUP and we can chat about next steps.

Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

+ Apply to Balance Blood Sugar Method Group Coaching: https://pzo3l60gfkw.typeform.com/to/gD5GsP8q

Do you feel like you're "good" all day only to find yourself standing in the pantry at 9 PM looking for chips, crackers, cookies, cereal, or ice cream?

If so, this episode is for you.

In today's episode of Simplifying Diabetes, I'm breaking down the Crash → Crave → Spike Cycle and explaining why nighttime cravings are often a blood sugar issue—not a willpower issue.

We'll talk about:

• What the blood sugar rollercoaster looks like in real life

• Why skipping meals, under-eating, and restricting carbs can backfire

• How diet culture teaches us to ignore our body's signals

• My personal experience wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)

• Real client stories that reveal what's actually driving nighttime cravings

• Why your body may be asking for food—not sabotaging you

If you've ever thought, "I was so good all day, why can't I stop eating at night?" this episode will help you understand what's really happening and what you can do about it.

Want help breaking the cycle?

Join me inside my upcoming 3-day live workshop, Stop the 10 PM Pantry Raid, beginning June 23rd.

Registration details are linked in the show notes.

Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

+ Stop the 10 PM Pantry Raid Workshop: https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/ykunxawq70

GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now but so is the misinformation. In this episode of Simplifying Diabetes, we break down what GLP-1 medications actually are, how they work in the body, why side effects happen, and why these medications are far more nuanced than social media makes them seem.

We discuss:

• what GLP-1 stands for,
• the difference between natural GLP-1 and medications,
• Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and other GLP-1 medications,
• why not everyone loses weight,
• common side effects and how nutrition can help,
• compounded GLP-1s,
• TikTok "GLP-1 supplements,"
• body autonomy,
• and how these medications can support diabetes management when paired with sustainable habits.

As a dietitian who works with clients on these medications regularly, I also share real-life experiences from practice and ways to reduce fear, shame, and confusion around using GLP-1s.

Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

In this episode of Simplifying Diabetes, we're unpacking one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—topics in nutrition: diet soda.

After a recent viral post, I received thousands of comments ranging from genuine questions to strong accusations—everything from "this spikes insulin" to "you must be getting paid by soda companies." So let's talk about it.

As a registered dietitian and diabetes educator, I'm breaking down what the research actually says about diet soda, aspartame, blood sugar, insulin response, and cancer risk—without fear-mongering or oversimplification.

We'll cover:

• Does diet soda raise blood sugar or insulin?
• What the World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer actually said about aspartame
• What "Acceptable Daily Intake" (ADI) really means—and how much diet soda you'd need to drink to reach it
• Common myths like "it turns into formaldehyde" and "it causes weight gain"
• And why food fear—not diet soda—is often the bigger issue

This episode is about more than just soda. It's about challenging nutrition misinformation, removing unnecessary food rules, and helping you make informed, sustainable choices—without guilt.

You don't have to drink diet soda. But you also don't have to fear it.

Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20 Click Here to View this Post https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmUU5ZGgcS/?igsh=MWpja2ZjbTBzNXR4Zw==