
Thapi Semenya is in her final year of law school, is an IDF Young Leader in Diabetes Trainee, a Dedoc voice, a professional advisor for the Luna Project UK and a strong diabetes advocate. We connected on LinkedIn after I read her mindful post about lowering her A1c and what steps it took to get there. 







BIO: 



I am a passionate diabetes advocate who has been living with Type 1 diabetes for 16 years. I use my social media platforms to educate the public about multiple chronic conditions: diabetes, vitiligo and bipolar disorder. 



I started advocating in 2018 when I realized that I actually wanted to form a community and provide a space where people living with diabetes can come together and share their hopes and struggles. My advocacy efforts focus on access to basic diabetes management needs and affordability to diabetes technologies. 



I volunteer at the Luna Project UK (a charity committed to raising awareness and supporting disabled young people) as a professional advisor, and at Mutual Aid Diabetes as part of media & communications. 



I am in my final year of law school and plan to specialize in health law. I am also a trainee in the IDF Young Leaders in Diabetes program for 2022-2024. 



LINKS:




* Mutual Diabetes Aid



* Instagram



* LinkedIn



* Dedoc° Voices



* The Luna Project



* IDF


#133: Thapi Semenya | I Need to Take Myself Seriously

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Nutrition

Health & Fitness


I’m breaking new ground with a special guest: Dr. Kevin Pantalone, an endocrinologist whose insights offer a fresh perspective on patient care.



In a recent poignant reflection, Dr. Pantalone shared the emotional impact of losing one of his patients, a woman living with Type 1 diabetes. His words shed light on a side of healthcare we often overlook—the connection between patients and their providers. In this episode we discuss how to effectively communicate with healthcare providers and how they can better serve the diverse needs of the patient population. 







BIO:



Kevin M. Pantalone, DO, ECNU, FACE, is a board-certified staff endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Pantalone also completed his internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. He served as the Director of Clinical Research for the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Institute from 2014-2019. He currently serves as the Director of Diabetes Initiatives. He is appointed Professor of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. His clinical focus is on the glycemic management of type 2 diabetes, as well as the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders, pituitary tumors, and male hypogonadism. Dr. Pantalone’s research interests include the study of novel approaches to manage patients with type 2 diabetes, and examining the effects of diabetes therapies in real-world practice using the enterprise-wide electronic health record at Cleveland Clinic.LINKS:




* LinkedIn


#155: Dr. Kevin Pantalone | We Truly Do Care


Welcome to Unearthing Diabetes Discoveries, your inside look at cutting-edge diabetes research. In this episode, I chat with Ulf Hannelius, CEO of Diamyd Medical, about their groundbreaking investigational immunotherapy that aims to safely and specifically slow down or halt the autoimmune destruction of insulin producing cells. 







BIO:



Meet Ulf Hannelius, the CEO of Diamyd Medical. With a PhD in Molecular Biology and an Executive MBA, Ulf brings over 15 years of expertise in the biotech industry, spanning diagnostics and drug development. He boasts a wealth of experience in steering complex development projects and has co-authored 12 peer-reviewed publications in the genetics field.



LINKS:




* Diagnode-3 Website



* Diamyd Medical Website

* Those interested in participating in the Diagnode-3 study who meet the criteria (diagnosed in the last 6 months and between 12 to 29 years old) will be screened for the specific genotype at their initial study visit.



* Please help to spread the word because the study needs twice as many people to be screened to find the 50% of type 1’s with the HLA genotype. Thank you on behalf of Diamyd!




Unearthing Diabetes Discoveries #1 | Ulf Hannelius, Diamyd Medical


After her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Mia Fasanella became a certified yoga instructor, using yoga and meditation to navigate the uncertainties. As a second-grade teacher, she fosters a supportive classroom environment by embracing her diabetes, inspiring her students to celebrate their uniqueness. In this episode we discuss the fascinating story of how her father unraveled her unique Type 1 diabetes family history, the importance of being mindful, and how to navigate the classroom. 







BIO:



Mia Fasanella received the life changing diagnosis of type 1 diabetes 8 years ago, at the age of 19. Shortly after her diagnosis she became a certified yoga instructor. Her yoga and meditation practices shaped how she was able to manage the uncertainty of living with diabetes and gave her physical, mental and emotional strength. Mia is a second grade teacher at Success Academy Charter Schools in the Bronx. Mia’s openness about her journey with diabetes extends into her classroom, where she shares her experiences with her students. Mia believes that embracing her diabetes fosters a supportive classroom environment and encourages her students to celebrate the aspects of themselves that make them unique. LINKS:




* Instagram



* TikTok


#154: Mia Fasanella | Celebrating Your Uniqueness


This particular podcast subject, diabetes in animals, sparked my interest after I learned about Quincy, a koala bear at the San Diego Zoo, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2018, was insulin dependent, and wore a CGM. It made me think – why do animals have diabetes and is it the same as mine? Fascinating!







BIO:



Dr. Andrew Bugbee is originally from Dallas, Texas. He received both his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences as well as his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M; University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He completed a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship and an internal medicine residency at the University of Georgia, becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2013. After residency he was on faculty at Purdue University before returning to the University of Georgia in 2014. During his time at UGA, he Co-founded and Directed the UGA Veterinary Diabetes Clinic in addition to his role as an Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine. In July 2023, he joined the faculty of the Texas A&M; University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences as an Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and is developing the TAMU Veterinary Endocrinology Clinic and research program. Dr. Bugbee was elected to the Board of the Society for Comparative Endocrinology in 2019 and is currently serving as the Secretary and Treasurer. He also serves as a Co-Chair of the AAHA Endocrinology Guidelines Task Force. His current research interests are focused on small animal endocrinology, specifically diabetes mellitus and canine hypercortisolism.

Just the Facts #1: Dr. Andrew  Bugbee | Diabetes in Animals


Saira Khan-Gallo is on a mission to bridge the gaps in diabetes outcomes by championing equitable and patient-centered healthcare. In this episode we delve into Saira’s unique story of meeting her husband through matching insulin pumps, her time in the Peace Corps, a passion project close to her heart, and how Type 1 diabetes is a family affair. 







BIO:



Saira Khan-Gallo, MPH is the Content Marketing and Access & Equity Lead at Tidepool, a nonprofit that is a recognized innovator in diabetes software. After more than a decade of experience in nonprofit management and program development, Saira is committed to bridging disparities in diabetes outcomes across populations. 



100% of Saira’s family relies on insulin and juice boxes to stay alive – she was diagnosed when she was 8 years old, met her husband through their matching insulin pumps, and both of their daughters also live with Type 1 diabetes. 



LINKS:




* Tidepool Period Project



* DC Berne Survey


#133: Thapi Semenya | I Need to Take Myself Seriously

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