In this week’s episode of The Diabetic Mammy, we explore what happens after we start noticing the language used around diabetes. Because once we tune in to our words, we can’t help but notice something else sitting quietly beneath them: stigma.

I talk about the subtle, often invisible ways stigma has shaped how many of us live with diabetes – the hiding of injections, the quick tucking away of sensors, the apologising for alarms, and the belief that we shouldn’t be “seen” managing our condition. I share my own journey from discreetly checking numbers in toilet cubicles to openly, proudly creating a well-organised diabetes kit at home, shaped by my pharmacist’s training and years of living overseas.

We look at how stigma shows up in clinics, in family life and in the words we hand down to our children. And, most importantly, we talk about how visibility builds confidence: how checking glucose at the table, wearing tech with pride and speaking kindly to ourselves can slowly, gently dismantle shame.

This episode is an invitation to notice the quiet places where stigma still lives in our routines and to make one small shift towards being seen. Because visibility is not weakness - it’s strength, safety and self-respect.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Catherine opens up a gentle but powerful conversation about the words we use in diabetes care, why they matter so deeply, and how they shape the way we see ourselves and our children. Inspired by the global #LanguageMatters movement championed by advocates like Renza Scibilia, the episode explores how everyday phrases can either uplift or undermine, connect or isolate.

Catherine shares examples from clinic life, home life, and her own experiences as a pharmacist and a mammy living with type 1. She invites listeners to reflect on the tone and labels that often slip into conversations about diabetes and challenges us all to pause, listen, and choose words that support rather than shame.

The episode also looks at how the language we use around our children becomes the language they use with themselves, and how tiny shifts in phrasing can model self-grace, resilience, and emotional literacy.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to speak with more kindness, more accuracy, and more humanity. Because when it comes to diabetes, language isn’t neutral. It’s powerful. And it truly, genuinely matters.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode arrives a day late: thank-you for your patience and for the time you give this podcast each week. Life with type 1 diabetes, parenting, and real-world responsibilities sometimes shift the timetable, especially in a one-woman project like this.

In this gentle check-in, I share what the past fortnight has looked like: busy, emotional, full of diabetes events, and equal parts inspiring and exhausting. I also highlight a powerful insight from a passionate diabetes researcher who believes the full human genome may be mapped within three and a half years, opening the door to early identification and even prevention of diabetes. A hopeful thought for all families living with type 1 or type 2.

We touch on upcoming conversations around diabetes education for parents, language and stigma, decision fatigue, and how to rest in a condition that never takes a break.

If you can, please leave a rating or share this episode. It helps more parents and families find support, connection, and comfort.

Thank you for being here. You don’t have to do diabetes perfectly to do it well.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, The Diabetic Mammy explores the quiet exhaustion that comes from making hundreds of diabetes decisions every single day. From carb counting to correction doses, diabetes never clocks off - and neither do we. But that mental overload can slowly wear us down, turning everyday decision fatigue into full-blown burnout.

In this episode, Catherine unpacks what decision fatigue feels like, how it leads to burnout and most importantly how to soften the load. Expect honesty, grace and gentle reminders that “good enough” is often exactly what we need.

💙 Takeaway: You’re not lazy, you’re human — and managing diabetes is already a full-time job.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this reflective episode of The Diabetic Mammy, Catherine explores the subtle but powerful difference between truly listening and simply waiting to speak.

With her signature warmth and honesty, she unpacks how this distinction shows up in diabetes life - whether we’re talking to our children, engaging with healthcare teams, or checking in with ourselves.

Through relatable stories and gentle humour, Catherine invites listeners to pause, notice and lean into curiosity instead of correction. Because when we shift from listening to reply, to listening to understand, we create more space for learning, grace, and connection - three ingredients every diabetes family needs more of.

Key takeaways:

• Listening is presence, not silence.
• Curiosity strengthens relationships and diabetes teamwork.
• Sometimes the most powerful thing we can say is nothing at all.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of The Diabetic Mammy, we’re talking about advocacy — the quiet kind, the loud kind, and every version in between.

Whether you’re explaining type 1 diabetes to a teacher, volunteering at a community event, or simply helping someone understand that sugar isn’t the enemy, you’re already advocating.

As World Diabetes Day approaches, this episode is a gentle reminder that advocacy belongs to all of us. Together, our stories and small actions shape a world where diabetes is better understood — and better supported.

💙 Join me for a warm, honest chat about how every voice, in its own way, makes a difference.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, The Diabetic Mammy invites parents of children with type 1 diabetes to start thinking ahead to World Diabetes Day on 14 November - and to do it with calm, kindness, and a touch of joy. 💙

Catherine shares how small, simple gestures can make a big difference: a five-minute classroom chat, a “blue day” at school, a family walk, or even lighting a blue lamp at home. With ready-to-use ideas, a sample mini-talk for schools, and a gentle reminder that “tiny is plenty,” this episode helps parents mark the day in a way that feels doable and meaningful.

Whether you choose to celebrate at school, at home, or in your community, this is your invitation to make World Diabetes Day 2025 personal, positive, and full of heart.

✨ Keep it simple. Keep it kind. You’re doing better than you think.

If you would like to borrow the mini-talk from this episode, here it is. Tweak it into your own words.

“Today is World Diabetes Day - a day about understanding and kindness.

Diabetes doesn’t take a day off,

but with the right tools and support,

children with type 1 can do everything their friends do.

What helps is simple - notice the signs of a low,

give space to treat it,

and be curious, not afraid.

We are more than numbers on a screen.

Thank you for being part of our circle.”

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartfelt episode, Catherine opens up about a perspective that’s rarely discussed in families living with type 1 diabetes: the experience of the other child – the sibling without diabetes.

Through her own family story and reflections from childhood, Catherine explores what it feels like to grow up beside diabetes rather than with it. She describes the quiet moments of being “the one watching on”, the emotional balance parents try to keep, and the hidden strength and empathy that so often grow in the shadow of chronic illness.

Listeners will hear practical ideas on how to honour and include siblings in daily family life - from carving out one-to-one moments and celebrating their milestones, to listening when they express frustration or sadness about diabetes taking centre stage.

The episode closes with a message of reassurance for parents: love doesn’t have to be divided equally to be felt equally. Every child deserves to feel seen, celebrated and cherished – diabetes or not.

💛 A tender reminder that while type 1 may shape a family’s rhythm, it does not define who shines within it.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October brings shorter days, falling leaves, and World Mental Health Day – a gentle reminder to pause and look after ourselves. In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy, we shine a light on the invisible emotional load that parents carry when raising a child with type 1 diabetes.

Behind the carb counting, blood sugar checks, and school snack boxes lies a hidden mental spreadsheet that never switches off. We talk about the sleepless nights, the constant vigilance, and the silent background noise that often goes unseen by others.

This conversation explores:

• The invisible labour of type 1 diabetes parenting – the worries, the mental checklists, and the hidden work that few recognise.
• Burnout and guilt – why feeling drained doesn’t mean you’re failing, and why guilt often comes from deep love, not neglect.
• Permission slips for parents – gentle reminders that you’re allowed to rest, to ask for help, and to find joy in the middle of diabetes care.
• Small steps for mental health – practical, everyday ways to breathe, reset, and protect your own wellbeing.

This World Mental Health Day, let this be your reminder: you cannot pour from an empty cup. Caring for yourself is not selfish – it’s essential. You are doing enough, and you deserve rest, joy, and support just as much as anyone else.

Tune in, take a deep breath, and know that you are not alone on this journey.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy, Catherine reflects on the shift from September’s chaos to October’s calm. With new teachers, sports, and timetables finally settling, October’s steady rhythm becomes an ally in type 1 diabetes care. Catherine explores how routine helps smooth blood sugars, makes lunchboxes and after-school snacks easier to manage, and eases decision fatigue for parents.

She shares practical tips on using October’s predictability to lighten the load, while also preparing for the inevitable curveballs of school trips, sports days, and birthday parties. The heart of the message is simple but powerful: October is not about perfection, it’s about leaning into rhythm, finding comfort in stability, and giving ourselves grace for the days that don’t go to plan.

Tune in for encouragement, small supports that make a big difference, and a reminder that you’re doing enough.

The Diabetic Mammy is the heartfelt, no-nonsense podcast where type 1 diabetes meets motherhood, community, and a whole lot of real talk. Hosted by Catherine, a mammy navigating the highs and lows of type 1 diabetes, each episode blends personal insight with practical wisdom, offering support for parents, carers, and anyone living with or loving someone with diabetes. From tech transitions and hospital diagnoses to school lunches and stolen sleep, this podcast embraces the messy, meaningful moments that make up life with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a seasoned warrior, The Diabetic Mammy is your space to feel seen, supported, and never alone.

Connect with Catherine by email on [email protected] or reach her on Instagram: abundantlydiabetes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.