The Healthy Diabetic

What would life look like if Type 1 diabetes suddenly… stopped controlling every decision you make?

In this episode of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, Coach Ken sits down with Katie Beth Hand, a participant in the groundbreaking Eledon clinical trial, which is exploring a potential functional cure for Type 1 diabetes through islet cell transplantation and targeted immune therapy.

Katie Beth shares her powerful story—from her unexpected diagnosis at age 26 to becoming Patient 9 in the Eledon trial, a study that has allowed several participants to live without insulin.

Together, Ken and Katie explore the emotional reality of diagnosis, the challenges of navigating diabetes as an adult, and the excitement surrounding emerging research that may redefine the future of diabetes treatment.

This conversation goes beyond the science. It highlights the lived experience of diabetes and the hope that real progress is finally being made toward a cure.

• Katie Beth’s diagnosis story and being hospitalized in diabetic ketoacidosis
• The emotional and mental health impact of adult-onset Type 1 diabetes
• How the Eladon clinical trial works
• Islet cell transplantation explained
• The difference between traditional immunosuppressants and the trial medication Tegaprubart
• Why eliminating severe lows has been the most life-changing part of the trial
• The challenges of misdiagnosis in adult Type 1 diabetes
• Why multiple cure pathways (Vertex, Eladon, prevention trials) are important
• The future hurdles to making a cure widely available
• Why advocacy and research funding still matter

Connect With Katie on Instagram

I’m Coach Ken Kniss, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast. I help people living with T1D cut through the overwhelm, confusion, fear, and distrust in their daily decisions, so they can feel confident and live without consistently worrying about lows, their body image, or long term complications.

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

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Does having Type 1 diabetes shorten your life?

In this episode, Coach Ken and Graham dive into a topic that many people living with diabetes have quietly Googled at some point: life expectancy with Type 1 diabetes.

After uncovering statistics suggesting that people with Type 1 diabetes may lose 10–13 years off their life, the conversation quickly evolves into a deeper discussion about what those numbers really mean — and whether they actually define your future.

Ken challenges the idea that a statistic determines someone’s destiny and explains why blood sugar stability, overall health habits, and mindset may play a far bigger role than any headline statistic.

The conversation also explores Ken’s Five Pillars framework for diabetes success, which focuses on the key areas that influence long-term health and blood sugar stability. 

This episode is a reminder that while statistics may provide context, they do not determine your outcome. What you do day-to-day — your habits, decisions, and mindset — plays a far greater role in shaping your health and your life.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Type 1 diabetes life expectancy statistics
• Blood sugar stability vs. time in range
• Why lifestyle habits impact diabetes outcomes
• The Five Pillars of diabetes success
• The role of mindset in diabetes management
• The importance of storytelling and community support

🎧 Notable Movements 

• Why statistics about life expectancy can be misleading
• How improving lifestyle habits can impact long-term health
• Why diabetes management is about more than just insulin dosing
• A powerful discussion on compassion and communication in healthcare

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n
• Watch on YouTube 🎧

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

Is perfect blood sugar actually the goal?

In today's episode, Graham and I dive into one of the most common mental traps in the diabetes community: the pursuit of perfection.

Many people living with diabetes believe they need:

• Perfect blood sugars
• Perfect A1C
• 100% time in range
• A constant blood sugar of 100

But the reality is far different.

Graham and I unpack why chasing perfection can actually hold you back, increase mental burden, and lead to burnout. They also explore how confidence, experimentation, and learning what truly works for you can create a healthier and more sustainable approach to managing diabetes.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• The myth of “perfect” diabetes management
• Why perfection can lead to burnout
• Understanding fear of hypoglycemia
• Emotional resilience with diabetes
• Why experience builds confidence in decision-making
• Learning through trial and error
• Individualized diabetes management
• Taking action instead of staying stuck

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n
• Watch on YouTube

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

Hormones don’t get talked about enough in the Type 1 diabetes world — especially male hormones.

In this live episode, I sit down with my good friend and colleague Type 1 Diabetic, registered dietitian and functional nutrition expert Kelly Schmidt to unpack testosterone, cortisol, thyroid health, sleep, labs, intimacy, and the systemic impact hormones have on blood sugar, energy, and quality of life.

This conversation goes far beyond “low T.”

This episode reinforces a powerful truth:
Type 1 diabetes is not just a pancreas condition — it’s a systems condition.

If you’ve been feeling fatigued, burned out, low energy, low drive, or just “off,” this episode will give you language and direction for your next conversation with your healthcare team.

Important Resources We Discussed:

• Magnesium Glycinate & Other Impactful
• Lab Panels - interpreted with a t1d lens (Kelly reads the labs and then explains the results in great detail.)

Kelly's Previous Episodes:

• Diabetes Vulnerabilities - #135
• Debunking Diabetes Detox Myths - Episode #130
• Manipulating Your Blood Sugars During The Female Cycle - Episode #123
• The 5-Pillars to Healthy Blood Sugars - Episode #119
• Gut Health w/T1D Dietitian - Episode #117
• Food Sensitivities - Episode #72
• The Expert Dietitian Series - Part 3 - Episode #44
• The Expert Dietitian Series - Part 2 - Episode #40
• The Expert Dietitian Series - Part 1 - Episode #35
• Why Is Nutrition Important in Diabetes? - Episode #9

🌐 Kelly Schmidt – T1D Functional Nutrition

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n
• Watch on YouTube

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

In Episode 333, Coach Ken and Graham dive into a wide-ranging, honest conversation sparked by a viral question: Should Type 1 diabetes even be called diabetes?

What started as a short social media clip turned into thousands of views, healthy debates, and emotional responses—highlighting the confusion, stigma, and misunderstanding that still surrounds diabetes today. Ken and Graham unpack why this topic struck such a nerve, how language shapes perception, and why clarity matters—not division.

From there, the conversation expands into real-world diabetes challenges: insulin access and affordability, rationing fears, stress-driven insulin resistance, CGM infections, reusing supplies, and how everyday decisions—exercise, food quality, sleep, and stress—can dramatically change insulin needs.

The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion on Dexcom’s new 15-day CGM, environmental impact, patient assistance programs, and what progress actually looks like for people living with diabetes.

This is raw, unscripted diabetes conversation—exactly what the live show is designed to be.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why the word “diabetes” carries stigma and confusion
• The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 at a biological level
• Why insulin access is still a real issue
• How stress drives insulin resistance
• Practical ways to reduce insulin needs without perfection
• The reality of reusing needles and CGM complications
• Dexcom 15-day CGM expectations and concerns
• How language, education, and community shape confidence

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n
• Watch on YouTube

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

In Episode 332 of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, Coach Ken is joined by Graham for another live, unscripted conversation that blends fitness, diabetes management, and real-world decision making.

This episode starts with a surprisingly deep unscripted discussion on exercise selection, and why most people overcomplicate exercise—especially when living with diabetes. From there, the conversation expands into consistency vs optimization, habit-building, insulin sensitivity, and how any form of intentional movement can support blood sugar regulation.

The second half of the episode dives into the future of diabetes technology, including closed-loop systems, implantable pumps, glucagon integration, and how innovation is reshaping what “hands-off” diabetes management could look like. The episode wraps with a thoughtful debate on AI in diabetes, research, education, and why human connection will always matter more than automation.

This will challenge how you think about fitness, technology, and progress with diabetes.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why “just moving” is more important than perfect workouts
• How consistency beats optimization for blood sugar control
• Legs vs upper body: what actually matters for diabetes
• Exercise, insulin sensitivity, and adaptation over time
• What closed-loop systems really mean (and what they don’t)
• Implantable pumps and the future of diabetes tech
• The role of AI in diabetes education and decision-making
• Why human connection can’t be replaced by technology

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n
• Watch on Youtube

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

In Episode 331 of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, Coach Ken is joined by Graham Hubbard for Episode 003 of the live show, where they dive into how people with diabetes actually make decisions—and why some of the most common metrics may be missing the bigger picture.

The conversation covers Time in Range vs A1C, redefining what a personal blood sugar “target” really means, and why stability and variability matter more than chasing perfect numbers. Ken also shares real-world insights on Afrezza, insurance challenges, CGM access, early screening for Type 1 diabetes, and the pros and cons of modern intervention strategies.

This episode is raw, honest, and full of practical perspective—exactly what this new live format is designed to deliver.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why Time in Range alone doesn’t tell the full story
• The difference between target range and personal target
• How defining a single blood sugar target improves stability
• Why variability matters as much as averages
• Pros and limitations of Afrezza in real life
• Insurance barriers and access to diabetes technology
• Early screening for Type 1 diabetes: benefits and concerns
• How lifestyle, food quality, and stress shape outcomes

Listen to this episode with Sanofi about screening for Type 1 Diabetes - #186

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n
• Watch on Youtube

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

In this milestone episode of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, I'm joined by longtime friend and former co-host Graham Hubbard for Episode 330—and the first-ever live episode of the show.

Graham and I dive into a wide-ranging, honest conversation about whether modern diabetes technology has truly made life easier for people with Type 1 diabetes—or if something important has been lost along the way.

They explore topics including insulin sensitivity, fear of lows, CGMs, fitness, food quality, GLP-1 medications, obesity trends in Type 1 diabetes, and the emotional weight of living with a misunderstood condition. The episode also introduces the new live format, with weekly discussions happening in real time and continuing on YouTube.

This episode sets the tone for what’s coming next: deeper conversations, more nuance, and a stronger focus on the real-life factors that impact diabetes beyond numbers and devices.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Diabetes technology has improved—but management isn’t automatically easier
• Fear of lows can limit insulin decisions and quality of life
• Insulin sensitivity varies dramatically from person to person
• Fitness, sleep, and food quality still matter—maybe more than ever
• GLP-1 medications can be helpful, but context matters
• Type 1 diabetes is not insulin resistance—and shouldn’t be treated as such
• Mental health and self-trust are foundational to good diabetes management

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n
• Watch on Youtube

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

In this episode of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, I sit down with Rachel Faber MS, RD, LDN, CDCES and Nicole Cordoba RN, CDCES, known online as CDE Diabuddies, to explore what diabetes care looks like when providers are also patients—and why pediatric diabetes care often feels worlds apart from adult care.

Rachel and Nicole share their personal diagnosis stories—one diagnosed at age 4, the other at 17—and how those experiences shaped their paths into healthcare as Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES). Together, they walk through what pediatric diabetes education which actually includes: multi-day hospital education, family involvement, hands-on insulin training, mental health screening, and structured follow-ups.

The conversation dives deep into the systemic gaps that appear when patients transition into adult care, including shorter visits, less education, fewer resources, and limited emotional support. Ken and the guests discuss misdiagnosis, insurance barriers, Dexcom-induced anxiety, parental dynamics, and why flexibility—not rigidity—is key to long-term diabetes success.

🔑 Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Why pediatric diabetes care includes more education and support
• How early diagnosis shapes confidence and self-trust
• The emotional toll of transitioning from pediatric to adult care
• Why adult diabetes education is often limited or missing
• How flexibility improves long-term diabetes outcomes
• The role parents play in shaping a child’s relationship with diabetes
• Why mental health support is just as important as insulin dosing
• How community, podcasts, and social media fill care gaps
• What a better adult diabetes care model could look like

Nicole & Rachel’s - Instagram Handle: 

I’m Coach Ken Kniss, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast. I help people living with T1D cut through the overwhelm, confusion, fear, and distrust in their daily decisions, so they can feel confident and live without consistently worrying about lows, their body image, or long term complications.

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show

In today's episode, I sit down with Danielle, who shares a powerful and vulnerable story about how false low readings from her CGM led to extreme anxiety, an ER visit, and a complete shift in how she now approaches diabetes management.

Danielle walks us through a terrifying day where her CGM repeatedly showed dangerously low glucose readings—despite her body showing no symptoms and fingerstick checks telling a different story. The constant alarms, conflicting data, and uncertainty triggered intense anxiety and ultimately landed her in the hospital, where she was treated as if she were hypoglycemic even though lab results showed otherwise.

🔑 Key Takeaways from This Episode

• CGMs are helpful tools—but they are not perfect
• False low readings can trigger real fear and anxiety
• Fingerstick checks are still the gold standard in critical moments
• Treating numbers without symptoms can lead to overcorrection
• Diabetes technology can contribute to emotional burnout
• Taking a break from devices is sometimes necessary and healthy
• Your body’s signals matter just as much as the data
• Anxiety and diabetes are deeply connected—and often overlooked

🧠 Topics We Cover

• CGM inaccuracies and false lows
• Abbott Libre sensor issues and recalls
• Interstitial glucose vs. fingerstick readings
• ER protocols for hypoglycemia
• Diabetes-related anxiety and panic
• PTSD after severe diabetes events
• Technology burnout
• Trusting physical symptoms
• Taking breaks from CGMs
• Long-term diabetes self-awareness

Danielle's Instagram:

I’m Coach Ken Kniss, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast. I help people living with T1D cut through the overwhelm, confusion, fear, and distrust in their daily decisions, so they can feel confident and live without consistently worrying about lows, their body image, or long term complications.

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

Support the show