In this episode of The Long View - Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I'm speaking to Sam Walsh about life as a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes. Sam’s son Eli was diagnosed at just 10 years old and she tells us about the shock of those early days, the steep learning curve that followed and how their whole family adapted to a completely new normal.

From navigating school life and technology to handling emergencies from miles away, Sam talks really honestly about the emotional and practical realities of parenting a child with Type 1. Her story is one of resilience, community and learning to let go, while still keeping a watchful eye.

In this episode, we cover:

• Eli’s diagnosis and the early days of managing type 1 diabetes
• The emotional impact on parents and family life
• School challenges, support, and advocating for your child
• Technology, independence and staying connected
• A terrifying school trip abroad - and what it taught them
• Why finding your community is so important

Find out more about podcast on my website, www.thelongviewt1.com.

I connected with Sam through the Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK Facebook group which is here: (20+) Parents of Children With Type 1 Diabetes In The UK | Facebook

In this episode of The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I'm talking to Milly Williams, creator of the Instagram account Diabetes with Milly. Diagnosed during her final year at university, Milly transformed her diagnosis into a new role as an influencer and a researcher improving life for others living with Type 1.

From sharing her experiences online to researching exercise physiology and women’s health in relation to diabetes, Milly discusses how community, curiosity and resilience helped her rebuild her identity after diagnosis.

In this episode:

• Milly’s diagnosis story – discovering Type 1 Diabetes during university
• How the online diabetes community helped her deal with the loneliness of early diagnosis
• Turning social media into a platform for education, support and shared experiences
• Research into exercise, nocturnal hypoglycaemia and the surprising impact of sleep loss
• Why women’s health, exercise, hormones and Type 1 Diabetes remain under-researched – and why Milly wants to change that

Milly also shares powerful advice for anyone struggling with Type 1: your condition is not your identity – you are still the person you were before diagnosis.

Follow Milly on Instagram: @diabeteswithmilly

In this powerful episode of The Long View, I’m joined by Phil Southerland. He's the CEO and co-founder of Team Novo Nordisk, the world's first all Type 1 professional cycling team. Phil was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just seven months old and told he wouldn’t live past 25. Instead, Phil built the team to prove that diabetes doesn’t limit champions - it creates them.

We talk about resilience, elite sport, mental health and why Phil believes diabetes has been his greatest gift.

In this episode, we cover:

• Phil’s extraordinary Type 1 diagnosis story

• How elite athletes with Type 1 manage insulin, CGMs and race-day performance

• The story of Team Novo Nordisk

• Why community, purpose and mental health matter just as much as race results

• Phil’s powerful message: “Diabetes only chooses the champions.”

Resources and links:

Team Novo Nordisk website: All-Diabetes Pro Cycling Team | Type 1 Diabetes | Team Novo Nordisk

Team Novo Nordisk on LinkedIn: (13) Team Novo Nordisk: Posts | LinkedIn

Phil's book, "Not Dead Yet", available on Amazon: Not Dead Yet: My Race Against Disease: From Diagnosis to Dominance : Amazon.co.uk: Books

Team Novo Nordisk film, " Ride for your L1fe" on YouTube: Team Novo Nordisk: Ride For Your L1fe - YouTube

Contact Ruth on [email protected]

In this episode of The Long View - Living with Type 1 Diabetes, we hear from Dr Claudia Berty, she's a GP, a mother and has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 37 years.

Diagnosed shortly after the birth of her first child, Claudia tells us about how she managed motherhood, medical school, hospital shift work and how she's now using functional medicine both with patients and in her own health.

In this episode we find out about:

- Being diagnosed shortly after giving birth

- Juggling shift work and fear of hypos

- Running high sugars to cope as a junior doctor

- Looping, low-carb eating and evolving technology

- The impact of menopause on blood glucose

- Why changing one thing at a time matters

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about resilience, responsibility and taking the long view with Type 1 Diabetes.

This podcast does not provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making changes to your treatment.

Resources:

For Claudia's cheat sheet on functional medicine, you can email her on [email protected].

To make an appointment with Claudia and find out more about functional medicine, visit her website, www.newlifefunctionalhealth.com.

To make a GP appointment with Claudia, please visit www.dutydoctor.com.

If you'd like to appear on this podcast, please contact me on [email protected].

Marcus Davies was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2021 after a serious accident - and he didn’t let it slow him down. Starting with just 30 minutes of advice from a diabetes nurse, Marcus is now a full time trainer and Ironman athlete. In this episode Marcus shares how he balances extreme fitness, blood sugar management and everyday life with type 1.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

- How Marcus fuels himself during a 10-hour Ironman (yes, with pork pies!)

- His daily routine as a personal trainer while managing Type 1

- How he helps others with diabetes at his gym

- Tips for staying motivated, managing blood sugar and keeping “in the game”

A story of resilience, planning, and determination - proof that Type 1 doesn’t define you.

Resources Mentioned:

A Golden Age by Sir Steve Redgrave

Novo Nordisk Pro Cycling Team (LinkedIn)

Transcript: Podcast Episode 3: Marcus Davies - Trainer, Ironman, Type 1 Diabetic

In this episode of The Long View: Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I'm delighted to be speaking to Gemma George, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in her 30s, just months after getting married. She tells us about her dramatic diagnosis, the challenges of managing diabetes during pregnancy and her experiences as a mother to her healthy baby boy.

Gemma shares her experiences with:

- Recognising the early symptoms of Type 1 diabetes as an adult

- Dealing with pregnancy and birth with diabetes

- Managing blood sugars during breastfeeding and the early days at home

- Adjusting her career to support her health and family life

- Practical tips for travel, insulin management and living life fully with type 1

Whether you’re living with type 1, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand more about the day-to-day realities of life with diabetes, this episode offers insight, encouragement and real-life stories.

Resources & Links:

Basking Babies classes: baskingbabies.co.uk/Maldon

Episode notes and transcript: Episode 2: Gemma George - Life, love and Type 1

Contact Ruth: [email protected]

Follow The Long View wherever you get your podcasts for more stories and insights from people living with type 1 diabetes.

Welcome to The Long View — a podcast about living with Type 1 Diabetes.

I’m Ruth Collin, and I’ve lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over 50 years. Diagnosed at the age of five, I’ve grown up with this condition and lived through everything from glass syringes to today’s closed-loop systems.

In this first episode, I explain why I’ve created this podcast and what I mean by The long view — because Type 1 isn’t a phase or a chapter, it’s forever.

We’ll talk honestly about:

- Daily life with Type 1 diabetes

- Hypos, technology, work, family and support

- The mental load and constant decision-making

- Living well with a condition that never switches off

This podcast is for people with Type 1, their friends and family, and anyone who wants to understand what life with Type 1 is really like.

🎧 Please remember this podcast is not medical advice. Always speak to your healthcare team before making changes to your diabetes management.

📩 Get in touch: [email protected]
📝 Transcript: Episode 1: Me - Mother, Podcaster, T1 50 years

Follow The Long View wherever you get your podcasts.