Type 1 on 1 | Diabetes Stories

When you meet Abi Woodliffe-Thomas, you meet a thoughtful, articulate, intelligent and confident 25-year-old. But for more than a decade, Abi carried her type 1 diabetes in secret as her ‘biggest insecurity’ - hiding it from everyone in her life.

Abi went through a traumatic diagnosis at the age of just 12, and the experience immediately plunged her into intense feelings of shame around the condition. Still in the hospital bed in recovery from DKA, Abi was also told she would have to give up her beloved acrobatic gymnastics, which she was already devoting 25 hours to each week.

Determined to prove the nurses wrong, Abi returned to training the very next week, and channeled every emotion into her sport. She went onto compete at an international level, all the while keeping her condition out of sight.

Now retired from gymnastics and working as a performance nutritionist, the weight of what she’d been carrying for so long was released when Abi wrote an article about her type 1 diabetes for her friend’s website.

Since her diagnosis Abi has overcome so much, both professionally and personally, and is tentatively hopeful about walking a different, more open path towards acceptance - one conversation at a time.

‘I do still find it difficult to say the words, oh, I'm diabetic or oh, I've got diabetes. But I think it's really helped talking about it and I think life would look very different if I'd spoken about it from the beginning. But it was my way of protecting myself. I know now that anything is possible, even with a pancreas that doesn't work.'

CONNECT WITH ABI:
Say hi to Abi on Instagram. 
Take a look at her professional profile, Happetite.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY:
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.
 
SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

Veerle Huigen is, it’s fair to say, a powerhouse in the corporate world of diabetes. Successful, determined and focused, Veerle achieved career success in the Dutch charity and tech sectors before moving into the world of global pharma, spearheading huge changes in the future of diagnosis in her role as the North Europe Public Affairs Lead for autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes at Sanofi. 

Veerle’s driving force is, unequivocally, diabetes, but more specifically shaping these influential companies from within to help make life better for people living with diabetes, based on her own experiences.

In this episode she describes how the shock and impact of an adult (mis)diagnosis changed her life’s work, and how the stigma she faced through childhood and adolescence because of her weight has put the power of language firmly on the agenda.

We also chat about how she juggles her health needs with the demands of a corporate lifestyle - advocating for herself while travelling, bossing client meetings and dealing with stakeholders - and her unshakeable belief in our ability to change the world, one conversation at a time. 

CONNECT WITH VEERLE:
Say hi to Veerle on Instagram.
Connect with Veerle on LinkedIn.

OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED:
The true psychological impact of type 1 diabetes with T1D and psychology researcher Dr Maartje De Wit.
Renza Scibilia: 'I never wanted my diabetes to become anyone else's burden'.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY: 
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE: 
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.
Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.
They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

Today’s guest is Kyle Parsley, marketing manager and one of the DJs behind Type One Community - a collective of radio shows, club nights, events and livestreams that brings people together under the slogan, ‘Where everyone parties to make life with diabetes better’.

Type One Community started out as a celebratory space for people who like a party, and who happen to be connected to type 1 diabetes. The celebration remains, but Type One Community has quickly evolved into a movement that goes way beyond the dancefloor - raising awareness for people living with type 1 to be able to enjoy club nights, festivals and nights out safely.

They’ve put hypo treats in bars, they’ve educated door staff on letting in medication, they’ve created festival hypo kits… but above all else Type One Community knows how to have a good time without letting type 1 diabetes get in the way.

Music lover Kyle, who was diagnosed as a teenager, along with his co-founders Jessica and Sophia are just getting started. He spoke to me about how quickly the Community has grown thanks to its overwhelmingly positive response, as well as how championing this cause has helped him with his own condition, what the trio’s plans are next, and why the magic of a good night out should be for everyone.

CONNECT WITH TYPE ONE COMMUNITY:
Follow Type One Community on Instagram.
Connect with Kyle on Instagram.


JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY:
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

The average age of type 1 diagnosis is increasing, and studies show that more than a third of people are now being diagnosed after 30.

Today’s guest is Shonagh Price, who was diagnosed at the age of 50 in the midst of the pandemic. Since that very surreal and isolating experience, she’s had to deal with a huge shift in not only her daily life, but her identity.

In this very raw and very poignant episode, Shonagh opens up about losing her freedom, the constant vigilance that comes with the demands of the condition, and the impact on her acting career as well as her relationship with her gem of a partner Iain. We chat about how she’s slowly rebuilding what she deems her ‘broken’ parts into something even more beautiful than they were before. 

I’m sure you’ll want to jump through the internet and give Shonagh a big hug. I’m so grateful to her for detailing the realities of an adult diagnosis in a way that doesn’t often get voiced.

CONNECT WITH SHONAGH:
Connect with Shonagh on Instagram.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY:
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

Please note we had a few technical difficulties with this episode! Tino had a power cut at the time of recording, so he was using his phone signal to record and as you will hear, it’s a little patchy at points. But do stick with it because this is a really powerful conversation.
 
‘I want to be the bridge between the knowledge and my community.’
 
How do you strike a balance between pushing for change and ensuring the healthcare system is equipped to handle the progress? This is the question preoccupying today’s guest Tino Dzikiti. He is working to bring the latest diabetes research, knowledge and tools to his community in Zimbabwe. ‘There is resilience in the system, but there are huge gaps in the system,’ he told me. ‘We’re trying to make progress with the basics. It’s slow, but there is hope.’
 
After training in finance, Tino shifted his life’s work to become a Diabetes Advocate, Educator, Podcast Host and Consultant. Aged just 26, he's using his platform and blog to break down complex diabetes topics and the latest findings in a way that the whole community can benefit from.

While sharing knowledge, raising awareness and reducing stigma, Tino is also pushing for more affordable access to diabetes medication. We chatted about the more challenging aspects of making your voice heard, the cost of diabetes care in Zimbabwe and how becoming an advocate for people with diabetes has helped Tino to rewrite his own story, after he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11.

CONNECT WITH TINO: 
Say hi to Tino on Instagram.
The Global Diabetes Insights podcast.
Take a look at Tino's blog, The Diabetic Mogul.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY: 
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors,

Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

Welcome back to a new season of Type 1 on 1! Series 13, come through!

I always say the parents of children with type 1 diabetes are the unsung rockstars, and today’s guest is no exception.

Angela McMahon is a busy mum living in Northern Ireland with her husband Steven and their four girls. Twins Sienna and Arianna were just 11 months old when their big sister Iszara was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 5, in January 2015. Big sister Tamzin was 12 at the time, so there wasn’t much room for a demanding chronic condition as well, although as you can imagine, sleepless nights were something Angela was more than familiar with when type 1 diabetes descended on their family. 

10 years later, Angela spoke to me about the journey she and Iszara have been on, both individually and together as part of a busy, lively household - navigating homework with hospital appointments, and supermarket shops with finger pricks. We chat about having helpful conversations with school teachers, and how Angela is learning to step back as Iszara becomes more independent. 

Now 15 years old, Iszara moved onto a hybrid closed loop insulin pump earlier this year and the family have seen incredible changes. For Angela, it’s the first time she’s been able to sleep properly in a decade, while she describes her daughter as more comfortable with her condition, and more happy in herself. 

CONNECT WITH ANGELA:
Say hi to Angela on Instagram.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY: 
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors,

Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

The content in this episode of Type 1 on 1 should not be construed as medical advice, nor is it intended as a replacement for professional guidance. They are a true and authentic reflection of the personal experience of the host. Please speak to a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diabetes management, or if you feel you could benefit from emotional support.

This is part two of a two part series looking at hybrid closed loop insulin pumps. The first part is a technical overview, so be sure to start there!

Ok it's time to get personal about all things hybrid closed loop! At first glance it might not seem like an obvious topic - to talk about the emotional impact of using an automated insulin delivery (AID) system to manage type 1 diabetes... it's technology, right? A gadget? A means to an end?

But that ‘means’ is a system that has, for me, taken away so much of the wight and number of diabetes decisions, and that ‘end’ is not only better health outcomes, but a brighter, happier, calmer human who is better equipped to tackle life in all of its forms - being able to focus at work, spend time with family, or head off on the next adventure.

It’s not a cure, it’s not a magic solution, but it is space between my thoughts, time between my alarms and a version of myself that I’d only ever caught glimpses of in my 28 years of living with type 1 diabetes. 

In this episode we get reallllly into my journey with type 1 diabetes tools - from injections and finger pricks, to moving onto a ‘regular’ pump, and then my most recent switch to hybrid closed loop and the way it has turned down the volume on a lot of the diabetes noise, allowing me to sleep better, live more and just feel more human.

So if you’re curious about what these gadgets can do for your life, this is the episode for you.

Disclaimer: I use the Omnipod 5 insulin pump with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor as my personal AID system. I have a professional relationship with both Insulet (Omnipod) and Dexcom, but the content of this episode is separate from those relationships. My Dexcom G6 is gifted as part of the Dexcom Warrior programme.

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS MENTIONED: 
Diabetes UK Diabetes and Emotional Health practical guide.
The blog post I wrote explaining what switching to a hybrid closed loop system has meant for me.
Episode with diabetes and psychology researcher Maartje de Wit.
Episode with Jen’s Mum!

Come and say hi to me on Instagram.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

The content in this episode of Type 1 on 1 should not be construed as medical advice, nor is it intended as a replacement for professional guidance. They are a true and authentic reflection of the personal experience of the host. Please speak to a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diabetes management. 

What’s a hybrid closed loop system? How does Automated Insulin Delivery actually work? Why is everyone talking about it? Is it really as good as everyone says for people with type 1 diabetes? What does artificial pancreas mean?

These are the questions I’m hoping to help you with in today’s solo episode! This is the first of a two part series digging into my experience of using an automated insulin delivery (AID) system, also known as a hybrid closed loop system, after 18 years on multiple daily injections and nine years on a ‘regular’ insulin pump.

I chat about the features and functionality of an AID system, specifically the Omnipod 5 with the Dexcom G6 as that’s the setup I use and the only setup I have experience of. We cover what the three parts of the system are, how they interact with each other, how I interact with them and how I use the tool in the best way I understand to achieve improved time in range while doing a whole lot less diabetes business.

In part two I’ll cover the more emotional and psychosocial insights I’ve been able to gather from using the system after 28 years of living with type 1 diabetes. If you want more detail on my personal experience of all of this, I wrote this article that you may find interesting (please note, it cuts right to the feels!) https://notesonamoment.substack.com/p/the-biggest-thing-to-happen-to-me

Disclaimer: I use the Omnipod 5 insulin pump with the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor as my personal AID system. I have a professional relationship with both Insulet (Omnipod) and Dexcom, but the content of this episode is separate from those relationships. My Dexcom G6 is gifted as part of the Dexcom Warrior programme. 

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS MENTIONED:
Listen to The Juicebox Podcast: Omnipod 5 overview episodes.

Come and say hi to me on Instagram.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE: Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

Taylor Efford is a comedian, actor and content creator from Toronto, Canada.

She’s also a self-proclaimed ‘rat, on a mission to normalise normal things.’ Since 2020 that has included type 1 diabetes, which she was diagnosed with in the midst of the pandemic at the age of 25. 

Caught between two identities, Taylor’s humorous and poignant perspective on the many dualities of life is what makes her content so relatable, and has helped her amass over half a million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

Like many of us, she finds type 1 diabetes to be an incredibly contrary disease, and in this episode Taylor candidly opens up about how this ‘cannonball’ has hit her life - from not recognising who she was after her diagnosis, using comedy to help her cope, and reclaiming type 1 diabetes on her own terms for her wedding day by embracing the rat life.

I really love how this conversation naturally evolved from podcaster and guest, to two people with type 1 diabetes chatting about and chewing over some things they’re thinking and feeling. Taylor is a beautiful, smart and astute soul - I hope her chat fills you up as much as it did me.

CONNECT WITH TAYLOR:
Follow Taylor on Instagram.
Follow Taylor on TikTok.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom. Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors,

Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/

Please speak to a healthcare professional if you feel like you would benefit from support with your mental health.

‘Most people just want to feel like they’re being heard.’

Anyone living with type 1 diabetes can tell you that it’s not easy, but how do we transfer that awareness into diabetes care?

The research that Maartje De Wit, senior researcher and principal investigator of diabetes and psychology, and her team are doing at the Amsterdam University Medical Center is providing a growing body of important and pioneering evidence that is not only increasing understanding among healthcare teams and people living with T1D, but introducing new models that are making a practical difference to people’s lives.

In this episode, Maartje discusses the latest findings from her research - including self-guided therapy, the balance between time in range and time in happiness, body image and the idea that ‘every person with type 1 diabetes has a disturbed relationship with food’. 

She reveals the importance of - and the challenges around - creating space for mental health conversations in routine diabetes consultations, and takes us through what the many emotional challenges of living type 1 diabetes look like on a day-to-day level.

Although there is still progress to be made, it’s so heartening that these discussions are on the table and this work is being done. This episode is validation for anyone who’s ever felt frustrated by their type 1 diabetes, for any reason, or isolated by the emotional challenges that so many people with type 1 diabetes and their carers carry, often unbeknownst to those around them.

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS MENTIONED:
Connect with Maartje on LinkedIn
More about Beating The Blues - Online CBT programme
The Amsterdam University Medical Center - Maartje’s research publications
The MyREMEDY Trial - MyDiaMate Self-Guided App for Type 1 Diabetes and Mental Health
More about the MyREMEDY trial (Dutch)
The Diabetes Body Project

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
We’ve got an Instagram account! Come and say hi @studiotype1on1.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.

Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.

They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/