Type 1 on 1 | Diabetes Stories

‘I’m ready to put more life back into my life.’

Get ready for a beautiful bolt of warmth, wit and wisdom from today’s guest, as we’re digging into the twists and shifts of an adult diagnosis with Isla Munro.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 43 in 2021, her insight into the realities of the emotional side of type 1 diabetes was already more extensive than most of us living with the thing.

Exactly two years earlier, one of the participants of Isla’s renowned art challenge 100 Days Project Scotland had taken up the challenge to work through her own adult diagnosis, creating a striking set of posters to raise awareness of the unseen sides of the type 1 diabetes.

That participant is none other than former Type 1 on 1 guest, graphic designer, illustrator and incredibly talented human Alex Durussel-Baker, creator of Diabetes By Design.

Art lecturer Isla talks through the insight she gained from Alex’s project both pre and post diagnosis, and how she got to grips with what she calls ‘a shift into a different gear’ when type 1 diabetes landed.

From the stark contrast in energy levels to finding power in finding her voice, and the life-changing magic of being able to eat an apple for the first time in years - Isla has found her own rhythm in making the space that diabetes demands. 

We also talk about the next shift - into perimenopause, and how diabetes has also given her a different perspective on what her body can do. 

Discover the 100 Days Project Scotland.
Read Isla’s blog about her diagnosis - 100 Days-ish of Diabetes.
Follow Isla on Instagram.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY:
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

Last week I shared an episode with the wonderful Dr Monika Sharma all about cortisol.

We talked about what it is, why we need it, how to regulate it and the role it plays in relation to type 1 diabetes. Within that chat we got onto the subject of a morning routine and what we can do to build healthy habits that can set us up for the day without being overstimulated and sending cortisol off the charts.

I’m super thankful to Dr Monika for her expertise and knowledge, and during that conversation I briefly mentioned how I had recently started to build out a more consistent morning routine, having been a morning routine skeptic and believing it couldn’t possibly help me with my type 1 diabetes.

Of course it’s in no way a replacement for medication, professional guidance or treatment, but I do believe that finding a version of a morning routine that works for me has been a positive addition to my life.

So today I’m sharing my thoughts around a morning routine, and what I’m currently doing (and not doing) before diving into the never-ending to-dos and deadlines.

This is just my personal experience and in no way intended as advice, but I hope you find it interesting! 

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS MENTIONED
Tim Ferriss
Hal Elrod’s The Morning Miracle
Dr Rangan Chatterjee on Working Hard with Grace Beverley - Why the first 5 mintues of your day are the most important
Dr Jim Doty on The Mel Robbins Podcast - How to manifest anything you want and unlock the unlimited power of your mind

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY:
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

Social media is making a lot of noise about cortisol right now. But what exactly does this hormone do? How does it interact with other hormones in the body? What should someone with type 1 diabetes be aware of when it comes to cortisol?

Today I’m digging deep with the wonderful Dr Monika Sharma, whose sister’s experiences with type 1 diabetes prompted her to pursue a career in medicine. We’re bringing you the facts away from the social media noise to discuss what exactly cortisol is, why we need it, how to figure out if you’re interrupting its function, what you can do to regulate it, and whether a morning routine really matters. 

This is something Dr Monika has personally lived through, shifting her own lifestyle and work routine as a GP to achieve better health. So whether you’re feeling exhausted, stressed out and pulled in 100 different directions, or simply curious to learn more about hormonal health, this episode is for you. 

CONNECT WITH DR MONIKA
Connect with Monika on Instagram.
Follow Monika on TikTok.
Take a look at Monika’s YouTube channel.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY:
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

It's been a hot minute but Ami Bennett (or should that be Dennett?) is back for a catch up!

My dear friend and fellow type 1 Ami returns to give us the latest on her diabetes escapades.

There's a lot to catch up on, as Ami's quest for a lower HbA1c has given her a few tales. I discuss the brave new world of tangles that come with a tubed insulin pump, Ami's been dealt a dia-fine and we accidentally invent the Diabetes Girl Guides. 

Plus, does anyone name their insulin pump? Asking for two friends...

CONNECT WITH AMI:
Follow Ami on Instagram.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY:
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

On September 3rd 2025, diabetes and sport will go under the global spotlight that is a House of Commons debate. In today’s episode the man who made it happen tells us why - and what this could mean for the millions of people living with diabetes in the UK.

Chris Bright is one of the community’s crusaders. As part of his role as Community Partnerships and Events Lead at Breakthrough T1D in the UK, he has put diabetes in sport on the agenda at the highest possible level. The goal? To improve the inclusivity of physical activity for people with diabetes. 

The need is clear - the Equality Act that safeguards around 3.5 million people with diabetes classified as living with a hidden disability in work and education does not currently extend to sport. In fact, recent research found that of 184 existing governing bodies in sport, only four have policies in place for people with diabetes.

Diagnosed at the age of 8, Chris overcame stigma and the challenges of a very inflexible insulin regime as a young athlete to represent Wales at futsal. He later used those negative experiences as momentum to build The Diabetes Football Community, bringing young footballers with diabetes together while rewriting attitudes to type 1 diabetes and football.

In this episode we dig into different pockets of Chris’s work, including some new recommendations for travel, airports and airport security. We touch on his personal journey, and he reveals his strategy for successfully creating change in the face of inequality - perfect for anyone who feels as galvanised as I was listening to Chris’s phenomenal story. 

CONNECT WITH CHRIS
Follow Chris on Instagram.
Find Chris on X.
Follow Chris on TikTok.
The Diabetes Football Community website.
Breakthrough T1D Community Events Calendar.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

Senior Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian Lila Digkliou has been helping children and families living with type 1 diabetes for more than 10 years.

She was inspired to move from general diabetes care into paediatrics to help people with not only nutrition, but the perspective and tools needed to manage type 1 diabetes as early as possible in their lives.

This value packed episode is full of tips and takeaways, as we discuss the most common concerns for parents and caregivers, how they differ from what young people are worrying about - and how to find common ground through the many complexities and pressures of type 1 diabetes. 

We also look at some interesting ways to encourage diabetes management among school, hobbies and hormones - and bust some common myths about what children with type 1 diabetes can and can't do!

CONNECT WITH LILA
Follow Lila on Instagram.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

The relentless, boring everyday that comes with living with type 1 diabetes can sometimes be overlooked in the stories we see online. While I think any and all achievements should be celebrated, there are days where just making it through without falling over IS the marathon. 

In this chatty episode, my guest Philippa Robilliard and I have an unboring conversation about the continual demands of the condition - from not realising you've run out of hypo treats until the next time you're having a hypo, to putting your children's needs before your drastically dropping glucose levels, and building a career with type 1 diabetes while being silently, consistently exhausted.

Philippa also opens up about taking time off work to focus on her health, and 'relearning' type 1 diabetes 20 years into the condition, after she was diagnosed in 1988 at the age of 5.

'I’m not surprised by what my diabetes is capable of anymore,' she tells me. 'I just want diabetes to be nothing. That’s what I’m aiming for.'

If you're grinding through the everyday of type 1 diabetes while juggling career, friendships, relationships and family, wondering where the time goes, how you're going to do the weekly shop and willing your glucose to behave through that important presentation... this episode is for you!

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

Dr Jairo Noreña is an Endocrinology Fellow at Stanford University.

After training as a physician in his native Colombia, Jairo moved to the States to continue dedicating his life to medicine. With a triple specialisation in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Obesity Medicine as well as long-standing fellowships at prestigious universities including Harvard, Columbia and of course Stanford, to say Jairo has a wealth of expertise in endocrinology and diabetes would be an understatement. 

In this fascinating episode we discuss how GLP-1s can help people living with type 1 diabetes, the rise of 'double diabetes' when a person has both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and get back to basics with a helpful exploration of what the endocrine system actually is!

CONNECT WITH DR NOREÑA
Follow Jairo on Instagram.
Take a look at his website.
Subscribe to Jairo's YouTube channel.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.
Subscribe to the Type 1 on 1 newsletter.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

Trying to keep glucose levels within a healthy and safe range as a person with type 1 diabetes is not easy.

In this solo episode I'm talking through five habits I've adopted over the many years I've lived with type 1 diabetes that have significantly improved my time in range, giving me more steady glucose levels which has consequently improved my quality of life. And I do not say that lightly!

The Habits Mentioned:
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)

1. Carbohydrate Counting
2. Pre-Bolus
3. Trying not to overcorrect hypos
4. Not eating too close to bed
5. Lowering high glucose alert threshold

What are some of yours? Head to @missjengrieves or @studiotype1on1 on Instagram and let me know!

THINGS MENTIONED

BERTIE Carb Counting Course.
Solo Podcast Episode: 14 Lessons that have helped me to live with type 1 diabetes.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use. 

After six months of trying to treat his type 2 diabetes diagnosis at the age of 30, it was tech content creator Justin Eastzer’s TikTok followers that helped him to realise he’d been misdiagnosed.

But the very condition that threatened to hold Justin back has since propelled him into a new niche, and today Justin's career is dedicated to speaking to his hundreds of thousands of followers about the latest and greatest in diabetes technology via his Diabetech platforms.

In this episode Justin reveals how his adult type 1 diabetes has changed the pace of his life, what he loves about being embedded in an industry that is constantly innovating, and how he’s managed to reclaim some of the freedom he lost after diagnosis by packing up his life in New York to travel the world.

CONNECT WITH JUSTIN
Follow Diabetech on Instagram. 
Discover Diabetech on TikTok.
The Diabetech YouTube channel.
The Diabetech podcast.

Type 1 Travel Essentials YouTube video.
My chat on Justin's podcast.

JOIN THE TYPE 1 ON 1 COMMUNITY 
Come and say hi @studiotype1on1 on Instagram.
Visit the Type 1 on 1 website.

DISCLAIMER
Nothing you hear on Type 1 on 1 should be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes or health management.

SPONSOR MESSAGE
This episode of Type 1 on 1 is sponsored by Dexcom. Using Dexcom CGM has given me so much confidence to make informed diabetes treatment decisions in the moment.

You can choose to wear it on your arm or your abdomen, and all Dexcom CGMs have the share and follow feature even when connected to an insulin pump, so family and friends can see your glucose levels and get alerts, giving that extra bit of support when needed.

Head to Dexcom.com to request a free Dexcom ONE+ sample.

Always read the user manual for important product aspects and limitations. Talk to your doctor for diabetes management terms and conditions and terms of use.