Type 1 on 1 | Diabetes Stories

‘You’re just trying to make the balance of your decisions move in the right direction, and you don’t get them all right.’

Those are the words of competitive yachtsman Jack Trigger, who is the first guest of this brand new series! You'd be forgiven for thinking that Jack is referring to type 1 diabetes here, but in fact he’s referring to ocean racing - his sport, his profession, and his first love.

Jack was hooked from the second he stepped into his first boat at the age of 6, and by the age of 8 he was already competing. Not even a type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 2015 could throw his fledging career into doubt. Just three years later Jack became the first person with type 1 diabetes to compete in any solo ocean race, traversing 3,500 nautical miles managing a 40 foot yacht alone across the Atlantic - all with his condition in tow.

We discuss the parallels between sailing and type 1 diabetes (there are more than you might think!), going from racing with a crew to the physical and mental challenge of crossing oceans alone, the limits of preparation, trying to inject insulin while being thrown about by the waves, and how his analytical mind has helped him manage his unique lifestyle as well as his condition. Oh, and his plans to race across the entire planet...

I learnt a lot from this chat, and I love Jack's mix of unwavering determination and relaxed, practical attitude to life. It's good to be back!

Say hi to Jack on Instagram.
Check out Jack's website.

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/

We’re ending this series of Type 1 on 1 with an incredibly powerful episode from Luke Watts, dad of 5-year-old Noah.

After two months of inconclusive GP appointments, Noah was rushed to hospital in DKA in 2018 aged just 11 months - and became the youngest baby in Leeds to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Luke and his wife Katie steadily got their little boy back, but a whirlwind couple of weeks followed in which they had to learn the relentless practicalities of the condition while trying to process their own grief.

The harrowing way in which Luke and Katie were plunged into the world of type 1 diabetes is at times a tough listen, but it’s an important one. And don’t worry, as a Leeds man, there’s of course a good dose of Yorkshire humour from Luke in here too.

Cheeky, happy, resilient Noah is Luke’s superhero, and rightly so - now approaching 5 years with the condition, Noah and his sister Leah have overcome more than two children should ever have to, but what’s clear is that this family are all superheroes in their own right.

We cover a huge amount of ground here - from tech to teaching to family life and the importance of outlets and support networks. The humility, practicality and honesty with which Luke describes his own experiences as well as those of his family has stuck with me, and I’m sure it will stick with you too.

Say hi to Luke on Instagram.
Follow Luke on Twitter.
Check out the HypoBaby blog.

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/

I’m not sure episodes get much more special than this… This week I had the absolute honour of interviewing my mum, Sandra.

We tore up the interview notes and just had a proper (and really quite rare) mother-daughter chat about how a single finger prick in the doctor’s surgery back in 1996 changed the entire course of our lives.

It was so fascinating to hear about my diagnosis through my mum’s eyes, and how it shaped not only me, but my brothers and my parents too.

Although the experiences and the memories aren’t all rosy, it was a really positive experience to head back to that time, and also an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, 27 years on.

On or off the microphone, I’d absolutely encourage you to do the same with anyone who’s been involved in your life with diabetes - this is a really special chat and I truly hope there’s something in here for you.

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/

Kalex Willzy is a radio presenter and content creator from London. When he's not busy with music and radio, he's making people laugh with his relatable type 1 diabetes Reels on Instagram, putting a humourous spotlight on the more ridiculous moments that living with type 1 diabetes brings.

Diagnosed at the age of 23 in 2016, he describes himself as a 'lone ranger' when it comes to figuring out life with type 1 diabetes. After a less than informative diagnosis experience, he's always relied on himself to navigate the literal ups and downs of the condition.

From food anxiety to fitness, to the responsibility of educating his family and navigating dates, Kalex covers it all in this episode that has some beautifully poignant moments as well as a healthy dose of realness - and of course, a generous dose of laughter.

Kalex created his account @typewondiabetes after giving a talk on the condition and realising there was something missing from the online space. He's since made a virtue out of being what he describes as 'the odd one out', and helped thousands of people laugh along the way.

FIND KALEX:
Say hi to Kalex on Instagram.

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/

Becci Youde is a geography teacher living in Hong Kong with her husband and two young children. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 23, five years before she made the move overseas from Somerset in the UK.

I discovered Becci’s quiet courage throughout the course of our chat, which left me feeling a lot of admiration for what she’s tackled.

Finding and securing the job that would enable Becci’s overseas adventure turned out to be the easy part, as she has faced a huge number of diabetes-related unknowns as part of moving to another country.

Her resolve to figure it out along the way has seen her set up life long-term in Hong Kong, navigate two pregnancies (one through covid) and juggle life as a teacher, wife and mum of two while trying to manage her condition thousands of miles from her family.

We dig into the differences in diabetes care overseas, packing six months of supplies because she couldn’t get medical insurance to cover her condition, the pressures of a type 1 pregnancy, and trying to treat a hypo in front of a class full of children!

This episode is packed full of life experience - one for anyone who has an aspiration but doesn’t have all the answers. As Becci demonstrates, you don’t need the answers to give it a try.

FIND BECCI:
Say hi to Becci on Instagram.

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/

Ami’s Back for Diabetes Week!

It’s an important week in diabetes land, and a important week needs an important guest, so of course it could only be my dear friend Ami Bennett. Fellow type 1 diabetic, fellow media professional, fellow journalist who doesn’t do journalism, fellow dancer who no longer dances, fellow master of escapades great and small.

If you haven’t met Ami before, there are 30 episodes of Type 1 on 1: The Diaries for you to catch up on whereby we have an absolute riot sharing a weekly update on all things pancreatically challenged.

This week is no different, and we have a lovely little catch up about where we’ve been (quite a few places as it turns out) what we’ve been up to (broken insulin pumps, rogue hypos diaversaries and life as a 30-something pretending it’s all fine) and the general joys of trying to impersonate a functioning pancreas.

Ahead of Diabetes Week 2023 in the UK (12-16th June) we take a second to celebrate all that we are outside of our type 1 diabetes, and we encourage you to do the same!

Come and say hi to me on Instagram.
Say hi to Ami on Instagram.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:

Thanks so much 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 Ben Tzeel is a registered dietitian, certified strength coach and diabetes educator, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 7.

Ben’s baseball dreams were snatched from him at a young age because of a lack of understanding about his condition from those around him. Isolated from his team, he set out to prove his coach and others wrong by becoming the best player on the field.

His dedication and a love of health and fitness ultimately led Ben down a professional path, turning those early negative experiences into fuel. Bursting with knowledge, he ditched the end of his PhD to launch his practice Your Diabetes Insider to get that knowledge out to more people.

In just a few years Ben and his team (who all also live with diabetes) have helped thousands of people with type 1 and type 2 achieve better blood sugar control, become stronger and feel better.

In this episode we discuss everything from his pharmacist wife Amelia dosing his insulin pump on their first date (!) to his feelings about the rise of health (mis)information on social media.
You’ll be pleased to know that as a dietician, Ben is more than happy to tell you to enjoy all the foods you love - and yes that does include pizza! Check out his Instagram @manoftzeel for fun videos on how to tackle everything from pasta to cake.

‘Life is too short to not enjoy the foods that you love. You just have to be smart about it.’

FIND BEN:
Take a look at the Your Diabetes Insider website.
Find Ben on Instagram.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Insulet, the founders of Pod Therapy - only found with Omnipod.

Pod Therapy uses a tubeless, wearable and waterproof Pod that continuously delivers insulin for up to three days.

Controlled wirelessly by its handheld companion, the personal diabetes manager, it allows you to personalise your insulin doses according to your own daily needs - no multiple daily injections and no tubes.

Head to https://www.omnipod.com/ to find out more.

'You're allowed to be upset for your child. Just don't get stuck there.’

Heather Jackson is a business owner and incredibly powerful writer who I first came across when she shared a letter she’d written on the anniversary of her son’s first diaversary.

In 2019, Heather was adapting to life as a family of four when her oldest son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just after his third birthday. It understandably turned her world upside down.

Heather, along with her husband James struggled to stay upright as the terror and shock of caring for a child with type 1 who couldn’t yet articulate his needs set in. She describes the grief she felt for both the loss of her son’s health, and the trajectory they were on as a family.

Four years on and Heather generously shares with me how her feelings towards the illness and what it means for her son’s life have shifted, getting to a place of more acceptance and less fear without dismissing the tougher days, and the boundaries they’ve put in place to ensure they remain a strong family unit.

Heather offers so much wisdom, perspective and plenty of advice for any parents of young children with type 1 diabetes. Parts of this conversation are indeed emotional, but it’s Heather’s pride in what they’ve overcome as a family that really shone through for me.

FIND HEATHER:
Say hello on Instagram.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Insulet, the founders of Pod Therapy - only found with Omnipod.

Pod Therapy uses a tubeless, wearable and waterproof Pod that continuously delivers insulin for up to three days.

Controlled wirelessly by its handheld companion, the personal diabetes manager, it allows you to personalise your insulin doses according to your own daily needs - no multiple daily injections and no tubes.

Head to https://www.omnipod.com/ to find out more.

Conversations that leave you feeling energised are my jam and sports presenter Jordan Robinson DELIVERS.

LA-based WNBA sports journalist, host and podcaster Jordan started playing basketball as a young child, reaching division 2 in college.

Her type 1 diabetes diagnosis at the age of 23 came at a time of huge change, as she was recovering from injury while building a new career as a journalist. Over time though, her condition has brought her closer to her family and strengthened the beautiful bond between her and her husband Fred.

Off the court Jordan happily now gets to talk about her favourite sport as part of her job, but it’s her desire to become a mum that’s her true motivation for continually showing up to manage her type 1 diabetes.

We talk about why she thinks she was living with type 1 for months before she was diagnosed, her conceptions around pregnancy with type 1, the new love of her life - her automated insulin pump - and why it’s ok to ask for help, no matter how self-sufficient or independent you are.

Jordan is a gorgeous dose of LA sunshine and I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did!

FIND JORDAN:
Say hi to Jordan on Instagram.
Follow her on Twitter.
Check out Jordan’s WNBA podcast, Queens Of The Court.

SPONSOR MESSAGE: Thanks to my episode sponsors Insulet, the founders of Pod Therapy - only found with Omnipod.

Pod Therapy uses a tubeless, wearable and waterproof Pod that continuously delivers insulin for up to three days. Controlled wirelessly by its handheld companion, the personal diabetes manager, it allows you to personalise your insulin doses according to your own daily needs - no multiple daily injections and no tubes.

Head to https://www.omnipod.com/ to find out more.

Dawn Adams jovially describes herself as ‘chaos’, but in my opinion she is a multi-tasking, time-defying, change-making superhero - with an undeniably soothing voice to boot.

Dawn is a former teacher turned midwife with a specialist interest in diabetes and pregnancy from Northern Ireland. She's is also completing a PhD in type 1 diabetes, pregnancy and wearable technology, and uses any remaining spare minute to advocate for awareness around type 1 diabetes and menopause, after she found a lack of information and peer support to help guide her through her own experience. All of this, plus she’s been handling the not-so-small task of living with type 1 diabetes for 30 years.

Diagnosed at the age of 22, Dawn was one of the first in her hospital to receive a modern insulin injection pen, but in the same week she was told it was unlikely she would be able to have children because of her diagnosis.

That thankfully turned out not to be the case, and she has four healthy boys with the man who proposed to her just weeks after her type 1 diagnosis - a commitment to figuring it all out together.

Dawn’s full time job as a midwife is dedicated to helping women bring life into the world, and her advocacy work gives a mouthpiece to the silenced women who are coping with the life-altering affects of menopause with type 1 diabetes. What an inspiration. I admire Dawn’s spirit, her quiet courage, her belief in working together to make progress and most of all, her attitude to life.

Prepare to fall in love with Dawn!

FIND DAWN:
Follow Dawn on Instagram
Find Dawn on Twitter
The Balance Menopause App

SPONSOR MESSAGE: Thanks to my episode sponsors Insulet, the founders of Pod Therapy - only found with Omnipod.

Pod Therapy uses a tubeless, wearable and waterproof Pod that continuously delivers insulin for up to three days.

Controlled wirelessly by its handheld companion, the personal diabetes manager, it allows you to personalise your insulin doses according to your own daily needs - no multiple daily injections and no tubes.

Head to https://www.omnipod.com/ to find out more.