November 3, 2025 marks 13 years of living with Type 1 diabetes, and I'm sharing the 13 most powerful lessons I've learned—the ones I wish someone had told me from day one. These aren't just tips about carb counting or insulin ratios. These are the mindset shifts, permission slips, and real-world strategies that transformed me from surviving to thriving.

🎯 The 13 Lessons You'll Learn:

1️⃣ You Don't Have to Accept Limiting Narratives - Rewrite the rules that don't serve you2️⃣ You Have Permission to Eat Sugar - Carbs aren't the enemy, strategy is everything3️⃣ Fire Your Doctor If They Don't Serve You - You're NOT a burden4️⃣ You Need BOTH Education AND Empowerment - Technical skills + mindset = transformation5️⃣ Minimize the Work, Maximize the Rewards - My signature coaching philosophy6️⃣ From Surviving to Thriving - Freedom and great blood sugar control AREN'T mutually exclusive7️⃣ Your Struggle Is Your Superpower - How T1D shaped you into someone incredible8️⃣ Diabetes Education Should Be Accessible - Why I give my book away for free9️⃣ You're Not Failing—Your Settings Might Be Wrong - The difference between systems vs. settings🔟 From 180 Decisions to 20-25 Habits - Stanford research on simplifying the mental load1️⃣1️⃣ Find YOUR Blood Sugar Comfort Zone - Not what the ADA says, what works for YOU1️⃣2️⃣ Your Doctor Gives Ratios, You Learn Your Body - Becoming the expert on yourself1️⃣3️⃣ Find Your People - Why lived experience matters as much as textbook knowledge

💡 Key Takeaways:

• How to go from 180 daily decisions to just 20-25 sustainable habits
• Why a "good" A1C doesn't tell the whole story (and what to focus on instead)
• How to lower your average blood sugar by 50+ points without feeling deprived
• The difference between providers who see you as a number vs. those who see you as a person
• How to know if you need to change your SETTINGS or your SYSTEMS

This episode is for you if:✅ You're newly diagnosed and overwhelmed✅ You've been managing T1D for years but feel stuck✅ Your A1C "looks good" but you feel miserable✅ You're terrified of lows and running yourself high✅ Your endo makes you feel like a bad diabetic✅ You're ready to stop surviving and start THRIVING

Type 1 diabetes is TOUGH. So are you. You're surviving with a disease that requires constant management just to LIVE. Your gut feelings matter. Your struggles are valid. And you deserve providers, resources, and strategies that actually work for YOUR life.

🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms

📚 Get my FREE book at typeonetypefun.com/free-book✅ Follow https://www.instagram.com/type.one.type.fun🎙️ More episodes: TypeOneTypeFun.com & https://directdiabetes.com

Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction: 13 Years with Type 1 Diabetes1:15 - Lesson 1: Reject Limiting Narratives2:24 - Lesson 2: You Have Permission to Eat Sugar4:53 - Lesson 3: Fire Your Doctor If Needed7:21 - Lesson 4: Education + Empowerment9:34 - Lesson 5: Minimize Work, Maximize Rewards14:14 - Lesson 6: From Surviving to Thriving16:37 - Lesson 7: Your Struggle = Your Superpower19:00 - Lesson 8: Accessible Diabetes Education21:18 - Lesson 9: You're Not Failing23:38 - Lesson 10: From 180 to 20 Decisions26:03 - Lesson 11: Find Your Comfort Zone30:46 - Lesson 12: Learn Your Body33:09 - Lesson 13: Find Your People

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment or medication.