Voices of T1D

Navigating young adulthood for the first time can be scary. Whether that means going to college, starting a first job, or moving away from home–-navigating this can mean new places, new roommates, new routines, and new responsibilities. For young adults living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it also means taking ownership of something that may have been a family effort for years. In this episode of Voices of T1D, host Raquel Baron sits down with Hannah Welch and Diane Rose from The Diabetes Link to talk about what it really looks like to leave home and navigate young adulthood with T1D. Hannah shares what it was like managing T1D more independently in college, while Diane brings the parent perspective as the mother of a teenager with T1D preparing for that same transition. Together, they talk about setting boundaries, knowing when to step in, when to let go, and how support can evolve as young adults take more control of their diabetes. And while college is a major focus of the conversation, these lessons apply…

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have transformed what it means to live with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Instead of a handful of finger sticks each day, people with CGMs can now see where their blood sugar has been, where it's headed, and catch highs and lows. This technology exists because Breakthrough T1D has helped fund decades of research–and today, more people with T1D are living healthier, fuller lives because of it. But with all that information comes a new challenge: learning when to trust the technology, and when to trust yourself. A number that doesn't match how you feel. Alarms going off in the middle of the night. Sensors that seem inaccurate. Data that becomes overwhelming instead of helpful. CGMs can make managing T1D easier, but we know CGMs aren’t perfect. We’re still listening, pushing, and funding what comes next, but getting the most out of T1D technology today means understanding both what it does well and where it can fall short. In this episode of Voices of T1D, host Raquel Baron sits down…

Exercise can feel intimidating for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), or caring for someone who is. One workout sends blood sugar crashing, the next sends it soaring. Sometimes you do everything the same way twice and get completely different results. It doesn't take long before exercise starts feeling like another thing that can go wrong. But movement can also be one of the most powerful tools in T1D management. Not because it always goes perfectly, but because over time, you start to learn how your glucose levels respond to all types of exercise–and the more you learn how your body responds, you can exercise more safely and reach your goals. In this episode of Voices of T1D, host Raquel Baron sits down with physical therapist and T1D advocate Dr. Brooke Shelton to unpack how exercise affects blood sugar. They dispel some myths (not all exercise lowers blood sugar, some raise it!) and offer advice for making “movement” work for you. Voices of T1D is a brand-new podcast presented by Breakthrough T1D…

Parenthood is full of moments you never forget. For the dads featured on this special Father’s Day episode of Voices of T1D, one of those moments was hearing the words "type 1 diabetes." What followed were sleepless nights, steep learning curves, and a new understanding of what it means to show up for someone you love every single day. Joining us on the show are three fathers whose lives have been shaped by T1D in very different ways. Actor Derek Theler shares how growing up with type 1 diabetes affected him and why the fear of passing it on to his children almost stopped him from becoming a father in the first place. Entertainer Romeo Miller wasn’t living with T1D himself, but everything changed when his daughter was diagnosed at just a year and a half old. Suddenly, he found himself learning about blood sugar, insulin, and how to navigate a condition that would become part of his family’s life forever. Also joining the conversation is Jordan Keltner, whose son’s diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) nearly went…

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has a way of making ordinary moments feel heavier. A low or high blood sugar hits.. An alarm goes off. A sensor fails. A doctor’s appointment is coming up. Suddenly, it’s about more than just daily management— it’s about wondering what you missed, what you should have done differently, or why something still went wrong when you were trying so hard. That takes a mental toll over time, often leading to burnout for people living with T1D and caregivers. And over time, that can quietly change the way you think about yourself and your condition. In this episode of Voices of T1D, host Raquel Baron sits down with licensed counselor Chikeitha Owens and behavioral researcher Sam Tullman to talk about the emotional weight of living with T1D. They get into the parts of T1D that are harder to explain from the outside: the constant pressure to get it right, the quiet self-blame when T1D doesn’t cooperate, and the work of learning how to carry T1D without letting it define every single moment. Voices…

For people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), food is never just food–every meal comes with calculations.Every time you eat, you’re making multiple decisions — how much insulin to take, when to take it, and how your body might respond. And even when you get everything right, the next day may be completely different. You can eat the same thing two days in a row and get completely different results, leaving you second-guessing decisions you thought you had figured out. One food that captures that struggle? Pizza. You plan ahead, you do the math, you know you’ve accounted for everything — and it still finds a way to send your blood glucose on a roller coaster. In this Voices of T1D episode, host Raquel Baron sits down with registered dietitian Dr. Catherine McManus to break down exactly why eating pizza with T1D can be so unpredictable. Together, they look at the surprising number of decisions at play with pizza, and how those same decisions show up with other foods, too. Voices of T1D is a brand-new podcast…

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) doesn’t stay in the background. It’s not just about managing glucose–it’s about navigating life with something that never clocks out. It follows you into every relationship whether with family, friends, romantic partners or coworkers. And for many living with it, that constant weight can feel like a burden, one most people never see. In this first episode of Voices of T1D, host Raquel Baron sits down with a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Anna Sabino to talk about the emotional reality of living with T1D. They share personal stories about dating, friendships, work, marriage, and parenting, and the moments when type 1 diabetes forces you to speak up, slow down, or completely change plans. Voices of T1D is a brand-new podcast presented by Breakthrough T1D that explores what it’s really like to live with type 1 diabetes. Each month, a new episode will explore the emotional, social, and day-to-day realities of living with T1D, featuring honest conversations with people who…