Spilling the Type One Tea with Ginger & Sami

Listen to Type One Tea on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Managing Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) when you’re first diagnosed is like building Ikea furniture without an instruction manual. It’s a self-managed diagnosis that definitely comes with a learning curve. When I was newly diagnosed, figuring out how much insulin to give myself for meals often left me feeling like I wasn’t trying hard enough. The process of navigating insulin therapy, wearing my "robot parts" for all to see, and grappling with the emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows felt overwhelming. However, I've learned that it does get easier, especially when you're part of the vibrant T1D community and tap into the wealth of resources available online and through social media.

I had the exciting opportunity to sit down with Ginger Vieira and Sami Parker on their podcast, Type 1 Tea, to share insights that I wish I knew when I was newly diagnosed. I hope to support others with T1D and help them navigate this journey more smoothly.

When I was in the hospital being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2021, I feared that I would become addicted to this new medication called insulin, which I would need to manage my T1D. As the first in my family to be diagnosed, I had zero knowledge of T1D and how to manage it. I didn’t even know where my pancreas was located! I was starting from scratch when it came to the education needed to fully understand what was happening in my body and what needed to be done to manage it. This diagnosis was uncomfortable, scary, and life-changing.

I quickly associated shame with the things I didn’t understand: my changing carb-ratio, the weight I was gaining back due to insulin therapy, the emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows, and everything in between. Counting carbs quickly changed the way I viewed food and my eating habits. Social situations involving drinking or intense activities became less approachable. Even three years later, I’m still navigating these challenges, learning from trial and error what works best for me. That’s the thing with T1D – each diagnosis is unique to the individual, from the symptoms experienced to the carb-to-insulin ratio and the chosen management method, whether it’s an insulin pump or daily injections.

The journey might be tough, but each lesson learned, each adjustment made, and each bit of support received from the T1D community brings you closer to figuring out this new lifestyle. Embrace the learning curve, and know that you have the strength and resources to thrive. T1Disco has allowed me to take the pain of the struggles I’ve faced with type 1 diabetes, and share the lessons I’ve learned along the way, creating purpose and passion with each new obstacle I face.

I’ve come to love my diagnosis for the resilience it’s equipped me with. Every person I have met in the type 1 diabetes community has been friendly, welcoming, and empathetic, and I’m proud to be part of this community. Good days feel like huge accomplishments, and getting through the bad ones make me feel proud of my ability to handle adversity. If you’re reading this, I hope you know that you are a dia-badass, and I am so proud of you.

To hear more about the lessons I’ve learned over the last three years, tune into Type 1 Tea!

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-diagnosed-heres-what-we-wish-your-doctor-taught-you/id1743499330?i=1000658691356

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ZQTuP5rTEwc26A0LtxvA3?si=p3fV49W5RumVrobCP2LY9g

Thank you to Ginger and Sami for inviting me to share the things I wish we were taught at diagnosis as Type One Diabetics.