Episodes

  • Raising a Child with Type 1 Diabetes Without Losing Yourself

    Raising a Child with Type 1 Diabetes Without Losing Yourself
    Jul 14 2026

    We get into the emotional side of raising a child with type 1 diabetes: the pressure to be perfect, the guilt that social media can create, and the way so many parents slowly lose themselves after diagnosis without even realizing it. We do "check-ins" at our mom's night Out events where you can ask any question of a diabetes expert. I thought it would be helpful to bring those questions and answers to you here. My guest is Abby Cooper, mom of a child with T1D and Risely Health diabetes coach.. who was one of our check in experts this year.

    We talk about independence, middle school, camp, and what happens when your entire identity starts revolving around your child's diagnosis.

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Join us at Mom's Night Out this fall in Detroit and Seattle. Use promo code FFL to save (valid until 7/19)

    Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here.
    Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here
    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
    Omnipod - Simplify Life
    All about Dexcom
    All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:
    Facebook (Group)
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    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

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    43 mins
  • 800 Episodes Later: What I've Learned From the Diabetes Community

    800 Episodes Later: What I've Learned From the Diabetes Community
    Jul 7 2026
    We're celebrating 800 episodes of your stories. News, interviews, information, community and much more. To celebrate, we're doing something a little different. Instead of interviewing a guest, Stacey is in the hot seat as podcast producer and friend Jon Gay asks questions submitted by listeners, community members, and some familiar voices from the diabetes world. Stacey looks back on how the podcast started, the moments that shaped it, and the biggest changes she's seen in diabetes technology and care over the last decade. She shares stories from behind the scenes, talks about raising Benny from toddler diagnosis to independent adulthood, and reflects on what continues to inspire her about this community. Along the way, you'll hear about: The breakthroughs that have made the biggest difference for people with diabetesWhat it's really like to cover diabetes news week after weekThe guests she'd still love to interviewThe topics that spark the most passionate debateHow the diabetes community continues to show up for one another Most of all, this episode is a thank you. Whether you've been listening since Episode 1 or just found the show last week, thank you for being part of Diabetes Connections. This community has made 800 episodes possible, and Stacey is grateful for every conversation, every question, and every listener along the way. Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here. Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Omnipod - Simplify Life All about Dexcom All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
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    59 mins
  • In the News... Tzield, Retatrutide, New Clues About Type 1 and more!

    In the News... Tzield, Retatrutide, New Clues About Type 1 and more!
    Jun 30 2026
    It's In the News - a look at the top diabetes headlines and stories happening now. Our top stories: More information about type 1 and COVID, including the vaccine, why is the latest GLP-1 medication, not yet FDA approved, showing up all over the place, what table sugar and vinegar could mean for drug costs, a new inhaled insulin study and much more I'll see you at Friends for Life next week. Come find me at Table T18 Learn more about our in-person events here: https://diabetes-connections.com/events/ Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here. Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Omnipod - Simplify Life All about Dexcom All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com Transcript & links: Okay.. our top story this week: XX A large Swedish study found that the increased risk of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after COVID-19 infection is mostly limited to the first 30 days after infection and does not continue long term. Researchers followed nearly the entire Swedish population under age 80 from 2020 through 2023 and found that while SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to a temporary rise in new type 1 diabetes diagnoses, the risk declined over time. The study also found no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination increases the long-term risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Vaccination did not significantly change the relationship between COVID-19 infection and diabetes risk, and any small increase in diagnoses seen among adults shortly after a first vaccine dose was not seen after later doses or during longer follow-up. The researchers concluded that their findings do not support changing current COVID-19 vaccination recommendations because of concerns about type 1 diabetes risk. https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/covid19-infection-may-increase-short-term-type-1-diabetes-risk/ XX Two new studies are challenging the traditional view that type 1 diabetes develops solely because the immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells. Researchers from Indiana University found evidence that beta cells themselves may play an active role in determining whether they survive or succumb to the stresses that lead to type 1 diabetes. In the first study, scientists discovered that some healthy human beta cells can quickly activate an antiviral defense system when exposed to interferon-alpha, an immune signal often produced during viral infections. This response relies on molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are usually associated with cell damage but, in this case, appeared to help switch on protective antiviral genes. Researchers found this defense program in healthy cells and in people at risk for type 1 diabetes, but not in beta cells from people who already had the disease. The findings suggest that losing this built-in defense mechanism may make beta cells more vulnerable during the development of type 1 diabetes. The second study focused on autophagy, the process cells use to recycle damaged or worn-out components. Using a new imaging technique, researchers observed that beta cells in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes showed defects in autophagy before blood sugar levels began to rise and even before a full immune attack was underway. This suggests that problems inside the beta cells may occur early in the disease process rather than being caused entirely by the immune system. Together, the studies point to a more complex picture of type 1 diabetes. While they do not show that beta-cell defects cause the disease, they suggest that differences in how beta cells respond to stress, viral signals, and cellular damage may influence who develops type 1 diabetes and how the disease progresses. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-beta-cells-players-diabetes.html XX Researchers have created the most detailed map yet of how the human pancreas develops during childhood, offering new clues about why children are especially vulnerable to developing diabetes. The study, published in Nature Communications, examined pancreatic tissue from 123 children without diabetes, ranging from newborns through age 10. Using advanced imaging techniques, scientists tracked how insulin-producing islet cells grow and mature during the first decade of life. The researchers found that pancreas size varies dramatically at birth, with some infants having pancreases nearly four times larger than others. They also discovered that insulin-producing beta cells grow more slowly after birth than previously thought, suggesting that much of a person's ...
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    15 mins
  • Inside Diabetes Will's Way: Helping Families Afford the Care They Need

    Inside Diabetes Will's Way: Helping Families Afford the Care They Need
    Jun 23 2026

    What if I told you that there's a diabetes organization that will write a check to help a family pay for the supplies they need right now. Diabetes Will Way helps families afford insulin pumps, CGMs, and other diabetes technology when insurance falls short. I'm talking to Will Oberndorfer, the company's namesake, as he takes over running the non profit from his mother and godmother, who founded it more than a decade ago.

    We talk about the growing number of young adults struggling to pay for care, why some families are considering going without insurance altogether, and the surprising trends his organization is seeing from the front lines of diabetes affordability.

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Our previous episode with Lisa Oberndorfer click here

    Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here.
    Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here
    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
    Omnipod - Simplify Life
    All about Dexcom
    All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:
    Facebook (Group)
    Facebook (Page)
    Instagram
    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

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    29 mins
  • In the News... Tzield approved for newly diagnosed T1D, GLP-1 studies for type 1, ADA 2026 highlights and more!

    In the News... Tzield approved for newly diagnosed T1D, GLP-1 studies for type 1, ADA 2026 highlights and more!
    Jun 16 2026
    It's In The News - a look at the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now! Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here. Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Omnipod - Simplify Life All about Dexcom All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com Episode transcript: fall Detroit and Seattle. Okay.. our top story this week: XX The FDA approved Tzield for use in stage 3 T1D – that's what we used to just call type 1. It's the stage where the body can no longer produce enough insulin on its own to manage blood sugars you need to start insulin. This approval is for kids ages 8-17 within 8 weeks of a stage 3 T1D diagnosis. It comes after the PROTECT trial and it's the first approval of a disease-modifying therapy for stage 3 T1D. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/breakthrough-t1d-celebrates-approval-of-tzield-for-use-in-stage-3-type-1-diabetes-in-the-us-302799532.html XX Encouraging results from a small study of islet cell transplantation in people with type 1 where now all 12 participants in the trial are currently living without external insulin after receiving transplanted insulin-producing islet cells. The study, led by researchers at the University of Chicago, tested an experimental immune therapy called tegoprubart Te-GO-Proo-Bart. The drug is designed to prevent the body from rejecting transplanted cells while avoiding some of the side effects associated with standard anti-rejection medications. You've probably heard about this as the Eledon study – many of the participants have been very active on social media. It was presented at ADA. transplants.https://www.breakthrought1d.org/news-and-updates/tegoprubart-islet-transplant-all-participants-off-external-insulin/ XX New data suggest that acmopatide (ack-MOW-puh-tyd) (CT-868), an experimental once-daily dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, may help people with type 1 diabetes improve blood sugar control, lose weight, and reduce insulin use. Across all doses, participants lost up to 7% of their body weight and reduced insulin use by as much as 15%. The study lasted just 16 weeks, so researchers say longer-term data will be needed to determine whether the benefits can be maintained and whether lower insulin requirements can be achieved without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. XX A new combination therapy that pairs an amylin analog with semaglutide improved both blood sugar levels and weight loss in several groups of people with type 2 diabetes. The once-weekly injectable, known as CagriSema (KAG-ruh-SEM-uh), was evaluated in three Phase 3 REIMAGINE studies. In people early in the course of type 2 diabetes, researchers reported A1C reductions of up to 1.8 percentage points and significant weight loss compared to placebo after 40 weeks of treatment. Investigators also noted improvements in several cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure. https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/ada/121658 XX Stelo for kids is now FDA cleared.. the over the counter Glucose Biosensor System is now approved for children as young as 2 years old who do not use insulin. The FDA identified pediatric prediabetes as a growing public health concern motivating the expanded indication, noting OTC CGMs can help younger users and their caregivers build glycemic awareness, track patterns in response to me https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-clears-first-otc-glucose-monitor-for-children XX Insulet presented new data from its STRIVE and EVOLUTION 3 studies showing improved glucose control with its next-generation Omnipod 6. That's , the company's upcoming hybrid closed-loop system for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The main difference between the Omnipod 6 and Insulet's current Omnipod 5 patch pumps is that the new system has a lower glucose target of 100 mg/dL and better Bluetooth connectivity Insulet also shared progress on a fully closed-loop system designed specifically for type 2 diabetes. It does not require carb-counting or insulin bolusing ahead of meals. Physicians also don't need to program the starting settings. XX Abbott shared new research highlighting challenges in identifying and managing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The studies coincide with the company's development of Libre Duo, a dual glucose-ketone sensor that continuously tracks both measurements. Abbott reported that DKA can be difficult to recognize when patients first arrive at the hospital, based on data from more than 100,000 people. The company has submitted the dual sensor...
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    12 mins
  • Inside the ADA Scientific Sessions Protest & Aftermath with Dr. Desmond Schatz

    Inside the ADA Scientific Sessions Protest & Aftermath with Dr. Desmond Schatz
    Jun 12 2026

    What happened at ADA? It's not the research or the science, but the response to a protest that's been getting the biggest headlines. My guest, Dr. Desmond Schatz was scheduled to come on the podcast this week to talk about early, population-level screening for type 1 diabetes.

    Dr. Schatz was one of the five people asked to leave the ADA conference after passing out an editorial. The ADA has sinced apologized a coupe of times.. you'll hear the whole story form Dr. Shatz, we'll get into the follow up since our conversation, and we do talk about screening.

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Apology from ADA president Chuck Henderson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7K2j3Rs-Qg

    The Diabetes Care editorial published in April and handed out at ADA (click here)

    The second Diabetes Care editorial published in June (click here)

    More about this story and the resignations here: https://conexiant.com/endocrinology/articles/ada-leaders-resign-amid-researcher-ejections/

    Learn about our in-person events here: https://diabetes-connections.com/events/

    Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here.
    Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here
    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
    Omnipod - Simplify Life
    All about Dexcom
    All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:
    Facebook (Group)
    Facebook (Page)
    Instagram
    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

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    35 mins
  • T1D and Celiac: Practical Tips from a Family Who's Been There

    T1D and Celiac: Practical Tips from a Family Who's Been There
    Jun 9 2026

    This week on Diabetes Connections. When Samantha Merwin found out her son was diagnosed with celiac on top of type 1 diabetes it seemed overwhelming. Clearing out your pantry, replacing your toaster, rethinking every restaurant meal, and teaching your child to advocate for themselves all over again. This week, we're talking about life with both type 1 and celiac disease, and the free resources one mom created because she couldn't find the help her family needed.

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Elbow Bump Kid Celiac Guide: https://www.elbowbumpkidinc.org/resources-celiac

    Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here.
    Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here
    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
    Omnipod - Simplify Life
    All about Dexcom
    All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:
    Facebook (Group)
    Facebook (Page)
    Instagram
    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

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    35 mins
  • BONUS: Dexcom updates & news from ADA with CEO Jake Leach

    BONUS: Dexcom updates & news from ADA with CEO Jake Leach
    Jun 7 2026

    In this BONUS episode of Diabetes Connections.. I'm talking to Dexcom CEO Jake Leach. Lots of news from Dexcom as they presented new information this weekend at the annual ADA Conference. Did you also know that the G6 will stop being made in less than a month, that Dexcom is developing a new product for hospitals, why they're talking about potassium and we look at the customer advisory counsel report.

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Advisory Counsel Report: https://dexcom.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/en-us-customer-advisory-council-report-2026

    Dexcom Investor Report (with the hospital device and potassium info): https://investors.dexcom.com/overview/default.aspx

    Dexcom Connect Study: https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/dexcom-connect-study-g7-ada-2026/

    Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here.
    Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here
    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
    Omnipod - Simplify Life
    All about Dexcom
    All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:
    Facebook (Group)
    Facebook (Page)
    Instagram
    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

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    32 mins