In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Cynthia, who’s lived with type 1 diabetes since she was 19. Cynthia reflects on how a lack of mental health support at diagnosis contributed to years of struggling with bulimia—something she now speaks openly about to help others. The second half of the conversation focuses on parenting with diabetes. Cynthia’s daughter is almost eight, and the decision about whether or not to screen her for T1D antibodies is weighing heavily on her. She walks through the emo...
Jun 26, 2025•44 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark catches up with Anthony—who recently became a dad for the first time. As exciting as new parenthood is, it brought a wave of new challenges to his diabetes management. Anthony opens up about how the stress and sleep deprivation of caring for a newborn impacted his insulin needs and his mindset, and how that shift affected his relationship. Together, they explore how to plan for unpredictability, communicate more clearly with a partner, and keep diabetes from taking over...
Jun 19, 2025•41 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Meg, a registered dietitian who’s lived with type 1 diabetes for 26 years. For much of her life, Meg kept diabetes in the background—taking insulin, but never really accepting the condition or believing she could manage it well. She avoided her pump and CGM, skipped checks, and did everything she could to hide diabetes from others. A hospitalization in 2016 changed everything. With honesty and humor, Meg shares how that wake-up call helped her take ownership ...
Jun 12, 2025•37 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Kevin, who’s lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years. For most of that time, diabetes was in the background—until a sudden complication forced him to pay attention. After developing diabetic retinopathy, Kevin overhauled everything. He cleaned up his diet, started using a closed-loop system, and brought his A1C down by more than 3 points. But his success came with a new challenge: burnout. Now, Kevin checks his CGM obsessively. He micromanages every numb...
Jun 05, 2025•46 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Mike, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12 while living in a children’s home. With a family history of T1D—including four siblings who were also diagnosed—Mike learned early how to follow the rules. But decades later, burnout, unrecognized lows, and emotional exhaustion caught up with him. In this honest and eye-opening conversation, Mike shares the turning point that changed everything: discovering Loop. He explains how automated insulin delivery...
May 29, 2025•59 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Crystal, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while living abroad in Iceland. Navigating a new diagnosis in a foreign healthcare system was overwhelming, but Crystal’s story is one of resilience and adaptability. She shares how she leaned on her community, tackled the emotional ups and downs of her diagnosis, and found ways to continue traveling and building her business without letting diabetes limit her. If you’ve ever worried that T1D would get in the wa...
May 22, 2025•34 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Sasha, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just weeks before war broke out in Ukraine. Suddenly, Sasha faced not only a new diagnosis but also the terrifying reality of managing her health in a country at war. Sasha shares how she adapted to shortages of supplies, how she stayed connected to her values even when fear was high, and the unexpected ways living in a war zone changed how she sees diabetes and life itself. If you’ve ever felt like you’re waiting...
May 15, 2025•41 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Trent, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 40 years. Growing up in the 1980s, Trent’s parents focused on helping him feel “normal”—but over time, he discovered that ignoring the reality of T1D came at a cost. He shares the emotional journey of learning to balance resilience with humility, the challenges of navigating life transitions like college and parenthood with diabetes, and how he grapples with the constant mental burden of managing T1D. If you've ev...
May 08, 2025•39 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Casey, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 25 years. Casey was misdiagnosed with type 2 in his mid-20s, leading to a year of frustration, failure, and worsening symptoms before he got the correct diagnosis. That experience shaped how he approached T1D, and later, how he supported his son, who tested positive for antibodies and eventually developed type 1 himself. Casey opens up about the emotional toll of T1D, his challenges with skin reactions to dia...
May 01, 2025•47 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Kristen, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 17—just months before graduating high school. The adjustment was rocky. Fear of lows led Kristen to stop taking insulin entirely during her honeymoon phase, and eventually, she ended up in the hospital again with DKA. That second hospital stay marked a turning point. Kristen began to accept her diagnosis, change her mindset, and reframe how she saw insulin—not as something to fear, but as something that k...
Apr 24, 2025•45 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Katherine, a registered nurse who has lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood, and who faces the rare challenge of having seizures at blood sugars as high as 60. Katherine shares how this reality has forced her to intentionally keep her blood sugars high, especially during exercise and horseback riding, to avoid potentially dangerous lows. She talks about how her service dog Blaze has given her more safety and independence, but also about the mental burden...
Apr 17, 2025•47 min
n this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Molly, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just before her fifth birthday. For years, Molly felt stuck — overwhelmed by the burden of T1D, isolated from others, and convinced she couldn’t manage it. That belief kept her from asking for help, and made every step of care feel like an uphill battle. With time, therapy, and support, Molly has started rewriting her story. She’s learning to move past old patterns, sit with discomfort (even those dreaded lows), an...
Apr 10, 2025•43 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Kerri, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 44 years. For most of that time, fear wasn’t part of her story — until a string of nighttime seizures changed everything. Now, Kerri avoids going low at all costs. She under-boluses, keeps her blood sugars high on purpose, and feels trapped by the anxiety that’s taken over her decision-making. Kerri's story is raw and relatable. If fear of lows has crept into your life, this conversation will hit home. Click HERE ...
Apr 03, 2025•49 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Lauren, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly 20 years. Her journey has taken her from coasting high to avoid lows as a kid, to feeling overwhelmed by how much she thinks about diabetes now. We talk about her resistance to changing diabetes tech, the mental toll of constantly managing blood sugars, and how she's working to find a balance between staying in range and living her life. Click HERE to get your FREE copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle...
Mar 27, 2025•41 min
Mar 20, 2025•45 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Anthony, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 19 years. His journey has taken him from a hands-off approach to a complete transformation after a life-threatening low blood sugar event. We talk about his resistance to diabetes technology, how a severe hypo forced him to change, and the role his wife played in helping him rebuild trust in his diabetes management. Click HERE to get your FREE copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It (just cover shipping)....
Mar 13, 2025•47 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talk with Cynthia, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly 30 years. She shares her diagnosis story, the fear-based messages she received from doctors, and how those words have stuck with her ever since. They dive into the realities of managing diabetes while working in a high-pressure career, the mental energy it takes to "hide" diabetes, and how she’s working through the anxiety of complications. Click HERE to get your FREE copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Han...
Mar 06, 2025•43 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark sits down with Oliver, who has been living with type 1 diabetes for 20 years. They talk about the mental and emotional challenges that come with diabetes, from the constant “kid on your shoulder” to the anxiety around lows and exercise. Oliver shares his experiences as an athlete and entrepreneur, the lessons he’s learned from severe hypos, and how he’s built a mindset of acceptance rather than resistance. Click HERE to get your FREE copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can H...
Feb 27, 2025•39 min
What was life with type 1 diabetes like before home glucose meters, fast-acting insulin, or CGMs? In this episode, Dr. Mark talks to Bob, who has been living with T1D for over five decades. Diagnosed in 1972, Bob takes us through his journey of navigating college, sports, and a career with little guidance on diabetes management. He opens up about how he used to keep his diabetes a secret at work, how a major complication changed everything, and how he went from staying quiet to becoming an advoc...
Feb 20, 2025•37 min
Alex was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the middle of another medical crisis—hospitalized with bacterial meningitis at age 12, he had no idea what was coming. Like many teens, he struggled with acceptance, ignored his diabetes, and paid the price with multiple hospital visits. But after moving out on his own, he had a wake-up call. Click HERE to get your FREE copy of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It (just cover shipping)
Feb 13, 2025•44 min
Managing type 1 diabetes comes with a lot of mental weight, and for many, that includes the pressure to be perfect. In this episode, I talk with Saci, who was diagnosed at a young age and spent years struggling with food obsession, restrictive eating, and the fear of "getting it wrong." She shares her journey of overcoming an all-or-nothing mindset, how education and community support helped her, and practical steps that anyone can take to release the grip of perfectionism in diabetes management...
Feb 06, 2025•33 min
Managing type 1 diabetes is never easy, but add pregnancy, motherhood, and a demanding career to the mix—and the mental load can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Dr, Mark sits down with Kate , a diabetes educator, registered nurse, and mom from Australia who has lived with T1D for 20 years. She opens up about: ✅ Her unexpected diagnosis as a teenager and how she adapted ✅ The mental side of managing diabetes through pregnancy and postpartum ✅ The pressure to “do it all” as a mom with T1D—and ...
Jan 30, 2025•49 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Syreen, a researcher in women’s health and epidemiologist who has been living with T1D for over 25 years. Their conversation dives into the journey of navigating T1D as a high achiever, the impact of diabetes on career and personal development, and the role of technology and support systems in thriving with diabetes. Syreen shares her personal journey, from being diagnosed at age seven with parents who were physicians, to balancing diabetes management through...
Jan 23, 2025•38 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark talks with Deeksha, a counseling psychologist from India who has been living with T1D for 25 years. This conversation dives into the unique challenges of managing T1D in India, a country where access to diabetes care, technology, and mental health support is limited. Deeksha shares her personal journey, from being diagnosed at the age of four in a small town with limited resources to becoming a passionate advocate for mental health in diabetes care. She talks about the ...
Jan 16, 2025•44 min
Welcome to the all-new format of LiveFree with T1D Podcast. I’m excited to introduce a new approach to the podcast for 2025. Most episodes this year will feature real conversations with people living with type 1 diabetes, exploring their stories, celebrating their wins, and providing coaching for their biggest challenges. You’ll also hear invaluable tips on managing diabetes and keeping blood sugars in range. To kick things off, I’m pulling an episode from the archives where I share my personal ...
Jan 09, 2025•28 min
As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to focus on setting goals that inspire confidence, clarity, and control in your life with type 1 diabetes. In this special episode, I’m sharing the replay of ReImagine T1D , a free virtual event where we explored how to create meaningful goals for 2025. You’ll learn: 🎯 How to define what success looks like for you in the new year. 🛠️ A proven framework for setting realistic, actionable goals. 💡 Strategies to manage T1D stress so you can focus on w...
Jan 02, 2025•51 min
The holidays are here and you and I both know that T1D can make your relationships with others challenging during this time of year.To help you have a joyful holiday season with T1D along for the ride, we are going to the archives and bringing back one of the most popular episodes. This is the second episode in a 2-part series about boundaries and T1D. I know you've been there. I know you've had that friend or family member - even a doctor - who tries to be helpful but crosses the line with you ...
Dec 26, 2024•25 min
The holidays are here and you and I both know that T1D can get in the way of your fun this time of year. To help you have a joyful holiday season with T1D along for the ride, we are going to the archives and bringing back a couple of the most popular episodes. This is the first episode in a 2-part series about boundaries and T1D. On this episode, we talk about your boundaries with T1D and with yourself. Do you let T1D take up too much energy, or do you not focus on it enough? What boundaries do ...
Dec 19, 2024•23 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark chats with Sarah, founder of Thrive with T1D , about her journey with type 1 diabetes, her mission to help others, and her unique perspective as both an educator and health coach. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as an adult, Sarah shares her personal story, her reflections on what it means to live well with T1D, and how she helps others thrive, regardless of their age or stage in life. Key Topics Discussed: Sarah’s Diagnosis Journey: From gestational diabetes to an unexp...
Dec 12, 2024•38 min
In this episode, Dr. Mark dives into a discussion about his book, Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It , sharing the origin story behind the book and its key takeaways. He explores the dual realities of diabetes—acknowledging its challenges while embracing tools and strategies to live with confidence. Dr. Heyman also answers listener questions and provides practical insights into managing diabetes-related highs, lows, and the mental and emotional toll.
Dec 05, 2024•57 min
