#252: The Hardest Question T1D Parents Face: Do I Test My Child?
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 emotional complexity, the uncertainty of the results, and how the conversation around screening often overlooks mental health entirely.
This episode is a must-listen for parents with T1D—or anyone considering antibody screening for their child.
Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.
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#251: Fatherhood Messed With His Blood Sugars (and What He Did About It)
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 precious time with family. Whether you’re a parent with T1D or thinking about becoming one, Anthony’s story is full of wisdom, honesty, and hope.
Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.
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#250: She Had Confidence in Everything—Except Diabetes
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 of her T1D—and how, step by step, she rebuilt her confidence and transformed her daily life. From embracing diabetes tech to becoming a dietitian who now helps others do the same, Meg’s story is one of resilience and rediscovery.
If you’ve ever felt like diabetes is the only part of your life you can’t get a handle on, this episode will hit home.
Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.
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#249: From Ignoring T1D to Obsessing Over It
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 number. And he feels like if he doesn’t stay perfect, he could lose everything. This episode is a powerful reminder that fear can push us too far—and that even when we’re doing well, we still need to protect our mental health.
Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.
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#248: He Woke Up Feeling Human Again
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 gave him back his sleep, his mental clarity, and his family life—and why he’s now helping others do the same.
If you’ve ever struggled with T1D burnout, hypoglycemia unawareness, or just feeling overwhelmed by tech, Mike’s story will resonate.
Grab your FREE copy of the Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It audiobook HERE.
Welcome to the LiveFree with T1D Podcast where we coach you to build your T1D stress-management plan like a sailboat. You are the captain. The hull is your diabetes knowledge and management. The sails are your mindset. The rudder is your behavior and the crew is your support team.
If you build the five parts of your stress management plan correctly, you'll find smooth sailing with T1D. Every week we help a person with T1D just like you optimize their sailboat.
Ireland