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Let’s talk about it Whether you feel comfortable talking about it or not, sex is a normal part of life. That’s right; we’re talking about sexual intimacy because, as usual, diabetes makes things more complicated. The key to ensuring healthy sexual intimacy with diabetes is honest communication. This can seem intimidating when you are in a newer relationship, but as the saying goes: “Honesty is the best policy.” Blood Sugars and Sex It can be difficult to talk about sex for many people due to the social stigma around sex. But without having conversations about your needs, you could be […]

Although we do not know the cause of type 1 diabetes, scientists believe that there is an environmental trigger that kick-starts the autoimmune process. When the body has the added stress of something like a virus, for example, it may cause the body to start attacking itself. For type 1 diabetes, the islet cells are the target of the body’s autoimmune attack. Viruses and Auto Immunity Recent data was presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in September 2022 that showed people who had recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes were more likely to have […]

Insulin is life for those of us living with T1D and many of those with other types of diabetes. There are many nuances to taking insulin, including the importance of rotating where insulin is injected into the body. When insulin is injected repeatedly in the same part of the body, it can cause changes in the skin that make insulin absorb erratically. Here’s some more information to help you avoid unnecessary challenges with managing blood sugars. Lipodystrophy Anyone who took Latin or medical terminology classes, this will be a little easier for you! For the rest of us, we’ll break […]

Kids often say things such as, “I never get to do (insert something that they probably actually get to do all the time)” and may even ask the adults in their life why they are not allowed to do certain things. But if your child has diabetes, and they are being told “no” by someone at school to treating a blood sugar, this is a huge problem. Luckily, there are protections in place in the U.S. to keep children with diabetes safe in schools. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that helps prevent people with disabilities […]

Diabetes shouldn’t get in the way of living the life you want to live, and traveling is no exception. There are some important tips and tricks that can help keep you safe while traveling and ensure that you are able to enjoy your journey. Planning Ahead This is really the biggest piece, and although you may not be someone who enjoys planning, with diabetes in the mix, the extra planning can really make a big difference. How far you are traveling can also play into your preparation, as well as how close you will be to medical facility or medical […]

We often talk about how diabetes can be overwhelming, and there are some different terms that can help identify exactly how diabetes is impacting someone’s mental health. Some people experience depression with diabetes, others experience diabetes distress, and some experience full on diabetes burnout. Identifying what type of mental health issue is present is crucial to be able to receive the appropriate treatment. What is Diabetes Distress? Diabetes distress is a term that describes the negative emotional burdens associated with living with diabetes.1 This includes worries or fears that people with diabetes have, such as anxieties about high or low […]

The human body is incredible when it works properly. There are so many different systems that intertwine, depend on one another, and work together to help the body function optimally. Something that has gotten researchers’ attention more recently is the intestinal microbiome, or the tiny organisms that exist inside your digestive system.1 This is often referred to as the “good bacteria” that helps with various processes in the human body. There is a lot of research underway to try and figure out exactly how the microbiome affects the body, and what things affect the microbiome. What does the microbiome have […]

Pregnancy is something many young women with diabetes worry about, and often these anxieties start at a much younger age than they plan to try to conceive. It’s common for healthcare providers to share with their patients the many things that can go wrong in pregnancy with diabetes. Their motivation is to help ensure women with diabetes conceive only when it is safest for mom and baby. But these stories can also create anxiety for women with diabetes. While it is important to plan a pregnancy properly, the added anxiety may not be as beneficial as the providers intend. Luckily, […]