...And Why It’s Not a Discipline Problem.

Every year, as January approaches, I see the same thing happen with diabetics. There’s genuine hope, a fresh start, and a promise that this year will be different. And then, a few weeks in, frustration starts creeping in. Blood sugars feel harder to manage, energy drops, cravings ramp up, and eventually the familiar thought shows up: Why can’t I just stick to this?

Most of the time, people blame discipline or motivation. I hear it constantly. But after working with diabetics for years, I can tell you with confidence that discipline is rarely the real issue.

Most diabetics are not failing because they lack willpower.
They struggle because no one ever taught them how their physiology actually works.

Blood sugar and energy are directly connected.
When blood sugars run high, your cells cannot properly access energy. This can happen even when you are eating foods that are considered “healthy.” On paper, everything may look fine, but at a cellula...

Managing anxiety around continuous glucose monitor (CGM) arrows is a common experience for many with Type 1 diabetes. Those tiny arrows, showing whether blood sugar is rising, falling, or staying steady, can stir up immediate reactions, especially when we feel uncertain about the right response. Here's a deeper dive into why this happens and some tips on how to manage that stress more effectively.

Why Do CGM Arrows Trigger Anxiety?

For many, those arrows are a visual reminder of the unpredictability of Type 1 diabetes. A steady blood sugar level can change in minutes, and even with the best tools, it’s impossible to predict exactly how your body will respond to food, exercise, stress, or insulin. This can make those arrows feel like pressure points: should I act now or wait? What if I overcorrect? What if I do nothing and things get worse?

This fear often stems from the fact that even small missteps in managing high or low blood sugar can cause a frustrating cycle of highs and lows....

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. I recently asked my T1D Instagram followers what they would like non-diabetics to know about the condition. Here’s what they said:

"It’s Not Caused by Diet or Lifestyle. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning it’s not caused by a poor diet or an unhealthy lifestyle. –thediabeticfighter

"It doesn’t 'get easier'. No matter how long you’ve lived with it, it is an anomaly every day and while someone can be doing a good job managing it, that’s not to say it’s easy for them." - aligal06

"It's constant even when we sleep. Get up to go to the bathroom middle of the night? Check. It's so much more than a non-t1 will ever know." - thjryisin

"It's not 'just diabetes.' It’s living under constant awareness that my life hangs in the balance and is completely dependant on my ability to do math and be prepared for most anything in any situation." - 3girlslee

"While I appreciate the concern so much- please don’t tell me what I can or can’t eat…" - ktrencha68

"T...