Diabetics Doing International Friendships with Noemie Bvn

[00:00:00] Rob Howe: Welcome back to the Diabetics Doing Things podcast, where we're telling the amazing, untold, wacky, weird, and inspiring stories of type 1 diabetics from across the world. I'm your host, Rob Howe, and I wanted to let you know that we now have over 500 years of living with T1D on the podcast, and we're on track to be over 1,000 by the end of the summer, which is pretty exciting. I also wanted to chat about my new email series, Friday T1D Feels, where I send you a personal note, no fancy graphics or anything like that, about what I've been thinking about in the world of type 1 diabetes during that week. If you're into that, just go to diabeticsdoingthings.com and sign up. I'd also like to take a minute to talk about hashtag coverage to control. JDRF is raising awareness around the fact that most of us don't get to pick the insulin pumps we have, just the ones our insurance will cover. Just imagine if your cell phone was like that. Except this isn't a phone, it's what keeps us alive. So let your voice be heard and tell your insurance company that T1Ds and their doctors should decide what kind of pumps they use, not the companies. I'm looking at you, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Let's get this right. Okay, enough chatter. Let's get back to the episode. Hello and welcome back to Diabetics Doing Things. We're back with new episodes with type 1 diabetics telling the amazing stories of them all over the world. And I'm especially excited today because we are again talking to another international guest on the podcast. So my guest today is Noemi Buevin. And again, I probably butchered her last name.

[00:01:41] Noemie Buevin: No, it's pretty close.

[00:01:42] Rob Howe: Pretty close? All right, well, I can deal with that. And Noemi, you're calling for the French Alps today. So in terms of locations, you know, pretty prime, pretty jealous for most of our U.S. listeners.

[00:01:57] Noemie Buevin: Yeah, but, you know, for French people, it's a normal place. And I love to travel to U.S.A., so I'm jealous about you, too.

[00:02:05] Rob Howe: Well, and I saw and I was doing a little bit of research kind of before we had our conversation. I know that you and Sid, who's part of the Bike Beyond team and was on episode 20 of the podcast, I know you're meeting up with him and the Bike Beyond team in Cleveland this summer.

[00:02:25] Noemie Buevin: Yes, because I was lucky to study in Cleveland when I was in the university. So I'm going back there quite often, every two years or every year, it depends. So this year I was lucky enough to match my visit to the Bike Beyond event there. So I'm really happy to meet Sid and also Ellen and so many other great T1D.

[00:02:57] Rob Howe: Great. Yeah, I know. And that event is going to be, you know, super amazing. And I'm really excited to kind of see all the stories that come out of it. And, you know, it's really interesting. I think like, you know, you and Sid also being over in like the UK and in Europe. tell us a story like how you guys got got introduced before you know before we go into

[00:03:20] Noemie Buevin: sort of your story yeah it's pretty funny actually because it was a time of my life I was kind of sad and you know in a bad time of my type 1 diabetes story and I was looking for friendship and to meet over T1D to see how they handle their lives. So I created an account on Instagram and Sid and I met just by these accounts that we had and we started talking and figure out that we had almost the same symptoms because he has hypothyroidism too and he has the same insulin as me So, and he was a great support for me. So I tried to be a great support for him too, because he's a new type 1 diabetes. So it's a really good friendship that we have. And I'm so excited to meet him in person this summer.

[00:04:20] Rob Howe: So you guys actually haven't met in person. You'll be your, this will be the first time that you guys meet in Ohio.

[00:04:26] Noemie Buevin: Yes. Yes, exactly.

[00:04:28] Rob Howe: Oh, that's so exciting.

[00:04:30] Noemie Buevin: Yeah, it is.

[00:04:32] Rob Howe: Okay. So now let's talk a little bit more about you. I know you've been a type 1 diabetic for 21 years.

[00:04:39] Noemie Buevin: Yes. I was diagnosed when I was five.

[00:04:43] Rob Howe: So do you even remember kind of life before you were diagnosed or you pretty much associate your whole life with type 1?

[00:04:52] Noemie Buevin: Yeah, I don't remember what it is like to not needing insulin or not having needles everywhere. I don't really remember that. and I don't really remember the day I was diagnosed as well. I was so little, you know.

[00:05:08] Rob Howe: Right, and I think that's, you know, for a lot of our listeners and guests, that's a common thing that they go through, right? Like, especially if you're diagnosed either right after you were born or when you were a young child. Yeah. You don't remember what happened. There's no, like, you know, the typical story of going to the bathroom a lot or feeling really tired. you know you sort of just happened so how did things you know growing up with type 1 what was

[00:05:38] Noemie Buevin: that like well it was a long journey I would say because when I was at school my mom wasn't working so she was coming at school twice a day so that she could test my blood sugar and I was going at home for lunch so she handled pretty much everything and then I went to middle school and I was living not even like five minutes away from my from my middle school so it was easy to handle as well and then I went to high school and I started to manage my diabetes really alone without my mom and it's the time I got messed up everything my a1c was going high and it was hard for me to manage this plus the teen teenage you know I was a teen and it was difficult to handle all the the pressure from the the school plus the pressure from my diabetes so I had a hard time and even after when I was in university, it was even worse for me because I was so focused in my school that I totally forgot to take care of myself, which is a really bad thing to do. And then I can, yeah.

[00:07:04] Rob Howe: Well, before we go on, I want to focus on a couple of things because I think a lot of people go through what you're describing. so when you got to high school and you're in your teen years you go through a little bit of there's a lot of hormones going on you're growing, your life is changing, sort of becoming an adult so with that you have your natural sort of body changes anyway plus adding diabetes just sort of throws another wrinkle into it and you mentioned your A1C going up did any of that have to do with going through sort of those teen feelings as it relates to diabetes, whether that's like being in denial or a little bit of insulin burnout. Talk about that a little bit, about those sort of struggles.

[00:07:52] Noemie Buevin: Yeah, I think the main struggle was to trying to be normal, but I wasn't normal. So I kind of forgot to be a diabetic and I wanted to be a normal teen. So I wanted to go to school and have great grades, which I had. I wanted to do sports, but it was super hard for me to handle gym, running, everything. So I kind of stopped going to the gym, practicing sports, which is really bad. And it didn't help me with my A1C and with my diabetes, my diabetic issues. and then there was also the peer pressure you know it's really hard to to be different when you're you're in high school and the other student they don't understand they don't want to be like they don't want to understand you they don't want to make the effort so i was pretty alone and it was not a good time for me and the only thing i liked about this this time was studying so i just studied all the time and I had great grades. So this was the only good part of that time for me.

[00:09:09] Rob Howe: Well, you bring up such an important point. It's very hard. First of all, it's hard to go to junior high and high school. Those are the years where people are most vulnerable, where kids are really mean. There's a lot of changes going on, a lot of emotions, and everything seems like such a big deal. And then to say, you know, to be different on top of that, especially something that you have no control over, what was that, you know, for you? Like, how did you deal with that? And what kind of conversations did you have with yourself? I know you said that, you know, you didn't want to be diabetic, and so you sort of neglected some of your, you know, diabetic management. what was the day to day like? What do you remember from those times?

[00:10:01] Noemie Buevin: Well I remember that even if I had some friends I felt pretty lonely I have always been a little lonely I would say but I don't need a lot of friends I just need a few good friends you know what we say that your real friends you can count them on the fingers of one hand

[00:10:23] Rob Howe: Yeah, sort of just like real friends, you know, there aren't that many of us, how many of us, right? So you mentioned that you took a lot of your free time and took some of that alone time to dedicate to your studies. How important was that for you? I mean, in finding something productive, really, to apply your extra energy to rather than being negative. I think a lot of people fall into bad habits, but you were able to turn it into something relatively good.

[00:10:53] Noemie Buevin: Yes, that's true. I always loved going to school, learning new things, even now, you know. So instead of doing nothing, I just studied and tried to be the best at school.

[00:11:09] Rob Howe: well and i think that you know especially competitive people and it sounds like you're a little bit of a competitive person just just like me and i've talked to others um who are either athletes or you know top performers or whatever you would say um it's hard to be a top performing diabetic right because you never win um it's just like every day you're just doing the same thing and it's just very consistent so there's no like reward um so how you know how important was it for you to, you know, get those grades back and to kind of keep that motivation

[00:11:39] Noemie Buevin: flowing? Because I could manage my grades. I knew if I worked hard, I would get good grades. It's not like with my diabetes. I can do whatever I want. There will always be a time that something will mess up and I will be high or low. So I always try my best to manage my diabetes before tests so that I was sure I had good grades. Well, it's good. I mean, and like I said,

[00:12:08] Rob Howe: I think a lot of people fall into bad habits when, you know, things like that occur when you're sort of going through those rebellious phases or those, you know, high hormones and a lot of changes. So it's good to hear that you were able to channel it into something that you really loved,

[00:12:25] Noemie Buevin: you know, studying and going to school. Yes, that's true. I had a choice. Either I would do only bad things do nothing about my life or I would try to do something good so the only regret I have from that time is that I didn't I didn't really try to improve my sports skill because I was afraid to to be low all the time or that no one could help me if I had an issue if I needed sugar or to go to the hospital. So instead of doing gym, I did studies. Well, and I think, you know, whatever journey that

[00:13:07] Rob Howe: you choose, I mean, obviously, like, you know, there are benefits to exercise for diabetes, but it's also, you know, from a, you know, from a life perspective, just investing that time in yourself, you know, is super, super valuable. From a backing up a little bit to sort of your first response, your mom, you mentioned was a very key role played a very key role for you early on. I think a lot of diabetics would echo that sentiment about their parents. What what was your relationship like with your mother during the difficult time in high school? And you know, What was her relationship to your diabetes as you started to get older?

[00:13:53] Noemie Buevin: Well, my mom was the main person in my family to take care of me because my dad, he was working in Paris. So during the week, he wasn't at home and my mom was taking care of my brothers and me. And I'm the only type 1 diabetic in my family. So that's a good thing, only one. but she had a lot to handle because she had my brothers and my diabetes and me so I really I am thankful from for having my mother taking care of me but what I regret is that I'm not really open to her like I don't share I don't really share my struggle I don't want her to be worried or sad about me. So I never really talked to her about my troubles. And I think a lot of people

[00:14:47] Rob Howe: feel the same way because on one hand, you know, you want to be open with your family, you know, whether it's your parents or your significant other, you know, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, brother, sister, or like even your doctor, but you also don't want them to worry. So, So, you know, what was that like? Is that hard for you to say, hey, what does she need to know versus, you know, what does she want to know? How did you balance that?

[00:15:18] Noemie Buevin: Well, usually, even to the other people, I just show a happy face. I never, like for other people who know me, they just think that diabetes is easy to manage because I'm always positive and I never show when I'm down. and even to my mom, to my family. I feel sometimes that they don't know what it's really like to have diabetes because I'm too close. I don't share my troubles. And this is a thing I try to change because I don't want people to think that our illness is just no big deal. Yes, it's a big deal. We can manage it, but it's a big deal.

[00:15:59] Rob Howe: Yeah, and I think that's something that a lot of people talk about, especially in social media is like sharing the difficult moments as well as the the good ones. Because, you know, social media is so curated. You don't have to share those. But I think the most positive messages that I see are when people are open and vulnerable about the struggles that they're going through. Because I feel very similar to you, all of my friends, my whole life, my family. I've been, I know I don't talk about my diabetes with them. I'm not really, and to be fair, I'm very lucky. I don't have too many bad days. You know, lows and highs don't affect me as drastically as some other people do. But also I, I, I'm with you. I don't want this people to seem like this is easy. Like this is marginalized, um, because of how I deal with it. So what are you doing now to be more open with people about your day-to-day life?

[00:16:58] Noemie Buevin: Well, you know, it all started when I created my Instagram account and when I met other T1Ds. I saw that it was okay not to be normal. It was okay to have troubles, to have issues, not to be happy all the time. And it was okay not to smile every day. and it's something I didn't understand before because I was trying to be normal but now I don't want to be normal I want to be me I want to be the type 1 girl and to show people that I can do the same thing as they do plus I have diabetes so I'm not normal maybe I have super powers

[00:17:46] Rob Howe: well yeah and I think that's a huge part of it, right? You go back to that peer pressure and the need. And I think a lot of diabetics feel like they have to be a good diabetic or if they're having high numbers that they're being a bad diabetic. And I think that's such a trap to fall in that, you know, we, this pressure that we're putting on ourselves to be perfect. It's there, there's no such thing. So, So, you know, I think being open and especially through Instagram, and I've been exposed to this myself through the platform is that, you know, people, people who are honest and people who are really going through things like there is no perfect diabetic. There is no even even the diabetics with like the most visibility or who are running these races or are speaking at events or traveling the world like we all have our struggles. and I think that's what makes this disease so powerful and the ability to connect to people and say hey oh this person is just like me they're going through the same things like I'm going through I identify with this I think that's what's so powerful about this about the disease and also

[00:18:59] Noemie Buevin: about the community online yes I love the community I was so lonely because before I I started talking to the community I never knew any type 1 diabetic even here in France I was so lonely and then I discovered online that well mainly in the US you have so many organizations like Beyond Type 1 or JDRF that are taking care of the community and helping diabetic people not to be alone. And I think it's sad that in France we don't have such organization. We only have one for kids, but I'm not a kid anymore. I'm in my 20s, so we need something for grown-up diabetics. And if I had a wish right now for the future in France for type 1 diabetic, it would be that we have a beyond type 1 in France. Maybe I will open it. Who knows?

[00:20:02] Rob Howe: I think you should. And I think that's what's great about Beyond Type 1 is they have sort of found a way here in the U.S. in a very short time to become that voice for type 1s. And I feel like they really know us, right? And I think that's what's caused it to spread so far. And I think you should do it. Absolutely, you should do it. That's my wish. well and i think too you bring up a great point about adult type ones right um the a recent the recent study from the jdrf uh in the u.s talks about there's like 1.25 million type 1 diabetics in the u.s um there's like 40 000 new people diagnosed every year and only half of those are under the age of 18 so even though i was diagnosed at 16 so i was a young adult right or a you know a teen, um, really two years later, I'm in that, uh, adult category, right? So there's a lot of still young people who are adults with diabetes who don't get any sort of, um, like not, it's not necessarily treatment or care, but they don't feel special. There's no materials, there's no resources. And yeah, um, that's a very tough part of your life anyway. Uh, and throwing a diagnosis in there can be very difficult. And that's something that I've been working on with diabetics, doing things as well as that, you know, it's not just when you're diagnosed, you have to live your whole life with this. And it's important to know that, you know, if you're feeling down, or you feel like you can't do something that to know that there are people out there that are going through that same thing, and still living their dreams, still trying to strive for their, you know, to find their place in this world where they want to be who they want to be, uh, in spite of, and on top of their, their diabetes. So, um, that's something that I really believe in as well. And I really want to, you know, encourage people to get involved with their local organizations, whether JDRF or American Diabetes Association, um, and be the voice for those teens and adults, um, who were recently diagnosed because there's not as much resources for them as kids. And that's not to say that kids don't need the resources. Certainly they do. And parents of young children, absolutely need as much help as they can get.

[00:22:19] Noemie Buevin: But they grow up.

[00:22:20] Rob Howe: They do. They do. And what happens to them then? And I think that's what, you know, Beyond Type 1 is doing a much better job and is really the first. But, you know, of those 1.25 million and they, you know, with all the numbers of how many people are growing, how big the Type 1 community is growing worldwide, we're going to need to take care of those adult diabetics here in the next few years.

[00:22:42] Noemie Buevin: Yeah, I agree with you. And I totally agree with this because when I met the community, I would say it changed my life totally. I was so down and I was depressed. And then I don't know, everything changed for me. I switched from injection to the pump because I was talking almost every day on Instagram to a Swedish girl who had a pump. And she explained me everything. And I wasn't afraid to switch to the pump anymore. and now it's been a year and it changed my life. And then I talked to Seed and he told me that there is no problem doing sports when you have diabetes. So I started going back to the gym and now I feel more healthy and stronger than I used to. So I think that having a community is really important because we can support each other and we understand our struggles. We understand when we are happy and when we are not. And it's not a problem. We don't have to explain everything about type 1 diabetes. They just understand with just a few words. And it's something that is so important in our daily life. And that's why I try that in my account at first I was only speaking in English because I only found an English speaking community. And now I try to add more and more French so that the French T1D can also talk to me and maybe find information and support in my account.

[00:24:19] Rob Howe: Well, and I think that's important too, right? Because you talked about earlier having felt really alone. Um, and you know, you went 20 years with type 1 treating and I'm guessing you treated with daily injections, multiple daily injections, MDI.

[00:24:35] Noemie Buevin: Yeah. Yes, exactly.

[00:24:37] Rob Howe: And until you met someone like you who had a pump and had access to that person and had those conversations, only then you felt confident to go get and change your treatment.

[00:24:47] Noemie Buevin: Yes. And it all happened in a few months, I would say just, I created my account maybe in November and I switched to the pump in March. You see, it's really, really fast. And I had this change in my life and I changed like my, I'm more happy now than I used to be before just because I have this community and it's my happiness every day when I go to Instagram and I can see what my diabetes friends, they do today or they went to the gym or they traveled or they just met friends. They just did normal things. But I don't know. I just feel part of a community and it makes me happy.

[00:25:37] Rob Howe: And what would you say to someone who's out there either who just doesn't have that community around them or feels alone? What would you tell someone who feels alone with their diabetes that they're the only one going through this?

[00:25:53] Noemie Buevin: just come talk to me I would say that because there is no need to be shy or ashamed you are who you are and it's okay not to be perfect maybe you are more than perfect who knows

[00:26:10] Rob Howe: oh man I totally agree I couldn't I mean that alone like it's okay to be who you are you know and I think you know for you when you when you started to look at those things i know you mentioned instagram but who did you find first where did you um which communities got you plugged in you know how did that uh when did you start to realize that oh wow there is this entire community here that i can rely on well i was looking for

[00:26:39] Noemie Buevin: information online about a french community for adults and i found nothing except the one for the kids that I knew so I started looking for English organizations and I found beyond type 1 and this is how it started and I think you know a lot of people are

[00:27:01] Rob Howe: echo that sentiment you know when you start to look for communities online or support or information beyond type 1 really in like a few short years has become the number one you know go to resource for for type ones on yeah

[00:27:16] Noemie Buevin: because they focus on type 1 diabetes the problem with the other organization for me is like they mix type 1 and type 2 and in France as we are there are most mostly type 2 diabetics then most organization for forget about us about

[00:27:36] Rob Howe: the type 1 well and I mean that's very true in the US as well I mean there's a dramatic amount of, I think type 1 diabetes only makes up like 5% of diabetics throughout the world or something like that. So, I mean, it makes sense that there are those, that that's where the awareness and where the funds go. But at the same time, you know, awareness becomes an issue for type 1 because it gets blended into type 2 and everyone, you know, not everyone. Exactly. Yeah. It's easy. It's easy to think that they're the same. And, you know, they're obviously not. So, you know, I'm really glad that we have organizations like Beyond Type 1 who are giving a voice to type 1s and telling those stories because that's the only way that we're going to change that stigma or change that misinformation around diabetes. Because if the stories continue and the funding is always going to go to where the most people are and a dramatic amount of people are affected by type 2 diabetes for more reasons than than just family or genes or poor health choices. But it can't just be we can't just support the people where we're all or can't just put all the funds to where the people are. Right. We've got to at least devote some attention to a group of people who literally cannot help what happened to them. And I think that message to young, old, recently diabetic, diagnosed diabetics or people who've had it for more than 20 years, it's still not your fault. I mean, no matter what, no matter which way you shake it. Yeah, you didn't choose this. Right. There's nothing you could have done.

[00:29:15] Noemie Buevin: yeah exactly and most people when you you say hey i have type 1 diabetes they don't understand they just think there is only type 2 and for me i'm okay with explaining type 1 diabetes but sometimes it's so annoying when you have to do it every time you know you have to explain all of it and it's complex people don't understand they think you are crazy so it's really it's really annoying sometimes so this is where I try to talk more about my diabetes to people around me to people online but I don't know because I think it's important to show the difference we are not type 2 diabetes the challenges are different and if we are we are having a low people need to react and most of the time they just don't know what to do they think we are we are crazy well and I think you know it's it's easy

[00:30:15] Rob Howe: to get angry or to have a short fuse or to be annoyed but then I try I've been working on myself a lot lately in this regard like I know a lot of type ones have type 1 I guess you'd call it like I'm trying to think of a grid where it's not the words not guilt but it's just like a they they start to, you know, project and get a short fuse with people who, uh, who confuse type 1 and type 2. And I just remember like before I, before I was diagnosed and before a lot of us knew about this disease, uh, we didn't really know the difference, uh, or the nuances. And most people are just curious. So I try to be, I try to have a little bit more patience and that's something that I'm continuing to work on. But, um, you know, like you said, it can be, it can be really, really annoying. And especially when you have to do it every single day and the more visible you are and the more open you are with it, the more questions you have to answer. So it's, it's, it's tough. I understand, I understand the frustration. And I think a lot of other people do as well. I mean, there's plenty of diabetes meme pages and like diabetes complaints. And it's easy to look at the negatives. But again, like we talked about earlier, we kind of all make it look easy, but even though it's not, and that is really a gift and a testament to how strong we all are and how able how well we're all able to handle it

[00:31:39] Noemie Buevin: yeah i agree with you i always thought i was normal and i should do my best to look normal but i work harder than other people so why would i just look normal i do i do many things every day just to look normal. So it's not fair if I just pretend I do nothing. So this is why now I show my daily routine, my daily struggles to the people around me at my job, in my family, because I don't want people to think type 1 diabetes is no big deal.

[00:32:16] Rob Howe: It is a big deal, right? And it's, you know, I talk about, you know, in terms of the routine, it's like adding minimum one extra step to every single activity you've ever done. Yeah. Which, again, doesn't sound like a lot, but over the course of a day, a week, a month, a year, like it is a big deal. And there's so many other things that have to factor into decisions. How much insulin is left in my pump? You know, how much, how many days am I going to be gone? You know, what am I going to have to eat? What can I treat my low blood, my below blood sugar with? you know just lots of questions that go on throughout very simple processes

[00:32:55] Noemie Buevin: yeah for example when I travel I love traveling so I never stopped traveling because of my diabetes never never because I just love this so every time I travel I'm going with a friend for example and I show all the things I have to bring with me and they're like oh my gosh it's so many things You have to bring two bags or you have to prepare way in advance. Yes, that's part of the struggle. But even if I have to manage this, I can do it. I can travel. I can go anywhere. I just need to be prepared and organized.

[00:33:32] Rob Howe: And sometimes for people like me who are not prepared or organized in their nature, it's like it's very difficult because like I force myself to, you know, to really do those things. where I much more prefer to go off the cuff and sort of improvise. So it's been both good and trying for me sometimes, for me to get out of my own personal preferences and to really prepare and really think ahead about things.

[00:34:02] Noemie Buevin: Yeah, but don't worry. Even if you are very organized, like every time I prepare everything, I'm leaving the house and I'm stressed out because I just don't know why. I'm just stressed out until I arrive to the destination. I always think that something is going to be wrong. I forgot something or I would do something. And in fact, until I arrive at my destination, I'm stressed out.

[00:34:32] Rob Howe: Well, and I think that's important too, right? Like it doesn't matter who you are. There's going to be some sort of challenge you've got to overcome.

[00:34:40] Noemie Buevin: Yeah, but we can overcome. for me one of my dreams was to go study in the USA and even if no one helped me for this I had to handle all the paperwork to get the visa to get the approval from the French state to take all my medicines at once with me I did it all I worked on it and in the end I was able to go to study in the USA and I studied in Cleveland and it was a great experience for me. I didn't meet any diabetic at that time and maybe I should have looked for some organization around, but just the fact that I could do something like that was great for me, you know, because I was thinking that nothing could stop me. Even if I have type 1 diabetes, I can do whatever I want.

[00:35:38] Rob Howe: That's so strong, so powerful. And I think a sentiment that a lot of people would echo, especially in the community. But also, I want to ask you, I always ask this question sort of as we wrap up our interview. If you can only tell one thing to a person with type 1 diabetes who is either recently diagnosed or was struggling, is that what you would tell them, that you can do anything?

[00:36:06] Noemie Buevin: Yes. I will first tell them to accept who they are and that they have to accept that they have type 1 diabetes And then I would tell them that it won't stop them from doing anything You see a seed can go do biking for 10 weeks across the USA I can go traveling anywhere. I can work. I can study. I can do whatever I want So diabetes is not something that would stop us. It is a challenge. We have to work hard for what we want, but we can do whatever we want.

[00:36:43] Rob Howe: Yes, we can. And I think that's the message that I want to continue to echo around for people is that whatever it is, you can do it. And I think I love what you talked about with acceptance because that's a big, a common theme for people is that they have a hard time. They're accepting that this is real. This is kind of a lifetime journey that they're on now. But at least now there's more resources where you can see, hey, you're not the only one. There's a lot of other people in this boat. And look at all of the amazing people that are out there living with type 1 diabetes. I think, you know, yourself included and then the rest of the community and a lot of guests that we've had on this podcast, like some awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome people that you can be exposed to and you have something in common with just because you accept your diagnosis and kind of move forward from there.

[00:37:43] Noemie Buevin: Yes, that's true. When you accept, then there is no more, no more, no, no thing that can stop you because you are who you are. So you accept your life and you accept your, your challenges and you can be stronger. For me, what it's happened to me, you know, I have been, I have had type 1 diabetes for 20 years before I realized it was okay to have type 1 diabetes you know so it can happen after a long long time but when it happens it's like a rebirth and you you live again and you accept the challenge and you have more energy and and more will to do to do all these things

[00:38:30] Rob Howe: it's uh it's powerful it's it's uh self-acceptance is such a huge thing uh and a huge part of being a um a successful successful in your walk with type 1 even just just you it's just your relationship

[00:38:44] Noemie Buevin: with uh with yourself yeah and it doesn't mean that i have to to climb a mountain you know it It just means that I can live my normal life because I have a pretty normal life, you know. So it's just knowing that I accept who I am, it makes me happy every day just doing simple things. And it's the message I want to tell the people is it's okay. You're good. You're doing good. Just be you and be happy.

[00:39:18] Rob Howe: so uh naomi i annoying me i really want to uh i want to make sure that we give our guests an opportunity to find you on social media and give and give you a follow and interact with you because like you said earlier uh if you're feeling lonely just to reach out and uh and talk to you so uh where can our guests find you uh online well mainly on instagram my account is noemi

[00:39:44] Noemie Buevin: dot t1d there is two i in noemi but maybe you will put the link in the in the description

[00:39:54] Rob Howe: of course i'll absolutely uh put it in the show notes so that uh so that people will be able to

[00:40:00] Noemie Buevin: find you yeah and anyone can come and talk to me i would really love to share my experience and to learn from other t1ds because it's the best part of the community is the exchange that we can have

[00:40:15] Rob Howe: it is and i think you know i'm most i'm really really um encouraged by uh by your dream to uh to bring an organization to france for adult type ones um and i think um the t1d community is really hungry for that not only in france but elsewhere as well so um i look forward to uh continuing to uh interact with you in the community and seeing all the great work you're going to do

[00:40:42] Noemie Buevin: Yes, you will. I will keep everyone posted of whatever happened to me. And I was really happy to do this interview with you because I've been following your work and the interviews for a long time now. And when you contacted me, I was so happy, you know, just to talk to you and share my experience with all the T1Ds. It's the best thing.

[00:41:04] Rob Howe: Well, it's my pleasure. And I agree, it is the best thing. I love getting to meet amazing people that I have type 1 in common with from all over the world. So thanks for being you. Thanks for accepting yourself.

[00:41:19] Noemie Buevin: Thank you.

[00:41:21] Rob Howe: Thanks for listening to Diabetics Doing Things. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly emails and behind-the-scenes content. And if you or someone you know has an amazing story to share, send an email to rob at diabeticsdoingthings.com.