Diabetes and Friendship with Glitter Glucose and Type One Type Happy

[00:00:00] Rob Howe: What up? Welcome back to Diabetics Doing Things.

[00:00:03] Eritrea: It's us.

[00:00:05] Rob Howe: We're here doing the intro because that's what we do now.

[00:00:08] Eritrea: Yeah, our weekly show has been going pretty well. I think that it's a good addition to the flow of our natural week. So I like it. It's good.

[00:00:17] Rob Howe: Yeah, I like listening to it. It seems more regular. It kind of lives rent free in my mind now in terms of like, I'll think of things that happen during the week or I'll see something and I'll want to talk about it. So yeah, we're back. We're back in the mix. We got some cool stuff to talk about today before we get to our amazing interview. It's International Friendship Day. Is August 1st? Is that right?

[00:00:40] Eritrea: It's Friendship Month. And yeah, I think in August 1st is International Friendship Day. So talking a lot about diabetes connections and how important it is to make friends with other people who can understand what you're going through so that you can support each other appropriately.

[00:00:53] Rob Howe: Yeah. And I think we are both beneficiaries of having friends with diabetes and know what that can add. So our guests on today's episode are Gretchen Otte, type 1 type happy and Paloma Guerrero, glitter, glucose, diabetes, besties, diabetes, BFFs for life. So yeah, when I think of two people that I know where friendship with diabetes has made a big impact on their life, they are some of the first people that I thought of. So they're going to be on the pod today. So

[00:01:18] Eritrea: very exciting. I think my favorite thing about them is that they're both like powerhouse women in their own right. Like they have these huge communities that they're a part of and that they interact with and, you know, prior to the pandemic and even during the pandemic. And I, so I watch a lot of Paloma's content. I don't know her in real life, but I feel like we are besties already for the resties. So if any of you guys don't follow them, definitely check them out on Instagram, uh, glitter, glucose type 1, type happy. And yeah, I think it's going to be a great

[00:01:44] Rob Howe: interview. I'm excited. I'm psyched. So let's talk a little bit about what's been going on. You went to the endocrinologist this week and we're going to talk a little bit about, So you got your A1C back. And let's just talk about a little bit of the stress around A1Cs. Nobody ever went into an A1C appointment. I don't care who you are. You might be Lauren Bongiorno herself, the A1C queen. You go into an endocrinologist appointment and you're a little bit nervous. No matter how confident you are in your time and range and your numbers, you are anxiously awaiting that A1C number.

[00:02:18] Eritrea: Yeah. I mean, first of all, what's an A1C queen? Like, I don't know what that even mean.

[00:02:22] Rob Howe: well i mean she has her decide and conquer boot camps and her her programs to you know lower a1c she does a really great a really great job and there's a number of programs but yeah she uh and you know really focused around celebrating and or improving your relationship with with diabetes overall and not just focusing on the number but she's uh yeah she's the queen the

[00:02:41] Eritrea: a1c queen i have no idea that's interesting maybe i need to join a boot camp all right guys here i am with my shame y'all ready for this so i went to the so i had a endocrinologist appointment on Monday that I completely forgot about. And so she was like, we can just do a telehealth visit, but you have to come in this week for like an office A1C. Cause my doctor is a G she really began onto me. So I show up, I do this A1C and like, she already knows how anxious I am about it. So instead of like telling me the number, she's like, okay, Ms. Musa, we'll see you later. And she's like, hands me, she like does the drop and run. She like drops the little receipt in my hand and runs away. And I was like, wait, Dr. Bassani, she comes back and I was like, 7.2. which to a lot of people is a great number I think that for me and I don't know if it's like the way I was raised I don't know it's like how long I've had diabetes or just like that achiever mentality but I want to be a part of that six club like I am a I'm a club sixer for life I'm trying to stay in that range and so getting that 7.2 yeah exactly Drake see I hate this you've converted me into a Drake person but anyway the point is that I was just kind of disappointed in myself and just not

[00:03:51] Rob Howe: happy about it. I feel weird. Well, I mean, I feel like that's the most relatable thing that you could ever mention on a pod. We all have felt that way. And just so you know, because I did the research, he did the math. I was going through like testing and labs for like a life insurance policy a few years ago. And I had like a 6.5 and it came back, you know, the label that they assigned was like elevated a1c and i was like no that's not elevated bro like i have diabetes like this is great and so i looked at the average i like had to send it back to the adjuster i was like the average a1c of someone with type 1 diabetes is 8.5 so um which i didn't know at the time and so you know when we have those bad feelings about like a seven or you know high sixes or whatever like you said you know not saying that that's high per se but the endo probably told you that that we want to like you know get that you know she's really nice to me actually

[00:04:49] Eritrea: my endocrinologist knows how anxious I am and so like once my a1c was a 7.8 and I literally broke down crying in her office which is exactly why she did the drop and run she's like I'm not watching this girl cry today so I think that she was like it's okay like it's a pandemic it's been really tough on a lot of people uh your body's done some amazing things in the last year you know she was really kind to me about it she didn't make me feel bad at all and I was like I want it she was like I was like but I want a six and she's like and we're gonna get it like my I'm really lucky to have a really great support system within my endocrinologist um I'm honestly one of those people that doesn't even go to a regular doctor because I talk to her about everything so yeah I know that I can do it I guess I'm just a little disappointed in myself and I think that's normal when you want but but again it's a weird place to be because when I was younger at my A1c be like 12 and I'd be like I don't care bye and now as an adult I'm like 7.2 girl what so yeah just striving for better every day. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, it's so difficult.

[00:05:50] Rob Howe: A1Cs are tough, man. And relationships with endos are tough. I know that not every endocrinologist is like yours is, you know, has the time or has a good bedside manner. I think there's a lot of shame and stigma. Wow. Shame and stigma. Couldn't talk there. That comes from bad interactions or like tough interactions with endos, but super important to go to the endocrinologist, super important to go to the doctor like it's like directly associated with um long life like people

[00:06:18] Eritrea: who go to the doctor more often yeah i've been reading um think like a pancreas we've been reading that and um i'm like 70 pages in first of all this guy talks in metaphors this book is so good if you've never read it go read it uh by dr Gary Scheiner is he a doctor yeah yeah gary i don't

[00:06:34] Rob Howe: i don't he doesn't go by dr Gary Scheiner like if you call him that he'll correct you but yeah that's

[00:06:39] Eritrea: what I call him. Okay. Well, first of all, I love this guy. I love this guy. So first of all, he talks in metaphors, which is like my thing. Like I love it when someone explained it to me, but I never thought about like the correlation of like your numbers and how long you're alive and how healthy you can be and stuff. I guess I do think about it, but not to the level that it's explained in the book, especially at the beginning. So it is really interesting to think about that. It's like for you, like you don't want to rob yourself from your own future kind

[00:07:02] Rob Howe: of stuff. It's good. It's super like conversational. I'm about 150 pages into it. need to finish it this weekend, but man, it is, yeah, I, I think for somebody who's looking for answers about diabetes as well, not just like right now, but the long-term it it's for people with diabetes that really have enjoyed it so far. So looking forward to doing the review on the pod. I want to talk, go back to the endocrinologist thing. Like having that relationship is super important. I'll give you a little bit of insight as to like, I didn't go to the endo for a number of years because I had this terrible experience with an endocrinologist office in Colorado when I was in college who they had like billed me for something like they were doing some shady billing and whatever my insurance covered they were like marking it up like to cover like that they made the same amount of money for me every time out of pocket which I think is illegal anyway this place I don't see them no more but anyway the bill they had like sent a bill to collections even though my parents had like settled it with them and like paid it to the office but they didn't contact the collections company to like close the account. So I had this account on my credit and it was like the only thing on my credit, cause I think this was probably when I was 18 or 19. And I don't know about you, but I was not concerned about my credit score at that point in my life. And so that was the only thing, like my only credit was a negative derogatory remark. And so when I went to go buy a car, I told the story a couple of weeks ago on the pod, I had like, my credit score was like 500. So it was just terrible. And that was because of diabetes. So I, for a while just had that like in the back of my mind trauma of, well, I don't want to go to the endo because what if they send me a bill that I can't pay or that I don't know about or whatever, and it goes back to collections and I'm screwed. So that was a little bit of it too. It's not just like the physical mental burden of diabetes, but also like financial and all of the other shit that goes along with it.

[00:08:48] Eritrea: I guess it's something that we don't think about all the time. I, you know, you don't even think about how, like, if you don't have access to insurance, well, I guess a lot of people do, but if you don't have access to insurance like then it's almost impossible to build that relationship with an endocrinologist because like or if insurance changes i think about it all the

[00:09:06] Rob Howe: time i don't know you you might not think about it much but i think about it all i try not to think

[00:09:10] Eritrea: about it i try not to think about it i'm like an anxious person who tries like even reading the book i was like oh my goodness there's so much to think about but i try not to think about it i just i'm very blessed i'm very lucky i but there was a time that i wasn't and i like you had multiple doctor offices ruined my credit and I ended up having to like sign up for Parkland Healthcare Plus which is like a free program that they have for homeless people in Dallas I'm dead ass serious and I think it costs like five dollars to get your prescriptions so I was like super lucky I lucked into this program I was able to like still get everything that I needed but it was like impossible to try to see an endocrinologist like it was weeks and weeks and weeks on end just because my financial situation was not ideal and that really sucks like it's almost like putting a

[00:09:50] Rob Howe: value on your life. Like, wow. It really is. And you know, I am also the HR person at my office. So, and we pay a hundred percent of our employee insurance premiums. And so it's renewal season and I'm going through the renewals with my insurance broker. And I'm just like, I'm looking at these things and every year the costs go up, every year the deductibles go up, every year the specialist copay goes up, every year they add a new prescription layer that's more expensive. And it was, you know, I was just thinking of the people who work for me who have, you know, illnesses or people or children with illnesses or whatever. And I'm like, man, the reason that we do this is so that we can help offset some of that cost and give them confidence and keep that continuity. Because if we switch brands of insurance, then maybe our network changes and you can't see the end node. So that back to that, you know, relationship that you developed with your practitioner. practitioner if you can't go see them for a number that you can afford then they're no good to you so

[00:10:50] Eritrea: you know it's um just a challenge new every time like re-explain yourself see someone new new patient paperwork all that stuff yeah it's you're the you're the hr guy at your job which well maybe then i i can talk to you about the thing i want to ask well we can talk about on the pod we talked about earlier um so with the world opening back up and everybody going back to their offices and into their home locations that is beautiful that is wonderful but the news the cdc and all these other places outside of texas seem to be very concerned with the delta variant which i thought was a joke like i was like is this for real are you guys serious um which i mean i don't know correct me if i'm wrong but it's like a mutation of the covid disease like it's a harder bad bigger badder uglier faster stronger oh my god who are we captain marvel but anyway um so my office is going back to the off we're all going back to in person and uh it's like a rotating schedule where i'm only in office two days and whatever but we just had a meeting where we're supposed to come in on fridays now and i'm just kind of really nervous about it it feels like the space that we're going to be in isn't being properly controlled they're not really checking to see who's coming in the building they're not doing any trace checking or anything like that so i felt for the first time in my 20 diabetes years of life compelled to like submit an ada form um and because i think it's relevant we it's recently been the the anniversary of the

[00:12:23] Rob Howe: american disabilities at 30 years which is not very long july 26th of 1990 so i mean i just i

[00:12:32] Eritrea: just i don't know i feel really weird about submitting the paperwork i feel weird about getting it filled out. I almost feel like it's a 504 adult version. And I just, I'm like in my lizard brain about it. At least like my ego is so like hurt over it. Cause it's just like, man, here you go. Diabetic, sick girl needing extra help. And I don't know. I hate it. I hate not

[00:12:51] Rob Howe: being a team player. Well, let's talk about it because I think we've talked about feeling disabled and identifying as disabled and you know, the, the conversation between that balance between, Hey, you can do whatever it is that you want to do, even though you have diabetes, but also if you need help, it is a disability and you have rights and options and walking that fine line. And I think not wanting to feel like a victim or a burden and some of the stigma that goes along with that. And I think that's partially just either being like a first generation American or, you know, parents that, you know, put that, put that in us, instilled that value in us and that kind of type A mentality. And also, you know, sports and like being an athlete, I remember some of the worst times I felt about my diabetes was when I had to pull out of a practice that was very difficult. And I had to watch my teammates go do something without me or go through something hard together. And I had to remove myself because there's no explaining it to them. You know, I look okay. I can come back in later when it's not as intense after I get my blood sugar stable. But those moments felt the worst. I think when you like can't participate in something or you feel like you have an advantage that or an out that your teammates don't have, and they kind of have to suffer without it.

[00:14:02] Eritrea: It's unfair. It makes me feel like, because I'm sure they would all love to be at home also. I know there's a few people who really want to go back and that's great and nobody's mad at them. But there are other people who have kids or whatever and they want to stay home. And I completely understand their fears and they don't get to use, there is no anything for them, right? So it's just like, I can almost, I think about the bad feeling. Yeah.

[00:14:28] Rob Howe: What you said, it's unfair. yes it is diabetes is unfair facts I mean it's just um and you know I think there used to be a lot of negative discourse around like oh well you know you didn't give yourself type 1 like type like people with type 2 and even people with type 2 don't give it to themselves you know it's not it's not a you know cut and dry situation so you didn't do anything to cause it I didn't either and yet at the same time if I don't give myself insulin my blood sugar is going to go haywire I'm not going to be able to do my job at all, much less, you know, participate. So I think you've got to do what you got to do to protect yourself. And I think it's hard to advocate for yourself when there's things that you feel FOMO from and you feel like you may be, or may not have.

[00:15:12] Eritrea: Yeah. Well, and yeah, I feel so like, I feel so strong right now. Like I can run, I can lift, I can do all these things. And yet in the back of my brain, I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm so scared that I'm going to start showing up for the office. And after a year and a half of keeping myself safe, I'm going to get really sick. And it's like, I don't want to be sick. I don't, I'm so scared now. And it's just, I think it's normal. I definitely want to talk to some people about getting a booster shot. Um, I know we talked about it a little bit last week, but maybe next week or sometime soon we'll get someone on who's had the two shots and maybe we can talk about it a bit more. That would be really interesting. Um, cause right now I'm just trying to keep it safe. I'll let y'all know how it goes with my paperwork. If your girls don't have a job or if Rob's going have to hire me full time, but yeah, um, it's, it's going to be a great interview. I'm excited

[00:15:58] Rob Howe: for the show today and yeah. Yeah. And you know, I think if you're feeling weird about your endo feeling weird about your a one C feeling weird about having to go back to the office or not being safe or feeling strange about COVID Delta variant. Yeah. All those things are real and we feel you. Um, I'm right there along with you, you know, I'm wearing my mask in the grocery store now And I'm not doing it. I'm doing it less for me and more of just to, you know, keep up for people who are immunocompromised and really would be hurt by, you know, getting a Delta variant. We are immunocompromised. I know. I know. But I'm also vaccinated. And I feel like the numbers of people who get COVID Delta variant who are vaccinated are favorable. I'm doing. And so I'm just doing what I can to help people around me, you know. So, yeah, we've had people at the office who have like we're doing like the NBA because everything I do is like the NBA. um is we have a covet we have a health and safety protocol so if you get come in contact with somebody who tests positive you got to stay away from the office for three days and get a test but

[00:16:57] Eritrea: at least there's a system that's what i was asking i was like you're the hr guy so like at least there's a system there and i'm sure if like one of your diabetic people was like hey i don't you know there's that's a whole conversation for you guys to have i guess it just makes me nervous when i don't know if the person reading my documentation has diabetes and is gonna to really think I'm for real. I'd be like, she just want to stay home.

[00:17:16] Rob Howe: Yeah. But even if like, it's illegal for them to even suggest that you're, yeah. I mean, that's, that's what the Americans with disabilities act covers is that you can't be discriminated against based on a disability. So, you know, there may be some bad feelings about that from coworkers,

[00:17:30] Eritrea: but legally they can't do that. So I don't know, man, it feels weird though. Doesn't it? It's like

[00:17:37] Rob Howe: playing the disability card, even when you feel strong and, you know, active and having your,

[00:17:43] Eritrea: you know, diabetic summer. Yeah. I did have a hot diabetic summer. It was, it was, I mean, even though it has, it ends with a 7.2, you know, it's okay, girl. We still have fun. Yeah. So, you know, we still got out there. So anyway.

[00:17:56] Rob Howe: Yeah. We also have some cool stuff coming up this week, uh, as a giveaway, we're going to do an email blast and I'm going to put out a special podcast episode with Kendall Simmons, who is the first person with diabetes to win a super bowl. And he is the namesake of the newest myabetic bag, the Simmons Diabetes Duffel. So we're giving away one of the diabetes duffel. It's going to be stuffed with type zero products, who is also the sponsor of this episode. So we're going to have type zero posts coming through here and in a second on the read. And it's also going to have the diabetic hoodie and the sensors fail shirt inside. So it's like a $400 worth of stuff. It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to announcing the winner and to seeing how many people enter. So that's going to be available on our website. And we're going to be promoting it all over our Instagrams as well. So keep an eye out for that.

[00:18:50] Eritrea: Exciting stuff. The Myabetic bag is dope. So all of this stuff is dope. I can't wait to see who gets it either. Yeah, it's going to be awesome. Big stuff coming. Big, big stuff.

[00:18:58] Rob Howe: Just trying to give some stuff back with some of our partners and doing all those things there. I'm really excited for this episode coming up. Gretchen and Paloma are really good friends of mine from the diabetes community. I got to meet them both multiple times and work on a number of whatever diabetes influencer or speaking projects. And that's always been really fun. And they are just two A1 people. And I'm really looking forward to kind of digging into, you know, what their friendship is like and how they turn it into a positive.

[00:19:30] Eritrea: Usually whenever we have guests, I've already met them and like they're my homies or whatever. So now we're meeting Rob's homies, his IRL influencer gang friends. And I'm excited to see, to see that. Like, I don't know, I'm interested, interested to watch and be an anthropologist throughout this episode.

[00:19:47] Rob Howe: Yeah, it'll be fun. And you know, you also know, know them, so it'll be, it'll be great. And I'm hoping that you guys all enjoy, and they are also going to do a takeover for us. So keep a lookout for that by the time this episode is posted, they will have already done it, but go check back their takeover on our Instagram. And so you can see what it's like to live a day in the life of Glitter glucose and type 1 type happy. Okay. We're going to take a quick break and then we'll get to the episode. What's up guys. I got a very important announcement for you today. Not only is this episode sponsored by type zero health, but type zero is now our official fitness partner of diabetics doing things. And that's exciting for me because if you can hear, I'm actually mixing up some type zero NO booster in my shaker cup right now, because I'm about to go work out like I normally do late in the day. And what I want to tell you first about type zero is that for people with diabetes, you can get the boost and the pump you need to crush your workout without having to worry about spiking your blood sugar because type zeros and NO booster is clean. It's caffeine free. It uses natural ingredients, no artificial flavors or colors, and it doesn't spike your blood sugar, but it gets you the pump you need. It also doesn't have caffeine. So I can have it later in the day. Like I am right now, it's about five 30. I've just gotten through my workday and I'm about to go hit the gym. I use it when I play basketball, when I go on a run, when I hit the weight room, which I've been doing a lot lately. And I've been using it to help me shift into workout mode while I'm at home. I get that shaker cup going, mix it up. I'm using the cherry limeade flavor right now. You got to check it out. Type zero health.com for more information. If you use type zero health.com use code Rob how that's my name, Rob how no spaces at checkout and you can get 20% off. Type 0 is a T1D owned business and you know how I love T1D owned businesses. Check out episode 132 for my interview with the founder of Type 0, John Jensen. You can hear his story there. Also check out Type 0's clean nitric oxide supplement. I've been taking it for a few weeks now and it has really powered my recovery. Again, no caffeine, just beetroot, pine bark, arginine, and citrulline, which are natural ingredients. It helps me recover, which is a big part of how I implement my training these days, I've got to be able to recover. I take on a lot of mental non-physical strain. And then with my workout schedule, it's hard for me to recover and bounce back. And this has really helped me. I even left a review on Amazon with a photo of my whoop strap where it shows month over month, how my recovery increased after I introduced the clean nitric oxide supplement. So check that out again, type zero health.com, the official fitness partner of Diabetics Doing Things and use code ROBHOW for 20% off at checkout. All right, back to the episode. Welcome back to a very special episode of Diabetics Doing Things. Not only are Eritrea and I here, we have two incredible guests joining us. You may have heard of them on this pod before. I've got Paloma Guerrero, Glitter Glucose, and I've got Gretchen Otte, Type 1 Type Happy, here in the room with us. Welcome to the show, Gal.

[00:22:49] Paloma Guerrero: Woo! Excited to be here.

[00:22:55] Rob Howe: So August is international friendship month and Eritrea and I were talking, we're like, Oh, who are some friends like with diabetes who, you know, they could tell a story about how like meeting someone with diabetes and like becoming friends has really impacted their life. And immediately I thought of you two as diabetes because I, you guys not only are diabetes in real life, but also share that journey on your platforms. and have been doing some trips together and talking about how lucky you are to have each other in your lives. So I was like, you know what? This is a perfect opportunity to get Gretchen and Paloma back on the pod. So here we are.

[00:23:29] Paloma Guerrero: Oh, I love that. Yeah, I feel so honored and we're excited to share our story as well and spread the friendship love.

[00:23:39] Rob Howe: Yeah.

[00:23:40] Paloma Guerrero: It's also wrong. You're our friend too.

[00:23:42] Rob Howe: I am. This is a two-way street.

[00:23:45] Eritrea: It's a bestie gang in here.

[00:23:47] Rob Howe: yeah i was i was flexing on eritrea in the interview i was like hey i've met like gretchen and paloma multiple times like this is gonna be fine like they're i know they're i know them in real life as well as on the internet it's a real it's a big deal you all three of you guys are big

[00:24:01] Eritrea: deals i feel very honored to be in the same zoom call with you um and to learn all the all the like inner things i'm excited it's gonna be good um i know paloma and gretchen like rob said go on amazing BFF trips. And I think that's like, so interesting and amazing. So I just can't wait to

[00:24:17] Rob Howe: hear all the little insights they share. So let's just back it up a little bit for, you know, because we, you know how this is any of these types of like calls or meetings or panels or whatever, you got to share a little bit of your diabetes origin story. Why don't you guys share, like, let's start with Paloma, talk a little bit about when you were diagnosed and like what that was like for you and, and then do the same thing for Gretchen. And then when you guys connected and how, you know, you grew your, your friendship from just like internet friends to diabetes.

[00:24:45] Paloma Guerrero: Yeah, I think it's funny because mine and Gretchen's story is like kind of similar. We were diagnosed around the same time on diagnosed in 2013. And we both had the same feeling of feeling alone, feeling lost. And I think most people diagnosed with diabetes go through those feelings. and so again both of us sought out the online community and um you know we're really just looking for a place where we belonged and a place where people could say we could share something and someone could say me too like that happened to me too and um that's why I created my persona You know, Beyonce has Sasha Fierce. I have glitter glucose. And I really found like my home. I found my place online and really started connecting with people all over the world who also live with diabetes. And, you know, through that, I was so lucky to meet Gretchen out of all those people. I always say, like, there's no way I would have met Gretchen otherwise. Like, I can't think of a scenario. I don't I would have not met you, Rob. Like, you know, there's so many things about diabetes that suck. But like, there's like some in this space that we're at right now. There's some very special things that I've gained through diabetes.

[00:26:18] Rob Howe: I totally agree. I'm lucky to know both of you, all three of you really.

[00:26:23] Gretchen Otte: Yeah. With my story. Yeah. Like Floma said, very similar. Um, I was diagnosed in 2014. Um, I was 23 years old, so I've already lived my first life. You know, I had like, had everything figured, figured out. um and then after being diagnosed I was like starting from square one I didn't know how to eat drink workout even just be around my other friends um normally because I just there was so much change and so I just felt so alone and I couldn't talk to anyone about it no one understood me um they would just see me taking shots but they didn't see like the internal struggle and like I was carb counting, like all this stuff in my head. Um, so yeah, like Paloma, like the first thing I did was went on Google and I was like people with type 1 diabetes and like only thing that popped up was Nick Jonas. And I was like, cool, but like, I can't relate to him. He's a pop star. Like he's way beyond me. Like I just need like a normal person to just like ask questions and just like be a friend. So yeah, like during that time too, that's when like Instagram was like just starting. So like just like Paloma, like I made a Instagram and blog type 1 type happy just to like journal about what I was going through and just like talk and open it up to conversation and like slowly like try to meet people like through Instagram. And then as Instagram grew as a platform and the diabetes grew, diabetes community grew, then like actually started to like actually make friends and be like, Oh my gosh, this is such an amazing place. And just like Paloma said, like I felt so like heard, so seen, so like, so loved and supported. And it just became like such a great place to just hang out at and like learn new things and make new friends. So like coming from being just depressed and alone to now supported and more confident because I see other people living with diabetes and it really changed my life. Definitely would not be, I would be lost without, without the diabetes community for sure. And I think that

[00:28:36] Rob Howe: was my first thought when Airtria brought up like international friendship month or, you know, worldwide friendship month. We talk a lot about the benefits of having friends with diabetes. And like you said, Gretchen, like there are a lot of people, there are a lot of people with diabetes type 1 and type 2 here in the U S but there's something really special when you meet somebody who would be your friend anyway. And you, diabetes is just what brought you guys together. And that, that is what I think about when I think of you too, I was like, there's diabetes is just something that you have in common along with a list of other, of other things that are normal and just things that you're interested in. What was that like Paloma, like meeting people who you just connected with even beyond diabetes, the diabetes is just the thing that kind of led you

[00:29:16] Paloma Guerrero: to, you know, these people. Yeah. I feel like diabetes is like the thing that opens the door And then like we talk about diabetes things. And then at some point it's like, okay, we get it. Like we have diabetes, like what else about you? And like with Gretchen, literally, we love all the same things like country music, Disney, like fashion and exploring. and me and Gretchen have spent so much like extended time together like morning to night for like 10 days straight you know and like and we never like get tired of it because like we're so easy go we're so just like in sync that it just like works out and so I love when you know that my followers feel like they truly are my friends beyond diabetes like something special that just happened last weekend one of my followers is going to be in like a beauty pageant so she sent me three photos of her dresses and she was like I know you love the glitz and glamour like which one would you choose and I'm like oh my god this is so fun like this is right up my alley. It's like you came to the right place for this question. I like, this is what I'm here for really. So I just love that. I have these real friendships with people all over the world that, you know, diabetes opened the door for. That's so cool. And, you know, I think that's,

[00:30:59] Rob Howe: you know, for me as well, like I think of all my, you know, diabetes bro friends or my, uh, as David Mina hashtag like diet bros, you know, just thinking of all the things and, and, you know, similar to you Paloma, all the things that people message you about or comment about. My favorite is when somebody who is like a parent or a caregiver of a kid with diabetes who plays basketball and they like send me their highlight tape or like a photo of them with like a CGM or like wearing their pump or like in playing basketball. And that like, if you had to put like a, what, what is my like favorite purpose or calling or whatever? Like you said, diabetes opens the door. That is my target audience. Like the, you know, parents of kids who are just trying to live their dream and you know, their parents are worried and they're watching CGMs like while the kids are playing. And it's just like, guys, it's going to be fine. This is, this is a, yeah, I don't know. That's just a really, I think that brings a lot of joy to me that I never would have

[00:31:51] Eritrea: been exposed to otherwise. It really is special. I thought it was interesting when you said that people that you would have been friends with anyway, because I find that like, maybe when you're from separate worlds, like different communities, maybe you never would have been friends, but that diabetes is that thing that brought you together in the first place. And then you find out, Hey, we actually are so much more similar, even though we're from completely different worlds or different States or different places. And I think that's, that's beautiful, man.

[00:32:20] Rob Howe: It is like, and I think it's one of those things, like you said, Paloma, like diabetes sucks. And And there's a lot of it that's just really labor intensive and kind of lives rent free in your mind. And at the same time, there's so much more to a person than just how they manage their diabetes and how many carbs that they count on a daily basis, which is a lot. You know, look at all of us juggling all that math in our heads all the time. You'd love to see it. So for you guys, like you mentioned this pluma and we follow you guys, obviously, and our fans and fans and friends. You guys took a trip together like recently and, you know, spent a lot of time together. What was that like to like take an internet best friend and, and, you know, go on a trip together?

[00:33:02] Gretchen Otte: Oh, it was, it was awesome. I mean, it became the ultimate like girl trip that you could ever want. But yeah, like few, I mean, few years ago, I would never imagine like meeting someone online and like then meeting in person. And then, you know, years later, we're going on like a 10 day trip together to go road trip. So like that, it's just so cool that, you know, our story and like where, how we met and like where we came from, like just blossomed into this awesome friendship. And like Paloma said, that we have so much in common, like first thing being died, like we met just online and then, then actually met each other in person at a diabetes event in LA. And then we were like, you're actually kind of cool. Like, yeah, you have diabetes, but like, we could probably hang a little more. And so we just kept in touch. And then yeah, trips kept going. And yeah, we just ended up on a fun little vacay.

[00:34:04] Eritrea: How was that first trip? Like, I think about like the first time I ever hung out with like another diabetic person outside of like a controlled space, right outside of camp or a convention, right? So like, did you guys go like on a little coffee date? Like, how do you break that ice with that person that you met online for the first time?

[00:34:22] Paloma Guerrero: It's we like kind of jumped right into things. We first met at the diabetes event in LA. And then when I was back in LA, I was like, Hey, you want to go to Disneyland? And we went to Disneyland. And then I had got invited to another like a gala in LA. And I was like, do you want to be my date? and so we went to that and then um I invited her to come to Phoenix and hang out for like a week right before COVID actually hit and um that was I think our first time spending like extended time together and then um yeah I would say like um for most other people like meeting yeah controlled events like that's easier but then yeah it's kind of like to get into our own hands and I feel like with most like other people too like coffee dates are so easy like to put together and like or even if you like to go do like that play basketball together like what like an activity like whatever it is um I think people are so like open to that and like actually make a friendship like a real you know physical thing than just online sounds like there's two ways to go about it so you can

[00:35:39] Eritrea: neither do the coffee date, do the chilies or go hot and heavy Paloma style. Say, I want you to be my best freaking friend. I mean, how else do you tell someone that come to Disney world with me, be my date to this gala home girl. Like Paloma was like, we locked in for life. Gretchen.

[00:35:56] Gretchen Otte: I'm like, you're never getting rid of me.

[00:35:59] Rob Howe: I do have to give Paloma a little bit of credit there though, because you are like always up for an adventure. So I remember I came out to Phoenix right before COVID to speak at a JDRF event and I was like, you know what? If I'm going to Phoenix, like might as well try to figure out a way to work Paloma into the, like to the talk. So we did like a live podcast. And then before, before the event, you put together a happy hour. Like people flew in to that event. Yeah. Like Maddie Spiceball flew in for that event just to go to happy hour with Paloma. Like that's how, that's how serious it is to be a fan of the influence that you have, the power out that we got pedicures and we went to dillard's isn't there a youtube video she swooped me up from the airport uh and we immediately went to get pet to get pedicures and we were in the fiat uh so like yeah got to get in the p-wagon the polona the polona wagon and uh we went to dillard's and like we picked we went shopping and i had a glitter glucose friday it was like the best day

[00:37:00] Eritrea: i mean i think the first time we've ever talked about paloma rob was like she is a real life disney princess eritrea this is not a joke she opens the windows the birds sing like it's all

[00:37:14] Rob Howe: well and and i think too like you mentioned it earlier paloma like you really do honestly connect with the people that you follow that follow you and that you you know have in your community online and i use you as an example like in work like work conversations about influencers of like, and people are like, well, we don't really know what size community. I'm like, Hey, don't look at size of community all the time. I look at the relationship that this person has with the people who are around them and see how much like value and equity that they put in that. And I think that I use you as an example all the time, because you always talk about like, you don't have followers, you have friends and you guys just vibe on whatever it is that you're doing on a, on a given day.

[00:37:54] Eritrea: and it sounds like friendship is just that just vibes just good vibes like you guys just found each other and we're like this works and we happen to carry the same low snacks so boom

[00:38:04] Paloma Guerrero: exactly i remember like we're partying at the bar um and like just like no big deal um like i getting a low so like she hands me like uh gummy bears and we're just still like dancing in the dance floor of the bar and I'm like eating gummy bears and then like she pulls out her like pump from her bra like to like give herself insulin and we're just having the best time but like living life but also taking care of our diabetes together like just living it

[00:38:33] Eritrea: disco margs bad girls diabetes collab I love it all all the vibes all the vibes so has there ever been like a friend like hey other than gummy bears like oh no she's really low I need to help my diabetes friend in this situation? Cause I know what she's going through kind of, or you guys both

[00:38:51] Paloma Guerrero: like very solid humans. Um, uh, Gretchen saves me more than I save her. That's true. She never has on her. I always carry the snacks. A friend with snacks is a friend indeed. And I think that

[00:39:10] Rob Howe: applies like outside of diabetes as well. But, um, I also used to be bad. Don't feel bad. Paloma. I also used to never carry snacks because I could just go to like seven 11 and grab like, you know, you know, walk from my office or whatever. But now I have a stasher bag and my little, you know, I'm glad shout out fanny packs and cross bodies have come back into fashion for dudes. So I wear them and I got a stasher bag with gummy bears in there at all times. Sorry. Sorry, movie theater. I'm sneaking in these gummy bears in. Oh yeah. So in the diabetes friendship,

[00:39:39] Eritrea: you need those responsible friend. And then we've got the, I forget my lowest next everywhere friend. That's interesting that it really reminds me of my dynamic with my, with my DBFF also. Cause it's like, somebody has got to be in charge here. Like somebody has got to be prepared for

[00:39:53] Rob Howe: the both of us. How nice is it though? It's like, just to have a normal conversation and be like, Oh man, I really need snacks or I need a juice box. And like, I know you have one and I don't like, what, what is that feeling? Like just to know that you can rely on somebody.

[00:40:08] Paloma Guerrero: so like natural like I feel like most of those like comments if you're around anywhere else or with any other person you kind of keep them to yourself and like so you just kind of have to figure it out yourself but like it just kind of feels so like relieving and like natural you just kind of like say it out loud and like whatever like oh I'm high and like she'll like get it like if you don't have to kind of like tiptoe around like what you're saying or be scared that you're going to like offend someone for bringing out your needles or something. Um, it's just, yeah, it just feels good. Like relaxing. I say I'm high in front of other friends. They assume other things. Yeah. We can just say whatever we feel and we can get it. And it's just normal. It's

[00:40:56] Rob Howe: just normalized, right? Normal. And you know, when people see you guys dancing at the bar, the first thing they don't see, they don't see diabetes in there at all. They, they see two girls living their best life. And, uh, you know, they, they don't know that, you know, when you, you maybe didn't order a diet drink or maybe it's a, like for me, if I'm like partying, I usually drink like vodka. Red bull is like my party drink, which is rare these days. Cause you know, we're at home, but, uh, I don't have RBVs in my kitchen guys, but I do like, uh, and one time I remember being in Vegas and I was like going back to the bar and my blood sugar was like a little bit low and i was like you know what no need for diet red bull on this one we're going we're going the real thing we're just going to treat this low with a cocktail

[00:41:37] Eritrea: i am hard judging you on that being your cocktail choice i just want i want you to know that like like that gives me big f-word boy vibes oh for sure and vodka friend my wife plucked me out of

[00:41:51] Rob Howe: the the the ranks of of toxic dudes for sure you're in the sunken place thank god yeah but Like I work hard. Like if I'm going to be up past like 1130 party and I got to have a little stimulant in there with some Red Bulls. So that's my, that's my excuse.

[00:42:05] Eritrea: Don Draper think. What would Don say? Yeah. I don't know. Move forward is what he would say.

[00:42:11] Rob Howe: But yeah. So one thing I also really like about both of you guys is how transparent you are with how you're feeling about diabetes. And I think Gretchen, maybe I asked you this first, but you are really open about feeling burnt out about diabetes. And I know even in the past, like, and in Paloma, you can speak to this as well as like, you don't just live with diabetes. You also work in diabetes in some capacity. And like, you have these online platforms and you're involved in diabetes at a lot of different levels. Uh, and Gretchen, you talk a lot about how that can be overwhelming at times. And like, you, you know, have the need to find that balance and kind of step away or just, you know, make sure that you're okay with yourself. How do you,

[00:42:45] Paloma Guerrero: how do you kind of manage those things? Yeah, definitely. Burnout is a real thing. And we've talked about in the past to like diet, uh, burnout with diabetes itself. And then also like social diabetes burnout. Um, so those are two like big things. And for me, like, I mean, just the social aspect, sometimes it's like, you need to like step away from Instagram or, you know, cause you get tired of people or if you, you follow people like showing their numbers, you just, it's all diabetes. You're like, you know, I should step away and like, just kind of like forget about it and let it go um and like go do something that like makes you happy like that's always like makes me feel good and then like with actual like diabetes burnout that's what's so good about like having like a diabetes because for me like when i'm tired and like just don't want to deal with all this like stuff like i the first thing i do is like call or text like paloma and be like dude like I am not having a diabetes day. Like, I'm so sick of this shit. Like, sorry, sorry. You can, you can say that air train curses all the time. You know, I got, I got all into it. Um, but yeah. And just like really venting to a true friend that like understands and like, doesn't have to ask you any questions. They just get it. And like, they could even give you tips too. And like, or they're going through it too. Um, I think just having a friend like has really helped me a bunch with with that yeah I was gonna say the exact same thing is that not only can I vent to Gretchen about diabetes itself and how much that sucks and I can also vent about the job aspect because we have the same job essentially so like she gets it on both like a professional level and like an emotional level of living with a disease itself so it makes the world of a difference like who else can I go to that like really gets it I can talk to my friends about it but and they could be like yeah yeah that that sucks you know they can try they can like try their best but they don't really know right right but like Gretchen feels it knows it and has been

[00:44:57] Eritrea: there herself too. Really special when you don't have to explain your experience and you guys can just like said vibe, like, man, this really sucks, or I need help with this. And I'm so many DVFFs do that and just be like a good sounding board for that person to make either a better decision or, you know, do you guys ever like complain about diabetes stuff to each other? Like about like, oh, I'm going to try this and I haven't tried it yet. Or I'm going to get on this medication and it's new. Like, have you done it? Stuff like that. Like. Oh, yeah, definitely.

[00:45:27] Paloma Guerrero: I mean, even, even with the, um, the Libre, like, uh, Paloma was on it first. And then, so I was asking her like all these questions and like, really like watching her put it on, like figure that out, like what that's like. Um, and then like, I ended up getting one later. So like, it was just cool to be able to kind of see it actually in action rather than just like read it on a website. Cause you don't know what the actual, like using it is like. So seeing her live her life with it. And I was like, I could do that too. So then I got interested in it. So it's always cool when stuff like that happens. Yeah. Cause your friend gives you the real, yeah, the real. That's true. That's how I felt about insulin pens because I had been on a punk most of the time with, um, of having diabetes, but I always thought I can't be on pens because I like to do this and that and whatever. And then I'm like, but so does Gretchen. She does all the same things I do and she uses pens so I can make the switch too and so I was on pens for like over a year and really loved it now I'm on the pump again but um I felt like I could do it because I knew Gretchen was

[00:46:33] Eritrea: doing it I saw you last summer Paloma get off your pump for the summer and I really thought about doing it too like I see how that can translate to Instagram like that same friendship thing of like well my because in my head you're my friend Paloma I'm sorry I'm lame but I'm like my friend Paloma can do it. Like, Oh, she does stuff like that all the time. Like you can take a break from your pump. It's not a big deal. Like that. I don't know. It's just, it's definitely changing the game because it makes scary things that look scary, not as scary. Yeah. And I mean, like I think about

[00:47:03] Rob Howe: that a lot in terms of just the diabetes community in general. I remember Gretchen, you ran the New York city marathon a few years ago. And that was one of the reasons why like I felt confident in running a marathon i was like oh yeah i know gretchen and marie nerds can fight marie diaz shout out marie the the ultimate podcast fan um she you guys ran the new york city marathon and i mean and robin arzon ran it too and she ran it in like 30 minutes but i was like okay like i'm probably not probably not there but because like gretchen and marie are real people who i know and like you know managed it and like i saw you guys do it you were sharing all of your running journeys and all these things i was like wow like i really this is doable this this can be

[00:47:43] Eritrea: done. And sure enough, there it is. The marathon, the marathon that we told us about last week, was that the same marathon that you talked about? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. That was the one that we

[00:47:52] Rob Howe: talked about. Uh, but yeah, they ran the New York city marathon in like 2017, I think. Right. Maybe, I don't know. And, uh, yeah, they did. That was the first time I had really like, that was one of the early on in the diabetes community and my journey in the diabetes community as well. And just seeing people who were normal and not like freak athletes, uh, you know, you know, and not, not to say that you guys aren't great athletes, but you were, you guys are normal people and like had jobs and like things to dedicate yourselves to outside of training.

[00:48:20] Eritrea: And you did an awesome job. So it was a new diabetic. Like she had only been diabetic for three years. That's insane. Gretchen. I didn't, I didn't know that about you. Wow. That's so

[00:48:29] Gretchen Otte: inspiring. Thank you. Yeah, it was, I mean, I was kind of nuts for doing it, but I was like, I just, I just wanted to do it. Like I kind of want to prove to myself that like, yeah, I have diabetes, but like, I can still run a marathon. It's okay. And that's, yeah, that's, that's what both me and Paloma like to do is just like, we like to live our life and like inspire people to want to do those things, to live a normal life or live their life to the fullest. Like we travel, we adventure, we got the bars, we go to country, um, country concerts, um, all the things like, and people can see it and we share it just so that right there. So people could be inspired to do it and be like, Oh, they could do it. Like I've always wanted to do that.

[00:49:08] Rob Howe: I'm going to do it. So we love that. And Paloma, I do, I do make jokes to Eritrea that like you are a real life Disney princess. And I, and I mean that with, with all my heart, cause it's true, I think, but you also are pretty adventurous and you know, it's not all, you know, sometimes glitter glucose puts her hair up and gets on the trail or like rides a bus to Mexico to do a story about insulin access. Like people forget, like Paloma gets, like she gets out there in the

[00:49:35] Paloma Guerrero: outdoors like what's what is outdoorsy paloma like yeah i you know what is funny i had thought about this recently my first real like adventure was a slipstream so like a diabetes event uh the camp i at that point i had never even owned sneakers i didn't have sneakers and i needed like active wear to go to camp. So I went to Nordstrom. I mean, we love Nordstrom. I love

[00:50:09] Rob Howe: Nordstrom, but that is not, that is off brand for glitter glucose. Is that your mothership?

[00:50:14] Paloma Guerrero: Like, but I was just like, I don't even know, like, I didn't know like where to get active wear. And, um, I got sneakers and I got like a workout outfit and I, I remember telling the organizer of the camp that I would go but I probably wouldn't be able to keep up and that I'd probably sit a lot of things out because I thought that that's not me I'm a girl who wears dresses and likes glitter and and makeup like what am I doing at an adventure camp you know and so I went and I like was like you know what I'm here why not like try these things and I fell in love with them and was like I've been missing out like what else can I do and that's why I started paddleboarding and hiking and doing all these things and I'm like wow like I almost missed out because I I told myself I wouldn't be able to do it but once I was there I was like YOLO let me try it and here we are and look at Paloma now like we've gone on so many adventures like that's I mean we love that doing that kind of stuff together and like who would have thought that like me and Paloma would be out on Lake Powell paddleboarding our hearts out with against the current for five hours it's supposed to be like a two hour on a flat paddleboard okay that was our bad that was our bad we didn't like pump it up all the way but we we thought we got it um but it's just supposed to be a little two hour like little little rowing thing but we We were against the current. There were winds picked up. All of the elements were against us. But in five hours later, we paddled back home. Hours. It took a long hustle. I thought I was going to have to get rescued, honestly.

[00:52:06] Eritrea: Because it was unexpected, right? You didn't expect it to be the entire five hours and on time.

[00:52:12] Rob Howe: I got an embarrassing paddleboarding story if you guys are up for it. Because it happens. You got to be prepared. Especially if you have diabetes. you got to be prepared if you go on a paddleboarding adventure because you never know. So I was in Hood River, Oregon with a friend of mine who also has diabetes. Wow, I didn't even connect this at the time. So Emily, who's a friend of the pod, and it was one of my first ever friends with diabetes even way before Instagram. Hood River, Oregon is like the paddleboarding capital of the world and like windsurfing. And the Columbia River is like super windy and like lots of waves. Anyway, she was like, we got to go paddleboarding. And I love paddleboarding. but I got on the paddleboard backwards. Like when we went, like we pushed off. So like the fin was like going backwards facing me. And I just like kept, it was so windy and I was like falling over the place, but I was like so determined to like make it work. And I, and then I didn't realize until like I was 50 feet from the, uh, like the doc and the guy was like waving me and he's like, just turn it around. And I was like, Oh, okay. So that's my embarrassing paddleboard story.

[00:53:13] Eritrea: can you just imagine like all six million feet of rob in a paddleboard just like trying to turn

[00:53:19] Rob Howe: around it was it was like being tall did not help me there i like hit like hard i ate it hard a couple times just because like yeah i was doing it wrong what do you what do you know so funny

[00:53:28] Paloma Guerrero: oh my god that is hilarious no that that memory of with me and gretchen like i will never forget that like first of all it was so much work to like air up the paddleboards and like bring it down the hill and and all that and Gretchen's a lot stronger than me so she she took my board with her and she put it in the water for me and then because of COVID Antelope Canyon is closed to like tour but you can get there on the water so we're like hey it's like an hour paddle we'll like take an hour there we'll take pictures hang out we'll paddle back but on the way back it was like the current was just so tough that it took us hours and we made it so thankful I had to have my lows snap I actually had a pack of gummy bears in my fanny pack this time and um I had to have those and someone actually asked me if I needed a toe because my paddleboard was so flat. And I was like, no, I almost made it. And I regret it. I should have taken the offer.

[00:54:43] Rob Howe: Always take the toe if somebody's asking, right?

[00:54:46] Eritrea: Man, five hours. We didn't have lunch on this kayak. Like, what was the plan here?

[00:54:52] Rob Howe: That's like a work day.

[00:54:54] Eritrea: Oh, my goodness. All we had was gummy bears and each other's smiles to make it. Like, what is that? Y'all were out there with a juice box and a prayer.

[00:55:02] Paloma Guerrero: Like we were not smiling on the way back. It was absolutely miserable. We'd get around a band and we're like, we're almost there, almost there. And then we'll get around and we're like, it's another band. And we're not almost there.

[00:55:18] Eritrea: So now you guys know at all the listeners of the pod.

[00:55:22] Rob Howe: Honestly, I feel like this is every hiking adventure or like rafting adventure I've ever been on. Always. something always goes weird and like it ends up being way longer than than we planned uh so

[00:55:32] Paloma Guerrero: adventure is an adventure and a great memory and made us closer together and we survived death together nothing like a near-death experience

[00:55:46] Rob Howe: well that's so cool yeah i i mean and i think again just a great example of like when you're with the right people and you have the right people in your life even a tough situation can be super enjoyable and a good, like a memory and it all works out. So I'm sure people have, you have conversations with people all the time on, on your channels about finding a friend or feeling alone. Like what would you tell somebody who hasn't found their diabetes BFF, their diabetes yet? Like, but they're looking, what would you tell them? You want to go good?

[00:56:20] Gretchen Otte: Okay. Yeah, I can go. Sorry. I totally ambushed you guys with this question. No, no. Yeah. Yeah. It happens a lot. And like, I mean, obviously both me and Paloma are always open to friends. Like we're always open to like talk to people, whatever they need. Like, of course we're always that person. But a lot of people also ask like friends, like friends that they actually meet up with, like in their town or like, like that are, that's close to them. And so like a lot of times, I mean, this was, I mean, pre COVID stuff when there was events going on um there was always like you know jdrf like events and galas or like there was a bunch of people putting on meetups and as as like big as the community is like i feel like there's at least someone somewhere that i could connect with then to connect with them um and so that's always like a great a great way and like honestly too if you find a friend like on Instagram and you like them, like just slide into their DMS. Like everyone is looking for a diabetes friend and like, everyone loves like those DMS was like, Hey, you have diabetes. I diabetes too. Like let's be friends or can we talk or, you know, like, I think that's always just a great first connection. We're always open for each other. So I just like, just do it. Like, you don't have to be afraid about, about it. Shoot your shot. Shoot your DM shot. yeah exactly and I always feel like just be if you're open about diabetes like some thing will come like I was wearing I was at the gym and you know my CGM is showing and someone comes up to me they're like is that a is that a sensor you're wearing yes he's like I have diabetes too and there's another guy I saw at the gym with diabetes too I'm like cool now I have gym buddies with diabetes you know so it's like because I wasn't hiding my sensor it opened the door for someone to visually see that I have diabetes I can't tell you how many times that's happened to me too like I'd be wearing my sensor and like this girl would come running up to me like oh my gosh is that like do you have type 1 diabetes I'm like yes and she was like I do too like let's be friends I'm like okay let's do it like it's like the eyes watering emoji like like eyes blowing up yes exactly like i'm always that person too i see someone and like i'm just gonna go for it and like everyone is always so excited to like meet another diabetic in the wild you know i think it's just it's so fun it's so cool i try to think about it

[00:58:57] Eritrea: is like how would you feel if someone ran up to you you would be excited all right bet i'm about to make your day unless it's a little kid who's gonna like shame you for it like what are some of those kids who are like used to seeing other diabetics, but yeah, no, it's always worth it to run up to someone and be like, Hey, new friend. I do. I do it now too. People get weirded out.

[00:59:15] Paloma Guerrero: Oh yeah. I've, I've done it like in the bar. I've done it at a concert, but, and at, and at the beach. Um, but like people, people have always been very excited and, um, and they love it. Cause I'm like, not to be like really like weird. Like, I just want to say, hi, I noticed your sensor on your arm like I have the same one I have type 1 diabetes and I just think it's so cool I just want to say hi and like you're doing great do your um do any of your fans so okay so like

[00:59:43] Eritrea: small little story um apparently one of my brothers was at a baseball game and he saw a person with a dexcom and like to all his friends was like that person has diabetes I wonder if they know my sister they should know my sister and he like went to go try and make friends so like do your family members also like do stuff like that where they're like I saw a type 1 diabetic at this place do you possibly know them like just all the time because I guess now we're

[01:00:05] Paloma Guerrero: the type 1 diabetes people it's just interesting to me definitely my biggest fan and um loves to get me new followers actually something really funny happened last weekend I went out to the bar with a friend and um she went to the bathroom I I didn't go but I guess there was a girl with diabetes in the bathroom so she's like let me have your phone and she's like i'm gonna i'm gonna have you follow my friend paloma and she like put in and then like she came back from the bathroom she's like oh that girl she has diabetes i told her follow you putting you on new diabetes i love

[01:00:45] Rob Howe: it gotta have your where would we be without moms you know i mean and i can imagine paloma's mom

[01:00:50] Paloma Guerrero: being like my daughter is glitter glucose oh she's my my mom goes into fries you know the grocery store oh do we know it or what we of course we know she's like did you see what glitter glucose is advertising this week

[01:01:09] Rob Howe: oh that's so fun hi i want to i want to put you guys on the spot a little bit because gretchen you said like the DMS are open. Uh, what are the DMS like for you these days? Paloma? What is, uh, like what's that, what's popping on IG for, for glitter glucose in the DMS?

[01:01:29] Paloma Guerrero: You really, you guys are all going there right now. Paloma's face guys is so pink. It is the

[01:01:37] Eritrea: color of her shirt. Oh my gosh. Sorry. I had to put you on the spot,

[01:01:44] Paloma Guerrero: but things are fun in the dms people are looking for me and people are wanting to get to know me

[01:01:53] Eritrea: as they should poem is a very interesting girl you know

[01:01:59] Rob Howe: people are shooting their shot i like love to see it you love we love a good underdog story

[01:02:04] Paloma Guerrero: oh my god but when i meet people out in public or like on an app or something i never say i'm glitter glucose i say i work in marketing so oh my favorite thing is her nickname

[01:02:21] Eritrea: oh yeah do you do you can you tell them or is that or is this that close friends only

[01:02:28] Rob Howe: you're gonna broadcast it now yeah well i'm gonna have to edit this out now because we can't we can't

[01:02:34] Paloma Guerrero: let it slip that there's a secret group so oh yeah sorry um no i if people don't know me and they meet me out or they meet me online my name's lola rob's face

[01:02:51] Rob Howe: yo i've met a lot of girls in my life this is like i've never met one that was like i'm lola never met one not one but i i mean i you know that's a that's a name that you call back i feel

[01:03:02] Paloma Guerrero: like and i can't have them googling paloma no no they'd find you quick girl i didn't think about

[01:03:10] Eritrea: that you would give yourself away what about you gretchen do you tell people yes i'm type 1 type happy come find me no no what's your alias i don't really like have an alias i don't know i'm not as

[01:03:24] Gretchen Otte: like fun as paloma i just gotta do the same thing i just like yeah i'm gretchen work good marketing

[01:03:31] Eritrea: as well in the story i don't know oh okay so i have a question now so have you ever i guess have they ever found out where like what you actually do and then been more about the spotlight than you has that ever happened since i have these three mega influencers in here i guess does that ever happen to you guys it's like oh she's got clout let me give some

[01:03:55] Paloma Guerrero: a clout grabber we just call jersey chasers oh yes cleat chasers there you go stop not cleat chasers no but um one no one time a guy just made like a really a comment i did not like he was like oh you get like all these perks or whatever from being an influencer just think about me next time and see like what they could get for me too i'm like ew no like this is about

[01:04:29] Rob Howe: me you could have handed him like a freestyle free like freestyle libre 14-day trial

[01:04:35] Gretchen Otte: that's so funny that's so weird i've never had something like that happen i've kind of had the opposite where I was like dating a guy and like we went out to a bar and a random girl like noticed like knew who I was and she came up to me with her boyfriend she's like oh my gosh you're type 1 type happy like it's so cool to meet you am I and the guy I was dating was like what's happening

[01:05:04] Eritrea: who are you what what in what capacity are you super important can you yeah like am I missing

[01:05:12] Gretchen Otte: something like he even told me about this I was like oh I don't know oh just you know this happens

[01:05:18] Eritrea: yeah it's just a what about like go ahead Rob sorry I like so the first person you guys know

[01:05:25] Rob Howe: Raquel type 1 day uh so she was the first person to recognize me in public uh from Instagram uh and like because I was playing in a basketball league and she was at that gym like working out and she like DM'd me I was like hey this is super weird but are you playing basketball right now at this gym and I was like yeah that's me that's that's that's so crazy so that was that was my first like in public sighting did you ever like what's your most memorable like hey your glitter

[01:05:52] Paloma Guerrero: glucose moment paloma do you have one um yeah i was actually at starbucks in scottsdale and a family came up to me and they're like are you glitter glucose and i looked so ugly that day and I was so embarrassed I was like yes I was like stuttering and everything they're like we follow you um and all these things and now this is like my second family like I basically live with them and and I think you know them Rob Tracy McCarter and her family and I'm like now the teenager she's 17 she has diabetes i say she's my sister like i just gained a new family because they recognized me at starbucks as glitter glucose that's so fun amazing you're building

[01:06:46] Eritrea: these amazing community ties yeah and i like myself into people's lives i'm like i'm in your life now

[01:06:57] Rob Howe: it's just you and your cats right you just you slide the slide through and now and you and now

[01:07:02] Eritrea: you're part of the family yeah so you guys you share so much online like you share like your what you're going through with your diabetes your friendships the sometimes even pull my shared like other stuff and i mean i find it all so vulnerable do you ever find yourself like not wanting to share certain parts of your life because you have such a following because you guys are so big on the internet are there things that you're just like this is just for me

[01:07:30] Paloma Guerrero: um rich and like solemnly nods like no comment yeah i feel like yes and no like i feel like if i'm going through something tough or something private like i keep it in and i'm but like glitter glucose is just like who I am. So when I'm like holding in something, I just don't feel like myself. And I'm just like, I'm just going to share even if it's vulnerable, if it's embarrassing, if it's whatever, you know, and then like, I'm, I ended up being so glad that I did because there's always someone out there who can relate or who was waiting to hear that someone else is in the same situation or even fun things like dating you know when I do share those tidbits it's just like oh do I really want to put myself out there that I'm on the dating apps or whatever you know and then I share and people love it and I I just feel more free and I'm just like there's no for me there's no differentiating paloma and glitter glucose so it's just like all all on there yeah I'd have to like totally agree with that. And like, even in the diabetes realm, when you're having like a bad diabetes day or like you have a super high number, like I did this morning, um, it's like, I could keep that in or like, sometimes I share it because like, or, and I would have, I would share my graph and it's like all above, you know, where you're, where your range is supposed to be. And like, yeah, that sucks. But like, I share it and like, I feel like so many people are just like comforted by that. And that gives me comfort that like, I'm not alone because I feel like, I feel like I'm a terrible diabetic myself. And then I put it out there and I see all these other people going through it. Or they're like, I'm so glad that you shared that with me because I don't feel so alone. And that makes me feel good and then feel good. So at the end of the day, like it does feel good to like share those kinds of like more vulnerable times that that we have actually there's something that happened recently Gretchen so there's a photo of myself and Gretchen being used as an ad and in it showing our graphs and mine's like good and Gretchen's is like to something going up and she's showing it and she's smiling and we're having fun so somebody in a private Facebook group or something screenshotted the ad and was like I just can't understand why this is being used as an ad and why the girl in the photo is smiling it just seems like this doesn't make sense yeah yeah all the comments underneath were actually really nice in support of Gretchen and we're like uh maybe because diabetes isn't always like good or maybe because diabetes isn't always like a flat graph so that's why she's showing and I sent it to Gretchen she's like am I supposed to be like like frowning because she's like I'm having fun with my friend and we're having like a good time like maybe this is so much more complicated than like

[01:10:43] Rob Howe: a stock photo of somebody holding a high number with a sad face you know and I think that's like

[01:10:49] Paloma Guerrero: really cool to actually to have as an ad like if I were a person I saw that ad and like someone was like they showed a good number and a bad number but but they're both having a good time I'd be like, Oh, so it is kind of normal to like have those bad days. Like I shouldn't be sitting in the corner crying because I have a high blood sugar. Like, no, I'm still, I took the insulin I need to take to bring it down, but I can't sit around and wait for it to kick in. I'm still going to smile and have fun with my friends. Like it's not a big deal. Eritrea and I were talking

[01:11:18] Rob Howe: about this in our intro. We talked about a one C's and how, no matter how in control your a one C's are, every time you get it taken, you have a little bit of anxiety because you don't want to feel bad, you know, or you've had bad experiences in the past and it's so good to normalize like a glucose excursions are so normal. Even people without diabetes go on them. They just don't have the numbers to show for it, you know? So having a high blood sugar is part of our life. Like having low blood sugar is part of our lives and no technology that's available right now. We'll just totally eliminate that. So yeah, I agree with you. I think it's super good because you never know, like somebody seeing that ad where like They might not be connected to any other diabetes people. They may not be out with their diabetes, so to speak, but they see a number that represents them. And for the first time, maybe they're open to using something new. So yeah, I think we don't have to always dress it up and act like everything's okay or that everybody's blood sugar is 100 all the time.

[01:12:13] Eritrea: Totally. Except for the man who posted that. Somebody should check on him. Is he okay? I'm sorry to this man. Bro, tell me you're a hater without telling me you're a hater. He was like, my A1C is a five. how dare this girl smile on a random photo on the internet i'm pissed and you should know how

[01:12:27] Paloma Guerrero: dare she be happy yeah like girl what you were having a valentine's day brunch when that photo was taken so like how could we be sad yeah no kidding nothing else nothing spikes my glucose

[01:12:40] Eritrea: quite like a mimosa brunch hey yo i mean i've definitely looked at it haven't you ever like looked at your sugar and be like oh man 329 worth it no problem next no problem yeah

[01:12:51] Rob Howe: up. Uh, well, Gretchen and Paloma, AKA Lola, uh, it's so great to have you guys on. Uh, this was a big bright spot of my day, just like I knew it would be. It was so great to catch up with you guys again. And thank you for always being supportive of this pod and just being good internet friends and real life friends with diabetes. I just want to thank you guys for all that you guys do. And just for being cool people that are always up to jump on a zoom on

[01:13:18] Paloma Guerrero: a Friday afternoon and chat about diabetes. Cool. I love it. Thanks for having us. This was so much fun.