June is Pride Month and to celebrate Pride in the Diabetes community, we are highlighting amazing stories from the LGBTQ+ diabetes community to show that diabetes doesn’t stop you from being who you are and living your best life. Please be welcoming and respectful to our guests and if you feel the need to be bigoted, hateful or discriminatory, we will protect our guests and respond in-kind. Happy Pride!

In this episode of Diabetes Doing Things, Tanner Saunders shares his personal journey of being diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, highlighting the intersection of travel, diabetes management, and finding a supportive community. The conversation also includes stories about him and his partner, who both have diabetes and work in the journalism industry, emphasizing their synchronized approach to managing their health condition. Additionally, the episode explores his experience working in travel while living with diabetes, discussing the challenges and strategies involved in traveling with the condition.

Topics discussed:

• Personal Journey with Diabetes

• Being diagnosed with diabetes at a young age

• Embracing self-reliance and independence in managing insulin injections

• Importance of empowerment and self-care in living with diabetes

• Normalizing diabetes in small-town communities and schools

• Challenges of explaining the condition to peers and adults

• Balancing freedom and support from parents

• Relationship Dynamics with Diabetes

• Couple's experiences: Meeting through work and bonding over diabetes

• Synchronized management using Omnipod and DexCom

• Navigating conflicts and daily life while supporting each other

• Traveling with Diabetes

• Informing airline staff about the condition

• Managing supplies and blood sugar levels during flights

• Travel accessibility regardless of financial status

• Setting goals, utilizing resources like the Points Guy, and using credit cards for travel benefits

• Exploring local and international destinations for personal growth

• Finding joy in travel experiences despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic

  
  References:

  The Points Guy

  Omnipod

  DexCom 

  Tanner Saunders' Instagram

  
  00:00  Exploring the World with Diabetes: A Special Guest on Travel Stories

  00:03  Exploring the Connection Between Travel, Independence, and Diabetes with Tanner Saunders

  03:05  Growing Up with Diabetes: A Journey of Independence and Community Support

  07:53  Navigating Diabetes Advocacy and Independence from a Young Age

  14:58  A Unique Love Story: Navigating a Relationship with Diabetes Together

  18:39  Navigating Independence and Partnership with Diabetes: A Heartfelt Journey

  26:41  Navigating Travel as a Diabetic: Personal Experiences and Tips

  31:43  Navigating Air Travel with Diabetes: Personal Experiences and Precautions

  35:38  Traveling with Diabetes: Tips and Tricks for Staying Prepared

  42:20  Unlocking Travel Experiences: Tips and Inspiration

  50:05  Exploring the Mundane to Find Marvelous Experiences: An Inspiring Conversation with Tanner Saunders

  54:24  Empowering Pride Message with a Call to Action