Summary
In this episode, two university presidents, Dr. Sally Kornbluth (MIT) and Ron Daniels (Johns Hopkins) join Rob to talk about adult-onset Type 1 (LADA), leading in high-performance environments, and the single most “practical” diabetes upgrade: making a friend with diabetes. What stands out isn’t prestige—it’s how candidly they describe the everyday realities: managing highs and lows during major speeches, checking pumps in meetings, and staying open about diabetes to normalize it for everyone around them. The conversation also connects diabetes progress to the university research engine—past (insulin’s discovery era) and future (stem cell/islet replacement, closed-loop algorithms, and emerging trials).
Chapters
00:26: Diagnosis stories through high-performance leadership lens + “patients first” approach
01:02: Sally Kornbluth’s adult-onset Type 1 (LADA) diagnosis
02:55: Ron Daniels’ adult-onset Type 1 diagnosis
06:08: Adult-onset Type 1, LADA, and misdiagnosis risk
08:29: Carbs, discipline, and the real lifestyle tradeoffs
10:19: The biggest adjustment: mental load + fear of lows
13:30: How they found each other + why “a friend with diabetes” changes everything
21:41: Universities power diabetes progress (and what’s next)
42:45: Closing lessons: openness, resilience, and gratitude
Resources
