Name: Mandy Marquardt
Hometown: Allentown, PA
Date of Diagnosis: 11.01.2018
Tool: Track Cycling and inspiring, educating and empowering people affected by diabetes
Diabetes Devices/Treatment Methods: Multiple Daily Injections and Continuous Glucose Monitor
Animal Personality: I'm a leo, so definitely a lion
Name: Ali Abdulkareem
Hometown: San Diego, CA via Baghdad
Date of Diagnosis: 11.14.2015
Tool: Consistent open minded learning
Diabetes Devices/Treatment Methods: Omnipod, Novolog. Still on the fence on going back to Novolog/Tresibia/Novolin R using syringes.
Animal Personality: Cheetah
It’s that time of year again! The final podcast of 2018.
Rob sits down solo to talk about all the ups and downs of 2018. From appearing in Medtronic’s “Inspired by You” TV commercial, to the American Diabetes Association Conference, to the first international trip for Diabetics Doing Things, 2018 was a marquee year. But it was not without loss. Rob opens up and talks about losing his father, and how that has affected the way he looks at the world and why it means there will be more effort put into meaningful relationships and helping people with Diabetes more than ever.
Rob also shares his travel schedule for the first quarter of 2019, and teases out his newest project “Tools of Type 1s” which will debut on January 8, 2019.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from Rob and the rest of the Diabetics Doing Things team.
This is the second to last episode of 2018! Alyssa Soukup (@ddpyblog on Instagram) from St. Paul Minnesota, was diagnosed in early 2016 at the age of 25.
Alyssa takes us through some of the emotions that go along with being diagnosed later in life, and some of the lifestyle changes she’s made as a result of her T1D.
She also talks about where the inspiration for the DDPY Blog (Diabetic Dancing Pescatarian Yogi) came from, and walks us through her experience as a professional dancer. When Alyssa was 18, she picked up the book “Skinny Bitch” thinking that it would be a humorous read, and discovered many principles of Veganism that others have shared on the pod as well. Although after living as a vegan for some time, Alyssa discovered that the pescatarian diet would be more suitable to her long term.
She is a super great resource and I’m glad she took the time to come on the podcast. Give her pages a follow!
Amy McKinnon (@amymckinnonnutrition on instagram) joins the podcast in yet another episode I thought I’d lost but that has since been found! Amy is a Type-1 Diabetic, nutritionist and long distance runner.
Amy and I talk about her diagnosis at the age of 12, and all the little things that pile up to make a big difference when you’re diagnosed as a teen. Diabetes is the experiment with too many inputs, and Amy discusses how her diet, exercise and mindfulness routines help her maintain a balance, even while running marathons all over the world.
Amy has run 7 marathons and over 40 half marathons over the past 5 years, and has qualified for the Boston Marathon 3 times. Since 2013, Amy has followed a plant based diet, and she and I discuss some of the ins and outs of her Vegan diet and how it plays into her diabetes and training.
Amy is an awesome figure in the T1D community, and a real splash of positivity and energy. She also inspired Marie Diaz to become a runner, and they both recently completed the 2018 NYC Marathon.
There are a few questions that I get very regularly on the podcast and Instagram (@robhowe21 on Instagram) and I decided to use the podcast to address them.
This episode is my exploration of the question “How did you start a Diabetes blog, social media account or podcast?”
I do my best to dig into what compelled me to start Diabetics Doing Things, and what has kept me going over the past 3 years. I also dive into some of the mistakes people make by setting unrealistic expectations early on, which make them feel defeated and burn out and stop.
Hopefully you’ll enjoy this episode, and maybe a few of you will be inspired enough to start your own podcast, blog or Instagram account. If you have any questions about this episode, be sure to reach out!
This episode is sponsored by Real Good Foods the makers of the 4g Net Carb Pizza! Real Good Foods has amazing tasting products that are friendlier on blood sugars for people with Diabetes, so you can enjoy the foods you love without the roller coaster of blood sugars. Use code RobHowe at checkout and you can save 10% and get FREE SHIPPING! On all Real Good Foods products.
We all know Diabetes can be a real downer, but did you ever consider Whatta Prick Diabetes is? Adam Schreiner (whatta.prick on instagram) did and his new book by the same name, chronicles his journey through his Type-1 diabetes management, along with recommendations for people with Type-1 and Type-2 Diabetes.
I’m a big fan of Adam’s outlook on diabetes, not just because of his humor, but also his attention and focus on mindfulness. Be sure to give his podcast a listen as well, which you can find on his Instagram.
What’s your favorite Diabetes book, and why? I really enjoyed “Whatta Prick” and I hope you’ll get a little insight as to why from my interview with Adam.
In a very special episode of the podcast, we are joined by Christina Roth, the Founder and CEO of College Diabetes Network (CDN @collegediabetes on Instagram). CDN creates opportunities for students and young adults living with Type-1 diabetes to connect, share, and succeed in their academic and professional life.
Previous guests have mentioned CDN on the podcast as an instrumental support system in their college careers with Diabetes. Their programs seek to guide students through the many new experiences and challenges of attending college with T1D.
Christina and I talk about her own personal journey with T1D as well as where the idea for CDN came from and how it’s grown since 2010. We talk about the entrepreneurial journey and what it’s been like to learn as a CEO on the go.
Christina and CDN are amazing resources in the community, and I’m grateful she was able to spend time with us on the podcast. Visit CollegeDiabetesNetwork.org today to become a member, find a chapter at your local college or university or download information on advocacy, mental health and more.
In an episode I was sure I’d lost, I speak with John Roth, a commercial pilot who nearly 4 years ago lost his wings to T1D. John’s interview is similar to those of past pilots like Jeremy Robertson, who found a new outlet for advocacy after losing their wings.
John also talks about how his very regimented life with T1D with regard to diet and exercise help him keep his levels extremely well managed, and discusses how his decisions with food and dosing come easier for him because of how good he feels. John heard about my podcast from my interview on Vinnie Tortorich’s podcast, which I’d also encourage you to check out.
When I switched computers in early 2018, I thought I’d lost his interview, but I’m very glad I was able to find and publish this very insightful episode of #diabeticsdoingthings.
This episode is sponsored by HealthIQ, who is rewarding people with Diabetes who actively manage their A1C and live an active lifestyle with lower rates on their life insurance. I also cover why it’s important on the Diabetics Doing Things blog
Join Annalisa Van Den Bergh and Erik Douds (@annalisavdbergh & @erikdouds on Instagram) on a journey through their lives with Type 1 Diabetes as they prepare for yet another incredible feat of distance biking. We’re talking about @milesofportraits, the dynamic diabetic duo’s 1,000 mile journey across Alaska, snapping photos of everything and everyone along the way.
You can learn more about their journey in their film series below, but I sat down with Annalisa and Erik to talk about their various journeys across the world that led up to this trip, and how they were preparing for this one.
I’m LONG overdue in posting this interview, but I think the insights these two provide leading up to their 1,000 mile journey across Alaska are just as poignant today as they were this summer.
I’m big fans of Annalisa and Erik, and I’d highly recommend you follow their journeys all across the world as closely as possible. Check out milesofportraits.com and keep an eye on their social media for more amazing “things” that Diabetics do.
Join us for an in-depth interview with Carl Armato, President and CEO of Novant Health and the author of “A Future With Hope.” Diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes at just 18-months old, Carl’s life was shaped by his diagnosis in ways he couldn’t have imagined as he was growing up.
Carl’s life with T1D ignited a passion for healthcare from the patient’s perspective, and helped shape Carl’s career which has led him to becoming President and CEO of one of the largest healthcare systems in the Southeast United States.
Listen as Rob asks Carl for his insights on his mindset, finding success and family alongside his diabetes.
By now you’ve probably seen dozens of articles, social media posts or videos talking about CBD (cannabidiol). CBD is having its moment, it’s popping up across the country in various forms, from tinctures in vape shops to medical journals to coffee shops and bakeries each claiming to offer one or more of the many benefits linked to CBD.
In typical Rob Howe fashion, before I offered an opinion on CBD, I wanted to make sure the many claims were substantiated not only by my own experience, but by people I trust as well. So I reached out to 7 of my friends from the Diabetes online community and asked them to give me their experience with CBD products, in and out of Diabetes.
I was fortunate enough to partner with an awesome CBD company in Green Helix who helped me get started on my CBD journey and experience different products to aid in my research. They even let me pass the value on to our listeners, so any orders where you use code: RobHowe will get 20% off.
Thanks to my friends Mitch Green, Libby Russell, Whitney Lewis, Mariel Schofield, Erik Douds, Paulius Podziunas and Leila Prevette for making this one of the most unique and exciting episodes in the Diabetics Doing Things journey. Take a listen as you hear my thoughts on CBD as we all work collectively to educate past the stigma of cannabis products in the pursuit of a more holistic approach to wellness. Enjoy!
Taylor Riggs (@Taylor__Riggs on Instagram) joins the pod to talk about her life with Diabetes. Diagnosed at the age of 10, Taylor shares great small details like missing a field trip because of her diagnosis, which I feel we can all relate to.
Taylor even gets me to share my story for how I drank a Doctor Pepper on my way to the urgent care for “my nausea.”
We talk about everything from learning about what Diabetes is, to the strain parents take on when you’re diagnosed, to my theory about the different emotions associated with when you’re diagnosed with Diabetes as a child and Taylor shares her struggles adjusting to life with Diabetes as a kid.
Taylor also gives great insights on the mental strain of living with Diabetes, for kids, parents and adults and we both dish on how we’re glad the conversation is coming more into the fold of everyday life with T1D.
Taylor also shares how T1D affected her decision to become a Dietician, and is an inspiring example of using T1D as a catalyst for doing good in your career. Her cookbook is “Real Food, Real Simple” and is available on Amazon! Give her a follow and dig deep into her insights in this episode.
This episode is sponsored by HealthIQ, who is rewarding people with Diabetes who actively manage their A1C and live an active lifestyle with lower rates on their life insurance. I also cover why it’s important on the Diabetics Doing Things blog
It’s a T1D Athlete’s dream interview. I go 1 on 1 with the great Sam Benger (@gameplan_t1d on Instagram) and we talk about his journey growing up with Diabetes, to Diabetic Collegiate Athlete, to Diabetes Podcaster.
Sam talks about the importance of sports and Diabetes in developing his workhorse mentality. Never a guy to make excuses, Carnegie Mellon University’s All-Time leading Rusher dishes on overcoming challenges and outperforming expectations.
He also talks about he’s recently become more involved in the T1D community through podcasting and instagram, something I really relate to. Sam really dove-in feet first to help tell the amazing stories of athletes with T1D and their amazing accomplishments.
And if you want to hear Rob on the GamePlan T1D Podcast, just follow this link.
There are some stories which you have to hear firsthand to fully comprehend, and Dave Maher’s story (@thisisdavemaher on Instagram) certainly falls into that category.
BeyondType1 approached me with the opportunity to interview a fellow Type-1 Diabetic comedian, but I had no idea how much more there was to Dave’s story.
Mismanagement of Dave’s Type-1 Diabetes put Dave into a coma from High Blood sugar, and doctors weren’t sure he would ever wake up. After a wild Facebook outpouring, chronicled here by This American Life.
The good news, Dave did wake up, and he and I talk about the differences in his life & diabetes management before and after his coma, and how he’s using his second chance as an opportunity to look at the bigger issues beyond Diabetes which nearly caused him to lose his life. This is an incredible, honest, endearing interview and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dave Maher.
Luke Armstrong (@Lukey_Armstrong on Instagram) joins the podcast for one of the more open, casual and fun interviews of all time.
Luke is a T1D from Australia, and he takes us through much of the Aussie slang throughout his interview, so be prepared to learn a lot.
Luke also digs deep into the struggles of young people with Diabetes who are working to be normal and go out and have fun drinking and partying with their friends. We take a good hard look at some of the things we’ve learned about that type of life and hopefully can pass along some wisdom to people out there dealing with a similar journey.
Luke also has a tremendous fitness and sports background, and talks about living his life as a trainer with Diabetes and tips and tricks he’s learned along the way.
Give Luke a follow and be sure to shout out his mom, who I have owed this interview to for a long time.
Celia Johnson (@wildchildinthetreet1d on Instagram) joins the podcast to talk about her journey with Type-1 Diabetes. Diagnosed at the age of 16 in New Hampshire, Celia remembers all the general symptoms that many T1Ds experience at diagnosis and even recorded her number of times she had to use the restroom, and recorded 40 urinations in one day.
She also outlines the struggles that many of us relate to because at the outset of her diagnosis, her doctors educated her how to treat Type-2 Diabetes, so even though she had the correct insulin, she wasn’t properly prepared to know how to live with T1D until she switched hospitals and found a new endocrine clinic months into her life with T1D.
We also talk about Wilford Brimley (lol) and how I think he would be the best person to break down the differences between Type-1 and Type-2 Diabetes. You definitely need to check out the beginning of this interview.
Celia is an inspiring member of the Diabetes community and I’m grateful she shared her story. Be sure to follow her journey on Instagram.
Michelle Lord (@miche_lo on instagram) joins the podcast to talk about her journey into the Type 1 Diabetes community. She takes us through her inspiration behind her AWESOME YouTube channel, and how she evolved it from a Vlog channel to a channel about Diabetes Tips and information for people living with T1D.
Michelle and I also discuss the importance of the global community and how she is working to bring meetups and other types of events to Canada. I’m very fortunate to get to interact with lots of T1Ds from Canada on Instagram, and we both talk about how social media has brought us all together.
I work with Michelle on the Beyond Type 1 Global Ambassador Council and she recently hosted her first meetup in Toronto with many other Canadian T1Ds who have been on this podcast! Check out her video on the meetup here.
Michelle’s YouTube Channel is one of my favorites in the T1D space, and she has incredible videos on her life with Type 1, including this video below which is one of my favorites:
Michelle is such an awesome member of the T1D community, and I’m grateful to get to work with her with BeyondType1 and glad T1D brought us together.
We are KEEPING IT 100!!!!
Today’s guest is Marie Diaz (@nerdscanfight on Instagram) and when I was thinking of who would be the 100th episode, I thought of Marie immediately and I’ll tell you why!
She was one of the first people I didn’t know that shared that she was listening to this podcast, and I just remember being so encouraged by someone enjoying this podcast and sharing it publicly. That could have been the end of the story, but Marie always outdoes expectations.
The first time I met Marie, she DROVE 3 hours from Austin, where she was attending the University of Texas, to attend JDRF Dallas’ Type One Nation Summit in January 2018, and then 6 weeks later she drove AGAIN from Austin to San Antonio where I was speaking at another Type One Nation.
She’s an incredible friend, fanatic and FREAK ATHLETE because she’s running with team Beyond Type Run in the New York City Marathon this fall. In fact, if you want to donate to her race fundraiser, follow this link and give her back some of the support she gives to our amazing community.
I’m not gonna spoil the episode any further, but please enjoy this awesome conversation with an AMAZING person with Diabetes Marie Diaz.
99 Episodes! Special thanks to all our listeners and guests for all the support over the years. Today's guest is Abby David (@abbyjdavid on Instagram) from Toronto, Ontario, Canada!
Abby's Diabetes story begins with her Diagnosis at age 16, and we continue our theme of diagnosis stories running the full spectrum, as the doctor who diagnosed Abby didn't know how to use a glucometer and Abby had to wait 24 hours for her glucose test results.
Abby and I have a unique discussion about the emotional response of parents when their children are diagnosed with T1D. Both of our parents had the initial response that they may have done something wrong and caused our diabetes, so we discuss how each of our parents worked on acceptance.
Abby also tells us about the Diabetes community in Canada compared to the US, where the patients are more scattered and the organizations less focused on patient engagement. It made me happy to see the first BeyondType1 meetup in Toronto this past weekend, to see how far things have come since Abby and I spoke earlier this year.
We also discuss Abby's vegan lifestyle and the impact it's had on her Diabetes. I'm so grateful Abby joined the show to share her story, and I'll apologize a million times for how long it took for me to post her episode.