We’re back with another episode of The Rob & Eritrea Show. August got a little busy, but we’re catching up. We’re here. We’re doing bits. We’re getting serious. We’re digging into all sorts of topics:

• Big Tex and the State Fair of Texas

• Diabetes conference circuit

• Road trips with diabetes

• Being chronically ill and chronically busy

• Meeting internet friends IRL

• Top 20 for DCBerne Innovation Challenge

• Diabetes Legends Basketball Camp this weekend in Denver

• Inaugural Pickleball Classic

• Getting Started with Diabetes, our programming with North Texas Food Bank

• Eritrea’s health updates

• Answering the Mailbag and making some corrections:

  • Feet on the Floor Phenomenon

  • Dawn Phenomenon

• A new sign-off from Rob

• and so MUCH MORE!

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Ginger Vieira is here! You may know her from her work with T1DExchange or her several books on diabetes including her newest book, Exercise with Type 1 Diabetes. On this episode, Ginger talks to Rob about:

• Challenges of diabetes and exercise

• Starting with a mindset shift

• Diagnosing herself at a school health fair!

• Weightlifting and as Nike says, “If you have a body, you’re an athlete.”

• Having insulin on board for exercise

• Handling binges during lows

• Being okay making imperfect decisions

• Atomic Habits - you are what you consistently do

• and so MUCH MORE!

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

For the first time on the pod, we have a guest living with MODY 5 (Mature-Onset of the Young Type 5) diabetes: Rena Rossi aka @renatherockharddiabetic on Instagram. Rob and Eritrea talk to Rena about:

• Initial diagnosis of gestational diabetes during her pregnancy in 2007

• A diagnosis of a polycystic kidney disease while running marathons

• Being in limbo between a Type 1 and Type 2 diagnosis

• Having a primary care team that had a personal relationship with her and diabetes knowledge

• Not noticing symptoms because they align with getting into shape

• Having a personality to jump in and advocate for herself

• Advocating for a MODY diagnosis when complications were occurring

• Different types of MODY

• Diabetes being a genetic ticking time bomb for some

• Being a Special Ed teacher and Her Amazon Wishlist

• and so MUCH MORE!

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

We are very rooted in GRATITUDE THIS EPISODE! Recorded on the 8th year anniversary of the conception of Diabetics Doing Things, we have third-time guest and friend of the pod, Lauren Bongiorno!

• Changes and updates to routine and diabetes management even after 23 years of managing!

• Growing, changing but staying the same especially when it comes to relationships and marriage

• Marrying her high school sweetheart Chris last fall

• How diabetes can impact interactions with friends, family and peers; the impact of how a better relationship with diabetes can improve lives

• The importance of language in treating people with diabetes and the difference the right support can make

• Why outsourcing your authority isn’t helpful to you as active member of your diabetes care

• Actionable and accessible management changes when not feeling motivated or have too many other things going on

• Looking at yourself without judgment and where to start with that

• Leaving firsts in her 20’s: happy firsts and devastating ones

• Goals are for people who want to win once, systems are for people who want to grow repeatedly

• How being an athlete can be a huge part of your identity and life after sports

• T1D Starter Kit

About Lauren

"Lauren Bongiorno, diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 7, is the founder and CEO of Risely Health, a leading virtual Type 1 Diabetes Health Coaching company. Guided by a team of Nationally Board Certified coaches who live with T1D, Risely elevates beyond the traditional standard of diabetes care through innovative coaching programs and communities that empower T1D individuals and families to live with more freedom and confidence.As of 2023, Lauren and the Risely team have coached over 600 people and Georgetown medical school is publishing a study on the quantitative and qualitative results clients see in their programs.Lauren has been featured on the TODAY Show and has partnered with renowned brands such as Omnipod, Dexcom, Abott, Lululemon, and Nike. To connect with her more, you can find Lauren on various social media platforms, listen to the Reclaim Your Rise podcast, and dive deeper by visiting Riselyhealth.com."

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Content Warning for this episode for anyone sensitive to eating disorders or anyone with a fear of flying.

First flight attendant to come on the podcast is here, Kesha Carter! She talks to Rob and Eritrea about:

• Diagnosed at Cook’s Children’s Hospital in Ft. Worth but still a Dallas baby, born at Parkland!

• Being air flighted to Cook’s when she slipped into a diabetic coma

• Being low and fiending for food

• Diabetes doesn’t stop her from being a flight attendant

• Being a professional diabetic and being the person you need to be in the midst of it

• Using humor as a trauma response

• The importance of not touching the flight attendant and other things that will get you on the no fly list

• Meeting her soulmate, Nick Jonas

• Find Kesha on YouTube @kickinitwithkeesh or on Instagram @instakeesh

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

We’re going Back to School with Mary Type 1! Mary was diagnosed with t1d right before jumping into her teaching career. In this episode, Rob, Eritrea, and Mary talk about:

• Diagnosis as an adult and being sent home confused

• Figuring out teaching and diabetes at the same time

• Joining the DOC 2 weeks after diagnosis

• Navigating a huge following and meeting people IRL

• Teaching with diabetes and being prepared for anything!

• Advice for parents with kiddos living with T1D

• This book written by Sonia Sotomayor

• Follow Mary on Instagram and TikTok @mary.type1

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Nick Callas is on the pod! He’s a multi-hyphenate entertainer, stand-up comedian, actor, writer, director, etc. etc.! He chatted with Rob and Eritrea about:

• His at age 6 and how that compounded his separation anxiety at a young age

• Understanding that diabetes (and comedy) can really humble you and force you to be self aware more often that you’d like

• Setting himself up for success with foods so he can perform at his best

• Placing the thing he really wants to do behind all of the things he needs to do

• Touring when you’re dealing with a frustrating healthcare system

• Follow him on Instagram @mrnickcallas

• See him live on tour especially while he tapes his special in Austin in September!

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Welcome to the July episode of the Rob and Eritrea Show! Its been a month full of travels and growth. The two dive into it:

• Eritrea’s 3 year anniversary of being at DiabeticsDoingThings

• Diabetes Conference Season

  • Rob attending the American Diabetes Association 82nd yearly conference with Medtronic, Eritrea attended as industry with diaTribe and their perspectives on patient voices at these events.

  • Diabetics Doing Things’ first time attending Friends For Life and all the incredible industry friends who also attended!

  • Access to conferences can be expensive but where theres a will theres a way. Don’t be afraid to ask hosting institutions about financial aid or what options are available to you.

• MERCH IS COMING. Stay Tuned

• Pre bolus-ing blues and loving ourselves thru our lows.

• Rob’s 780G experience and his time in range!

• Rob’s current supplement stack

• Breaking down Rob’s morning routine, the importance of intention and how you can jumpstart your own morning routine!

• Eritrea’s diabetes adventure trapped in a wetsuit on a kayak in the middle of the ocean, while struggling with hypoglycemia and anxiety!

• Eritrea breaks down her thoughts around Mounjaro, weight loss, and being a woman.

• Answering your Mailbag questions!

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Greta Ehlers, gay icon, is back on the pod! She was last on in 2020 at the height of the pandemic just before Eritrea joined as a co-host. Greta and the gang dig into:

• Finishing up her masters and starting her career in Diabetes

• Greta is now at Diabetes Centre Berne - DCB holds a yearly innovation challenge which is open to all applicants for people wanting to find solutions to making life with diabetes easier. The digital portion of this challenge is still accepting applications! More information here.

• You can also join the DCB network if you’re wanting community!

• The life of a long term project and its ability to evolve, pause, start, and re-ignite.

• How being a person with diabetes, working in diabetes and a content creator around diabetes can be a super power and Greta’s approach to her professional/personal work.

• Her LGBTQIA+ Diabetes group! The group is periodically active and available to anyone wanting to join. Just send Greta a DM on IG @gretastypeone

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Lauren Cox is live in the studio with Rob and Eritrea! You can watch the entire episode on YouTube or you can listen here. This very cool in-person episode covers a wide swath of topics:

• The reigning legacy of the whole Cox family

• Lauren’s diagnosis story

• Growing up with T1D

• Being a #1 player and an inspirational figure at a young age

• Athlete’s attunement to blood sugar

• Advocating for yourself in the big leagues

• The Spanish league and managing diabetes overseas

• a cameo from Lauren’s sister, Whitney

• And MORE

We want to hear from you. Send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Rob’s checking in with a Summer 2023 solo episode. He’s got the scoop on all of the Diabetics Doing Things updates including:

• Diabetes events and conferences are back in full swing

  • dedoc voices scholarship

• New Merch drop from Diabetics Doing Things!

• Podcast News

  • recent Brec Bassinger ep

  • upcoming Lauren Cox episode recorded in-person with a full video shoot

  • and more episodes on deck

• Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs

• North Texas Food Bank and Feeding America partnerships

• Medtronic MiniMed™ 780G

• And MORE

We want to hear from you. If you’re going to be at Friends For Life, come say hi! Otherwise send those questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

This special #sponsored episode features Stargirl herself, Brec Bassinger! This episode is sponsored by Mannkind, and is part of Diabetics Doing Things ongoing partnership with Mannkind.

If you want to see Brec in Stargirl, it’s streaming in all places that stream the CW including HBOMax. Season 3 is out now.

In this episode, Rob and Brec talk about:

How they both have January diagnoses in DFW area children’s hospitals

Balancing diabetes with a Superhero’s schedule

Life on set

The importance of friends with diabetes

Becoming an advocate and spokesperson

Favorite reality TV…hint: it’s Selling Sunset

Which celebrity they’d challenge to a pickleball match

And MORE

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Janet Marin is an example of someone embracing themselves fully and living their best life. If you follow her on Instagram @jay_marinnn, you know that’s true. She is a T1D that also lives with gastroparesis, vitiligo, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and is open about all of it along with her mental health journey. Rob and Eritrea talk to her about all of that and more:

• T1D diagnosis at young age of six

• Sick days and non-sick days when you live with chronic illness

• Being bilingual and the translator between your doctors and your parents

• Health equity and getting translators in the room to serve education in the language needed

• Autoimmune responses like vitiligo

• Gastroparesis diagnosis in 2017 and the lack of information around it

• Gastroparesis flare-ups and the effects of malnourishment on her body

• The support of the chronic illness online community especially around having a feeding tube

• Advice for those newly diagnosed with a rare disease or a rare disease alongside T1D

• The isolation that you can feel in these diagnoses or complications

• Eradicating shame and guilt-causing language especially from healthcare professionals

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

If you thought you weren't going to get a Rob and Eritrea episode this month well….YOU THOUGHT! The Rob and Eritrea show is back! The crew unpacks so much and gets into:

• DDT is now hosting EVENTS! Its been 2 months since our Pax and Beneficia event and we’ve got more on the way!

• The impact of harmful unsolicited advice and the violent narrative it brings to people living with disabilities and chronic illnesses

• DIABETES DRAMA! Theres so much of it!

• Life with Diabetes comes with complications. No matter what people with diabetes do, we will deal with complications.

• Rob’s new pump! The Medtronic 780G and its exciting updates for PWD.

• “Enjoying your lows” and different ways your brain does that.

• Losing that muscle memory of feeling your lows and “technology induced hypounawareness”

• Diabetes alerts and how they can immediately shift your priorities in the immediate moment.

• Eritrea gives up on Mounjaro and explains why it didn’t work for her and  how tirzepatide/semaglutides can impact a person living with diabetes and an eating disorder.

• The importance of moving your body without feeling shame.

• No one has diabetes figured out. We just get better at doing things we dont want to do!

• THE MAILBAG GETS INTO TRAVEL TIPS!

Books discussed during the show: Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Morta

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

This week on the pod, Rob and Eritrea welcome Maya Ramirez (aka Papayabetic) to the show! Maya lives with type 3C diabetes and underwent a full pancreatectomy as an infant at 8 months old. In this episode the team dives into:

• 30 years of living with diabetes and without a pancreas

• Maya’s Diagnosis with congenital hyper-overproduction of insulin in her pancreas at 2 weeks old (hyper insulinism)

• Props to parents of children with diabetes, a whole different ballgame of providing care!

• 23 years of using an insulin pump (even if it is technically off-label usage)

• Why considering your pancreas dead is not only incorrect, but stigmatizing language

• The other health implications of living without a pancreas

• Using grief as motivation to bond with people in her community

• If you’re in the North California area and you’re looking for a community of people with diabetes: check out Maya’s IG @papayabetic to stay updated on future meetups!

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Erin Akers is back on the pod! Erin is the founder of the Diabulimia Helpline, now DBH.

In this episode Rob, Eritrea, and Erin talk about:

• Diabulimia Helpline’s transition to DBH

• Erin’s mother and one of the GOATs, Mama Dawn

• The 3rd International Conference on Diabetes & Eating Disorders In November

• Presenting at ADCES in Houston this year

• Broader world of Mental Health and Diabetes including burnout, anxiety, and depression

• The importance of group support

• Representation matters especially in conversations about disordered eating

• The warning signs of diabulimia

• The destructive nature of toxic positivity

• Want to volunteer for the helpline? Send an email to info@dbh.org

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Dr. Roy Collins returns to the pod! He was a part of our series in 2020 “More Than a Diabetic.” Dr. Roy Collins is a Stanford Chief Resident, M.D., M.P.H., and Sports Psychologist. We are so excited to have him and his expertise back on the show!

In this episode Rob, Eritrea and Roy dig into:

• Getting comfortable with Diabetes while simultaneously being recruited by Yale

• Thriving as a young athlete regardless of limitations

• The transition from high school athlete to the accountability of being a college athlete

• The transition from being a lifelong athlete to a regular person in the real world

• Overcoming imposter syndrome and unfair comparisons

• Staying present and in the moment even with Diabetes always running in the background.

• “You’re not going to be successful all the time, but if you miss a bolus - failure is not final. What can I do better next time?”

• The inevitable interruptions that come with Diabetes.

• Being open to doing hard things and stepping outside of our comfort zones

  Keep up with Dr. Collins at www.roycollins.com and follow him on IG: @dr.royc

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Rachel Heckerman, from our Tools of Type Ones series in the very early days of the pod, is BACK! Rachel is a videographer, editor, writer, designer, photographer, and overall cool person. She produced a short film called Under the Ice of Antartica. It’s beautiful and you should check it out!

In this episode we get into:

• How she got a job on a station in Antartica

• The LONG journey to Antartica

• Planning ahead and packing for diabetic emergencies

• What living in Antartica is like

• Adjusting to being in a new timezone with Diabetes

• Having a Dia-buddy, even in Antartica

• Enjoying the moment while being actively aware of your diabetes and not letting Diabetes stop you

• Diabetes tech on a freezing tundra

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

March flew by and we are back with another episode of The Rob and Eritrea Show. These two get into lots of good stuff this episode:

• There have been some crazy weather here in Dallas, tornado watches and insane lightning storms. - just a good time to remind folks to keep their devices charged and emergency equipment ready.

• Also happening in Dallas is our Spring Event! The Roastery tour, April 15th 2pm - 4pm CT at Pax & Beneficia! Come hang out, learn a new skill and make some friends!

• Rob’s Diabetes Updates and some major life changes have been happening with Rob lately. - like Recreation, moved offices!

• Getting to go to a private screening of “AIR” the story of Nike and Michael Jordan.

• ON AIR DIABETES - Whats your bloodsugar rn?

• Eritrea Diabetes Updates: - Ramadan update! Single and gym dates.

• Being a homeowner and paying for all her diabetes stuff on her own.

• What to do if you Dexcom sensor/transmitter fails?

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!

Allison Nimlos, longtime diabetes advocate, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, podcaster, and so much more, is on this episode! Rob and Eritrea talk to Allison about Diabetes & Mental Health:

• The Diabetes and Mental Health Conference coming up on May 5th & 6th

• The early days of the diabetes online community

• The prevalence of Diabetes Distress

  • You can do a self-assessment survey at diabetesdistress.org

• Importance of self-talk and language around your own diabetes

• Self-compassion, self-advocacy, and setting boundaries

• “You can’t be comfortable at doing something you never do”

• Hypo anxiety and trauma from scary lows

• Be sure to check out the virtual Diabetes and Mental Health Conference coming up on May 5th & 6th

We want to hear from you. Send your questions, comments, queries, and general diabetes concerns to THE MAILBAG at mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com!