Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

In this solo episode I dive into one of the most important — and most misunderstood — concepts in diabetes management: SUSTAINABILITY.

After reflecting on my own recent challenges with blood sugar fluctuations, stress, sleep, nutrition, and routine, I break down why even people who “know what they’re doing” can fall out of alignment — and why that’s not failure, it’s reality.

This episode challenges the obsession with A1C and Time in Range as the main metrics of success and instead how reframing the conversation around blood sugar stability, mental health, flexibility, leads to longer diabetes stability.

• Sustainability matters more than perfection in diabetes management.
• A “good” A1C or Time in Range doesn’t automatically mean your diabetes is going well.
• Blood sugar stability is a better long-term goal than chasing numbers.
• You need a specific target blood sugar, not just a target range.
• Most blood sugar issues start with basal insulin, not food.
• Restrictive eating and over-exercising may work short-term but often fail long-term.
• Mental health, nutrition quality, sleep, movement, and dosing strategy all work together.
• Burnout often comes from rigidity, fear, and unrealistic expectations.
• The Five Pillars provide a simple framework to troubleshoot any diabetes issue.
• You’re allowed to experiment, adjust, and change your approach over time.

1. Mental Health
2. Strategic Dosing
3. Consistency & Routine
4. Nutrition Quality
5. Physical Well-Being (Sleep, Hydration, Movement)

Every diabetes challenge fits into one (or more) of these pillars.

About the Host

I’m Coach Ken Kniss, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast. I help people living with T1D cut through the overwhelm, confusion, fear, and distrust in their daily decisions, so they can feel confident and live without consistently worrying about lows, their body image, or long term complications.

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📩 Join my newsletter: Subscribe
📞 Sign Up for a Free Call: Book Now
👕 Apparel Store: Shop Here

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Support the show

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

In today's episode, I sit down with Ashley Sparks, who was diagnosed with T1D at just 14 years old—during the first days of her freshman year of high school. What should have been a straightforward diagnosis quickly turned into a traumatic experience when doctors dismissed her symptoms and wrongly accused her of being pregnant instead of running basic diagnostic tests.

Ashley shares her powerful journey from misdiagnosis and dismissal to becoming a confident self-advocate in her diabetes care. She opens up about navigating high school as the only student with T1D, being denied basic accommodations, and learning—often the hard way—how to speak up for herself in medical settings.

• Misdiagnosis and dismissal—especially for young women with diabetes—still happen far too often.
• You are allowed to question doctors, change providers, and advocate for yourself.
• Living with diabetes every day gives you insight no textbook can teach.
• Insurance barriers can directly impact health outcomes and emotional well-being.
• Movement, routine, and mental health support can dramatically improve diabetes stability.
• There is no “perfect diabetic”—and chasing perfection often leads to burnout.
• Eat the cookie. Bolus for it. Live your life.
• Community connection can be one of the most powerful tools for mental health with T1D.

Ashley's Instagram:

I’m Coach Ken Kniss, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast. I help people living with T1D cut through the overwhelm, confusion, fear, and distrust in their daily decisions, so they can feel confident and live without consistently worrying about lows, their body image, or long term complications.

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📩 Join my newsletter: Subscribe
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Support the show

Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode.

In this episode, I sat down with Carrie Neher, who has been living with Type 1 diabetes since 1981 — long before CGMs, pumps, carb ratios, or even finger-stick meters were available. Diagnosed at 14 and hospitalized for two weeks, Carrie learned to manage diabetes in what she calls “the dark ages.”

She shares what it was really like growing up using urine testing tablets, one daily shot of mixed insulin, and zero real-time glucose feedback — and the emotional weight that came with high A1Cs despite doing everything “right.

• Diabetes management before CGMs and meters required intuition, resilience, and guesswork.
• Shame and confusion were common because the tools simply didn’t exist to understand blood sugar.
• Exercise dramatically improves circulation, insulin sensitivity, and long-term health.
• Fear of lows is often rooted in one traumatic low event — and can be reframed with a plan.
• Gradually lowering your comfort range (ex: 150 → 130 → 110) is a powerful way to rebuild trust.
• Modern T1Ds often underestimate how life-changing today’s tools truly are.
• Community, encouragement, and support matter just as much as insulin and devices.
• “Bloom where you are planted.” Your circumstances don’t define your potential.

Carrie's Instagram:

I’m Coach Ken Kniss, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast. I help people living with T1D cut through the overwhelm, confusion, fear, and distrust in their daily decisions, so they can feel confident and live without consistently worrying about lows, their body image, or long term complications.

🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com
📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning
💪 Work with me: More Than A1C - 1on1 Coaching
📩 Join my newsletter: Subscribe
📞 Schedule a Free Call: Book Now
🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute Here

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement and a reminder that they’re not alone in their diabetes journey.

Ways to Support the Show

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
• Share this episode with a diabuddy
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheHealthyDiabeticPod | @CoachK3n

Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management.

Support the show