Episodes

This podcast episode delves into the evolution of diabetes management, focusing on the transition from traditional calorie counting and insulin injections to the use of insulin pumps. Deborah shares personal experiences, highlighting the challenges of adhering to strict dietary routines and the importance of timing insulin with meals to prevent dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar. With the introduction of insulin pumps, the process has become more flexible and manageable, allowing for a more liberated lifestyle while effectively managing diabetes. The discussion emphasizes that while older methods were vital for survival, advancements in technology have significantly improved the quality of life for diabetics. Listeners who have type 1 diabetes are encouraged to embrace these changes as they navigate their own diabetes journeys, fostering hope for a brighter and more adaptable future (of course, with proper consultation with their medical team).

Deborah shares a deeply personal narrative about managing chronic illness, particularly focusing on her experiences with diabetes and epilepsy. She reflects on the challenges of others accepting her conditions and the impact that has on her life and projects. A significant moment discussed is when she had a seizure during a live event, which led to a shift in her role within a project she had started and was passionate about within her brand. This incident highlights the fears and misunderstandings that often accompany chronic illnesses, both for those affected and for their friends and associates. Throughout the episode, Deborah emphasizes the importance of acceptance, self-love, and understanding the complexities of living with a chronic condition, as well as understanding how it impacts others, encouraging listeners to embrace their journeys and find strength in vulnerability.

Join Deborah as she reflects on the Thanksgiving holiday from the perspective of a Type 1 Diabetic. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on family and gratitude rather than getting caught up in the food-centric aspects of the celebration. With a light-hearted approach, Deborah shares her personal experience of navigating holiday meals, including managing her blood sugar levels while still indulging in treats like pie and ice cream. She explains the balance required for managing diabetes, including carb counting and insulin adjustments, while also highlighting the joy of spending quality time with loved ones. This episode encourages listeners to appreciate the moments of connection during the holidays, all while maintaining a healthy approach to food and diabetes management.

This episode of DiabeticReal features Deborah E reflecting on her unique relationship with diabetes, emphasizing that it does not define her. She candidly discusses the importance of transparency and authenticity in sharing her journey, acknowledging that her feelings towards diabetes may differ from many others. Rather than viewing her condition as an adversary, Deborah likens it to a companion, coexisting with her throughout life. She recounts her early experiences managing diabetes independently, which shaped her resilience and perspective. Ultimately, Deborah encourages listeners to embrace their identities beyond their diagnoses, promoting a message of empowerment and acceptance.

Memory issues are often mistakenly attributed solely to diabetes, but this episode challenges that notion by exploring how various factors can influence memory. Deborah E shares a personal story about a well-meaning friend who suggested that her memory problems were related to her diabetes, prompting her to reflect on the broader implications of such assumptions. She emphasizes that anyone, regardless of their health status, can experience memory lapses for a myriad of reasons, including genetics and aging. Throughout the discussion, Deborah encourages listeners to reconsider how they view themselves and their experiences, reminding them that memory is complex and cannot be reduced to a single diagnosis. With humor and insight, she advocates for a more nuanced understanding of memory challenges, asserting the importance of listening to one's own body and experiences.

This podcast episode delves into a harrowing experience Deborah had with her insulin pump, which she humorously describes as trying to "kill" her. After a software upgrade to her Medtronic Minimed 780G insulin pump, the default settings dangerously miscalibrated her blood sugar levels, leading her to experience seizures. With her husband away, Deborah faced the challenge of managing her diabetes alone while her pump continually drove her blood sugar down, leaving her in a precarious situation. Despite the frustration of dealing with unhelpful customer support, Deborah's resilience shone through as she found a way to stabilize her condition. This episode offers a blend of technical information, personal anecdotes, and insights into the complexities of living with diabetes.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Deborah confronts the difficult realities faced by diabetics when dealing with healthcare providers. Her recent experience with her endocrinologist, who she once viewed as an ally, took a disheartening turn when the doctor’s approach felt more like bullying than support. This episode is an exploration of how such interactions can impact a patient's mental and emotional health, making it clear that the patient-doctor relationship is critical in chronic disease management. Deborah boldly challenges the notion that fear and intimidation can be effective motivators, arguing instead for a compassionate conversation that recognizes the patient as a partner in their own care.

The principal focus of this discourse revolves around the genuine complications associated with diabetes, as well as the often misguided perceptions surrounding them. Deborah commenced the conversation by reflecting upon accessible resources, such as Google, which delineates a myriad of complications including heart disease, kidney issues, and diabetic ketoacidosis. However, she endeavored to challenge the notion that these complications should incite fear and hopelessness in individuals managing diabetes. Deborah emphasized the importance of personal agency in health management, advocating for a balanced approach to self-care while navigating the complexities of this condition. Ultimately, she aspires to encourage listeners to treat each day as a new opportunity for self-love and resilience, rather than succumbing to external judgments or despair.

This DiabeticReal episode is all about Deborah E's decision of whether to choose herself and her little girl dream of being “normal” or the possible dream of her unborn child. She knows what she wants, but what about her son? From her struggles with the medical team to the heart-wrenching decision of whether to break her baby's collarbone for delivery, she takes us on a roller-coaster of emotions during the 36 hours of labor. Despite the hardships, she highlights the power of resilience an...

Deborah E shares the challenges she faced during the first high-risk pregnancy as a type 1 diabetic. She recounts her interactions with her highly-skilled and highly-intelligent perinatologist who had some strange ideas about abilities to control insulin once it enters the body, leading to a ban on self-administration. Deborah also reveals the lengths she went to attend a family event, where she and her husband were to be honored, and the dangerously low blood sugar episode that the hospital ...

In this episode of DiabeticReal, we continue to follow Deborah E's journey through the challenges of medical care as a diabetic in a small town. But, this time, she travels back to the familiarity of the big city, St. Paul. It seems like it will follow some of the normal paths of the last pregnancy (next episode), but, there are some new technological discoveries that help and there are some unexpected mishaps that make this delivery more difficult than it ever should have been, even in spite of...

In this episode of DiabeticReal, host Deborah E shares the story of one (of many) events involving hospitals, this one while living in a rural town. Deborah recounts the challenge of not only having to deal with the medical issues but an unrelenting doctor who refused to listen to reason and had already been presumably involved in a questionable event involving a little boy just weeks prior to this. But, with hitting her head on the stove, it seemed best to allow the paramedics to take her to th...

In this episode of DiabeticReal, Deborah E delves into the topic of attention-seeking behavior and the misconceptions surrounding it. Drawing from her personal experiences with Type 1 Diabetes and the misunderstandings she faced growing up, she provides valuable insights into the complexities of chronic illness and the impact it can have on interpersonal relationships. Deborah E's candid storytelling and psychological expertise offer listeners a thought-provoking perspective on seeking attention...

In this emotional and eye-opening episode of DiabeticReal, Deborah E shares a harrowing experience of being hospitalized due to a horrifying discovery. She delves into a chilling incident where her insulin was inadvertently cooked in the microwave, leading to a life-threatening situation. As she candidly recounts the shocking series of events, listeners uncover the gravity of the situation and the subsequent investigation involving law enforcement. Join us as Deborah E sheds light on the importa...

This is about Deborah’s introduction to her lifelong companion known as “Diabetes.” What she thought was a week-long illness turned out to be more than that, a getting-to-know-you journey that eventually will have its way when she reaches the last day on earth. Until then, the living is in the living, and the story began when Deborah was six. Chapters 00:00 Intro (and Disclaimer) 01:22 Were We Visiting the Symphony or the Ladies' Room? 04:24 Grandpa Had to Have His Way (and He Saved My...

Deborah continues with her “firsts” themes and shares the story of how the brand of Diabetic Real came to be and emerged out of something that was less than a happy situation. It became the solution to voices that needed “to be heard.” Or boobs, elderly people, and the governor’s office. Chapters 00:00 Intro (and Disclaimer) 00:49 Deborah's Introduction 01:33 The Origin of the DiabeticReal Brand 03:04 The Boobs 08:00 The Governor 09:51 The Elderly 12:52 Closing (including S...

In this, the first episode of the DiabeticReal Podcast, hostess Deborah E gives a tiny glimpse into what the podcast is and why it is. She opens the door for a peek into what is to come with stories that will intrigue and surprise and hopefully encourage you wherever you are in your journey. Chapters 00:00 Intro (and Disclaimer) 00:49 Deborah's Introduction 01:56 Cindy Bidar #affiliate 03:04 Madalyn Sklar (Kratom Stories Podcast) 04:35 What to Expect 08:09 Closing (including S...