Living with Type 1 Diabetes for 41 Years: Gluten Sensitivity, Technology, and Life Lessons

Early Life and Diagnosis

• 🎂 Diagnosed on his 14th birthday, Steve has lived with type 1 diabetes for 41 years.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 His older brother also had type 1, which helped his parents recognize the symptoms more quickly after his own diagnosis.
• 🧱 Early diabetes management involved finger pricks with a large, slow blood glucose meter and injections.

Navigating Life with Type 1 Diabetes

• 🏃‍♂️ Growing up, Steve felt limited in participating in sports due to the lack of advanced diabetes technology like CGMs and pumps.
• 🤫 He preferred to keep his diabetes private initially to avoid being perceived as less capable.
• 💼 He successfully navigated corporate America and achieved advanced degrees while managing type 1 diabetes, often keeping his pump discreet.

The Gluten Sensitivity Journey

• 📈 In late 2019, Steve experienced unexplained blood sugar spikes after meals, which insulin struggled to control.
• 💡 Research led him to suspect celiac disease, and cutting out gluten immediately resolved his blood sugar issues.
• 🧪 Although tests for celiac markers were negative, a gluten-free diet proved effective, suggesting a gluten sensitivity.
• 🍝 Further experimentation revealed that tree nuts and onion powder also impacted his blood sugar, leading to a highly controlled diet.

Diabetes Technology and Management

• 📱 Steve has used various insulin pumps and CGMs over the years, including early Dexcom models, and regrets discontinuing some technologies.
• ✈️ A trip to Italy highlighted the challenges of time zone changes and pump resets, leading to a significant low blood sugar event.
• 🏥 He recounts an incident where he was unconscious due to low blood sugar, requiring an ambulance and a hospital visit, which resulted in an unexpected bill.

Reflections and Future Outlook

• 🧑‍🦳 Steve is now a grandfather and expresses concern about his granddaughter potentially developing diabetes, given the family history.
• 🚀 He acknowledges the significant advancements in diabetes technology, which offer better management options than when he was first diagnosed.
• 📊 His A1C is typically in the low to mid-sixes when his gluten sensitivity is well-managed.
• 🎧 He finds value in listening to the Juicebox Podcast for different perspectives and to connect with the diabetes community without it dominating his focus.