Bad Diabetic Club

Most people with t1d aren’t missing effort. They’re missing explanation.

In this episode, I share a personal story that helped shape everything I do in diabetes education today.

Early in my T1D journey, I was told to start adjusting my pump settings every two weeks. But no one explained how to do it or why those changes mattered.

So I taught myself.

I studied reports, experimented with settings, and slowly improved my time in range and...

Blood sugar with type 1 diabetes can sometimes feel unpredictable.

You count carbs

You take insulin

You follow the plan.

And your numbers still do something completely different.

If that experience feels familiar, you’re not alone in it.

In this episode I break down something that many people with t1d were never fully taught:

Blood sugar often follows patterns. And those patterns can sometimes be understood.

Diagnosed at 13, he built the tool he wished existed.In this episode, Madi sits down with Drew Mendelow, founder of T1D1, a free, FDA-cleared insulin dosing and diabetes management app designed specifically for people living with type 1 diabetes.Drew quickly realized there was no simple, free tool to help with insulin calculations right from day one. So he decided to build one himself.What started as a summer coding project now supports around 50,000 users.And it is just getting started.Rather than creating something overly complicated, Drew focused on simplicity. T1D1 helps users:✨ calculate insulin doses using pe...

In this episode, Madi sits down with registered dietitian and diabetes care specialist Sarah Hormachea for an honest, practical conversation about weight management with t1d.

If you’ve ever felt confused, frustrated, or stuck when it comes to weight changes, insulin needs, or conflicting advice, you’re not alone.

In many cases, weight loss with type 1 diabetes isn’t just about calories or willpower. It might involve hormones, insulin sensitivity, lows that force you to eat, tech adjustments, and a whole lot of mental load.

Sarah helps break down what’s actually going on...

Living with type 1 diabetes doesn’t automatically mean giving up adventure, travel, or time outdoors. In many cases, it just means learning how to prepare differently.

In this episode of The Bad Diabetic Club, Madi sits down with Paul Reed, founder of Type 1 Outdoors and someone who has lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly 40 years.

From hiking and mountaineering to managing blood sugar miles from home, Paul shares what actually helps people build confidence outside, especially when fear has kept them stuck.

Rather than focusing on restriction, this conversation explores how planning, mindset, an...

In this episode, Madi sits down with Michelle Hale, founder of Global Diabetic, to talk about what it was like managing diabetes in silence for nearly two decades and the one shift that changed everything.

Michelle shares how hiding her diabetes didn’t actually make life easier. In many cases, it made the mental load heavier. From learning how to speak up for herself, to preparing for adventures like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, to navigating pregnancy and motherhood with type 1 diabetes, this conversation explores what it really means to live fully while managing a chronic condition.

Th...

In this episode, Madi sits down with Dr. Larry Deeb, a pediatric endocrinologist with more than 40 years of experience caring for children with diabetes and a former president of the American Diabetes Association.

Over 4 decades in practice, Dr. Deeb has witnessed diabetes care evolve from urine glucose testing to automated insulin delivery systems. But what he shares in this conversation goes far beyond technology. He walks through a recent case that may suggest type 1 diabetes can be delayed, and possibly prevented, in certain high risk situations when families are identified early and closely monitored.

They...

In this episode, you'll learn:

This episode is for you if:

Everyone waits for January 1st to make a change. Not us. Your reset starts NOW. 🎯

December isn't just holiday chaos. It's actually the perfect time to set yourself up so you're not scrambling in January feeling behind before you even start.

Today I'm giving you the exact framework I use with my clients to prep for a new year of thriving with T1D, not just surviving.

🎯 The 5-Step Reset Framework:

1️⃣ Reflect Before You ResetYou can't know where you're going if you don't know...

Diabetes Awareness Month brought SO many questions, DMs, emails, and conversations. And honestly? I'm here for it.

Because the questions you're asking? They're the exact struggles that keep you stuck. The ones that make diabetes feel harder than it needs to be.

So today I'm breaking down the TOP 5 things you asked about this month and giving you real, actionable solutions you can use starting right now.

🎯 The 5 T1D Struggles We're Solving Today:

1️⃣ Bolusing Confusion - Dosing, timing, amounts, pre-bolusing, rage bolusing, stacking insulin... all of it. If you...

Two people.

Same 7.0% A1C.

Completely different experiences.

Person A spends their day bouncing between 60 and 250. Constantly correcting. Constantly treating lows. Exhausted from the roller coaster.

Person B hangs out between 100 and 180 most of the day. Rarely going low. Feeling good. Living their life.

Same A1C.

Very different realities.

In this solo episode, I'm breaking down why your A1C does NOT tell the whole story and why you need to stop letting that one number define your success with Type 1 diabetes.

<...

"Healthy eating" doesn't have to mean restriction, guilt, or stress 🍎

In this episode, Madi Cheever, MPH, RD, LDN, CHES sits down with Ann Kent, RDN, CDCES, founder of Peas and Hoppiness, a meal planning app that makes real, nutritious food simple, fun, and satisfying for busy families.

Ann shares how growing up on a Kansas farm shaped her relationship with food, how she turned her passion for practical nutrition into a thriving digital platform, and why "healthy eating" should never mean restriction or guilt.

💡 What You'll Learn:

✅ How to practice intuitive eating w...

November 3, 2025 marks 13 years of living with Type 1 diabetes, and I'm sharing the 13 most powerful lessons I've learned—the ones I wish someone had told me from day one. These aren't just tips about carb counting or insulin ratios. These are the mindset shifts, permission slips, and real-world strategies that transformed me from surviving to thriving.

🎯 The 13 Lessons You'll Learn:

1️⃣ You Don't Have to Accept Limiting Narratives - Rewrite the rules that don't serve you2️⃣ You Have Permission to Eat Sugar - Carbs aren't the enemy, strategy is everything3️⃣ Fire Your Doctor If They Don't Serve...

"I haven't taken insulin since October 2024." 💙

Imagine waking up without alarms. Drinking coffee without your blood sugar spiking. Swimming with your kids for hours without fear. Living life without insulin, pumps, or constant calculations.

For Robin Rybolt, this isn't a dream - it's her reality after receiving an islet cell transplant through a groundbreaking research study at the University of Chicago.

In this powerful episode, Madi Cheever, MPH, RD, LDN, CHES sits down with Robin to explore her remarkable journey from decades of managing Type 1 diabetes to living insulin-free. Robin shares the medical pro...

Living with diabetes doesn't have to mean living in constant chaos.

In this episode, Madi Cheever, MPH, RD, LDN, CHES sits down with Coach Ken, diabetes health coach and host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, to talk about practical ways to simplify diabetes management and take back control of your life.Research shows people with Type 1 diabetes make 180+ decisions every day. But what if you could turn that overwhelming mental load into just 20-25 consistent habits?💡

What You'll Learn:

✅ Simplifying Diabetes – How to reduce decision fatigue and create sustainable routines

✅...

What if the key to better blood sugar control isn't another medication - it's getting better sleep? 😴💡

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Tina Alexander, RDN, CDCES, founder of @integralifeaz, and we're diving into something most healthcare providers skip right over: the whole-person approach to diabetes care 🌟

Tina didn't just stumble into this work - her own health journey showed her that traditional diabetes education was missing something crucial: the connection between sleep quality, hydration, mental health, and blood sugar outcomes 🔗

Here's what makes this conversation different:

🛏️ Why sleep is step...

Get the strategies that changed everything - grab your FREE copy of You Have Permission: Eat Sugar, Fire Your Doctor, and Rewrite the Rules of T1D at 📚: typeonetypefun.com/free-book

Whether you're newly diagnosed and overwhelmed, decades in with diabetes burnout, or supporting someone with Type 1 diabetes - this episode gives you permission to rewrite the rules that aren't serving you.

In this raw, vulnerable solo episode, Madi shares her T1D diagnosis story from Halloween night as a terrified 14-year-old to the doctor who told her she'd "never again have a perfect record of...

🎙️ New Episode: From Navy Missions to Diabetes Care

What do island-hopping humanitarian missions and diabetes management have in common? A lot — if you ask Dr. Amir Harari. 👨‍⚕️⚓

In this episode, Dr. Harari shares:

✨ His 20+ years in the U.S. Navy & how he got to travel the world & bring care to remote islands

✨ How those experiences shaped his approach to helping patients with diabetes today

✨ The latest on tech like CGMs & pumps — and what’s coming in the next 5 years

✨ The real-life challenges people with diabete...

Want a FREE book? Grab one here: https://www.typeonetypefun.com/free-book

In this special bonus lightning episode, host Madi Cheever, MPH, RD, LDN, CHES, shares the story behind her brand-new book You Have Permission: Eat Sugar, Fire Your Doctor, and Rewrite the Rules of T1D.

Madi opens up about:

✨ The life-changing diabetes conference she attended with her dad 10 years ago—and how it inspired her dream of speaking on that very stage.
✨ Her journey from dietetics to public health, and the friendships that paved the way to her 2025 TCOYD speaking opportuni...

You know that feeling when you think you've got diabetes figured out, and then life throws you another curveball? That's exactly what happened to today's guest, and honestly, her story is going to both break your heart and fill you with so much hope.

I'm sitting down with Samantha Sauer, the incredible leader behind G-PACT, to talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention: living with Type 1 diabetes AND gastroparesis. If you've never heard of gastroparesis, it's basically when your stomach decides to take a permanent vacation from doing its job—delayed stomach em...

🚀 Meet GlucoSense – the AI-powered app making life with diabetes so much easier! You can get it FREE in the iOS/Android app stores.

💡 What it does:

✅ Connects with Dexcom & Freestyle Libre CGMs

✅ Combines your meals, sleep, insulin & exercise in one clear view

✅ Gives you a daily glucose score + tips to stay in range

✅ Reduces the 180+ daily T1D decisions down to just the important ones

✅ AI-powered insights grounded in clinical research (backed by NIH grants!)

✅ Smart food logging with photo recognition—no manual entry required<...

You are not alone in this journey.

Those five words capture the heart of what the Diabetes Network of Arizona does every single day for the Type 1 diabetes community across the state. In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the stories, struggles, and incredible support systems that are changing lives throughout Arizona.

Living with Type 1 diabetes is a 24-7 reality, and behind every diagnosis is a story—stories of resilience, community, and the ongoing fight against stigma and healthcare barriers. Our guests from the Diabetes Network of Arizona share how they're creating connections, providing ed...

Can you really eat brownies for breakfast when living with type 2 diabetes?
Author, advocate, and type 2 diabetes thriver Lynne Bowman says YES—and she’s made it her delicious mission to prove it.

In this inspiring and empowering episode, Madi Cheever, MPH, RD, LDN, CHES—a type 1 diabetes expert and founder of Type One Type Fun—sits down with Lynne to unpack her journey with type 2 diabetes, her no-BS nutrition philosophy, and her bestselling cookbook Brownies for Breakfast.

✨ What you’ll learn:

Why Lynne believes eating for type 2 d...

Ever feel like you're doing everything right, but your blood sugar still spikes hours after eating? You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not a bad diabetic. In this episode, I break down exactly why those delayed spikes happen after high-fat, high-protein meals (think pizza, pasta, burgers, takeout…), and the step-by-step strategy that’s helped hundreds of people with T1D finally take back control.

✨ Grab the free guide here: https://www.typeonetypefun.com/pl/2148681264

We’re diving into:

-Why this isn’t your fault (and why endo advice often falls sh...

🎮 A FREE video game that teaches Type 1 Diabetes?! Yes, it’s real—and it’s changing lives.
In this episode, diabetes coach Madi Cheever (@TypeOneTypeFun) interviews game developer Sam Glassenberg, the dad behind Level One—a new, free diabetes education game built for kids, families, and caregivers.

When Sam’s 5-year-old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), he realized how broken the “onboarding experience” was for families. So, using his background building games like Star Wars, Hunger Games, and Mission Impossible, he created something better: a mobile game that teaches T1D through play.

📱 What is Le...