Dr. David Ahn on Diabetes Burnout, Getting Off Track, and the Psychology of T1D
Neil sits down with Dr. David Ahn, endocrinologist and nationally recognized diabetes educator, to talk about what happens when life gets heavy and you drift off track with type 1 diabetes.They dig into burnout, shame, small wins, and why most people aren’t failing...they’re overwhelmed. Dr. Ahn breaks down the emotional side of T1D, why community matters more than you think, and how realistic steps (not perfect ones) help you regain momentum. It’s a conversation about compassion, clarity, and building daily habits that lighten the load...because perfection isn’t the goal. Traction is.What You’ll Learn• Why people living with T1D drift, even with the best intentions • The mindset shift from guilt to curiosity • How Dr. Ahn separates numbers from emotional well-being • Why time-in-range helps more day-to-day than A1C • How small, predictable habits rebuild confidence • Why tech can help, but overwhelm is real...and normal • The power of community when T1D feels isolatingTake ActionIdentify one small thing you can do today that makes your T1D routine feel lighter. Try the “get on base” rule: don’t chase a home run...just take the next small step. Share your reflections or reset story at https://yourbestt1dyear.comResources• Follow Dr. David Ahn: Instagram/X → @ahncall• Diabetes Doc (TikTok + YouTube)• Your Best T1D Year newsletter + tools: https://yourbestt1dyear.com • Bright Spots & Landmines (Adam Brown): https://diatribe.org/bright-spots-and-landmines • Time-in-Range basics (Breakthrough T1D): https://breakthrought1d.orgSponsor💙 Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Learn more → https://bluecirclehealth.orgConnectInstagram → @thebetes TikTok → @the.betes Website → https://yourbestt1dyear.comBooks by Neil Greathouse📚 Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time 📚 Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories Available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
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Diabetes Signal Overload? Here’s How to Reset Your Alerts & Mind
Getting off track loves chaos disguised as productivity. Fifteen alerts, ten graphs you never open ... it feels busy but not better. This episode is about keeping the good noise and ditching the rest, and setting up a weekly look‑back that takes just ten minutes.What You’ll LearnWhy noise steals your edge: when everything pings urgent, your brain filters to survive; settings drift and thresholds no longer match real life.Good‑Noise Check: keep only the alerts that change your behavior (urgent low, rapid rise/fall, a single high) and audit the rest; pause or turn them down for a week so your brain relearns “when it pings, it matters.”10‑Minute Weekly Look‑Back: pick a repeating slot (Sunday night or Monday morning), look at your week for ten minutes, answer a few questions, and pick one tweak to carry forward.Tiny LeversChoose one lever for the next seven days:Good‑Noise Check: Audit your alerts and keep only the ones that truly move you to act.10‑Minute Weekly Look‑Back: Schedule a ten‑minute review of your week and pick one small tweak.Take ActionChoose the lever that makes the most sense for you and commit to it. Think about why you’re choosing it and share that thought with Neil.ResourcesHelpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.comSponsorBlue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.orgConnectInstagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.comBooks on AmazonType 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
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How to Build a Diabetes Backup Plan That Actually Works
Off track loves small surprises ... a meeting that runs long, a ride that takes longer, or a meal that drags on. This episode helps you build backup plans you’ll actually use so surprises don’t become big problems.What You’ll LearnWhy Plan A keeps breaking: it depends on perfect timing, full batteries, and cooperative humans; real life laughs at that.60‑Second Go‑Bag: grab a small bag and spend 60 seconds tossing in fast carbs you will actually eat, a pen or syringe or backup infusion set, a spare adhesive or strip, and a mini battery or charger.Two‑Location Stash: duplicate bare‑minimum supplies in two places you already use (car console and desk drawer, or gym bag and nightstand) so you’re never without.Tiny LeversChoose one lever for the next seven days:60‑Second Go‑Bag: Build a micro‑kit with the essentials and toss it in your bag.Two‑Location Stash: Place duplicates of your essentials in two spots you frequent.Take ActionBuild one backup this week. Either assemble your go‑bag or set up your two‑location stash and see how much calmer surprises feel.ResourcesHelpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.comSponsorBlue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.orgConnectInstagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.comBooks on AmazonType 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
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How to Handle Travel, Buffets, and Holidays Without Blood-Sugar Chaos
Travel and holiday meals pour gasoline on drift. This episode is about shrinking the chaos so you can make one good decision at a time when the calendar gets loud.What You’ll LearnWhy trips and big meals break your brain: unpredictable schedules, time zones, weird sleep, new ingredients, supersized portions, snacking autopilot.Two Pockets Rule: carry fast carbs you’ll actually eat and a backup kit (pen/syringe or infusion set, adhesive, battery) so diabetes doesn’t turn into a disaster.Plate Plan: choose your lane before the first bite ... either front‑load your pre‑bolus like a normal meal or split your dose between the first and second plate.Tiny LeversChoose one lever for the next seven days:Two Pockets Rule: Keep two pockets on you ... one with fast carbs, one with your backup supplies.Plate Plan: Decide whether you’re front‑loading or splitting your dose before you dig in.Take ActionPick your lever for your next trip or big meal and let Neil know how it goes.ResourcesHelpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.comSponsorBlue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.orgConnectInstagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.comBooks on AmazonType 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
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Carb Counting Reset: How to Stop Guessing and Get Numbers You Trust
Off track loves to hide in foods we think we know. This episode helps you rebuild carb confidence without a spreadsheet so numbers stay calmer and corrections smaller.What You’ll LearnWhy carbs go sideways: portion distortion, restaurant free‑pour, optimistic cereal boxes, travel and holiday chaos, and “I’ll look it up later.”The “Three Usuals” Re‑Check: pick three foods you eat most often this week, look up their carb counts again, and use those numbers for seven days.The “10‑Minute Nudge”: set a timer when you decide to eat; if your blood sugar spikes fast, adjust your pre‑bolus next time.Tiny ToolsChoose one tool for the next seven days:Three Usuals Re‑Check: Identify your three most‑eaten foods this week and refresh your memory on their carbs.10‑Minute Nudge: Start a 10‑minute timer when you decide to eat; use the information to fine‑tune your pre‑bolus.Take ActionPick the tool that fits your week and commit to it. Finish the prompt “I’m choosing to re‑check ___ for 7 days, so that ___” and share it with Neil.ResourcesHelpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.comSponsorBlue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.orgConnectInstagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.comBooks on AmazonType 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Managing Type 1 Diabetes doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Each 5-minute episode of Your Best T1D Year is packed with practical strategies, mindset shifts, and a little humor to help you feel more in control and less frustrated by diabetes.
Hosted by Neil Greathouse, this Monday, Wednesday, and Friday podcast delivers quick, relatable episodes that make learning about T1D effortless - so you can build small wins that lead to big changes.
📅 New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
🎧 Subscribe now and start making diabetes management feel easier - one small habit at a time.
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