Special Episode on Diabetes
In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, we talk about Elizabeth’s experience with type 1 diabetes.
Among other things, we talk about…
- her diagnosis
- her day-to-day routine
- whether it’s hard to give herself shots (no, it’s not)
- large and small challenges
- pregnancy
- devices and technology
- what a dangerous situation looks like, and what to do
- how family members and friends can help
- advice for parents of a recently diagnosed child
- how diabetes is portrayed on TV
I vow to start carrying Starbursts in my bag whenever we’re together—they’re a great emergency snack. (My low-carb snacks, such as a bag of almonds, wouldn’t help.)
Demerits & Gold Stars
Gretchen’s and Elizabeth’s Gold Star: We’re so grateful for doctors, technology, scientists, and health insurance.
Resource
For more information, visit the American Diabetes Association website.
What We’re Reading
Gretchen
Hello and welcome to Happier. A podcast where we explore strategies and ideas for how to make our lives happier, healthier, more productive and more creative. This week in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re going to shake things up a bit and spend the entire episode with Elizabeth talking about her diabetes. I’m Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits, the five senses and human nature.
Gretchen
I’m in a little cobbled together home office. I’m going to walk-in closet with a lot of pillows. And joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister, Elizabeth Craft.
Elizabeth
That’s me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in L.A.. And yes,Gretch, a Type one diabetic.
Gretchen
Yes. We are going to go in deep. Before we launch in, we would love your suggestion for an upcoming episode of More Happier that we’re going to do that is going to be like the Clear the Decks episode that we did a while back, which, you know, is just a bunch of one minute tasks for some instant gratification.
Gretchen
And this is going to be called Deck the Halls because it’s going to be about getting ready for the holidays. So send in your ideas about those quick to do’s that we can cross off our lists as we get ready to enter the holiday season.
Elizabeth
Yes. And we also have our annual gift suggestion lists coming up. So send an idea.
Gretchen
To the round up.
Elizabeth
For gifts, suggestions, something that you absolutely love that you think is a great gift.
Gretchen
Yes. Something you got or something you gave. We’re going to put it all together. That’s always so fun also. I love.
Elizabeth
That. I love it, too.
Gretchen
And now we’ll turn to the subject of diabetes. And part of the inspiration for this episode came from our listener, Katie.
Elizabeth
She said, My son was diagnosed with type one diabetes in September and then I was as well. The mine is progressing slowly. Thank you both for talking about diabetes on the podcast. I’d love to hear more about what diabetes is like from diagnosis to now, the sibling with the diagnosis and the other siblings perspective. It would be a great special episode.
Gretchen
Great idea, Katie. So in honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, we are going to talk about diabetes. But before we launch in, and here’s a brief explanation of type one diabetes and how it differs from type two. And so to understand both kinds of diabetes, we first have to understand the role of insulin in the body. Insulin is a crucial hormone that our bodies produce.
Gretchen
Its main job is to allow glucose, which is sugar, from the food we eat to enter our cells and be converted into energy. Without insulin, glucose can’t enter our cells and it builds up in the bloodstream.
Elizabeth
Type one diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas produces little to no insulin. Used to be called juvenile diabetes. But it’s not just kids, which is why we now call it type one. With type two diabetes, the body isn’t able to effectively use insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance. So while both types revolve around insulin complications, type one is about not producing enough insulin and type two is about not using insulin effectively.
Gretchen
People with type two can sometimes improve their ability to use insulin effectively through lifestyle changes. People with type one cannot change the way their bodies produce insulin.
Elizabeth
And Gretchen, when I talk about this, I want to be clear. I have type one. I am not an expert, I’m not a doctor. I don’t have any medical training. I’m just talking out of my experience as having had this for 15 years or more. Yes. So the difficult thing about type one is that it’s bad to be high.
Elizabeth
When I say high, I mean high blood sugar, but it’s disastrous to be low. So let me explain what I mean. Long term high blood sugar can cause heart disease, strokes, blindness. It causes bad circulation, which means you can have to have amputations, and that is over the long term.
Gretchen
And Elizabeth, I remember when your one word theme for the year was number six, because you were trying to get your levels down to six, and that was about long term.
Elizabeth
Yes.
Gretchen
Long term. Bringing your blood sugar down.
Elizabeth
Yes. Diabetics there often have tested their A1-C, which is the number that tells you what your blood sugar is on an average over the last, say, three months. And I was trying to get that number into the low sixes because that would mean that, you know, I was all good on my blood sugar.
Gretchen
So in that way, you were trying to get your blood sugar lower. But then there’s the problem of the low.
Elizabeth
Exactly. So if your blood sugar drops, suddenly that’s called hypoglycemia and you could like go into a coma, you could crash your car because you sort of lose control of your faculties and anything you don’t want to be under 70. The number 70. I’ve never been in what I would call a dangerous situation, but it’s always a possibility.
Elizabeth
It’s always a fear that I have. And I have many times been in situations where suddenly my blood sugar is very low, let’s say 60, 55. I think it’s gone down to 40 before where I’m just pouring sweat, I’m shaking and I need to eat in that situation. What you need is sugar as quickly as possible to raise your blood sugar, but then it takes, you know, about 15 minutes to kick in.
Elizabeth
So that can be a really unpleasant time.
Gretchen
Mm hmm. And that’s why monitors are such an advantage, right?
Elizabeth
Exactly. Monitors are so huge because, one, you can just glance at your monitor to see where your blood sugar is and if you need to keep an eye on it. And then also the monitor will alert you with beeping, buzzing, all sorts of ways to tell you that your sugar is low or very high. And they also even, Gretchen have dogs.
Elizabeth
Some service dogs are trained to smell the spikes and drops and glucose levels and alerts their owner that they need to pay attention to their blood sugar.
Gretchen
Because I know you’ve said sometimes it can creep up on you or you’re very distracted and you’re sort of not tuning into your body. And so it’s very helpful to have something that is just paying attention all the time.
Elizabeth
Absolutely. You get caught up in life and you forget to pay attention to your blood sugar. I mean, it’s understandable. And also, of course, sometimes it happens at night. Right. And that’s when a monitor beeping is really helpful.
Gretchen
One of the things that took me a while to understand when this was a new situation for you was that there’s this constant tension where you don’t want to go too high and you definitely don’t want to go too low. And the too low is more immediately dangerous. But you’re constantly navigating because you want to be in that middle ground and that’s hard to do.
Elizabeth
Yeah, Gretch. And that’s what my doctors always looking for, is how much can I just stay in range without going too low or too high? It’s always about what’s the range. The goal is to be in this middle ground.
Gretchen
Right, Right. Well, let’s go back to the beginning about when you were diagnosed.
Elizabeth
Yes. Okay. So, Gretchen, I was 34 years old. I had what I realize now are all of the classic symptoms of type one diabetes. So I was working on the Shield, which is a very high stress job, just because many TV jobs are. Yeah, And so I was attributing all of this to stress, but I had lost a lot of weight without trying very fast.
Elizabeth
Very fast. I was actually losing hair, which is can be a sign of, you know, the body going through a trauma. I was really thirsty. I mean, to the point where I remember Adam and I had just we were dating and I remember being in a restaurant with him and like, following the person to a picture of water being like, I can’t wait for you to bring this to the table.
Elizabeth
I need to drink it now. Oh, the really wild thing, Gretch, was I had a cleaning lady, Amy, at the time. She kept telling me I was sick. She kept. Now, Amy, I must say, according to her, speaks to dead people. I don’t know if she does or she doesn’t, but she feels she has an insight into the spirit world.
Elizabeth
But she kept telling me, Liz, you’re very sick. You’re very sick. And, you know, it sort of stuck with me. And then but I ignored it. And then the next week she’d come back and say, Did you go to the doctor? You need to go to the doctor. Well, I mean, sure enough, I finally went to the doctor because I also just wasn’t feeling well.
Elizabeth
Like everything I was doing felt like so much effort. I remember I was just making coffee and pouring my coffee. The coffee pot felt so heavy. So finally I did go to the doctor and I had a blood. Just, you know, when you get a blood test taken where they just kind of test everything, they did that and it came back with signs that, oh my gosh, this person has type one.
Elizabeth
And, you know, it was a shock. Yeah. Gretch, the interesting thing about it was so when this all first happened and I went back to the doctor, she gave me my first insulin shot. And, I mean, that one shot was like being reborn. I mean, just one shot. I felt like a totally new person.
Gretchen
Because energy was entering your cells. It was probably just like the plug was going into the wall.
Elizabeth
Yes. No, I mean, I remember I was on set at the time with Sarah for an episode, and I remember saying to her, I feel so good, like it was 7 p.m. and I was like, I feel like it’s 10 a.m. I’m loving life. It was literally like being reborn. I mean, it was such a stark contrast, which is why, I mean, among other reasons, you want to be on top of this because, yeah, it impacts your energy level on such a massive level.
Gretchen
It was such a shock to get this diagnosis. We sort of had no family history. This, as far as you knew, came out of nowhere. It was a very shocking time.
Elizabeth
Oh, my gosh, It was so shocking. One thing, though, that was encouraging is I remember I asked the doctor, like, so am I going to be in and out of the hospital? What does this mean? And he said, no, you could easily go decades and never be in the hospital. I don’t expect to see you in the hospital.
Elizabeth
You just have to stay on top of it. So that was very reassuring to me. And in fact, I have never been in the hospital for diabetes, so that is very comforting, I think, to those who are newly diagnosed.
Gretchen
Yes, it’s really good to point out that it’s something that you pay a lot of attention to. But you’ve never been in a dangerous situation and you’ve never gone to the hospital. Yeah.
Elizabeth
Yep. And I hope not, too. That’s right. Coming up, we’ll talk about managing type one diabetes day to day. But first, this break.
Gretchen
Elizabeth, for people who aren’t familiar with how type one diabetes is treated, take us through your average day.
Elizabeth
Yeah, well, first of all, Gretchen, I have a 24 hour wireless glucose monitor that the sensor is attached to my stomach. I change it every ten days and then it reads out on my phone so that at any moment, like I was saying, I can look over and see what my blood sugar is, or it can alert me if it’s too high or too low.
Elizabeth
And what’s fantastic about technology is that my glucose monitor is connected to my doctor, Dr. Bush, so he can see it any time he wants to. He can download the information and look at my numbers.
Gretchen
And I will say, I remember before you got this, it felt like such a huge commitment to have this thing attached to you, but you’re very glad you did it.
Elizabeth
I’m so glad. And I remember Gretchen, I was thinking about doing it, and I, mom sat me down. I was home in Kansas City and mom sat me down in the kitchen and she just said, Elizabeth, I think you need to get the glucose monitor. I think this is something you need to do. Yeah. And, you know, we always listen to our mother, Gretchen, and I was like, okay, I’ll do it.
Elizabeth
And I did it. And I have to say it was the best thing I’ve probably ever done health wise.
Gretchen
Now how about the pump?
Elizabeth
I don’t use an insulin pump, which is another device you can use to make it easier to get the insulin. I give myself shots. I’m so used to it, it doesn’t bother me. It’s so much easier now than it used to be. When I first started, I had to have like a syringe and the little bottle of insulin and tap the syringe and all of that.
Elizabeth
Now I just have these pens that you dial up the number that you want of insulin, and it’s a very short needle does not hurt one bit when you stick it in. And I just push the button and it couldn’t be easier. I just prefer that. That doesn’t mean I’ll never have a pump. I very well may have a pump at some point.
Elizabeth
I know kids love the pump. I think it really helps children. That’s what I heard. Again, I’m not an expert, but it’s amazing. Even since I was diagnosed, how far we’ve come with treating type one.
Gretchen
For one thing, I know just from talking to you is that now that you can meet with your doctor, virtually a lot of times he can look at your numbers and he can talk to you virtually. And so because you have to check in with your doctor so often, you’ve saved so much time and just driving around by meeting virtually.
Elizabeth
Yes. I mean, I used to drive 45 minutes to the doctor, you know, every six weeks. And it was such a hassle. Now, what’s great is I meet with my doctor every two weeks, but almost always on face time. So it just takes each of us like 5 minutes, right? It’s just very.
Gretchen
Easy. And is it hard to give yourself shots?
Elizabeth
It is so easy, Gretchen. I mean, like I said, the pen has really changed how easy it is to give shots, how quick it is. I mean, I give myself a shot every time I go out to a meal with people, I just write at the table, give myself a shot. Unless I’m wearing a dress, in which case that’s not possible.
Elizabeth
But people don’t even notice. There are people I’ve known for years gone out to a meal with, you know, many, many times. I’ll mention I have type one and they’ll they’ll be shocked and then they’ll say, Do you give yourself shots? And I’ll say, Yeah, didn’t you see? I just gave myself one like 2 minutes ago. I mean, people never notice.
Elizabeth
So that is a great thing. It can be very quick and in and out and you’re done.
Gretchen
Well, that’s a good example, the spotlight effect, which is the psychological phenomenon that we think that other people are paying more attention to us than they actually are.
Elizabeth
Yes, exactly. And for the managing. So I have the 24 hour glucose monitor. I give myself shots throughout the day. That’s the short acting insulin. And then I give myself a shot of long acting insulin every night. That’s kind of a 24 hour just to hopefully keep me steady on a 24 hour basis. And then I also take various medications every day, and those vary depending on the person.
Elizabeth
So, you know, I won’t go into my own personal medications, but I take several daily.
Gretchen
Well, what this reminds me of is something that your doctor said to you when you were first diagnosed about how this is a very manageable condition, but it’s relentless. You have to really stay on top of it. But if you do stay on top of it, it is manageable.
Elizabeth
Yes, He described it as being on a freeway with no exit ramp. You’re just driving forever down this freeway and you want to get off, but you can’t.
Gretchen
That’s not a good metaphor for you and me, because while.
Elizabeth
Don’t love to drive, we don’t like to drive. I know. It’s just, you know, you got to keep on paying attention to it.
Gretchen
So Elizabeth that’s your diagnosis and that’s how you manage the day to day. What are some of the bigger challenges that you faced? How did you handle those? Yeah.
Elizabeth
Well, there’s a bunch of them. Even though I say I can discreetly give myself a shot, you know, at the table at lunch. That’s true. But there are times where you feel very self-conscious, especially like going to work situation. If suddenly I feel like, Oh my gosh, my blood sugar is dropping, I need to eat something. It feels very self-conscious to suddenly announce, Oh, I have diabetes and I need to eat something.
Elizabeth
And I have had to do that before.
Gretchen
Well, and I know there have been times where you’ve been concerned that your monitor might buzz like, Yeah, we were doing our live shows you would always be thinking about, okay, I want to make sure that I’m not going to get into a situation where my monitor might all of a sudden go off.
Elizabeth
Yes. And Gretchen, even just the other night, Adam and I went to a sound bath. You know, I love sound baths.
Gretchen
You love a sound bath.
Elizabeth
And beforehand I thought, should I eat something? And I thought, no, my blood sugar is fine. But then during the sound bath, I kept thinking I should have eaten something. I should have eaten something. It’s it’s going to go down. It’s going to start buzzing. And I had put my phone like across the room, you know, in a cubby.
Elizabeth
Yeah. And I couldn’t enjoy the sound bath because the whole time I was just waiting for my monitor to go off which it did not, by the way. So that’s just the kind of thing you’re always aware of.
Gretchen
And how about pregnancy?
Elizabeth
So pregnancy was a big challenge. One of our listeners had asked me if I was diagnosed before I was pregnant with Jack and I was. A lot of people are diagnosed during pregnancy, so they’ll get gestational diabetes and then it won’t go away. That happens. Most people with gestational diabetes, it goes away after they give birth. But there are those who then develop type one.
Elizabeth
I know someone that happened to. So I knew that I had diabetes. So it was something again had to be aware of. It meant I had to go to the doctor a lot, especially as it progressed. I had to go every single week. I had to end up delivering a week early because babies of diabetics often are much bigger than regular babies.
Elizabeth
Jack was 9lbs, nine ounces when he was born, and that was a week early. So it is a hassle and you have to just be so on top of it. But it was doable and I had a healthy pregnancy. And as you know, I gave birth naturally and didn’t have any problems.
Gretchen
That was a big one. What are some other challenges?
Elizabeth
There’s just little things. Like I have a slight fear of foreign travel because any sort of food situation to me that I don’t know feels precarious. I have a fear of being without snacks. For instance, on an airplane. I always worry, what if I get stuck on a tarmac for 8 hours? So I want to just have a ton of carby snacks.
Elizabeth
Yeah, because carbs turn into sugar. And then you can have these moments where your blood sugar drops and it’s scary and it’s very unpleasant.
Gretchen
Well, let’s talk about the emergency situation. What does that look like and what do you do and what should the people around, you know, to do if you do have a sudden drop like that?
Elizabeth
Okay. Well, the signs of it are really sweating and shaking are probably the biggest signs. What people need to know is that when you’re in that situation, you do not need insulin. Insulin is what you need to lower your blood sugar. If you are shaking and sweating, that means your blood sugar is low and you need sugar. And the best thing to give somebody in that situation is liquid with sugar.
Elizabeth
So orange juice or coke, milk, because liquid is the fastest thing to get into your bloodstream.
Gretchen
So that’s a really good thing to point out, because I think a lot of times people think like if a diabetic is having an emergency, they need their insulin because insulin feels like their medicine. But actually the insulin is not going to help you with low blood sugar. That’s going to be the opposite of helping you. What you need is that sugary thing.
Elizabeth
Yes. Yeah. And Gretchen, it’s a weird feeling like when this happens to me sometimes, I mean, I’m just like eating like an animal. It’s like I go into the cabinet, I’m just, like, stuffing things in my mouth, even though I know intellectually. Okay, I’ve now eaten enough that my blood sugar will go up. It’s such a just visceral feeling of needing to eat, of course.
Elizabeth
And then it goes high. So that’s frustrating when you go from 40 to 250. Yeah. And this is again, the problem of the range.
Gretchen
Staying within the range. Yes. When are there any big misconceptions that people have about type one.
Elizabeth
To think that it’s going to stop you from having a full life. You can absolutely have an amazing full life. Do everything you want to do with type one. I have to mention some famous people, Gretchen. Who?
Gretchen
Oh yeah, let’s see, who are who who’s.
Elizabeth
Got all sorts of things. Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. Halle Berry. Yeah. Bret Michaels from Poison. Mary Tyler Moore. Everybody.
Gretchen
I knew that. I knew she was the type one.
Elizabeth
Yes, I saw her talk about it. Jay Cutler, famous football player. So you can even be a football player and have type one Anne Rice, the famous novelist. And then Gretchen, Victor Garber, who’s an actor, he played Jennifer Garner’s father on Alias, is probably his most famous role. It was funny because I saw him at a restaurant and he was testing his blood sugar.
Elizabeth
This was before the days of wireless glucose monitors. You used to have to prick your finger all the time. Some people still do. And he had the exact same device that I use. So I almost went across and said, Victor Garber, I’m type one too, but I didn’t, although I bet he would have appreciated it because type ones call out to each other.
Elizabeth
In fact, Gretchen, I don’t know if you remember one time you and I were doing an event and it was one of those moments where I suddenly had to say, Oh yeah, everybody I need to eat a snack. And the guy we were working with, we had just met, pulled a chocolate out of his pocket and said, I’m also type one, here’s a chocolate.
Elizabeth
I always have this in my pocket.
Gretchen
Well, it’s also funny to me Elizabeth because on Happier in Hollywood, you and Sara talk about your celebrity sightings and you have so many good celebrity sightings that’s very suitable that you would have a celebrity sighting related to diabetes?
Elizabeth
Yes, I noticed that right away. Coming up, we’ll talk about support systems and answer questions from listeners. But first, this break.
Gretchen
Solicit one more question before we get to listener questions. Can you talk about how family, friends and other support systems help you manage your condition? What advice do you give to the people around you?
Elizabeth
I mean, the best thing is just to not make a big deal out of it. Don’t overreact or make the person feel self-conscious. If they have to eat, don’t be like, Oh my gosh, you know, just take it in stride. I think it’s helpful maybe to have snacks or to ask, Hey, did you bring snacks? Because we can forget.
Gretchen
Well, I have to say that this conversation is making me realize that I want to do a better job when we’re together of having snacks for you. Because I like I eat low carb and so, like, my little bag of almonds is not going to do anything for you. But what’s interesting is around Halloween, you were telling me why Starbursts were a really good thing.
Gretchen
So to explain to listeners about the Starbursts.
Elizabeth
Yes, I like to keep Starburst because, you know, it’s pure sugar and they you chew and they really dissolve. So they get in the blood sugar fast and I like them because they’re wrapped, especially the little packets of two they have at Halloween have the wrapper and then a wrapper around that so that I can keep it in my purse and it doesn’t get all gross and destroy right protection.
Elizabeth
So I really like Starburst.
Gretchen
Yeah, I’m going to get some of those just so that when we’re together, I’m prepared as well as you.
Elizabeth
And then just for people to be aware that if you do have a low like I’m talking about, it takes about 30 minutes to recover. So there’s nothing more to do. You’ve done your thing, you’ve eaten something, you’ve had a Coke, whatever. But it can take like 30 minutes to recover. So just be aware that the person isn’t going to be back up to themselves for a little bit after this low period.
Gretchen
Right, right, right. Okay. So now for some listener questions. Linda says, Here’s my question, Liz. How can someone best support a spouse with type one and or how does Adam support you? My husband is type one and takes amazing care of himself. At the same time, we’ve had some scary low blood sugar incidents and I never know if I should step in if I’m concerned that it might have been a long time since he’s eaten something, or if, I suspect his blood sugar might be getting low.
Gretchen
Hmm. Interesting.
Elizabeth
Well, again, I mean, I can only speak for myself, but I like that Adam will ask me if I’ve eaten something, because, again, sometimes I get caught up in it. Also, if I say to him I need to eat, then he is on it. He’s like, okay, we need to get mom food right now. You know, he understands that.
Elizabeth
I’m not just saying I’m hungry, but I really need to eat. So also, if I wake up in the middle of the night and I’m low and I kind of wake him up and ask him to get me something, if it’s really bad and I just don’t feel well, he’ll like, hop right out of bed and get me something.
Elizabeth
Now I try to keep things in my nightstand and I usually can just reach over. But, you know, there are times in a hotel room or I run out of something, whatever. He’ll run out and get it. I’m also like, Gretchen, we were in Kansas City. I had forgotten my new sensor. He was in L.A.. I called, I said I forgot my sensor and he just without any complaining or scolding me, FedExed me the sensor.
Elizabeth
I got it the next day. So he really just supports me in that he doesn’t judge me. He just is always there when I need.
Gretchen
If he needs need support. So it sounds like you would suggest to Linda that it is easy to get caught up in life and it can be very helpful if somebody around you is like, Hey, just flagging this for you in some low key way.
Elizabeth
Yes. And if she again keeps snacks in her purse that she knows are good for him or in the glove compartment is a good place.
Gretchen
Peter writes, This episode is very timely. Our son is ten years old and was recently diagnosed with type one. We are still trying to get a handle on all the information technology, lifestyle changes and the rest. Our son is being very brave, calm and cooperative, but he definitely needs my wife and me to take the lead in showing him how to handle the situation.
Gretchen
And we’re still trying to figure things out. I know you were diagnosed until you were an adult, but do you have any advice for us?
Elizabeth
Yes, my biggest advice is embrace the technology. The more you use the technology, the less your life has to change. It can seem like a lot at the beginning. Just figure all this out and it’s a big lifestyle change, but it is so worth it. As I said earlier, I know a lot of kids really benefit from insulin pumps, definitely from the 24 hour glucose monitor.
Elizabeth
So I think just embrace it, incorporate it and life can go on and heal, just be a normal kid. And then the other thing I would say is let people know, don’t treat it like a secret. Just make it very matter of fact, you know, Oh, he was just diagnosed with type one. We’re dealing with it. It’s a big change.
Elizabeth
But he’s handling it like a real champ, you know, and just make it part of your everyday day, just not a big deal.
Gretchen
Katie, I’m wondering how you feel generally about how diabetes is depicted in TV and movies.
Elizabeth
Well, I have noticed times when it’s wrong. Gretchen, For instance, there was I remember on a show somebody was having a low incident on an airplane and he took insulin and someone had poisoned the insulin or something. And of course I knew that’s not what he would do. He would eat a candy bar. Yeah. So I am like an eagle eye about that.
Elizabeth
But I do think probably as time goes on, writers are more and more aware of that kind of thing and are getting more accurate.
Gretchen
That’s funny. Shanna asks, Do you ever consider eating very low carb like Gretchen or going whole food plant based?
Elizabeth
Well, I should be more low carb than I am. That’s the thing for diabetes. But, Gretchen, you really just don’t eat almost any carbs, which I wouldn’t even be able to do because it goes up and down, and sometimes all I can, I have to have carbs because, as I said, carbs turn into sugar and that’s, you know, so yes, I consider it, but, you know, I am who I am and I don’t want to be low carb or as certainly where you are.
Elizabeth
Right. Right.
Gretchen
Lori finally says, I want to let you know about an amazing group of people with type one diabetes who are making me happier. They have been participating in a research study for type one diabetes. The Diabetes Control and Complications, trial epidemiology of diabetes interventions and complications for 34 to 40 years. They have graciously remained dedicated through decades of life changes.
Gretchen
These amazing people have sacrificed so much to improve the lives of others and make the world a little happier. So that’s wonderful. These are people who are helping with the research on the science, and it’s leading to all these changes that that you said have made the condition so much easier to improve. And speaking of having this kind of final thing, Elizabeth, we often talk about how our physical experiences shape our emotional and mental experiences.
Gretchen
So how do you think that this physical experience has influenced you?
Elizabeth
Well, it’s funny because one of the first things Dad said when I was diagnosed was that he had heard a secret to long life is being diagnosed with a chronic condition at an early age because it forces you to pay attention to your health. And I think that’s really true. I mean, I have a very close relationship with my doctor, much more than I think most people do.
Elizabeth
I talk to him about all sorts of health things. I’m really on top of my health. So I think that is an advantage. Also, I definitely have more empathy for people going through conditions that are much more challenging. You know, I have a friend with lupus. I have friends with chronic pain, I have friends with all sorts of things.
Elizabeth
And because I have diabetes, I know what it’s like to be dealing with something like that. And, you know, in some ways I have it a lot easier than them.
Gretchen
Elizabeth, thank you for telling us all about it. Even as your sister, I learned a lot about the condition. So, listeners, let us know if you have additional questions or comments. Let us know on Instagram, Threads, Tik Tok, Facebook. Drop us an email at podcast@gretchenrubin.com or you can go to the show notes.
Gretchen
This is happiercast.com/455 for everything related to this episode. Elizabeth this week no demerits, just gold stars. We want to pour out the gold stars for doctors, technology, scientists, health insurance, all the things that have made such a huge difference for the lives of people who have type one diabetes.
Elizabeth
Yes. And I want to give a special shout out to my doctor, Dr. Michael Bush, and also to his nurse, Cornelia, and his assistant, Mary Anne. They have taken amazing care of me for many years. I am very, very lucky.
Gretchen
Yes. Gold Star to all of them. The resource for this week, if you want to learn more about diabetes, type one or type two, you can go to the website of the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org. And now, Elizabeth, what are we reading? What are you reading?
Elizabeth
I’m reading Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey Mcquiston.
Gretchen
And I am just about to start Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor. And that’s it for this episode of Happier. We hope this discussion of Elizabeth’s experience with type one diabetes has been useful and interesting.
Elizabeth
Thank you to our executive producer Chuck Reed and everyone at Cadence 13. Get in touch. Gretchen’s on Instagram and Threads and Tik Tck at Gretchen Rubin and I am on Threads and Instagram at Liz Craft. Our email address is podcast@gretchenrubin.com.
Gretchen
And if you know anybody who’s interested in type one diabetes, please send in a link to our show or just recommend the show. Generally, that is how most people discover our show.
Elizabeth
Until next week. I’m Elizabeth Craft.
Gretchen
And I’m Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and upward. So, Elizabeth, now that Halloween has passed, I was thinking, you know, sometimes the candy goes on sale. So I was thinking maybe I’d go to the drugstore and see if I can get those Starburst packs.
Elizabeth
Oh, you are such a good sister, Gretchen. I should have thanked you in my gold stars.
Gretchen
From the Onward project.