Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which means airports, couches and plates large enough to qualify as furniture. Holidays amplify every off track habit at once. This episode offers one tiny lever to survive the chaos so you can enjoy the day without waking up Friday in correction mode.
What You’ll Learn
Tiny Levers
Choose one lever for the next two days:
Take Action
Pick your lever for Thanksgiving and commit. Finish the prompt “Tomorrow I’m choosing ___, so that ___,” and share it with Neil.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
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 isolating
Take Action
Identify 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.com
Resources
• 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.org
Sponsor
💙 Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life.
Learn more → https://bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram → @thebetes
TikTok → @the.betes
Website → https://yourbestt1dyear.com
Books by Neil Greathouse
📚 Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time
📚 Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
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 Learn
Tiny Levers
Choose one lever for the next seven days:
Take Action
Choose 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.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
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 Learn
Tiny Levers
Choose one lever for the next seven days:
Take Action
Build one backup this week. Either assemble your go‑bag or set up your two‑location stash and see how much calmer surprises feel.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
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 Learn
Tiny Levers
Choose one lever for the next seven days:
Take Action
Pick your lever for your next trip or big meal and let Neil know how it goes.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
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 Learn
Tiny Tools
Choose one tool for the next seven days:
Take Action
Pick 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.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Getting off track hides in background noise and tiny skips. This episode is about turning down the static so the important stuff stands out.
What You’ll Learn
Tiny Levers
Choose one lever for the next seven days:
Take Action
Decide which lever you’ll try this week and commit to it. Let Neil know which one you chose and why.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Neil sits down with Nate Checketts, CEO and co-founder of Rhone and former chairman of Beyond Type 1, to talk about what it really means to reset after you drift off track.
They unpack how leadership, fatherhood, and living with type 1 diabetes all intersect...and how small, consistent actions (not massive overhauls) can rebuild momentum when you’ve lost it.
It’s a conversation about grace, discipline, and building systems that make resets easier...because perfection isn’t the goal. Traction is.
What You’ll Learn
• Why even disciplined people drift...and how to spot it early
• The mindset shift from perfection to progress
• How living with T1D teaches empathy and leadership
• Why movement unlocks honesty (the story behind Rhone’s “Mind & Muscle” events)
• The power of micro-habits: consistency → intensity → technique
• How to rebuild confidence after burnout
Take Action
Resources
• Rhone: https://www.rhone.com
• Beyond Type 1: https://beyondtype1.org
• Your Best T1D Year newsletter + tools: https://yourbestt1dyear.com
• Atomic Habits by James Clear (on Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735211299
Sponsor
💙 Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life.
Learn more → https://bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram → @thebetes
TikTok → @the.betes
Website → https://yourbestt1dyear.com
Books by Neil Greathouse
📚 Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time
📚 Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
Comebacks aren’t overnight. This episode talks about honest timelines and the moments that tap you on the shoulder and say “pay attention.”
What You’ll Learn
Course Correction Steps
Notice which shoulder‑tap moment is talking to you right now. Is it numbers, your body, or life circumstances? Decide one small move to respond to that nudge.
Take Action
Pick your strongest nudge and make one adjustment today … whether it’s booking a lab, adjusting a dose, or planning for an upcoming trip. Share what you did with Neil.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Hydroplaning is what happens when your car slides where it wants ... and it’s how T1D can feel when numbers drift despite “doing everything right.” This episode puts words to that feeling.
What You’ll Learn
Course Correction Steps
Finish the line “If I want my edge back by December 1, the thing I have to stop pretending about is ___.” Be honest about what’s really breaking your control.
Take Action
Write out the one thing you’ve been pretending isn’t a problem and share it with Neil. Naming it is the first step to regaining control.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
How we drift off track in T1D management and why it happens quietly. It’s less about dramatic crashes and more about the slow blur of basic habits.
What You’ll Learn
Course Correction Steps
Audit your routine by listing the habits you’ve let slide and pick one to tighten up this week. Finish the prompt “I tend to get off track when…” and share it with Neil for accountability.
Take Action
Identify one area where you’ve drifted and commit to a small course correction this week. Send your prompt to Neil on social media to join the conversation.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon
Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
How to build clinical, personal, and peer support teams that actually reduce diabetes distress. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.
What You'll Learn
• Support team types - Clinical, personal, and peer support networks
• Gap identification - How to spot missing support areas
• Team building - Simple steps to expand your support network
• November preview - 'Mind the Gap' theme for getting back on track
Three Support Teams
Clinical: Endocrinologist, educator, primary care | Personal: Family, friends, people who check in | Peer: Other T1Ds who say 'me too'
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories
How to audit and adjust your CGM and pump alarms to reduce tech-related diabetes distress. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.
What You'll Learn
• Alarm fatigue - Why too many alerts increase stress and burnout
• Settings audit - How to review and adjust CGM/pump thresholds
• Alert zones - Different settings for day vs night
• Smart silence - Using snooze strategically to manage mental load
Tech Clean-Up Steps
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories
Neil Greathouse sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Bill Polonsky, founder of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute and one of the pioneers behind the concept of diabetes distress.
They unpack what diabetes distress really is (and what it isn’t), why it’s so common, and how both people with T1D and their caregivers can navigate the emotional weight of this disease without shame or burnout.
This conversation is equal parts validation and practical encouragement—proof that you’re not broken, you’re just managing something relentlessly difficult.
What You’ll Learn
• The difference between diabetes distress vs. depression—and why antidepressants don’t fix burnout
• How often people with T1D experience distress (spoiler: almost everyone does at some point)
• What the Type 1 Diabetes Distress Assessment System (T1-DDS) measures and how to use it
• Why caregivers—especially parents—experience their own version of distress
• How to rebuild hope and control when diabetes feels overwhelming
Take Action
👉 Take the free T1-DDS 7-question or 29-question assessment at diabetesdistress.org
to better understand your current level of distress.
👉 Share your results with your healthcare team or a friend who “gets it.”
👉 Remember: you’re not failing—you’re learning how to manage something relentless.
Resources
• T1-DDS Assessments & Research: diabetesdistress.org
• Your Best T1D Year newsletter + free resources: https://yourbestt1dyear.com
• Behavioral Diabetes Institute: https://behavioraldiabetes.org
Sponsor
💙 Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life.
Get matched with a real diabetes care team at https://bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
📱 Instagram → @thebetes
📱 TikTok → @the.betes
🌐 Website → https://yourbestt1dyear.com
Books by Neil Greathouse
📚 Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time
📚 Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
Why connecting with other T1Ds can reduce diabetes distress and where to find real support. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.
What You'll Learn
• Support types - Formal groups, online communities, one-on-one connections
• Research benefits - How peer support reduces distress and builds confidence
• Finding community - Where to connect with people who actually get it
• Quality markers - Empathy and 'me too' moments vs judgment
Support Options
Formal Groups: Clinic or nonprofit programs | Online Communities: Instagram, TikTok, forums | Personal Connections: Mentors, friends, text support
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories
Practical mindfulness techniques that actually work for people with type 1 diabetes. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.
What You'll Learn
• Practical techniques - CGM pause, 60-second reset, name without judgment
• Research benefits - How mindfulness reduces distress and improves decisions
• Real-life application - No mountaintop meditation required
• Quick practices - 10 minutes daily makes a measurable difference
Three Simple Techniques
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories
Research shows two proven approaches to reducing diabetes distress - skills-based and emotion-focused. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.
What You'll Learn
• T1-REDEEM study results - Two proven paths to reduce diabetes distress
• Skills-based approach - Problem-solving, decision-making, management confidence
• Emotion-focused approach - Self-compassion, burnout coping, emotional load
• Path selection - How to identify which approach you need right now
Two Proven Approaches
Skills Path: Better troubleshooting, updated settings, management refreshers
Feelings Path: Self-compassion, emotional support, burnout relief
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories
How to identify your personal diabetes distress triggers with a simple tracking method. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.
What You'll Learn
• Trigger identification - Simple method to spot your diabetes distress patterns
• Tracking technique - What happened, what triggered it, how you felt
• Pattern recognition - How to map recurring stress points
• Actionable data - Using trigger info to address root causes
Simple Tracking Method
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories
The detailed 28-question diabetes distress scale reveals exactly where stress hits hardest. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.
What You'll Learn
• Distress categories - Powerlessness, management, hypoglycemia, healthcare, family, eating, social
• Detailed assessment - How the 28-question version provides specific insights
• Personalized results - Why seeing exact struggle areas matters
• Solution guidance - How detailed scores guide targeted interventions
The 7 Distress Categories
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.
Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories
The Other Side of Type 1 Diabetes: My Wife Gina on What It’s Really Like
Thirty years, three DKAs, countless alarms - and one marriage that somehow survived it all.
In this episode, Neil sits down with his wife Gina Greathouse for the conversation everyone’s been waiting for. Together, they talk about what diabetes distress really does - not just to the person living with type 1 diabetes, but to the person who loves them, supports them, and sometimes carries the weight right alongside them.
This is the real, unfiltered, funny, heartfelt look at love, marriage, and the mental load of life with T1D.
What You’ll Learn
• Partner perspective – What it’s really like to love someone with type 1 diabetes
• Emotional honesty – The tension between helping and not nagging
• Marriage under pressure – How distress, burnout, and fear show up in daily life
• How they healed – What changed when Neil began working on diabetes instead of reacting to it
Big Takeaways
1. Diabetes affects both of you.
The distress isn’t one-sided. When T1D moves into a marriage, both people feel it - one physically, one emotionally.
2. Communication changes everything.
Gina shares how they learned to talk with each other instead of around diabetes, especially when burnout hit.
3. Small wins build real trust.
As Neil began simplifying his diabetes management, the emotional load for both of them got lighter. Simple daily habits turned fear into confidence.
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress or explore tools that strengthen your support system?
Take the T1-DDS-7 (quick) or 30-question version at yourbestt1dyear.com.
Resources
Helpful resources, free guides, and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and coordinated care that fits real life - from mental health support to prescription help.
Now available in 16 states across the U.S.
Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes
TikTok: @the.betes
Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon:
Type 1 Diabetes: One Day at a Time