Ditching Diabetes with Diabetes Maven

023:Newly Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes? What To Do First

Just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and feeling overwhelmed? In this episode of Ditching Diabetes, Stephanie, a nurse practitioner, type 2 diabetes coach, mom of six, and someone who lowered her own A1C from 8.1 to 5.4, walks you through what to do first. We talk about what type 2 diabetes actually means, which numbers matter, how to start checking your blood sugar without spiraling, what to eat for breakfast, why a 10-minute walk after meals helps, and why medication is not a personal failure. If your doctor told you to “eat better and move more” but did not give you an actual plan, this episode will help you take the first step without losing your mind. Inside this episode: * What type 2 diabetes means in plain English * What A1C tells you and what it does not * Why breakfast is the best place to start * How to check blood sugar without using it to shame yourself * What to ask your provider after diagnosis * Why medication can be a tool, not a failure Want help putting this into practice? Join Stephanie’s Skool community for real-life blood sugar strategy, food support, labs, habits, and diabetes education without the shame. The link is in the show notes.

022: Your Blood Sugar Is Hurting Your Heart

If you have type 2 diabetes, your heart is already in this conversation. Most women don't find out until something scary happens. I don't want that for you. In this final installment of the lab series, I'm walking you through the cardiac markers that actually matter, what your numbers mean, and the supplements I use personally and recommend to my patients. We're talking hs-CRP, Lp(a), ApoB, homocysteine, fasting insulin, and exactly what to do with all of it. Your doctor has 15 minutes. I've got more than that. Let's use it.

021: The Nutrient Deficiencies That Can Make Blood Sugar Harder

In this episode of Ditching Diabetes, Stephanie opens up about her own Function Health lab results and explains why three nutrient markers matter for blood sugar, inflammation, and long-term metabolic health: homocysteine, omega-3 index, and vitamin D. She breaks down what these labs mean in plain English, why standard lab panels often miss them, and what listeners can ask their provider about if they are managing prediabetes, diabetes, insulin resistance, or inflammation.

020: The test your doctor never orders

Most people leave their annual physical with two blood sugar numbers and zero real answers. In this episode — Part 1 of a three-part deep dive into my 80+ Function Health lab results — I'm covering the four markers that paint a complete metabolic picture: A1C, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and cortisol. One of these is almost never ordered by a standard doctor. One is controlled more by stress than by food. And together, they can reveal what's really happening in your metabolism years before anything shows up as a diagnosis. Let's get into it.

019: Your Key to Avoiding Diabetes Complications

The episode discusses microvascular damage and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the context of type 2 diabetes. It explores the impact of high blood sugar on the body's blood vessels, nerves, eyes, kidneys, and heart, and provides three strategies to slow down AGE accumulation. The host shares a personal story about her father's experience with diabetes complications, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and lifestyle changes. Takeaways * Microvascular damage and AGE accumulation are key factors in the development of diabetes complications. * Maintaining stable blood sugar levels, reducing dietary AGEs, and regular exercise are effective strategies to slow down AGE accumulation and prevent complications. Chapters * 00:00 Strategies to Slow Down AGE Accumulation