The Long View - Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Ep 10: Robyn Hawkins - Work, awareness and living with Type 1 Diabetes

In this episode of The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I’m talking to Robyn Hawkins, a researcher looking at how people manage Type 1 at work and at university. Her research looks at how the everyday realities often go unseen, from telling people about your diabetes, to handling hypos while commuting and coping in busy workplaces and shared spaces. Robyn tells us what her research reveals about stigma, awareness and the small changes that could make a big difference to people living and working with Type 1. In this episode: * Managing Type 1 Diabetes at work and university * Disclosure, stigma and lack of awareness * The mental load of constant decision‑making * Practical challenges, including food, spaces and schedules * Why flexibility and support really matter I'm so pleased to have been able to talk to someone who isn't Type 1 themselves, but who is working to find out what it truly means to live with and manage Type 1 Diabetes in environments that aren't always designed for it. Because we all need a bit of help sometimes, right? As always, this podcast is not medical advice. Please speak to your healthcare team before making any changes.

Ep 9: Gareth Squance - A father's response to Type 1: grief, data and hope

In this episode of The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I’m talking to Gareth Squance, whose daughter Amelie was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes just two months before we recorded. Gareth describes himself as a problem‑solver. And when Amelie was diagnosed aged 15, the family found themselves in an intense time of learning, grief, data overload and emotional adjustment. In this honest conversation, Gareth shares what those early weeks were really like, from the shock of diagnosis to finding ways to support his daughter without letting diabetes define her. This episode is a little different, as Gareth also turns the questions on me. We talk about the differences between a brand‑new diagnosis and living with Type 1 for 50 years and what both parents and young people need most in the early stages. We also talk about Project Amelie, a system Gareth built to bring together diabetes data, communication with clinical teams and emotional support. And why “letting yourself feel it” might be some of the most important advice of all. In this episode: * A parent’s perspective on a sudden Type 1 diagnosis * The emotional rollercoaster of the early weeks * Grief, data overload and learning hour by hour * Supporting a teenager without letting diabetes become her identity * Using technology to simplify communication and care * Hope, uncertainty and looking ahead As always, this podcast does not offer medical advice. Please speak to your healthcare team before making any changes.

Ep 8: Candyce Norris-Jenkins - Confidence, clarity, control and Type 1

In this episode of The Long View: Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I’m delighted to be speaking to Candyce Norris Jenkins - life coach, speaker and mum, who has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for more than 30 years. Diagnosed as a child, Candyce tells us about how she went from denial and burnout to facing serious complications, including diabetic eye disease and kidney failure. After two transplants and years of learning the hard way, she now helps other women move from simply surviving to truly thriving. We talk about motherhood, identity and the importance of putting your own “oxygen mask” on first - a concept that could change the way you think about self-care. Candyce tells us about: * Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a child * The emotional impact of growing up with diabetes * Ignoring diabetes in her teens and the consequences later in life * Living with complications and undergoing two kidney transplants * Pregnancy and motherhood after transplant * The challenges of balancing diabetes and family life * Her “oxygen mask theory” and what thriving really means * Building confidence, clarity and control in daily life * Supporting other mums through coaching and community Whether you’re living with Type 1, caring for someone who is, or feeling stuck in burnout, this episode is full of honesty, insight and encouragement. Resources & Links: The Diabetic Mom Coach: www.thediabeticmomcoach.com [http://www.thediabeticmomcoach.com] Contact me: thelongviewt1@gmail.com And visit my website: The Long View - Living With Type 1 with Ruth Collin [https://thelongviewt1.com/]Follow The Long View wherever you get your podcasts for more real-life stories and conversations about living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Ep 7: Sam Walsh - Parenting Type 1 Diabetes, one step at a time

In this episode of The Long View - Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I'm speaking to Sam Walsh about life as a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes. Sam’s son Eli was diagnosed at just 10 years old and she tells us about the shock of those early days, the steep learning curve that followed and how their whole family adapted to a completely new normal. From navigating school life and technology to handling emergencies from miles away, Sam talks really honestly about the emotional and practical realities of parenting a child with Type 1. Her story is one of resilience, community and learning to let go, while still keeping a watchful eye. In this episode, we cover: * Eli’s diagnosis and the early days of managing type 1 diabetes * The emotional impact on parents and family life * School challenges, support, and advocating for your child * Technology, independence and staying connected * A terrifying school trip abroad - and what it taught them * Why finding your community is so important Find out more about podcast on my website, www.thelongviewt1.com [https://thelongviewt1.com/]. I connected with Sam through the Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK Facebook group which is here: (20+) Parents of Children With Type 1 Diabetes In The UK | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/18414742527]

Ep 6: Milly Williams - Influencer, researcher and how not to lose yourself to Type 1 Diabetes

In this episode of The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I'm talking to Milly Williams, creator of the Instagram account Diabetes with Milly. Diagnosed during her final year at university, Milly transformed her diagnosis into a new role as an influencer and a researcher improving life for others living with Type 1. From sharing her experiences online to researching exercise physiology and women’s health in relation to diabetes, Milly discusses how community, curiosity and resilience helped her rebuild her identity after diagnosis. In this episode: * Milly’s diagnosis story – discovering Type 1 Diabetes during university * How the online diabetes community helped her deal with the loneliness of early diagnosis * Turning social media into a platform for education, support and shared experiences * Research into exercise, nocturnal hypoglycaemia and the surprising impact of sleep loss * Why women’s health, exercise, hormones and Type 1 Diabetes remain under-researched – and why Milly wants to change that Milly also shares powerful advice for anyone struggling with Type 1: your condition is not your identity – you are still the person you were before diagnosis. Follow Milly on Instagram: @diabeteswithmilly