Ep 13 - Paul White: The Sunflower lanyard, kindness and Type 1 Diabetes

Ep 13 - Paul White: The Sunflower lanyard, kindness and Type 1 Diabetes

In this episode of The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I'm talking to Paul White, CEO of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme. You may have seen the familiar green lanyard with its bright yellow sunflowers in airports, shops, train stations and workplaces around the world. But how did a simple symbol become a global movement helping people with non-visible disabilities feel recognised, understood and supported? Paul tells me the amazing story of how the programme began and grew to support millions of people across 95 countries. We talk about why hidden disabilities can be so difficult to explain, the importance of kindness and understanding and how something as simple as a sunflower can help people feel confident enough to travel, work and live independently. As someone living with Type 1 diabetes, I've used the Sunflower myself, particularly when travelling and this conversation gave me a fascinating insight into the thinking behind it. In this episode: * The origins of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme * How a simple lanyard became a global symbol of inclusion * Why not all disabilities are visible * Supporting people with Type 1 diabetes and other hidden conditions * The importance of accessibility, understanding and confidence * How businesses and workplaces are becoming more inclusive * The story that changed Paul's life and the direction of the programme * The new Sunflower Extra card and how it works * Why feeling recognised can have such a powerful impact Paul's message is simple: most people want to be kind – and sometimes all they need is a way to know when someone might need a little extra support. You can find out more at www.hdsunflower.com [https://hdsunflower.com/]. And visit my website at www.thelongviewt1.com [https://thelongviewt1.com/]. As always, this podcast does not offer medical advice. Please speak to your healthcare team before making any changes. Real stories, real people, real life with Type 1 Diabetes.

Ep 12: Melissa Slemp - Hormones, midlife and living with Type 1 Diabetes

In this episode of The Long View - Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I’m talking to Melissa Slemp. She's a coach, podcaster and author who brings an often overlooked perspective to life with Type 1 - the impact of hormones and menopause. Diagnosed as a teenager in the early 1980s, Melissa spent years living with Type 1 without fully understanding the condition or its long‑term implications. She tells us how that lack of knowledge led to complications and how a wake‑up call changed everything. Now a coach, podcast host and author of a new book, "Highs, Lows & Hormones", Melissa is passionate about helping women manage diabetes, hormones and midlife - a topic that’s still not talked about enough. In this episode we talk about what happens when living with Type 1 diabetes meets hormonal change and why awareness, support and self‑advocacy matter more than ever. In this episode: * Growing up with Type 1 and limited understanding of the condition * The long‑term impact of early diabetes management * Diabetic eye complications and turning things around * Pregnancy, routine and managing Type 1 through change * The impact of perimenopause and menopause on blood sugars * Why hormones make diabetes harder to predict * Advocating for yourself and finding the right support * Building community and supporting other women Melissa’s message is clear: you are not alone - and you don’t have to just “get on with it.” As always, this podcast does not offer medical advice. Please speak to your healthcare team before making any changes. You can find Melissa's podcast by searching "Type 1 in Midlife" and you can find her book "Highs, Lows and Hormones" on Amazon. Real stories, real people, real life with Type 1 Diabetes.

Ep 11: Pete Lambert - Burnout, recovery and adventure with Type 1 Diabetes

In this episode of The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I’m talking to Pete Lambert about his extraordinary story of resilience, burnout and recovery. Diagnosed at just 18 months old, Pete has lived with Type 1 for more than 40 years. In this conversation he tells about the emotional and mental toll of long‑term diabetes management, including his experience of diabetes burnout — a period where the constant demands of the condition became overwhelming. Pete also opens up about one of his lowest points when he lost his sight for a month due to complications, and how, just three years later, he went on to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. This episode explores both the challenges and the strength that can come from living with Type 1 Diabetes, and what it really takes to keep going. In this episode: * Growing up with Type 1 from infancy * The reality of diabetes burnout and mental health struggles * The impact of long-term diabetes management * Experiencing diabetic eye complications and temporary blindness * Rebuilding confidence and finding motivation again * Climbing Kilimanjaro and leading outdoor expeditions * Why “bad days” with diabetes are normal — and how to move forward Pete’s message is simple but powerful: you can still achieve whatever you want with Type 1, as long as you take it one day at a time. If you want to find out more about Pete's walking group, visit DG Outdoor Adventures - Hiking - Guildford, England [https://dgoutdooradventures.com/] As always, this podcast does not offer medical advice. Please speak to your healthcare team before making any changes.

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.