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There is something uniquely uncomfortable about testing a number that reflects what is happening inside your body. It does not matter whether it is your blood sugar, blood pressure, body weight, or latest A1C. The number can feel less like information and more like a grade. I was recently reminded of this while visiting my mother-in-law. She had been doing a good job lately — taking her medication, eating better, sticking to a routine. But that day she'd taken her meds late,

“Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” That wisdom is attributed to Polish weightlifting champion Jerzy Gregorek, and it feels especially relevant to life with diabetes. Diabetes requires hard choices every day. We check our glucose when we would rather ignore it. We prepare for lows that may never happen. We make decisions about food, insulin, sleep, stress, and exercise—often while everyone around us remains unaware of the extra work taking place. Exercise has

If you have Type 1 diabetes and you’ve ever hesitated before a hike — wondering if your blood sugar will tank two miles from the trailhead — this one’s for you. Adventure and diabetes can absolutely coexist. But they require a plan. Specifically, an outdoor adventure plan that starts the night before you ever lace up your boots. The Yosemite Wake-Up Call A few years back, I joined a family group for what should have been one of the most memorable hikes of my life — a gradual,

Good morning, my fellow diabetics. Whether you are living with type 1, type 2, or anything in between, there are systems you can use to make life with diabetes better — and safer. One of the strategies I use is injection and pump site rotation. At the beginning of each week, I write down what my injection site will be for the week. This week, for example, is my left thigh. Here’s what a full rotation cycle looks like for me: Week 1: Left abdomen Week 2: Left thigh Week 3:

Decision Overload — When Diabetes Becomes a Full-Time Decision Job Diabetes isn’t just a metabolic condition — it’s a decision-heavy environment. Every day you’re deciding: What to eat. Will I be active after eating? How much insulin. What is my time in range this week? Why did I eat carnitas nachos from the taco truck? How come I keep letting myself down? I am literally making life or death decisions with food. Why don’t I do a better job managing my diabetes? That constant

Welcome to Diabetes Distilled . My name is Taylor Long , and I’ve been living with Type 1 diabetes for nearly 25 years. I’ll never forget the moment in the emergency room when a physically fit male triage nurse pricked my finger, smeared my blood onto a test strip, looked up at me with raised eyebrows, and said: “Dude… your blood sugar is 660. You have diabetes.” Shock surged through my body—disbelief mixed with relief. Suddenly, the misery of the previous two months made sen