Embracing Diabetes, compassion, community and creativity

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In this episode we talk to Dr. Ann Goebel-Fabbri, psychologist, researcher, author and all around brilliant expert on disordered eating in diabetes. Ann talks to us about the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) in women and men with diabetes ( 2.5 times as likely as someone without T1D), the particular challenges as well as examples of women who've recovered. We're excited to share this conversation with you because this is a topic that needs to be discussed! Ann's book is a fantastic resource for people with T1D and an eating disorder as well as the people who love them. You can hear the passion in Ann's voice in this conversation and will be inspired by her work.
Featured in this Episode:
Ann Goebel-Fabbri worked for 16 years as a clinical psychologist and researcher in the Behavioral and Mental Health Unit at Joslin Diabetes Center. She is a former assistant professor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. During her time at Joslin, her work involved teaching, research, and treatment focused on disordered eating behaviors in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It covered the spectrum of eating problems from food and insulin restriction to binge eating and obesity. Dr. Goebel-Fabbri’s work is published in numerous research papers and academic book chapters, and she regularly speaks at professional conferences. She currently runs her own practice in which she treats individual patients and also consults with healthcare teams and organizations to help them in their work with diabetes patients with and without eating disorders. She teaches health professionals about psychosocial aspects of diabetes, especially eating disorders and behavioral weight management. Her clinical and research activities have been featured in the popular media, including BBC Radio, Good Morning America, National Public Radio, the Huffington Post, CNN, and the New York Times.
Resources mentioned on this episode:

• Prevention and Recovery from Eating Disorders in T1D by Ann Gobble-Fabbri
• American Diabetes Association mental health directory
• Behavioral Diabetes Institute
• Melrose Center
• Eating Recovery Center
• Renfrew Center

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"And so real wisdom isn't about transcending the challenges of diabetes, it's about figuring out how to live harmoniously with it."
On this episode we talk with Sam Tullman, co-founder of Diabetes Sangha, about overcoming perfectionism, accepting diabetes and practicing meditation. Diabetes Sangha, a group dedicated to meditation and mindfulness practices for people with Diabetes, is completely online and available to all of us!
Featured on this Episode:
Sam Tullman, MPH, is one of the facilitators and co-founders of DiabetesSangha. He was diagnosed with T1D at eight years old, and has been on a long arc of trying to understand the human experience and learn how to support meaningful and helpful experiences ever since, through the lenses of both science and meditative practice. He is a dedicated student of Rinzai Zen, but draws heavily in his practice from other Buddhist traditions, as well as modern Western psychology and Neuroscience. In his professional life, he is a researcher and consultant working primarily in the topics of emergence (“spiritual” or “altered” experiences) and contemplation, with a focus on EEG (electrical activity of the brain) and other brain-computer interfaces.
Resources from this Episode:
Diabetes Sangha
Connected in Motion

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In this episode we have an extensive conversation with Lisa about her life with diabetes, how it has impacted her work, her journey with the documentary industry, and how she remains hopeful that we will find a cure for Type 1 diabetes!

Featured on this Episode:
Lisa Hepner, Director/Producer of The Human Trial, and her partner Guy Mossman run LA-based Vox Pop Films, a production company specializing in non-fiction content and commercials. For the last 25 years, Lisa has produced a variety of films and programs for Sony Pictures Classics, HBO, A&E, PBS, Lifetime, Discovery, MTV, TLC, and the CBC. She has produced for acclaimed directors Jonathan Demme, Michael Apted, Julie Taymor, and Lisa F. Jackson, among others. When she wasn’t in the field, Lisa worked at the PBS station, 13-WNET, producing a variety of programs, including the Emmy Award winning series, Air: America’s Investigative Reports. In 2003, she co-directed the feature doc, Peace by Peace: Women on the Frontlines. Shot in Afghanistan, Argentina, Burundi, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the US, the film premiered at the UN in 2003 and aired on PBS in 2004. She has lived with type 1 diabetes for 30 years, for about as long as she’s worked in film and TV. This is Lisa’s feature directorial debut.

Resources:
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30146N9nY7U

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Featured on the Episode:
Erin Calhoun-Dulaney has had type 1 diabetes (T1D) for 41 years. Diagnosed in 1982, at the age of six, Erin began using an insulin pump in her thirties and in 2019 she created the SkirtMyPump slip for insulin pumpers.

Having worked in the entertainment industry, at some of the most highly publicized award shows in the world for nearly twenty years, Erin became acutely aware of how the advances in the delivery of insulin have evolved, but the clothing to accommodate these advances had not. Erin loved the consistency of having her pump on her at all times, and the steadiness that pumping insulin brought to her blood sugars, but was tired of trying to figure out where to wear her insulin pump so it was comfortable and easy to get to when she wore dresses or skirts. In 2016, she came up with a prototype of a slip with a deep pocket in the front. She then followed with modifications and self-trials, and in 2019 SkirtMyPump slip was officially born. This patented undergarment has a uniquely placed pocket, zippers, buttons and elastic bands, making SkirtMyPump a safe yet accessible way to wear an insulin pump with a skirt or dress. In 2020, Erin wore the same SkirtMyPump slip design that is now available to others to the 2020 Golden Globe Awards. It was a wonderful experience for her to finally be able to comfortably wear her pump in the slip, in a form fitting dress, and easily be able to have access to it.

Insulin pumping, T1D customers from across the globe have also been making their lives easier with the purchase of a SkirtMyPump slip. Brides have written to Erin, elated that the SkirtMyPump slip saved their wedding day and made it so they could more easily wear their pump on their big day.

The SkirtMyPump Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels discuss all things insulin pumping, living with diabetes, and ideas on where to wear a pump with certain outfits. The SkirtMyPump slip is available on SkirtMyPump.com, Instagram and Etsy. The slip is offered in six sizes and two colors, with worldwide shipping options.
Resources from the episode:

Children With Diabetes Friends for Life conference:
https://childrenwithdiabetes.com/conferences/friends-for-life-orlando-2023/
(Skirt My Pump will be at table 817)

How-To Video of Skirt My Pump:

https://youtu.be/ZPEWX_GleWU

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On this episode we had a chance to talk with author and therapist, Adam Brown. Many of you know Adam, from his writings on diatribe and close concerns, as well as his wonderful book, Bright Spots and Landmines, which I think is essential reading for anyone living with type one diabetes.

We had a wonderful conversation about his work as an advocate in the diabetes community, and his more recent transition to working as a marriage and family therapist with a focus on eating disorders in teenagers. We so appreciated Adam's thoughtful perspective and hope. You enjoy the conversation.

Featured on this Episode:
Adam Brown has lived with diabetes for over 20 years. He
currently works with teenage eating disorders as a registered
associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT), offering individual,
group, and family therapy. In 2021, he earned a Master’s degree in
Counseling Psychology. His first book, Bright Spots & Landmines:
The Diabetes Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me, offers
actionable diabetes tips related to food, mindset, exercise, and
sleep. To date, over 300,000 copies of Bright Spots & Landmines
have been sold and downloaded, with reader access at the center
of the book's mission. It can be downloaded for free at diaTribe.org/BrightSpots.

From 2010 to 2019, Adam worked at two mission-driven diabetes
publications: Close Concerns and diaTribe.org. He also brought a
diabetes perspective to numerous public venues, including FDA
and NIH meetings, international scientific and industry
conferences (ADA, AADE, ATTD), and local events for people with
diabetes and healthcare providers. He can be contacted at helloadam.org.
Resources from this Episode:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Definition, Techniques, and Benefits
What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
The Wright Institute
Eating Disorder Episode with Dr. Ann Goebel-Fabbri