#158: Bret Marbach | Rush Week, College & T1D: It Takes More Than Just Showing Up

By Amber Clour on Aug 27, 2026

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Watching my friends’ kids navigate college, rush week, and all the new beginnings that come with it made me think back to my own experience — and how, with Type 1 diabetes, there’s always a little more going on behind the scenes. So I went looking for the perfect guest to talk about what it really takes to show up for college life, from rush week and new roommates to dating, exercise, finding your people, and managing diabetes through it all.

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#157: Brandon Essex | Blood Sugar and Body Blows: T1D in the MMA Ring

By Amber Clour on Aug 4, 2026

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Brandon Essex first caught my attention when I saw a post about an MMA fight where he was matched with a fellow person living with Type 1 diabetes. I’ll be honest—I knew very little about MMA, but I had plenty of questions. I wanted to learn more about Brandon’s journey, what inspired him to step into the ring, and how Type 1 diabetes played a role throughout the experience.

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#156: Mark Carter | Your Voice Matters

By Amber Clour on Jul 22, 2026

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After a short break, I thought it was time to dust off the microphone and get back to what I enjoy the most – real life diabetes conversations. In this episode we discuss the importance of the patient’s voice and dive into details of our recent advocacy trip to Washington D.C.

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#153: Saira Khan-Gallo | I’m Not Noncompliant

By Amber Clour on Jan 22, 2024

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Saira Khan-Gallo is on a mission to bridge the gaps in diabetes outcomes by championing equitable and patient-centered healthcare. In this episode we delve into Saira’s unique story of meeting her husband through matching insulin pumps, her time in the Peace Corps, a passion project close to her heart, and how Type 1 diabetes is a family affair.

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Dia-what?… What is there to celebrate about a disease?

By Esi Akyere Mali Snodgrass on Jan 13, 2024

Nearly a decade ago, while at work, I excitedly announced to everyone what special anniversary it was for me. I marched around and celebrated my ‘diaversary’: the yearly anniversary of my T1D’s diagnosis. I was a one woman parade as I showed everyone the blue pin on my chest that read, ‘I love someone with T1D!’ I sang out my excitement on the intercom system and shared the joys of my holiday with the entire building. As I danced down the hallway, my coworker tilted her head, squinted her eyes, and with full befuddlement, asked me: ‘Why…?’ Why in the world would I celebrate a disease?

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#152: Brooks, Dan & Scott | Dads & Diabetes: Navigating the Sweet (and Spiky) Side of Fatherhood with T1D Daughters

By Amber Clour on Dec 19, 2023

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I’ve recently had the opportunity to connect with three fathers who shared their experiences of raising daughters, aged 11 to 16, living with Type 1 diabetes. In this groundbreaking episode, Dan Kendall, Brooks Ratzlaff, and returning guest Scott Kinsel, provide insights into the unique challenges and joys of being a father to a T1D daughter. This episode delves into poignant topics such as diagnosis stories, navigating puberty, the nuances of dating, and the delicate balance of paternal guidance without exerting excessive control over their daughters’ evolving lives.

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What I’ve Learned About Mental Health & Diabetes

By Kayla Chorley, BEd MACP CCC on Nov 26, 2023

In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, I wanted to share some things I’ve learned about diabetes and mental health over the past 23 years of living with the condition and working as a counseling therapist within the community.

Here are a few key take-aways:

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#150: Jazz Sethi | Finding People Who Believe in Good Work

By Amber Clour on Nov 13, 2023

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Jazz Sethi, is the founder and director of The DiaBESties Foundation – a global movement to make those with Type 1 Diabetes feel heard, understood, supported and celebrated. She is also a certified diabetes educator, a professional dancer, choreographer, theatre artist, and a published author. In this episode we discuss what living with T1D in India looks like, D-Coded, and her ever growing advocacy efforts.

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Rediscovering My T1D Journey: Blast from the Past – Part #1

By Amber Clour on Nov 5, 2023

In 2024, the Diabetes Daily Grind is celebrating a remarkable decade of weaving tales from the lives of individuals courageously living with diabetes, including yours truly. As I take a stroll down memory lane, I find myself revisiting the heartfelt and insightful posts I’ve had the privilege to share. What astounds me is the unwavering commitment to authenticity and vulnerability in narrating the rollercoaster ride of life with T1D over the years.

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#148: Zippora Karz | Be Open to Not Being Perfect

By Amber Clour on Oct 17, 2023

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Zippora Karz is a former soloist ballerina with the New York City Ballet, and a diabetes spokesperson who hopes to continue to inspire people to live healthy active lives through her work as an author, teacher, and motivational speaker. In this episode we discuss her misdiagnosis, life as a ballerina from an early age, the importance of journaling, and learning how to manage diabetes while on stage.

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