How to build clinical, personal, and peer support teams that actually reduce diabetes distress. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.

What You'll Learn

• Support team types - Clinical, personal, and peer support networks
• Gap identification - How to spot missing support areas
• Team building - Simple steps to expand your support network
• November preview - 'Mind the Gap' theme for getting back on track

Three Support Teams
Clinical: Endocrinologist, educator, primary care | Personal: Family, friends, people who check in | Peer: Other T1Ds who say 'me too'

Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.

Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com

Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org

Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com

Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories

How to audit and adjust your CGM and pump alarms to reduce tech-related diabetes distress. Neil explores the research, shares practical insights, and provides tools for managing the mental load of T1D.

What You'll Learn

• Alarm fatigue - Why too many alerts increase stress and burnout
• Settings audit - How to review and adjust CGM/pump thresholds
• Alert zones - Different settings for day vs night
• Smart silence - Using snooze strategically to manage mental load

Tech Clean-Up Steps

Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress? Both the T1-DDS-7 (quick) and 28-question (detailed) assessments are available at Neil's website.

Resources
Helpful resources and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com

Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org

Connect
Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com

Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories

Neil Greathouse sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Bill Polonsky, founder of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute and one of the pioneers behind the concept of diabetes distress.
They unpack what diabetes distress really is (and what it isn’t), why it’s so common, and how both people with T1D and their caregivers can navigate the emotional weight of this disease without shame or burnout.
This conversation is equal parts validation and practical encouragement—proof that you’re not broken, you’re just managing something relentlessly difficult.

What You’ll Learn

• The difference between diabetes distress vs. depression—and why antidepressants don’t fix burnout
• How often people with T1D experience distress (spoiler: almost everyone does at some point)
• What the Type 1 Diabetes Distress Assessment System (T1-DDS) measures and how to use it
• Why caregivers—especially parents—experience their own version of distress
• How to rebuild hope and control when diabetes feels overwhelming

Take Action

👉 Take the free T1-DDS 7-question or 29-question assessment at diabetesdistress.org
to better understand your current level of distress.
👉 Share your results with your healthcare team or a friend who “gets it.”
👉 Remember: you’re not failing—you’re learning how to manage something relentless.

Resources

• T1-DDS Assessments & Research: diabetesdistress.org
• Your Best T1D Year newsletter + free resources: https://yourbestt1dyear.com
• Behavioral Diabetes Institute: https://behavioraldiabetes.org

Sponsor

💙 Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life.
Get matched with a real diabetes care team at https://bluecirclehealth.org

Connect

📱 Instagram → @thebetes
📱 TikTok → @the.betes
🌐 Website → https://yourbestt1dyear.com

Books by Neil Greathouse

📚 Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time
📚 Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories
Available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible