Type 1 John - Winging it every day with Type 1 Diabetes
If you're feeling burnt out by Type 1 diabetes, fed up with trying to be perfect, or simply feel like you're making it up as you go along, you're not alone.
I'm John, and I'm Type 1 Diabetic. Like many people, I've spent much of that time trying my best, getting things wrong, learning as I go, and occasionally wondering whether everyone else has somehow got it all figured out.
Life gets busy. Habits slip. Motivation comes and goes. Some days you're on top of it, other days you're eating biscuits at 10pm and hoping for the best.
After 10 years of managing my diabetes largely on my own, I realised there must be thousands of other people doing exactly the same thing. This podcast is my attempt to find them.
I'm at a bit of a crossroads. After years of long hours and early starts, I hit burnout. I turned 50, my job came to an end, and I found myself overweight, out of shape, and wondering what the next chapter looks like. More importantly, I realised I didn't want to spend the next ten years wishing I'd taken better care of myself while I still had the chance.
So I've set myself a challenge.
For 30 days, I'm keeping an honest daily diary of life with Type 1 diabetes. The wins, the mistakes, the good decisions, the bad decisions, and everything in between.
We're told to log our carbs, insulin, exercise, sleep, stress and blood sugars so we can learn from them. But diabetes is a game with a constantly moving target. It's like trying to catch a train, only every time you reach the platform they've moved it to another station.
This podcast is about finding out what happens when I stop winging it and start paying attention. I'll share what's working, what's not, and the lessons I'm learning along the way.
Most of all, I hope it brings together a community of like-minded people who understand what it's really like. People who want support, honesty and a few laughs along the way, not another lecture.
Because this isn't about perfect diabetes. It's about honest diabetes.
Let's stop winging it alone and start winging it together.
Episodes
Jul 30, 2026
Jul 30, 2026
11 min
TODAY - DAY 11 - Is any of this working? It's time to do a proper reset.
And Mum's worried about me.
Hi, I'm John and I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Website: www.type1john.com
Jul 29, 2026
Jul 29, 2026
12 min
TODAY - DAY 10 - THE most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done, on my own, in the shed at the bottom of our garden! AND the early wake up call that I didn’t understand.
Hi, I'm John and I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Website: www.type1john.com
Jul 28, 2026
Jul 28, 2026
13 min
This is Day 9:
The reason why I say I "wing it"! And we play the 'Hypo Guessing Game' and un-box something VERY exciting!
Hi, I'm John and I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Website: www.type1john.com
Jul 27, 2026
Jul 27, 2026
9 min
This is Day 8:
Getting Shorter? And a difficult email that's making me do a difficult thing.
Hi, I'm John and I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
www.type1john.com
Jul 26, 2026
Jul 26, 2026
15 min
This is Day 7:
Why I prefer being type 1 diabetic. We talk LADA and chicken fajitas!
Hi, I'm John and I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Message here: type1john@icloud.com
Jul 25, 2026
Jul 25, 2026
17 min
Hi, I'm John.
Type 1 John - Day 6 - Escaping Hospital!
I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Message here: type1john@icloud.com
Jul 24, 2026
Jul 24, 2026
15 min
Hi, I'm John.
Type 1 John - Day 5 - The Rush To Hospital!
I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Message here: type1john@icloud.com
Jul 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
11 min
Hi, I'm John.
This is Day 4 - The biggest challenge of my life!
I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Message here: type1john@icloud.com
Jul 22, 2026
Jul 22, 2026
10 min
Hi, I'm John.
This is Day 3 - Finally finding out I was diabetic.
I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Message here: type1john@icloud.com
Jul 21, 2026
Jul 21, 2026
15 min
Hi, I'm John.
This is Day 2. "How I got into the mess!"
I've set myself one simple challenge: 30 days to finally get a grip... before diabetes gets a grip on me. A short daily podcast, reflecting my 24 hours and my 10 years of stories.
This is just me trying to keep myself accountable. Saying it out loud - so I can't ignore it anymore. And hopefully making a few friends along the way too.
If you've ever looked around and thought everyone else seems to have diabetes completely sorted, come and have a look at my mess.
It's not perfect diabetes. But it is honest diabetes.
If any of this sounds like you, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. Maybe we can remind each other that we're not nearly as alone, as we sometimes think.
John
You can hear the start of this challenge here: https://pod.fo/e/44d8f5
Message here: type1john@icloud.com