When people talk about living with Type 1 diabetes, they often focus on long‑term management, technology, or how life settles into a new rhythm over time. But what about the very beginning? The moment everything changes, when you’re still reeling from shock and trying to understand what this diagnosis means for your child and for your family?
In the latest episode of The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I spoke with Gareth Squance, whose daughter Amelie was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes just two months before we recorded. It’s a powerful reminder that managing Type 1 diabetes isn’t just about insulin or sensors – it’s about emotions, relationships and learning how to live with a new normal.
What the early days of a Type 1 diagnosis really feel like
Gareth describes the first few days and weeks after Amelie’s diagnosis as overwhelming. Hospital admission happens quickly. Information arrives all at once. New routines replace old ones overnight. For many families, there’s also a deep sense of grief – not just for how things are, but for the life they imagined their child would have.
That grief isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it shows up as hyper‑focus, constant checking of blood glucose data, or trying to solve every problem immediately. Gareth openly shares how easy it is for parents to become consumed by the numbers, the apps, the alarms – all in an effort to protect their child.
“Let yourself feel it”
One of the most important themes in this episode and one that stayed with me long after we stopped recording, is Gareth’s advice to let yourself feel it.
When you’re newly dealing with life with Type 1 diabetes, there’s pressure to be strong, capable and positive. But the reality is that there will be sadness, anger, fear and exhaustion alongside determination and love. Allowing space for those feelings doesn’t mean you’re failing at managing Type 1 diabetes, it means you’re human.
For anyone listening who is newer to Type 1, either themselves or through a loved one, this reminder can be incredibly reassuring.
A conversation across 50 years of Type 1 experience
This episode of the podcast is a little different. Gareth asked if he could ask me some questions too and I was very happy to say yes.
That led to a unique conversation between a parent just beginning to understand Type 1 diabetes and someone who has been living with Type 1 diabetes for 50 years. We talked about how care has changed, how technology has transformed daily life, and how perspectives shift over time.
One thing that became clear is that while devices and treatments evolve, the emotional human experience of Type 1, especially in the early years, remains remarkably similar.
Project Amelie: using data to support, not overwhelm
Gareth’s response to his daughter’s diagnosis also led him to create Project Amelie, a system designed to bring together diabetes data, patterns and communication in one place. His goal wasn’t perfection or control, but reassurance: a way to better understand what was happening and advocate effectively for his daughter.
We talk about the potential of technology to support families, alongside the importance of not letting diabetes define you. .
That idea runs through much of The Long View and is one reason listeners often describe it as one of the best Type 1 diabetes podcasts for thoughtful, real‑world conversations.
Listening to The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes
The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes exists to share honest conversations about life with Type 1, from diagnosis through to decades of lived experience. It’s about people, not perfection. Challenges, not just solutions. And the long view of what it really means to live with a chronic condition.
If you’re looking for the best Type 1 diabetes podcast to accompany you through diagnosis, daily management, or long‑term reflection, I hope this episode, and the others in the series, offer reassurance, insight and connection.
You can listen to the full conversation with Gareth Squance wherever you get your podcasts, or explore previous episodes here on the blog.
If you have a story to share, as someone living with Type 1, a parent, or through your work, I’d love to hear from you. You can email me on thelongviewt1@gmail.com.
You can listen to Gareth’s episode here on Spotify: Ep 9: Gareth Squance – A father’s response to Type 1: grief, data and hope – The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes | Podcast on Spotify
And here on Apple: Ep 9: Gareth Squance – A fathe…–The Long View – Living with Type 1 Diabetes – Apple Podcasts
Or click on “podcasts” at the top of this page.