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Tune it to the amazing Telle (Chantelle). Diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at age 7, 17 years ago.

This conversation is titled, The Wood due to the coming-of-age story Chantelle shares throughout this conversation that is literally the Diabetes version of

the classic film.

Chantelle grew up in rural NC where the closest hospital is literally 1 hour away.

She is a singer, songwriter, producer

and a mentee for The Recording Academy's Grammy U Mentorship program.

A graduate of NC State that does a lot of work in social justice and disability just to help T1D's find representation and community because representation matters!

Telle, didn't realize coming up that having higher blood sugar levels affected how she was emotionally or even

perceived in certain settings and situations.

In this conversation we speak immensely about doing things to get the general public to understand what it is that we feel and go through and is focusing a lot more today on helping insulin become accessible to all.

In 2024 with her diabetes turning 17 and growing up and resenting diabetes, she just wants to express to the world that struggling with diabetes isn't the prettiest, but they will know that eventually it will be ok.

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In this conversation we speak greatly about how living through and surviving the Pandemic looks and feels different for everyone. The mental well-being of many

living with diabetes during the pandemic was hanging from a thread!

A few weeks before the shut down of 2020 Pam was Diagnosed with T1D. It was a journey to her diagnosis, previously being diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter and later on being misdiagnosed as T2D.

Today she has been living with diabetes for a total of 9 years and formerly diagnosed and living with T1D the last 4.

Pam spent a great part of the past decade working in education as a teacher and recently transitioned to the non profit sector.

Being diagnosed at the age that she was, diabetes did kind of make her mad. She lived a full life beforehand without the worries of time and added on decisions and responsibilities that entail living with diabetes.

With people not understanding why today she uses the devices and technology she does use; it has also made her people look at her more differently. Many also do not understand why it is that she does speak about diabetes today.

A great portion of our conversation is us speaking about parenting while living with diabetes. Although diabetes should be at the forefront of our care, it never will be while caring for our kids. We can't tell our children,

"No, hold on, I can't etc" due to diabetes.

We speak greatly about accommodations in the workspace and how employers and coworkers

alike have reacted to a person checking their glucose numbers.

My sister Pam and I have so many commonalities other than us both living with Type One Diabetes.

Amanda has been living with Type One Diabetes since 1996. She was diagnosed at the young age of 9

Being from Compton, CA and us having the "memory lane" conversation we held it was only right to title this episode Straight Outta Compton!

Her family all had the flu around Thanksgiving '96 and by Christmas she was spending the holiday in the hospital receiving this diagnosis of T1D.

Her mom was diagnosed with T2D a year after her diagnosis. Her son at the age of 9 received a T2D diagnosis. In this conversation we honor Amanda's parents.

Amanda says that becoming a mother and her kids saved her. She knew now that she must take care of herself so that she can be present for them. She thanks the universe for being given the opportunity to become a mom

It took almost a quarter of a century before she feels she was given adequate care from her providers.

Amanda speaks openly about switching your mindset and switching your care team if needed.

"We have a lot of the power. We must own it and learn to voice your needs." Her perspective of living with diabetes has changed drastically. Now she knows that she can do all of the things she wants to.

Today Amanda is thankful for where she is considering all the years of ups and downs and the trials and tribulations of her diagnosis.

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