Val Luong on Finding T1D Community That Fits Your Life

Val Luong from The Diabetes Link was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 23 while serving in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. Far from her family and without peers who understood what she was experiencing, she didn’t even know community was something she might need. Years later, one Instagram message helped her find the connection she had been missing, and ultimately helped shape her work as Manager of Community and Engagement at The Diabetes Link.

Scott and Val explore community during young adulthood when life is already full of transitions. Val explains why connection doesn’t have to mean joining a formal support group or making a big commitment. It might be one person, a text message, an online space, or a casual meetup built around a shared interest.

Along the way, Val shares how The Diabetes Link helps young adults connect on college campuses, whether it’s online through Discord, at informal in-person gatherings, or in their chapter meetings. She also offers practical guidance for reaching out, participating quietly, recognizing whether a community feels welcoming and useful, and taking one small step toward connection that genuinely fits your life.

What You'll Learn

• Why community can feel especially complicated during young adulthood
• How Val’s experience of isolation after diagnosis led her to seek connection years later
• Why diabetes community doesn’t have to mean a formal support group or a major commitment
• How one person, a text message, or quiet participation online can provide meaningful support
• What online and in-person communities can each offer young adults with T1D
• How The Diabetes Link helps young adults connect through college programs, Discord, and informal local meetups
• Practical, low-pressure ways to reach out and begin building a connection
• How to recognize whether a community respects your needs, boundaries, and energy

Key Quotes

• “All I wanted was to know one person. I didn’t even know if we were going to be friends, but I just wanted to know that someone else out there existed and might have some similar experiences as me.” – Val Luong
• “Community doesn’t have to be something you do every Friday for the rest of your life. It could be something that you jump into when you want to and jump out of when you’re focused on different areas of your life.” – Val Luong
• “You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. It’s okay to ask for support, and it’s okay not to have all the answers.” – Val Luong

Resources & Links

• The Diabetes Link - https://www.thediabeteslink.org/
• Blue Circle Health (learn more / sign up) - https://bluecirclehealth.org/

What is Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D?

The US healthcare system makes it difficult, expensive, and often impossible for people with T1D to access the care, education, and support they need to live. Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D brings together voices from across the type 1 diabetes community to share real stories, expert insight, and practical support for living well with T1D.

Hosted by the team at Blue Circle Health, a U.S.-based program transforming type 1 care, this podcast helps people go from just surviving to truly living well with type 1 diabetes. https://bluecirclehealth.org/.