The Hidden Weight of Talking about Type 1 Diabetes with Anna Sabino, MSW, CDCES

Anna Sabino, a social worker and diabetes educator who’s lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 30 years, joins the podcast to talk about self-advocacy. From unexpected questions at the gym to loaded comments from strangers, coworkers, or even healthcare providers, Anna and Scott unpack why these moments hit so hard and how people with T1D can respond in ways that protect both their emotional health and their energy.

Together, Anna and Scott explore the emotional side of explaining diabetes and practical tools for responding (or choosing not to respond) in everyday situations.

This episode isn’t about having the perfect response. It’s about permission, self-compassion, and recognizing that you are the captain of your own diabetes ship.

Learn more about Anna’s private practice at findingsmilescoaching.com, and her work with Integrated Diabetes Services at integrateddiabetes.com.

What You'll Learn

• Why self-advocacy can feel so draining, especially when it’s unexpected
• Common emotional reactions to diabetes comments: fear, shame, frustration, and grief
• The difference between effort and data and why numbers never tell the full story
• How to set boundaries around when, how, and whether you talk about diabetes 
• Simple reframing tools (like “I wasn’t expecting that to happen”) to create emotional space
• The importance of mental health support as part of diabetes care — at any stage

Key Quotes

• "You are the captain of your own diabetes ship. When it comes to sharing information, you don’t owe anyone anything." – Anna Sabino, MSW, CDCES
• "The data doesn’t always represent the effort, and that’s where a lot of the shame gets internalized." – Anna Sabino, MSW, CDCES 
• "It's not our job to figure out why every blood sugar shifts the way it does. That is just, it is impossible. And I think until we can accept that it's really hard for people to feel confident in having this, these self-advocacy skills" – Anna Sabino, MSW, CDCES 
• "It's so important to process all of your emotions early and often when it comes to diabetes, because the more you understand yourself, the easier it's going to be to talk about it outwardly" – Anna Sabino, MSW, CDCES 

Resources & Links

• Connect with Anna - findingsmilescoaching.com
• Integrated Diabetes Services - integrateddiabetes.com
• Community Partner Spotlight: CWD Journey Award

The CWD Journey Award recognizes the work and resilience required to live with type one diabetes. Learn more and request your free CWD Journey Award at https://childrenwithdiabetes.com/cwd-journey-award/.

• 🌐 Visit: https://childrenwithdiabetes.com/ to learn more.

What is Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D?

People with type 1 diabetes fight two wars: one against a relentless 24/7 condition, and another against a healthcare system that makes it difficult and expensive to stay alive. 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