For many people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes decades ago, the future was uncertain as diabetes management looked very different. Blood glucose monitoring meant testing urine with chemical strips, insulin came from animal sources, and treatment often involved just one or two injections a day. Blood sugars around 300 mg/dL were considered acceptable because doctors feared that tighter control could lead to dangerous lows. Joanne Milo and Maddy Arnstein came on the podcast to share their diagnosis stories from over 60 years ago and discuss what has changed over the years in terms of technology, their involvement with the T1D community, and their relationship with diabetes during different life stages.

Both women have seen diabetes technology transform care, from early glucose meters and insulin pumps to CGMs and automated insulin delivery. Joanne uses an open-source system and helps others navigate diabetes technology through Loop and Learn, while pump therapy gave Maddy more freedom and energy. But aging with T1D still brings challenges, including complications and gaps in care. Joanne founded T1D to 100 to help adults with T1D strategize and prepare for later-life care. Self-advocacy, strong support networks, and being prepared for the challenges that can come with aging become all the more important for people with diabetes.

All Access members can watch the podcast ad-free at the bottom of this page. In addition, members get early access to content, Justin’s exclusive industry analysis posts, our live event archive, and member-only giveaways.