{Interview} Michelle Lord, Type 1 Diabetes YouTuber
T1D Inspiring Interviews Series
Hey pals, I’m super thrilled to welcome Michelle Lord, T1D YouTuber, onto the blog. As times get even stranger, even sadder and even more bleak, community remains incredibly important. I’m proud and pleased to be able to share more voices from the type 1 community and spread insights of what life is really like with this chronic condition.
Michelle was mentioned several times by other guests on the blog (here in the interview with Andrea from She’s Diabetic and here in the interview with Myrthe from girl0ninsulin) and just knew I had to get her on.
We discuss her T1D journey, how she deals with the roller coaster days of living with this condition, diabetes burnout, the anxiety that often comes with T1D and her reflections on how T1D has made her a more driven person.
Michelle’s a superstar in the diabetes community. If you want to follow her online [you should], check out her Instagram here, her fantastic YouTube channel here.
Show me the questions!
Hey Michelle! Welcome. Please tell us your type 1 journey! What age were you when you were diagnosed / what symptoms did you have?
I was diagnosed Dec 13, 2002 at age 12 (Friday the 13th... spooky). My symptoms were not typical. I had oral thrush (yuck!) a couple months before I was diagnosed, then in November, I started to have the urge to pee frequently, so my mom took me to get tested for a bladder infection. It was then that my doctor found an elevated level of sugar in my urine, which ultimately led to an official diagnosis. I guess you could say my T1D was caught early, as my blood sugar was only 10 mmol/L when diagnosed and I required very little insulin for the first year. My first cousin was diagnosed a few years before me, so my family and I had a lot of support from my aunt.
What do you wish you'd known when you were newly diagnosed?
One of the biggest things I wish I’d have known is the power of the T1D community. It wasn't until my mid 20's when I started connecting with other people living with type 1 diabetes. In fact, I was a bit resistant to the idea in my teens because I had "enough diabetes" in my life. Having a friend with T1D brings a sense of comfort, knowing that you aren't alone in this journey. There is an instant connection and understanding of each other because you both face the same daily challenges.
I actually have a video called "Things I Wish I Knew when Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes" on my Youtube channel, which I am going to shamelessly plug here.
What is the worst thing about type 1 diabetes?
My answer for this will change depending on what I'm dealing with at the time, but at the moment my answer is the fact that T1D makes everything more complicated. As people living with type 1 diabetes, we can lead a fairly normal and fulfilling life, however, most things we do require more work than an individual without T1D. This can really frustrate me sometimes. For example, my husband and I will eventually want to start a family in the next few years, and knowing all the extra work that goes into a pregnancy with T1D makes me frustrated that I won't be able to experience a "normal" pregnancy. It will totally be worth the work of course, but I can't help but feel this way.
(Curveball) What is the best thing about type 1 diabetes?
For me, the best thing about T1D is how it has made me hardworking and motivated, which has translated into my schoolwork. When I was doing my PhD, my supervisor once pointed out that she thought my work ethic and discipline towards my PhD was in part due to me growing up with T1D and having to be disciplined with taking care of myself. I never realised that a chronic illness could shape me in a positive way.
What are the main challenges of living with type 1?
Dealing with the roller coaster days! It's funny how some days we have such stable and manageable blood sugars. Then on other days we are on a complete roller coaster ride, yet we did nothing different from the day before! Diabetes really has a mind of its own sometimes.
How do you deal with these challenges?
When I'm having these bad diabetes days I like to remind myself that that these days happen, and that it is OK to have a bad day. I think to myself - tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start, and I get a chance to start over with my blood sugars.
Where do you find support/how do you access support?
I find support in my family, especially my husband. I started teaching him about T1D when we began dating over 8 years ago. I would say he is an expert now! I also find support in my friends from the Diabetes Online Community, most of which I met through Instagram!
Can you recommend any great podcasts or blogs (as well as your own)?
My favourite podcast is Pancreas Pals, which is run by my friends Emily and Miriam! These two ladies are hilarious and I love listening to them.
A couple of my favourite YouTube Channels are She's Diabetic and Nerdabetic. These are both very helpful and entertaining channels run by my friends Andrea and Kamil.
Have you ever 'hidden' your type 1 diabetes?
Definitely!! Grade 9, first year of high school! I went to a high school where I only knew 2 people, so I pretty much had to start fresh and make all new friends. Being 14 at a new high school, the last thing I wanted people to know is that I have diabetes. I would check my blood sugar inside my locker before eating lunch with my friends, and at the time I was on NPH insulin, so I didn't need to give insulin at lunch. They had no idea! I grew out of that after about a year and I eventually became more open as I got older. Now I'm like an open book, especially since I'm putting my type 1 diabetes on YouTube!
How do you think type 1 diabetes has affected your relationship with your body?
I'm overall more aware and more in touch with my body. I know when something is off, with respect to both diabetes and other health related things.
How do you think type 1 diabetes has changed your approach to life and living?
I definitely live life to the fullest. When I was diagnosed, I never thought that something like that would happen to me. It was a wake up call at a very young age that life is fragile and that anything can happen. I try to live more in the moment and appreciate what I have.
Type 1 diabetes is classified as a physical condition, but we all know there is an emotional burden too. Could you describe your experiences?
To make a long story short, I have dealt with a lot of anxiety that stemmed from having type 1 diabetes. I spent 2 years going to weekly psychologist appointments to work on coping mechanisms, which I am so grateful I had access to. My experience in therapy plus the addition of my Dexcom CGM helped me greatly. I still deal with anxiety from time to time, but I'm able to cope with it so much better now that I have the tools.
When did you launch your type 1 diabetes YouTube channel and what was the reason behind that?
I launched my channel in late 2016. I have always loved making videos, and as a child I used to force my cousins to film videos with me. At the time of starting my channel I was really into watching daily vlogs. I always thought it would be cool to watch a vlogger who has type 1 diabetes, living their life, but also doing the same things that I do - such as testing blood sugar, carb counting, and pump site changes. I had thought about starting a "diabetes lifestyle channel" for quite awhile, then I finally mustered up the courage to film my first few vlogs (which no longer live on my channel because they were so bad haha).
The overall goal for my channel was, and still is today, to make content that other people can relate to. I want people to watch my videos and feel less alone on their diabetes journey, and if they learn something from me along the way, then even better! I'm no expert on diabetes, but I love entertaining people and connecting with others through my channel.
Do you have a favourite video, or one that you're particularly proud of?
This is a tough question! I personally like my vlogs where there is a happy memory. For example, I have a vlog from Miami in 2017 where my husband proposed to me, and I have watched that a few times. I am proud of any video that has helped others. For example, I filmed my first Dexcom G6 insertion and I had a lot of comments on that video from people saying that it really helped them to feel less scared for their first insertion.
BONUS quick-fire round:
Pump or pens?
Pump
Finger pricks or CGM?
CGM
Juice box or jelly babies?
Juice Box
Balmy summer nights or crisp wintry mornings?
Balmy all the way
Waffles or pancakes?
Pancakes
Diet Coke or Kombucha?
Neither lol
Yoga or meditation?
Yoga
Dark chocolate or granola?
Granola
Morning bird or night owl?
Morning bird
Breakfast, lunch or dinner?
Dinner