FreeStyle Life

Lee Weir is a man of many talents; a famous DJ in his native New Zealand, a barbecue pitmaster, an ordained independent minister, a Guinness world record holder, the founder of a mental health charity, a husband, a dad, and he's also living with type two diabetes. In this episode, Lee talks about his journey living with diabetes, from his initial diagnosis, which came as a surprise, to the highs and lows he has experienced along the way. As a founder of a mental health charity, The All Good Club, it's no surprise that Lee is passionate about the benefits of having a supportive community, and believes that having someone to talk to when times get tough can make all the difference.

Sherri Lawrence joins us from New Brunswick, Canada, to talk about her journey to better health while living with diabetes. She was initially diagnosed with gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with her son, aged 27, and eventually discovered that she had Type 2 diabetes. Sherri shares some of the challenges and successes that she has experienced on her journey so far, including her most recent success - starting her own company. Posting diabetes-friendly recipes to her social media pages sparked such an interest that she started Low Carb Eats and Sweet Treats, a recipe and meal delivery service that's made a monumental impact on others living with diabetes.

Dr. Arti Thangudu is a physician and endocrinologist based in San Antonio, Texas. Her journey into helping those living with diabetes started when she was a young child, helping her Grandfather manage his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. This experience spurred her on to medical school and is the driver behind her passion for finding evidence-based ways to help others. In her practice today she works with shift workers as well as many retired police and firefighters and brings a common-sense approach to lifestyle changes, including introducing a plant based diet to the diabetes management plan. In this episode Dr. Thangudu gives practical advice for goal setting and discusses the metabolic effects of poor sleep on those living with diabetes.

Ebbe Silva sits down to chat about how, after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he started cycling, which not only improved his overall health, but also helped him create XL Biking, a burgeoning and supportive community in Sweden that promotes biking and welcomes those who have been marginalized.

Lucy and Chloe are two best friends from the UK who, after learning they both had Type 1 diabetes, leveraged their life-changing diagnoses into something positive and created Young, Wild, and Diabetic, a small business that promotes empowerment and awareness for others living with diabetes.

Charles Mattocks is an actor, musician, and producer who turned his talents and clout in the entertainment industry towards diabetes awareness after he was diagnosed. Listen as Charles shares the exciting plans he has to help educate those just like him who are living with diabetes.

Kirsten De Klerk shares her diabetes journey and discusses how she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a teenager, how she learned to advocate for her health as a young adult, and how she has launched a non-profit, Bete It, to support the well-being of other South Africans living with diabetes.