Simplifying Diabetes

Kristie Messerli

Managing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes can feel confusing, overwhelming, and honestly… like a full-time job. Simplifying Diabetes is here to change that. Hosted by registered dietitian and diabetes specialist Kristie Messerli, this podcast helps you cut through the noise and focus on what actually works for blood sugar management—without rigid rules or conflicting advice. Inside each episode, you'll find practical strategies, honest conversations, and simple approaches to help you: Feel more in control of your blood sugar Make confident decisions without second-guessing Create habits that are realistic and sustainable Because diabetes management shouldn't take over your life—and here, it doesn't have to.

Episodes

  1. 16 Jun

    Ep. 7: Why You're Raiding the Pantry at Night (And Why It's Not a Willpower Problem)

    Do you feel like you're "good" all day only to find yourself standing in the pantry at 9 PM looking for chips, crackers, cookies, cereal, or ice cream? If so, this episode is for you. In today's episode of Simplifying Diabetes, I'm breaking down the Crash → Crave → Spike Cycle and explaining why nighttime cravings are often a blood sugar issue—not a willpower issue. We'll talk about: • What the blood sugar rollercoaster looks like in real life • Why skipping meals, under-eating, and restricting carbs can backfire • How diet culture teaches us to ignore our body's signals • My personal experience wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) • Real client stories that reveal what's actually driving nighttime cravings • Why your body may be asking for food—not sabotaging you If you've ever thought, "I was so good all day, why can't I stop eating at night?" this episode will help you understand what's really happening and what you can do about it.  Want help breaking the cycle? Join me inside my upcoming 3-day live workshop, Stop the 10 PM Pantry Raid, beginning June 23rd. Registration details are linked in the show notes. Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr   Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20 + Stop the 10 PM Pantry Raid Workshop: https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/ykunxawq70

    12 min
  2. 16 Jun ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Sophie Chen Keller: "Little Wonder" | Oprah's Book Club from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Oprah’s Book Club 124th selection is Little Wonder by author Sophie Chen Keller. Oprah and Sophie sit down with an enthusiastic audience of readers to discuss Sophie's childhood spent both in the USA and China and how that experience impacted her writing. She also shares how becoming a mother for the first time was the inspiration for Little Wonder. The story is about a profound bond of love that connects a mother, Song, to her son, named River. A cataclysmic roller coaster of events is set in motion when Song loses hold of River’s hand in the teeming crowds at a Beijing train station. Throughout this story of love, perseverance and hope mother and son desperately seek to find their way back to each other. Readers share that the climactic end had them in tears. Audience members also share the passages that moved them the most and ask questions of Sophie. BUY THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Little-Wonder-Novel-Thousand-Voices/dp/B0G5X5Z5R9 00:00:00 - Welcome Sophie Chen Keller, author of “Little Wonder” 00:06:05 - Writing ‘Little Wonder’ 00:09:40 - How Sophie found her title 00:12:32 - Her writing process 00:14:05 - Characters and plot 00:16:10 - Writing from a boy’s perspective 00:18:00 - Sophie’s love of piano 00:19:00 - The bumpy road to ‘Little Wonder’ 00:23:50 - Why the novel was set in 2016 00:25:45 - Rewriting the book 3-4 times 00:29:50 - Motherhood in the novel 00:32:30 - Class in the novel 00:35:00 - Purpose and motherhood 00:37:50 - How Sophie relates to music 00:41:00 - Song’s grief 00:43:20 - Tchaikovsky and the story 00:45:30 - How Sophie knew the ending Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: Instagram Facebook TikTok Listen to the full podcast: Spotify Apple Podcasts #oprahsbookclub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 19 May

    Ep. 5: Diet Soda Myths: Blood Sugar, Insulin & the Truth About Aspartame

    In this episode of Simplifying Diabetes, we're unpacking one of the most controversial—and misunderstood—topics in nutrition: diet soda. After a recent viral post, I received thousands of comments ranging from genuine questions to strong accusations—everything from "this spikes insulin" to "you must be getting paid by soda companies." So let's talk about it. As a registered dietitian and diabetes educator, I'm breaking down what the research actually says about diet soda, aspartame, blood sugar, insulin response, and cancer risk—without fear-mongering or oversimplification. We'll cover: Does diet soda raise blood sugar or insulin? What the World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer actually said about aspartame What "Acceptable Daily Intake" (ADI) really means—and how much diet soda you'd need to drink to reach it Common myths like "it turns into formaldehyde" and "it causes weight gain" And why food fear—not diet soda—is often the bigger issue This episode is about more than just soda. It's about challenging nutrition misinformation, removing unnecessary food rules, and helping you make informed, sustainable choices—without guilt. You don't have to drink diet soda. But you also don't have to fear it. Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr   Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20   Click Here to View this Post https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmUU5ZGgcS/?igsh=MWpja2ZjbTBzNXR4Zw==

    10 min
  4. 4 May

    Ep. 4: From Spikes to Stability: Strength Training for Better Glucose Control

    If your blood sugar still feels unpredictable—even when you're "doing everything right" with food—this might be the missing piece.   In this episode, I'm joined by Emily, a personal trainer, and we're breaking down exactly how strength training impacts your blood sugar… during your workout, after your workout, and long-term.   We get specific about: • Why muscle is one of the most powerful tools for improving insulin sensitivity • What's actually happening to your blood sugar when you lift weights (and why it's different from cardio) • How to prevent spikes and crashes around your workouts • The biggest mistakes people with diabetes make when starting strength training • A simple, realistic way to get started (even if you've never lifted before)   If you've ever felt frustrated trying to "exercise for blood sugar control" without clear results—this episode will connect the dots.   And if you're ready to actually implement this with guidance…    We're hosting a live 4-day experience: Sweat Your Diagnosis (May 11–14)   For just $9, we'll walk you through:  Exactly how to structure your workouts for better blood sugar  What to eat before and after to prevent spikes/crashes  How to build consistency without burnout This is where you stop overthinking and start seeing results. Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr   Click Here to Follow Emily on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emilysopo?igsh=ZmFnMG5vazRibXo0   Click Here to Join the Don't Sweat Your Diagnosis Challenge for $9:  https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/gmwryvn37k

    44 min
  5. 27 Apr

    Ep. 3: 5 Ways You're Overcomplicating Your Diabetes Management

    If managing your diabetes feels overwhelming… this episode is for you. In this episode of Simplifying Diabetes, we're breaking down the 5 ways you might be overcomplicating your diabetes management—and why doing more isn't always the answer. Because here's the truth: Most people aren't struggling because they're not trying hard enough… They're struggling because they're trying to do too much, all at once. After helping hundreds of people lower their blood sugar and A1C, I've seen the same patterns come up again and again—and today, we're diving into them. You'll learn: Why overhauling your entire lifestyle is setting you up for burnout How reacting to every blood sugar number is keeping you stuck The impact of stress, sleep, and daily life on your glucose (it's not just food) Why social media advice might be confusing your progress And how to simplify your approach so it actually works I also share a personal story from when I wore a continuous glucose monitor in clinical—and what it taught me about how unpredictable blood sugar can really be. If you've ever felt like: "I'm doing everything right, but my numbers don't make sense" "I feel overwhelmed trying to manage this" Or "I don't even know what to focus on anymore" This episode will help you take a step back, simplify, and move forward with clarity. Because managing your diabetes shouldn't take over your life—it should fit into it. Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr   Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass https://wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com/wvnwbjnk20

    16 min
  6. 27 Apr

    Ep. 2: Your Fast Track to Better Blood Sugars: Stop Guessing and Start Seeing Results

    Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice about managing blood sugar? In this episode of Simplifying Diabetes, I break down the fastest, simplest ways to improve your numbers—without cutting out all carbs or giving up your favorite foods. We'll cover: Why tracking your patterns is the first step to control How to build balanced meals that actually stabilize blood sugar Why consistency beats perfection every time How to adjust favorite foods instead of eliminating them Using your numbers as data, not judgment I also bust the biggest myths that keep people stuck, including low-carb extremes, "white foods are evil," and "diabetes is reversible with one trick." By the end of this episode, you'll have practical, science-backed strategies to start lowering your blood sugar, feel more confident, and stop guessing what works.   Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram   Click Here to Grab Kristie's Free Masterclass   Links for the Above:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr     Masterclass:                              Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice about managing blood sugar? In this episode of Simplifying Diabetes, I break down the fastest, simplest ways to improve your numbers—without cutting out all carbs or giving up your favorite foods. We'll cover: Why tracking your patterns is the first step to control How to build balanced meals that actually stabilize blood sugar Why consistency beats perfection every time How to adjust favorite foods instead of eliminating them Using your numbers as data, not judgment I also bust the biggest myths that keep people stuck, including low-carb extremes, "white foods are evil," and "diabetes is reversible with one trick." By the end of this episode, you'll have practical, science-backed strategies to start lowering your blood sugar, feel more confident, and stop guessing what works.   Click Here to Follow Kristie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/type2diabetes.nutritionist?igsh=bnV5cG1jMXVyeW1o&utm_source=qr   Masterclass:  7 wandering-resonance-183.myflodesk.com

    9 min

About

Managing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes can feel confusing, overwhelming, and honestly… like a full-time job. Simplifying Diabetes is here to change that. Hosted by registered dietitian and diabetes specialist Kristie Messerli, this podcast helps you cut through the noise and focus on what actually works for blood sugar management—without rigid rules or conflicting advice. Inside each episode, you'll find practical strategies, honest conversations, and simple approaches to help you: Feel more in control of your blood sugar Make confident decisions without second-guessing Create habits that are realistic and sustainable Because diabetes management shouldn't take over your life—and here, it doesn't have to.

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