The Healthy Diabetic

Coach Ken Kniss
  • 4.6 (17)
  • Nutrition
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The healthy Diabetic Podcast, each week I talk about how to navigate the complexities of diabetes. I interview doctors, Endo's, dietitians, CDE's, technology leaders, caregivers, and of course anybody who is affected by diabetes. This show is for you if you're looking for safe, educational, and engaging conversations. I promise to brighten your day, and you'll be sure to leave educated, supported, and guided on your way to a healthier and happier life with diabetes. Remember, your only job as a diabetic is to figure out what works for you! See you inside!Coach Ken.

  1. 3d ago ·  Video

    #386: Diabetes Confessions (Part 3) - I've Been Lazy With My Diabetes

    Welcome back to Diabetes Confessions - a series where I press record and get honest about the things I've done with my diabetes that I'm not proud of. I almost didn't record this one. Because what I'm about to confess goes against everything I talk about on this show. But that's exactly why it needs to be talked about. The last couple of weeks I've been lazy with my diabetes. Really lazy. I haven't been pre-bolusing. I haven't been counting carbs. I haven't been micro dosing the way I know I should. I woke up this morning at 2:25 after going to bed running low and being too tired to get up and check. My three-day average — which I had gotten close to 117 — is now sitting at 138. And when I look at my CGM graph it's not a wave. It's a tsunami. The most important part of this episode isn't the confession. It's what comes after it. Reflect. Figure out what you should have done differently. And then wipe your hands of it and walk away. Because that last part — walking away without carrying it — is the most powerful thing any of us can do. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why even experienced diabetics go through periods of laziness — and why that's okayHow CGM distrust can spiral into broader diabetes management lazinessWhat Ken's blood sugar pattern looked like when he stopped doing the little thingsWhy the little things — pre-bolusing, micro dosing, carb awareness — matter more than people realizeThe three-step process for bouncing back — reflect, adjust, walk awayWhy giving yourself grace is not the same as making excusesWhy waking up at 225 doesn't have to ruin your day or your mindsetWhy getting back on the horse immediately — not tomorrow, not Monday — is the only moveDiabetes Confessions Episode Guide: Part 2: Why I stopped Pre-Bolusing & What That Means For My Blood SugarPart 1: I didn't Take Enough Insulin Because Of My Fear Of Lows: Now I Do ThisAdditional Resources Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2pm EST — Tune in Here🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review — it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #386: Diabetes Confessions (Part 3) - I've Been Lazy With My Diabetes

  2. 3d ago ·  Video

    #387: What Happens to Your Blood Sugar When You Get Sick?

    I've had Type 1 diabetes for almost 20 years. And for almost 20 years, every time I've gotten sick, my insulin needs have gone up — sometimes dramatically. Inflammation increases insulin resistance. That's just how it works. So when my symptoms hit hard this week and my blood sugars started running low instead of high, I had to stop and figure out what was actually going on. In this episode I walk through exactly what happened over the last 24 to 48 hours — the lows I wasn't expecting, why I reduced my basal by four units a day, the Dexcom G7 that lost signal for over 12 hours, and why three and a half hours of basketball on Monday might be the reason my insulin sensitivity is still elevated four days later. I also get honest about something that frustrates me — the Dexcom G7 accuracy issues I've been experiencing. Three out of five sensors have been off by 30 to 50 milligrams per deciliter or more. When you can't trust your CGM, decision making gets harder. And when decision making gets harder, everything else gets harder too. This one is short, practical, and real. Exactly what diabetes management actually looks like when life doesn't follow the rules. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why sickness typically increases insulin resistance — and why Ken's experience this week was the oppositeHow inflammatory response during illness dramatically changes insulin needs for Type 1 diabeticsWhy exercise-induced insulin sensitivity can last 48 to 72 hours — and how that affected Ken's numbers while sickHow Ken reduced his basal insulin by four units a day and stabilized his blood sugarsThe Dexcom G7 accuracy issues Ken has been experiencing — and why a backup meter is non-negotiableWhy trusting your CGM data is essential — and what to do when you can'tWhy sickness is just another variable that requires flexibility in your management systemWhy 525,600 minutes a year means your doctor can't be your only source of diabetes supportDiabetes doesn't follow the rules. Just when you think you know exactly what your body is going to do in a given situation — it does something completely different. The goal isn't to predict everything. It's to recognize what's happening fast enough to respond. Additional Resources 🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review - it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Drop a comment and tell us - are you someone who thrives on the pursuit of perfection, or does it burn you out? We genuinely want to know. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #387: What Happens to Your Blood Sugar When You Get Sick?

  3. 6d ago ·  Video

    #385: The Four Things That Fix Almost Every Diabetes Problem

    After almost 20 years living with Type 1 diabetes, I've started to see a pattern that I can't unsee. Almost every challenge I hear from clients, from listeners, from people reaching out on social media comes back to three or four specific things. And when those things click for you so many other problems start solving themselves without anyone having to try that hard. Graham and I also get into the endocrinologist relationship and what it actually should look like. Both approaches are valid — but the question underneath both of them is the same one I want everyone listening to sit with. There are 525,600 minutes in a year. Your doctor sees you for maybe sixty of them. What are you doing with the other 525,400 minutes you're not with them? 🔑 Key Takeaways The four things Ken believes fix the majority of diabetes management problemsWhy trusting your decisions is the foundation that every other habit is built onWhat a real pre-bolus looks like — and why five or seven minutes doesn't countWhat micro bolusing is and how Ken is using it differently now than he used toWhy splitting a large dose across two smaller doses produces better outcomesWhy bolusing for protein — especially at night — is the missing piece for most diabeticsWhat the ideal endocrinologist relationship actually looks like — and why it's different for everyoneWhy there are 525,600 minutes in a year and your doctor sees you for maybe sixty of themEpisode Phrase: There are 525,600 minutes in a year. Your doctor sees you for maybe sixty of them. What are you doing with the rest — and who is helping you? That question is the whole show. That question is everything. Additional Resources Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2pm EST — Tune in Here🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review - it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Drop a comment and tell us - are you someone who thrives on the pursuit of perfection, or does it burn you out? We genuinely want to know. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #385: The Four Things That Fix Almost Every Diabetes Problem

  4. Sep 25 ·  Video

    #384: Are You Falling Into The Rage Bolus Trap?

    In this episode, I opened this episode with a concept that I don't think gets talked about honestly enough — rage bolusing. It's what happens when your blood sugar won't come down, the frustration builds, and you just keep dumping insulin on top of insulin on top of insulin hoping something finally works. It feels like taking control. It isn't. It's one of the most emotionally driven and potentially dangerous patterns in Type 1 diabetes management — and almost all of us have been there at some point. Graham and I break down what rage bolusing actually is, why it happens, what typically triggers it, and most importantly — what to do instead. Because the answer isn't more insulin. The answer is a checklist, a process, and the ability to take a breath and work through what's actually going on instead of reacting from a place of frustration. From there the conversation takes an unexpected turn into surrender — not in a defeated way, but in the most powerful way. Why letting go of the emotional grip on your blood sugar numbers, your outcomes, and your frustration is one of the most transformative things you can do for your diabetes management and your mental health. And why if you can't get to that place of surrender, nothing else — not better insulin, not a new CGM, not a different protocol — is going to work the way you need it to. 🔑 Key Takeaways What rage bolusing actually is — and why it's different from stacking insulinWhy frustration is the most dangerous emotional state in diabetes managementWhat typically triggers a rage bolus — and the checklist to work through insteadWhy the outcome of rage bolusing is almost always a low you didn't see comingHow the CGM can make rage bolusing worse by keeping you locked in tick-by-tick anxietyWhy surrendering to your emotions isn't weakness — it's one of the most powerful things you can doWhy Ken's lived experience with denial, depression, and burnout makes him a more effective coach than a textbook ever couldWhy being open to support — in whatever form that takes for you — is the non-negotiable first stepIf you can get yourself to a place where you're able to take a step back, breathe, and surrender — so many positive things will happen. The dominoes will start falling. But you have to be open to it first. Because until you are, nothing else is going to work. Additional Resources Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2pm EST — Tune in Here🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review - it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Drop a comment and tell us - are you someone who thrives on the pursuit of perfection, or does it burn you out? We genuinely want to know. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #384: Are You Falling Into The Rage Bolus Trap?

  5. Sep 22 ·  Video

    #383: Why the System Makes It Hard to Be Healthy - And What to Do About It Anyway

    In this episode, Graham and I get into something I find myself thinking about often - why is it so hard for people to eat well and live healthy lives? Not because they don't care. Not because they're lazy. But because the system is stacked against us. Ultra-processed foods are engineered to be addictive. Fast food is cheaper, faster, and more accessible than cooking a real meal after a ten-hour workday. And then the drive-through on the way home from that soccer tournament. This is how healthy choice becomes the hardest one. We also get honest about health insurance, why I only see my endocrinologist once or twice a year. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why eating unhealthy isn't a willpower problem - it's an accessibility and system problemHow ultra-processed foods are engineered to be addictive - and what that means for diabeticsThe three stages of health awareness - and why identifying your stage changes everythingWhy experience matters more than information when it comes to building healthy habitsWhy the decision to be healthy has to be real - not vague and someday-orientedHow Ken's relationship with his endocrinologist evolved to once or twice a year appointmentsWhy living a healthy lifestyle is a lifelong process - not a destination you arrive atHow to stay on point with your health even when life makes the unhealthy choice the easy oneAdditional Resources Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2pm EST — Tune in Here🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review - it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Drop a comment and tell us - are you someone who thrives on the pursuit of perfection, or does it burn you out? We genuinely want to know. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #383: Why the System Makes It Hard to Be Healthy - And What to Do About It Anyway

  6. Sep 18 ·  Video

    #382: How Your Personality Type Shapes Your Diabetes

    In today's episode Graham and I talk about why some people are successful in their diabetes management and others aren't.  Routines and building the right consistent habits are one of the foundations to a great management system. We jump into why some people thrive on structure and schedules and logbooks, and why other people do just as well without any of that. We talk about the guilt that comes with being a grinder who can't turn their brain off even when they're supposed to be relaxing — and why that same relentless focus, when pointed at diabetes, can actually be one of your greatest assets. We also dive into one phrase that I find myself saying often now. "It's a crazy time to be a diabetic." The decisions never stop. The variables never stop changing. And trying to do all of it while also building a life, a family, a career, or a business is  hard. This condition is all about being hyper focused on your decisions - without making yourself crazy at the same time.  🔑 Key Takeaways Why your personality type — grinder vs. go-with-the-flow — shapes how you manage diabetesHow routines and schedules help some diabetics thrive — and why others do just as well without themWhy logbooks work for some people and feel like prison to others — and both are validThe guilt that comes with being a grinder who can't turn their brain off — and why that focus is actually an assetWhy it's a genuinely crazy time to be living with Type 1 diabetes — and what to do about itWhy being hyper focused on your diabetes decisions doesn't mean making yourself crazy about themHow to find a process that works for you — not the one that works for Ken or GrahamWhy the decision making never stops with diabetes — and how to make peace with thatBeing hyper focused on your diabetes decisions is one of the most powerful things you can do. But there's a difference between being focused and making yourself crazy. You don't have to make the decisions more complicated than they are - you just have to make them. Additional Resources Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2pm EST — Tune in Here🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review - it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Drop a comment and tell us - are you someone who thrives on the pursuit of perfection, or does it burn you out? We genuinely want to know. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #382: How Your Personality Type Shapes Your Diabetes

  7. Sep 15 ·  Video

    #381: You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup - T1D Dietitian Madi Cheever Gets Honest About Burnout With T1D

    I sat down with Madi Cheever - registered dietitian, T1D, and founder of Type 1 Type Fun. Madi had an extraordinary year. She published a book, launched her podcast The Bad Diabetic Club, hosted a nearly 300-person diabetes conference, traveled to Japan, and served as dietitian at multiple diabetes camps across the country. From the outside it looked like everything was firing on all cylinders. Behind the scenes she was completely burned out - personally and professionally - and something had to give. She shares what that burnout actually looked like, why she made the decision to step away from social media and her platforms, and what the process of moving across the country, rebuilding her personal life, and finding her way back to the work she loves actually taught her about rest, boundaries, and what it means to truly take care of yourself first. Madi shows us that it doesn't matter what walk of life you come from or in what status your diabetes is functioning in, you can't pour from an empty cup. It will eventually catch up to you.  🔑 Key Takeaways Why even the most passionate and knowledgeable people in the diabetes space can hit a wall of burnoutWhat Madi's burnout actually looked like - and the moment she knew something had to changeWhy you cannot pour from an empty cup - and what it actually means to fill yours firstThe importance of choosing people in your life who understand and support your diabetesHow to identify whether you're in a season of thriving or a season of survivingWhy nutrition for Type 1 is never about restriction - it's about fueling well and building sustainable habitsWhat Madi learned from attending the TCOYD conference and why community is irreplaceableWhy Madi and Ken are teaming up for a future episode specifically on GLP-1 medications and nutritionMadi's Last Podcast Episode: Madi's Book: You Have Permission: Eat Sugar, Fire Your Doctor, and Rewrite the Rules of Type 1 Diabetes Additional Resources Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2pm EST — Tune in Here🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review - it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Drop a comment and tell us - are you someone who thrives on the pursuit of perfection, or does it burn you out? We genuinely want to know. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #381: You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup - T1D Dietitian Madi Cheever Gets Honest About Burnout With T1D

  8. Sep 8 ·  Video

    #380: Insulin Resistance vs. Insulin Sensitivity - Once I Understood This, I Learned That Perfection Is An Illusion

    Once I understood the difference between insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, everything clicked. Not just about diabetes - about why chronic disease is exploding, why autoimmune conditions are rising, and why the food systems most of us rely on are working against us instead of for us. Graham and I dig into what insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity actually mean, how they affect blood sugar management on a daily basis, and why understanding the difference between the two is one of the most important things any person with T1D can do for their long-term health. From there the conversation shifts into one of our most spirited debates yet - the pursuit of perfection in diabetes. Graham believes striving for perfection breeds confidence and control. I believe it's one of the fastest roads to diabetes burnout. We're both right. And we're both wrong. And the conversation that happens in between is one of the most honest and useful things we've talked about in a long time. 🔑 Key Takeaways What insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity actually are — and why the difference mattersWhy understanding these two concepts unlocks a clearer picture of chronic disease and autoimmune conditionsWhy our food systems are contributing to rising insulin resistance across the populationKen and Graham's spirited debate — is chasing perfection in diabetes helpful or harmful?Why the pursuit of perfection can quietly become the fastest road to diabetes burnoutThe difference between perfection and confidence — and which one actually sustains long-term managementWhy trusting your decisions matters more than always getting the outcome rightHow to think about the days that don't go the way you planned — without letting them derail everythingPerfection in diabetes is an illusion - and chasing it is one of the fastest roads to diabetes fatigue and diabetes burnout. What you're actually after is confidence and trust. The ability to make a decision, stand behind it, and move forward - even when the outcome isn't what you wanted.  Additional Resources Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2pm EST — Tune in Here🎯 5 Lessons You Can't Learn From Your Doctor — Free 5-Day Experience🌐 Website: SimplifyingDiabetes.com📚 The Diabetes Nutrition Master Course: Start Learning💪 Work with me: More Than A1C — 1on1 Coaching📞 Simplify Your Diabetes — Free Call: Book Now🎙 Donate to the Podcast: Contribute HereIf you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review - it helps more people living with diabetes discover the podcast. Drop a comment and tell us - are you someone who thrives on the pursuit of perfection, or does it burn you out? We genuinely want to know. Podcast Disclaimer: Nothing that you hear on The Healthy Diabetic Podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise; please always consult your medical TEAM before making any changes to your Diabetes management. Hey Diabuddy thank you for listening to show, send me some positive vibes with your favorite part of this episode. Support the show

    #380: Insulin Resistance vs. Insulin Sensitivity - Once I Understood This, I Learned That Perfection Is An Illusion
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4.6
out of 5
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About

Welcome to The healthy Diabetic Podcast, each week I talk about how to navigate the complexities of diabetes. I interview doctors, Endo's, dietitians, CDE's, technology leaders, caregivers, and of course anybody who is affected by diabetes. This show is for you if you're looking for safe, educational, and engaging conversations. I promise to brighten your day, and you'll be sure to leave educated, supported, and guided on your way to a healthier and happier life with diabetes. Remember, your only job as a diabetic is to figure out what works for you! See you inside!Coach Ken.

Information

  • Creator
    Coach Ken Kniss
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    386
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Healthy Diabetic
  • Show Website
    The Healthy Diabetic

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