Your Best T1D Year29 Sep 2025

Mindfulness with Diabetes Sangha

Episode summary

Today’s episode is a practical deep-dive with Diabetes Sangha co-founders Brooke Cassoff and Heather Nielsen on using mindfulness and self-compassion as real tools for life with Type 1. We talk origin story, why “everything belongs,” what a weekly practice actually looks like, and then do three short, on-mic practices you can follow anywhere: breath, grounding, and a micro self-compassion reset. We close with how to try Sangha for free and what’s next.

What you’ll learn

How Diabetes Sangha started and why it’s run by and for people with T1D.
What a typical live session includes and why “come as you are” matters.
Simple ways to weave awareness into CGM checks, carb math, and recovery windows.
Three guided practices you can try today: breath, body grounding, and a micro self-compassion exercise.
Free ways to start: daily texted meditations, drop-in Zooms, recorded library, retreats.

Timestamps

00:00 – Cold Open, why mindfulness for T1D now.

01:32 – Origin story, Stanford compassion capstone, early Zoom practices.

05:37 – What Sangha offers today: live sessions, YouTube library, retreats.

18:14 – Using CGM checks and meal math as mindfulness anchors.

23:26 – “Everything belongs”… creating a space where people feel seen.

26:00 – Inside a typical session: 30–45 min, guided practice, debrief.

27:37 – Quick resets on hard days, CGM alarms, and 60-second moves.

01:00:20 – Guided breath reset, closing cues you can reuse anytime.

01:03:52 – Body scan and grounding practice, re-entering the day.

01:10:53 – Micro self-compassion practice: hand-on-heart, name what’s here.

01:13:18 – How to start for free: “Just join us,” Daily Dose texts.

01:16:33 – Retreats and in-person weekends coming up.

About our guests

Diabetes Sangha is a volunteer-run community led by and for people living with or affected by Type 1 diabetes. Co-founders Brooke Cassoff and Heather Nielsen facilitate live practices, build a library of guided meditations, and host retreats that help us meet real-life T1D moments with skill and kindness.

Resources & mentions

DiabetesSangha.com — Live sessions, recordings, Daily Dose texts, and retreats.
Daily Dose text series — Free 5–7 minute guided meditation link texted each morning.
YouTube library of recorded meditations — On-demand practices for busy days.
Reset Bingo card // free — Keep the September challenge going: yourbestt1dyear.com
Blue Circle Health — Free, real-life coaching and support for people living with diabetes.

Try this today (listener challenge)

Pick one practice from the episode and do it once: 60 seconds of breath, quick body grounding, or a hand-on-heart self-compassion cue. Then check off today’s square on the Reset Bingo card.

Reset Bingo card and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com

Sponsor

Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and care that fits real life. Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org

Connect

Instagram: @thebetes | TikTok: @the.betes | Website: yourbestt1dyear.com

Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes - One Day at a Time or Type 1 Diabetes - True Stories

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