Ep 81 - Navigating Diabetes, Hormones, and Aging with Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Smith is a Registered (and Licensed) Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Certified Trainer on all the diabetes tech systems, Jennifer specializes in the management of pregnancy with diabetes, women's health and specialized diet and exercise. Jennifer has had type 1 diabetes for 36 years and is the Director of Lifestyle, Nutrition and Women's health at Integrated Diabetes Services.

She is the co-author of "Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes", is a speaker for many national diabetes conferences, and a regular guest on the Think Like a Pancreas and Juicebox podcasts. In depth experience as a dietitian, diabetes educator, athlete, mother, and woman with diabetes, has provided Jennifer with first-hand knowledge of the day-to-day variables that affect diabetes management, allowing her to assist others in learning personalized management to live their best life.

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In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Smith, a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, and tech expert who's lived with type 1 diabetes for 36 years. We explore how hormonal changes, from menstrual cycles to menopause, affect diabetes management.

Jennifer shares her journey, insights into managing blood sugar through diet, exercise, and tech, plus her experience with intermittent fasting and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Tune in for practical tips on navigating diabetes through life's stages and find out how to stay empowered as you age.

In this episode you will learn:

Family's Role in Diabetes Management

• Jennifer talks about how her family helped, including her mom's meal prep and dad's focus on activity.
• This early support helped Jennifer transition to managing diabetes on her own.

Aging and Hormonal Changes (3:00)

• Discussion about how medical education lacks focus on hormones' role in diabetes.
• Jennifer highlights the importance of good habits and managing structure in daily life as one ages.

Hormonal Cycles and Blood Sugar (8:19)

• Jennifer explains how hormonal cycles affect blood sugar and insulin needs.
• She stresses the importance of tracking signals and using CGMs to manage diabetes effectively.

Perimenopause and Menopause (11:56)

• Jennifer explains how perimenopause impacts blood sugar and the variability of symptoms.
• They discuss the importance of body awareness and making adjustments during this life stage.

Diet and Lifestyle for Aging (21:45)

• Sleep is critical for diabetes management, along with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
• Jennifer encourages acceptance of aging changes and working with healthcare professionals.

Intermittent Fasting (31:11)

• Jennifer shares her experience with intermittent fasting and its benefits for diabetes.
• She advises working with professionals to navigate intermittent fasting safely.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (41:02)

• Discussion on the benefits of HRT for women with diabetes, such as easing symptoms like brain fog.
• Regular monitoring and working with knowledgeable healthcare professionals is essential.

Vitamin D in Diabetes (50:15)

• The role of vitamin D in glucose metabolism and Jennifer's experience with low levels.
• Regular vitamin D monitoring is vital for diabetes management and overall health.

Final Tips for Women with Diabetes (54:28)

• Jennifer's advice: focus on one thing at a time and be kind to yourself.
• Seek support from healthcare professionals and stay informed through resources like "Think Like a Pancreas, by Gary Scheiner.

Jennifer's Website

Jennifer's article – "How to navigate changes as a female living with Diabetes"

Contact Jennifer Smith

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Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.