In this episode, host Scott Johnson talks with Carrie Matuzsan, a case manager at Blue Circle Health who has lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for 22 years. Carrie shares her journey from her diagnosis at age 12 to her current professional role helping others navigate life with diabetes, including financial hurdles, insurance, and social determinants of health like housing and transportation.

The heart of the conversation focuses on why sticking to goals is so challenging, especially with a 24/7 condition like T1D, and on how to use the SMART goals framework to shift from focusing on outcomes to breaking down the process and using a proven system to help achieve goals.

Carrie teaches us how to "smartify" our intentions, find our "North Star" through the “Toddler Approach”, and reevaluate our progress without self-judgment, especially when we get off track.

What You'll Learn

• Common Pitfalls: Many of us focus on the outcome (e.g., "get an A1C below 7") rather than the process, making the leap from where we are to where we want to be feel impossible.
• The Toddler Approach: How asking "Why?" repeatedly helps peel away surface-level answers to find the core values driving your goal.
• The SMART Goals System:
  • Specific: Making goals concrete rather than ambiguous
  • Measurable: Setting clear criteria for success
  • Attainable/Achievable: Ensuring the goal is something you can actually do.
  • Relevant: Making sure the goal is “along the path” to your bigger picture.
  • Time-bound: Setting a specific timeframe for check-ins and reevaluation.
• Contingency Planning: The importance of having a backup plan for when barriers (like bad weather or life events) interfere with your progress.
• Removing Judgment: Why you should treat your own progress with the same kindness you would show a friend, rather than being your own "bully".

Key Quotes

• "The process of it is the part that is not as much fun to think about or even to plan out." – Carrie Matuzsan
• "One of the biggest downfalls is being mean to yourself. Being your own bully is often the downfall for a lot of these goals." – Carrie Matuzsan
• "We are working to replace an entire hormone that our body is not producing, on top of living a full life. We continue to go and adapt. Just that resiliency... always amazes me." – Carrie Matuzsan

Resources & Links

• SMART Goals worksheet
• Previous Blue Circle Health Webinars on SMART Goals
  • Realistic Goal Setting with T1D (part 1)
  • Realistic Goal Setting with T1D (part 2)
  • Realistic Goal Setting with T1D (part 3)
• Community Partner Spotlight: The Time in Range Coalition (a program from diaTribe). They provide guides and toolkits for using Time in Range as a metric in diabetes management.
  • 🌐 Visit: timeinrange.org to learn more.

What is Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D?
People with type 1 diabetes fight two wars: one against a relentless 24/7 condition, and another against a healthcare system that makes it difficult and expensive to stay alive. Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D brings together voices from across the type 1 diabetes community to share real stories, expert insight, and practical support for living well with T1D.

Hosted by the team at Blue Circle Health, a U.S.-based program transforming type 1 care, this podcast helps people go from just surviving to truly living well with type 1 diabetes. https://bluecirclehealth.org

Episode Summary

It can feel like people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are fighting for their lives in a system built to wear them down. The twist is that clinicians often feel the same weight as they fight to provide care.

In this episode, host Scott Johnson talks with two highly-skilled healthcare professionals from University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio: Natalie Bellini, an endocrine nurse practitioner and program director for diabetes technology, and Quiana Howard, a PhD candidate and clinical nurse research specialist.

The conversation delves into the systemic struggles that prevent people with T1D from getting the support they need to live well with diabetes. The guests, including Natalie, who also lives with T1D, discuss the gap between what people need (like insulin access, education on carbs/fat/protein, and psychosocial support) and what they typically receive (a little information and a website).

They highlight the critical role of organizations like Blue Circle Health in providing holistic, wraparound support that addresses social determinants of health—going beyond glucose numbers to help with insurance, mental health, and food/housing security. Quiana also shares her research on social vulnerability and the surprising frequency of T1D misdiagnosis among minority and underserved populations. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the need for a community approach, recognizing that no single clinician or system can be the "do-all end-all" for T1D management.

What You'll Learn

• Why the healthcare system struggles to get people with T1D what they need.
• The essential needs at T1D diagnosis: insulin, psychosocial support, understanding insurance coverage, and education on diet and exercise.
• How clinicians like Natalie and Quiana meet people with diabetes where they are—sometimes even outside the clinic—to build trust and break down cultural barriers.
• Why Blue Circle Health is considered a "system breaker" for providing wraparound support beyond glucose numbers.
• The challenge of misdiagnosis, often due to prejudice or assumptions based on race, age, or weight.
• The shocking level of judgment and assumptions people with T1D face from others, and even clinicians.
• Why clinicians must recognize that their system isn't designed to support every need a person with T1D has.

Key Quotes

• "It can feel like we're fighting for our lives in a system built to wear us down. And here's the twist. Your doctors, your clinicians, feel a lot of that same weight as they fight to take care of you." – Scott Johnson
• "I have to talk to you as if we're equals and we're in this together, and I'm not going to leave you here alone... We're not going to talk at you; we're going to talk with you..." – Quiana Howard
• "There's no box. If we never had to think about any cost, what would we give to a person with diabetes? And that's what we get with Blue Circle Health." – Natalie Bellini
• "Blue Circle Health is a health equity model. They break down the systems that often prevent people from achieving the best outcomes when managing their type 1 diabetes." – Quiana Howard

Resources & Links

• Community Partner Spotlight: This episode highlights diatribe, a small nonprofit focused on education and advocacy around T1D, including fighting stigma and raising awareness of Time in Range.
• 🌐 Visit: diatribe.org to learn more and subscribe to their newsletter.

What is Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D?

People with type 1 diabetes fight two wars: one against a relentless 24/7 condition, and another against a healthcare system that makes it difficult and expensive to stay alive. Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D brings together voices from across the type 1 diabetes community to share real stories, expert insight, and practical support for living well with T1D.

Hosted by the team at Blue Circle Health, a U.S.-based program transforming type 1 care, this podcast helps people go from just surviving to truly living well with type 1 diabetes. https://bluecirclehealth.org

Episode Summary

Navigating life with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is challenging, even for those who are highly prepared and well-equipped. In this episode, host Scott Johnson talks with Rob Howe, diabetes advocate, entrepreneur, and founder of the long-standing podcast "Diabetics Doing Things, about his journey as a former high-level college and professional basketball player who has lived with T1D for 20 years.

Rob shares his experience being diagnosed at 16, the courage it took to be upfront about T1D during his college recruiting process, and the mental anguish of balancing elite athletics with blood sugar management. The conversation digs into why living well with T1D requires managing the physical, mental, social, and often-overlooked financial aspects of life. Ultimately, Rob emphasizes that self-advocacy is a vital skill and a muscle you can build.

What You’ll Learn

• Why T1D is still incredibly difficult, even for the "most well-equipped person".
• The four main categories of life T1D impacts: physical, mental, financial, and social.
• How the financial strain and lack of insurance can put people with diabetes into a constant state of "fight or flight".
• Why making a friend with diabetes is considered Rob's "biggest life hack" for T1D management.
• That self-advocacy can show up as small acts, like simply asking for orange juice when your blood sugar is low.
• The importance of separating your self-worth from your diabetes outcomes.

Key Quotes

• "It's overwhelming. It's a crazy amount of things that it takes to live well with diabetes." – Rob Howe
• "Your diabetes management and the outcomes of it aren't a report card on your value as a person." – Rob Howe
• "In my life, my resilience or capacity moves around and changes based on the other things, the normal things in life that we all deal with, too." – Scott K. Johnson

Resources & Links

• 🌐 Learn more or apply to join: bluecirclehealth.org
• 💬 Follow us on social media: @bluecirclehealth on Instagram and Facebook
• 🧾 Community Partner Spotlight: Connected in Motion – Learn more about their T1D communities, camps, and the new Platinum Club for adults aged 55 and above at connectedinmotion.ca

Episode Summary
If you've ever felt extra stressed and anxious about your diabetes as the holidays approach, you're not alone! The holidays are supposed to be times full of joy and cheer, but they often bring an extra dose of stress and disruption to our T1D routines.

In this episode, host Scott Johnson sits down with Eleni Sheehan, a fellow PWD and Advanced Practice Nurse at Blue Circle Health, to talk about the emotional challenges of navigating type 1 diabetes during the holiday season.

They dive into why feeling stressed is so common, some typical sources of those feelings, dealing with difficult family members, wrestling with unrealistic expectations, and what you can do if you encounter any "diabetes police."

Because you deserve to enjoy the holiday season and feel good about your diabetes management.

What You’ll Learn

• How normal it is for the holiday season to feel stressful
• What really makes T1D so much harder to navigate during the holidays
• That we remember what we felt long after the actions we took
• Options for handling people in uncomfortable situations
• How to advocate for ourselves when needed
• Resources for mindfulness and more

Key Quotes
“It is a choice. You can decide what is most important to you at that time.” – Eleni Sheehan

“I want to feel happy and joyful! And I do... but I also get really stressed out and a bit anxious.” – Scott Johnson

"We get the opportunity to celebrate things and spend time with family and friends, but at the same time, it's something that is completely different than what we normally do." – Eleni Sheehan

Resources & Links

• 🌐 Learn more or apply to join: bluecirclehealth.org
• 💬 Follow us on social media: @bluecirclehealth on Instagram and Facebook
• 🧾 Community Partner Spotlight: DiabetesSangha – meditation and mindfulness with the T1D community

Episode Summary
Insurance might not be the most exciting part of living with type 1 diabetes… but it can make or break your ability to get the tools, supplies, and medications you need.

In this episode, host Scott Johnson sits down with Neil Greathouse, a fellow T1D advocate, content creator, and producer at Blue Circle Health, to unpack the confusing world of insurance for people living with type 1 diabetes.

They dive into what every person with T1D should know about coverage, denials, appeals, and prior authorizations… and how to navigate the system without burning out. Neil shares stories from the field, insights from Blue Circle’s insurance navigation team, and a few hard-won lessons from decades of living with T1D himself.

Because when you’re fighting two wars… one against diabetes, and one against the healthcare system… you shouldn’t have to fight alone.

What You’ll Learn

• The most common insurance barriers for people with T1D… and how to overcome them
• How Blue Circle Health’s insurance navigators help participants understand coverage and resolve denials
• Why appeals and prior authorizations don’t have to feel impossible
• What to do when your insulin, CGM, or pump suddenly isn’t covered
• How to prepare before open enrollment or plan changes
• How to find free or low-cost prescription programs if you’re uninsured

Key Quotes
“People with T1D spend hours every year just trying to stay covered… that shouldn’t be normal.” – Neil Greathouse

“We want people to know they can ask for help before they hit a wall.” – Scott Johnson

“The goal isn’t just coverage … it’s confidence.” – Blue Circle Health Team

Resources & Links

• 🌐 Learn more or apply to join: bluecirclehealth.org
• 💬 Follow us on social media: @bluecirclehealth on Instagram and Facebook
• 🧾 Community Partner Spotlight: Breakthrough T1D – advocacy and resources to fight for better access and coverage for people with diabetes

Title: Introduction to Blue Circle Health
Guest: Dr. Monica Gomberg, Endocrinologist, Blue Circle Health

Host: Scott Johnson

Presented by: Blue Circle Health

Episode Summary

In this debut episode, host Scott Johnson, who’s lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 45 years, sits down with Dr. Monica Gomberg, a practicing endocrinologist who left private practice to help re-imagine diabetes care at Blue Circle Health.

They explore one bold question:

Dr. Gomberg explains how Blue Circle Health - a completely free, six-month virtual care, education, and support program funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust - is transforming access for adults with T1D. From personalized care plans and insurance navigation to mental-health support and prescription-assistance programs, she shares how the team builds care around the person, not just the disease.

What You’ll Learn

• Why T1D care often fails to meet real-life needs - and how Blue Circle Health is changing that
• How the T1D Support Guide works as your personal point of contact
• What makes a virtual model more flexible than traditional doctor visits
• How Blue Circle Health collaborates with, not replaces, your current care team
• Details on free resources: CGM access, financial assistance, insurance navigation, case management
• The surprising truth about how hard it still is to live with T1D - and what gives Dr. Gomberg hope

Key Quotes

Resources & Links

• 🌐 Learn more or apply to join: bluecirclehealth.org
• 💬 Follow us on social media: @bluecirclehealth on Instagram and Facebook
• 🤝 Community Partner Spotlight: The Diabetes Link – resources for young adults (ages 18–30) living with T1D