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Hey my messy warriors š
This episode is such a special one for me. I had the absolute honor of sitting down with fellow Type 1 Diabetic badass, Kelsey Lynn Stokesāand let me tell you⦠her story? Itās powerful, itās messy, and itās REAL.
I actually found Kelsey on TikTok (which yes⦠can be a little scary sliding into those DMs š
), but I knew instantly I wanted her on the show. Her energy, her honesty, and her willingness to share her journey is exactly what this space is aboutārepresentation, resilience, and reminding you that you are NOT alone in this.
We dive into what itās really like living with Type 1 Diabetesānot just the numbers, not just the techābut the mental battles, the burnout, the grit it takes to show up every single day.
Kelsey shares her diagnosis story at just 13 years old, navigating life overseas without proper support, and how misinformation and lack of understanding shaped her early years. And you guys⦠this is why Iām so passionate about talking about thisābecause the narrative used to be SO different. Fear-based. Limiting. Honestly? Damaging.
But hereās what I loveāthis episode flips that script.
We talk about how far technology has come, how people are living LONG, full lives with T1D (shoutout to Carol with 50+ years š), and why itās so important for newly diagnosed individuals to see whatās possible.
Now⦠this is where it gets intense.
Kelsey shares the moment her life took a turnārunning the New York City Marathon (yes, like an absolute warrior šŖ), experiencing severe chest pain mid-race⦠and STILL finishing. Only to later find out she was dealing with a serious underlying infection and complications that landed her in the hospital.
And this is the part that hit me hardā¦
How many of us are pushing through symptoms?
How many of us are told weāre āfineā when weāre not?
How many of us donāt realize how bad we felt until we finally feel better?
That conversation right there⦠whew.
We also talk about burnoutābecause letās be real⦠we donāt get a break. Ever. And sometimes the strongest thing you can do is NOT push through, but actually pause, take care of yourself, and refill your cup.
And one of my favorite parts of this episode? Kelsey taking her own struggles and turning them into something powerfulācreating a product that supports women with diabetes so they can feel confident, feminine, and FUNCTIONAL without sacrificing their care.
Because representation matters.
Because innovation matters.
Because feeling GOOD in your own skin matters.
This episode is about resilience.
Itās about advocacy.
Itās about choosingāover and over againānot to be a victim of your circumstances.
Messy warriors⦠this one is going to stick with you š„
Connect with Kelsey Lynn Stokes:
https://www.instagram.com/thewanderingdiabetic/
https://www.tiktok.com/@thewanderingdiabetic
CALYCANTHUS:
https://calycanthuslingerie.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@calycanthuslingerie
https://www.instagram.com/calycanthuslingerie/