Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D
By: Blue Circle Health
Language: en
Categories: Health, Fitness, Medicine, Mental
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
Episodes
Building Better Care for People with Type 1 Diabetes with Dr. Len D’Avolio
Jan 07, 2026Episode Summary
Dr. Len D’Avolio, CEO and co-founder of Blue Circle Health, sat down with Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D host Scott Johnson to discuss why today’s healthcare system makes living with type 1 diabetes harder than it should be and how better is possible.
Drawing on decades of experience building and studying healthcare systems, Len explains why type 1 diabetes has become the “poster child” for what’s broken in chronic care today. Together, Scott and Len explore how a complex web of insurers, administrators, and financial and operational incentives...
Duration: 00:30:14Realistic Goal Setting with T1D
Dec 24, 2025In 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...
Duration: 00:36:05Collaborating to Close the Care Gap with Natalie Bellini and Quiana Howard
Dec 17, 2025Episode 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...
Duration: 00:29:08Self-Advocacy Tips with T1D
Dec 03, 2025Episode 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...
Duration: 00:28:50Handling the Holidays with T1D
Nov 12, 2025Episode 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...
Duration: 00:25:41Insurance & T1D: Why Does Getting Care Feel Like Another Job?
Oct 29, 2025Episode 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 burn...
Duration: 00:28:06Introduction to Blue Circle Health
Oct 09, 2025Title: 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:
What if we could start over and redesign T1D care from the ground up?
Dr. Gomberg ex...