The Diabetic Mammy Podcast

A sunny holiday. A kids’ club. An ice cream treat - but not for you, you’re diabetic!

In this episode of The Diabetic Mammy, Catherine shares the moment a well-meaning staff member turned a simple treat into a lesson in stigma, and how we turned it right back into a lesson in inclusion. We’ll talk about where the “no sugar” myth comes from, why it’s still so common, and how these small moments can have a big impact on our childr...

In this nostalgic-yet-nuanced episode, we rewind to the seemingly simpler days of our childhood and ask: was it really easier back then - or just different? Catherine explores the joys of growing up in the 80s and 90s (cue outdoor play and zero WhatsApp groups) and contrasts them with the complexities and comforts of modern parenting - especially when diabetes is in the mix.

From unsupervised summers to the ever-present pings of...

In this heartfelt and revealing episode, Catherine takes us behind the scenes of the community pharmacy counter in Ireland- offering a rare look at the pressures, realities, and quiet acts of care that shape our experiences as people living with diabetes. She explores the logistics and some limitations of the Irish pharmacy system, especially around early or bulk medication requests, and shares why our interactions with pharmacy st...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Catherine—the Diabetic Mammy—explores the complicated but empowering journey of learning to trust healthcare technology.

From CGMs to insulin pumps and apps, she shares how these tools can transform diabetes care from reactive to proactive. But it’s not all smooth sailing—building trust in technology takes time, understanding, and a willingness to stay curious.

Catherine reflects on ...

In this uplifting and empowering episode, The Diabetic Mammy dives into lifestyle medicine—a powerful, evidence-based approach to supporting diabetes management through everyday choices.

Host Catherine shares how small, intentional changes in nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and community can improve life with diabetes.

From turning playtime into exercise to swapping white rice for quinoa, Catherine offers practical, rea...

In this heartfelt episode of The Diabetic Mammy, we dive into the emotional and practical weight of choosing diabetes technology — particularly the decision to start using an insulin pump.

Host Catherine shares her own story from 2005, when pumps were basic, alarms were loud, and stigma felt enormous. Fast forward to today’s tech-heavy world, and the decision is still just as personal, even if the devices have advanced.

From...

In this heartfelt episode, Catherine explores the emotional weight of summer — especially for mums balancing diabetes, parenting, and the pressure to create nonstop fun. From the invisible labour of planning beach days to the guilt of feeling worn out before breakfast, this episode is a compassionate reminder that unrealistic summer expectations are destined to disappoint.

With honesty, humour, and vulnerability, Catherine invit...

Every number in type 1 diabetes comes with a choice—and every choice carries weight.

In this episode, Catherine explores the unseen toll of decision fatigue: the constant cognitive load, the pressure to get it right, and the emotional fallout that often follows. From tiny “should I bring backup?” moments to high-stakes insulin calls, we break down how relentless—and invisible—the decision burden really is.

If you’ve ever felt...

🎙 When You Don’t Have It, But They Do 🎙

Being the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes is a constant act of love, advocacy, and vigilance—but what happens when you’re supporting a condition you don’t live with yourself?

In this tender and empowering episode, Catherine speaks to the unique emotional space parents occupy when they’re managing diabetes from the outside. From navigating the intensity of low and high blood su...

In this raw and relatable episode, Catherine shares a chaotic, ketone-filled day that started with a hopeful run and quickly unravelled into tech fails, missing SIM cards, and rising ketones.

It's a candid glimpse into the unpredictability of type 1 diabetes—even for those who “know better.”

From insulin pump mishaps to the heavy fog of high ketones, Catherine walks us through the frustration, the surrender, and ultimately, t...

In this deeply heartfelt episode, Catherine reflects on the quiet, often unspoken grief that accompanies the diagnosis of a chronic condition like type 1 diabetes in a child.

Using the poignant poem "Welcome to Holland" by Emily Perl Kingsley as a guiding metaphor, she explores what it means to grieve the future you imagined, and to find unexpected beauty in a life that looks different than planned.

Catherine shares her pers...

In this whirlwind episode of The Diabetic Mammy, Catherine takes you behind the scenes of a jam-packed week of diabetes events, reflections from National Volunteer Week, and what’s been lighting up conversations in the community.

From digital health as a lifeline—not a luxury—to learning from the neurodivergent folks living with chronic conditions, Catherine shares thoughtful takeaways, practical insights, and heartfelt enco...

In this reflective and gently humorous episode, Catherine, host of The Diabetic Mammy, explores a critical but often overlooked truth: parents—and often time mothers—may be forgotten at the time of their child’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis. The emotional and practical demands of caregiving may lead parents to push their own needs aside, and over time, this self-neglect becomes the default.

Through heartfelt storytelling, Catherine...

In this motivating and down-to-earth episode, Catherine explores what it means to parent a child with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with a marathon mindset rather than a sprint mentality. She challenges the pressures of achieving perfect blood sugar numbers and warns against the unsustainable, all-or-nothing approaches often fuelled by social media and fear.

Instead, she offers a practical, compassionate framework using SMART goals—Spec...

In this gentle and empowering episode, Catherine—host of The Diabetic Mammy—welcomes both new and seasoned parents of children with type 1 diabetes. Titled “The Metrics,” this episode is inspired by two mothers who, despite their different points on the diabetes journey, both revealed they had never been clearly taught what key diabetes numbers mean.

This episode walks listeners through the essential metrics of diabetes manageme...

Warm, candid, empowering pilot episode, in which Catherine introduces The Diabetic Mammy—a podcast dedicated to navigating the emotional, practical, and social complexities of living with type 1 diabetes, especially in the context of motherhood. Sharing her own journey from being diagnosed at age 4 to becoming a mother of two daughters (both also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes), Catherine invites listeners into a space of honesty, ...