Diabetes Connections | Type 1 Diabetes
Episode: From the WNBA and NBA, Diabetes Legends Lauren Cox and Gary Forbes Share Their Stories
Host: Stacey Simms
Date: September 9, 2025
Episode Overview
This inspiring episode brings together three standout figures from the diabetes and basketball communities: Lauren Cox (WNBA, NCAA champion), Gary Forbes (NBA veteran), and Rob Howe (founder of Diabetics Doing Things and former professional basketball player) for a roundtable discussion recorded live during the “Diabetes Legends” basketball clinic at Friends for Life conference. Host Stacey Simms explores with these athletes what it takes to reach the pinnacle of professional sports with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the setbacks and victories they’ve experienced, and the advice they offer to families and young people with T1D.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Diabetes Legends Basketball Clinic Experience
(05:28–06:57)
- The panel discusses the thrill of coaching almost 80 kids with T1D, an unprecedented number for the event.
- Rob Howe: Shares the joy and sense of purpose of organizing the clinic and coaching alongside his idols.
- “These are the best days of my life, I think... Being in here with my friends and my idols, these two is just a great privilege of my life.” (05:33)
- Lauren Cox: Talks about seeing so many people with visible diabetes technology—pumps and sensors.
- “Walking around and seeing everyone’s insulin pumps and patches on their arms, it’s really cool... I don’t think I’ve ever been around this many diabetics before.” (06:14)
- Gary Forbes: Finds connection and joy being part of a community he never had during his playing career.
- “This is my family… This feels really good.” (06:57)
2. Personal Journeys: Developing Confidence and Community
(07:27–10:41)
- Lauren’s Early Isolation: Lauren attended only one diabetes camp as a child, and it significantly shaped her approach to diabetes—initially shy about public management of her condition until college.
- Lauren on Visibility: Coach Kim Mulkey at Baylor encouraged Lauren to use her platform to inspire others.
- “Coach Mulkey was like, you are on this huge platform here at Baylor... you need to use this platform to inspire kids. That's kind of where it took off from there.” (09:30)
- Gary’s Family and Determination: Gary attributes his resilience to his father’s encouragement.
- “He’d always remind me, ‘You’re a Forbes, you can do anything that you think of.’ ...Having type one almost gave me a chip on my shoulder.” (11:04)
3. Family Ties: Diabetes in the Household
(12:03–14:14)
- Both Lauren and Gary’s families are touched by T1D; Lauren’s sister was diagnosed while watching Lauren’s game, and Gary’s father and nephew also live with T1D.
- Lauren: Describes supporting her sister through diagnosis and management.
- “We sat on the couch together and we just kind of cried a little... I wouldn't wish diabetes on my worst enemy, especially my sister, my best friend.” (13:39)
4. The Reality of Type 1 Diabetes in Elite Sports
(14:28–20:04)
- Managing Imperfection:
- Rob, Lauren, and Gary share the message that diabetes doesn’t have to be “perfect” to succeed—including missing target numbers, playing while high or low, and learning from mistakes.
- Lauren’s Scary Experience Abroad:
- “I took a lot more insulin than I should have. That night I had to go to the hospital... It was on my birthday. Yeah, it kind of sucked.” (15:52)
- She emphasizes learning through errors, adapting to different health systems and equipment.
- Gary’s Diabetic Coma:
- He describes going into a diabetic coma in Argentina but maintaining his athlete’s resilience.
- “I remember waking up in the hospital in Argentina, and I asked the coach, I was like, ‘I'm good to practice tomorrow, right?’ And everyone is looking like, 'yo, this guy is crazy.'” (19:18)
- Rob on Mindset:
- The “pros do every day what amateurs do occasionally” philosophy helped him persist in both diabetes management and basketball.
- “Adopting that mindset of a professional is really what you do with diabetes.… You have to adopt this relentless mentality.” (21:23)
5. Letting Kids Play: Advice for Parents and Families
(24:34–26:44)
- All three encourage parents to let their children experiment and play sports, reassuring that setbacks are learning experiences.
- Lauren’s Message: “It's a lot of trial and error, and diabetes is never going to be perfect... It's scary, but you kind of have to push them into that and let them go a little bit and learn from their mistakes.” (24:58)
- What Their Parents Did Right:
- Lauren: “They just never discouraged me from doing whatever I wanted to do... There was never a question of whether or not we were ever going to play sports again. They always encouraged us to do that.” (26:12)
- Gary: “My father would never be surprised if I scored a whole bunch of points, if I got an A in my class. He would be like, you're Forbes, you're supposed to do that....” (27:12)
6. The Importance of Support, Community, and Optimism
(28:56–31:19)
- Gary underscores the importance of an “outlet” (sports, arts) to provide relief from the daily stress of T1D.
- Rob shares how seeing Gary in the media at the right moment inspired him not to quit basketball, eventually leading to his own advocacy work.
- The “Diabetes Legends” clinics are evolving with support from USA Basketball and the formation of a nonprofit.
7. Reflections and Final Thoughts
(31:43–32:17)
- Lauren: Shares excitement about returning to Australia for her season and her continued enjoyment of the game.
- “I love it. Yeah. I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t enjoy it.” (32:05)
- Rob and Gary discuss how they still engage with basketball on their own terms, even after their pro careers.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Rob Howe:
- “These are the best days of my life, I think.” (05:33)
- “Pros do every day what amateurs do occasionally.” (21:23)
- “Everybody else gets to stay alive automatically. And like, we have to adopt this relentless mentality of doing these little things every day to make ourselves we're alive, make yourself stay alive.” (21:41)
- Lauren Cox:
- “It means so much to me because this is why I do it. I do it for these kids that are not sure if they can play basketball or if they can do anything with their diabetes.” (06:22)
- “It's so good for them [kids]… Being around other people like you means a lot to a kid, and it can do a lot for them socially, mentally.” (24:58)
- Gary Forbes:
- “I love it. I'm a big kid myself, so I fit right in.” (06:57)
- “My always answer is, what if it does? So I always have this vision of, you know, there's always a possibility. To quote KG, anything is possible.” (27:12)
Segment Timestamps
- 05:28 Clinic chaos and joy – first impressions and atmosphere
- 06:14 Lauren on community and representation
- 06:57 Gary on finding family in the diabetes community
- 09:30 Lauren on evolving from shyness to advocacy
- 11:04 Gary’s “chip on my shoulder” and parental optimism
- 13:39 Lauren on her sister's diagnosis
- 15:52 Lauren's scary insulin overdose in Italy
- 17:49 Gary’s diabetic coma in Argentina
- 21:23 Rob on the athlete and diabetes “pro” mindset
- 24:58 Lauren on advice for parents and young athletes
- 26:12 Lauren credits parental encouragement
- 27:12 Gary’s father’s mindset and family environment
- 31:43 Lauren returning to Australia and love of the game
Tone & Language
The conversation is candid, encouraging, and vibrant, demonstrating the resilience, humor, and optimism of all three athletes. There’s a consistent theme of perseverance, community support, and a drive to inspire others—spoken in their own authentic voices. The camaraderie and mutual respect are evident, especially as Rob shares how Lauren and Gary helped shape his own path.
Conclusion
This episode provides a powerful reminder that young people with T1D can pursue their athletic dreams, learn from setbacks, and find community. By sharing both their struggles and their triumphs, Lauren Cox, Gary Forbes, and Rob Howe offer valuable insights for families, parents, and T1D youth—emphasizing the importance of encouragement, resilience, and letting kids play.
For more on the Diabetes Legends clinics and future events, visit diabetes-connections.com and follow Rob Howe's "Diabetics Doing Things."