Diabetes Connections | Type 1 Diabetes
Episode: "Looking back on 2025: Hype, hope and what really matters, with Neil Greathouse"
Host: Stacey Simms
Guest Host: Neil Greathouse
Date: December 30, 2025
Episode Overview
This special year-end episode flips the usual script: Stacey Simms, well-known diabetes advocate, broadcaster, and "diabetes mom," is interviewed by Neil Greathouse, host of the "Your Best T1D Year" podcast and prominent T1D advocate. Together, they reflect on the diabetes community's highs and lows from 2025, parse out what tech and advocacy really mattered, and share personal lessons and memorable moments. The episode weaves warmth, humor, and honest self-reflection with hard-hitting community insights and future-facing advice—ideal for T1D parents, adults, caregivers, and anyone connected to the community.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Top Stories and Favorite Moments of 2025
- Chrissy Teigen, LeBron James, and Diabetes Awareness
- Stacey’s favorite story: Chrissy Teigen’s viral Instagram post where she jokes “Let’s give LeBron James type 1 diabetes” as a way to relate to her kids and educate millions.
- Quote:
"On one hand, she got 3 million views educating about type one in this funny way. But also, to me, it was like, gosh, type 1 diabetes is different for every family."
—Stacey (05:18)
2. Community & Connection: Mom’s Night Out
- The Evolution of Community Events Post-COVID
- Covid changed diabetes event planning and connection. Stacey launched Mom’s Night Out for mothers of kids with diabetes and women with T1D, providing local, fun, technology-rich, peer-support-driven events.
- Notable Activity:
- At each event, moms write letters to themselves about what they learned and how they feel, mailed out later as a reminder of resilience and community.
- Stacey & husband personally craft and pack swag, inject local flavor, and even facilitate "after dark" hangouts.
- Quote:
"Then, three days later, you're up in the middle of the night... you're feeling very, very alone. So rather than going back to square one, we send you that letter a couple of weeks later. And we cry... They are incredible."
—Stacey (08:59)
3. Behind-the-Scenes & Logistics of Advocacy Events
- Self-run, grassroots logistics: traveling with AV equipment, personal shopping for swag, and the real-world challenge (and fun) of setting up major events as a two-person team.
- Quote:
"Getting through the airport is hysterical... There's no porters anymore, remember? We set everything up, we break everything down... I'll be looking for volunteers because this is too much."
—Stacey (12:04)
4. Tech Trends & Medical Breakthroughs from 2025
-
Three Key Headlines:
- Type 2 Meds for Type 1:
- GLP-1s and other Type 2 medications are now in serious trials for T1D:
"I think this is the first time we're really seeing medication that's already approved for type 2 really being studied for type 1... If we can get FDA approval for a drug like Tirzepatide... you can get insurance to cover it."
—Stacey (15:26)
- GLP-1s and other Type 2 medications are now in serious trials for T1D:
- Stem Cell & CRISPR Advances:
- Several high-profile studies with both promise and setbacks.
"When they crack that code, it's going to be prohibitively expensive and rare to begin with. But... that's a step toward ultimately [a cure]."
—Stacey (17:45)
- Several high-profile studies with both promise and setbacks.
- Longer Lasting Diabetes Tech:
- Quiet but significant trend toward longer-wear CGMs and infusion sets.
"This trend of longer lasting technology... kind of snuck up on us, didn't it, this year?"
—Stacey (18:57)
- Quiet but significant trend toward longer-wear CGMs and infusion sets.
- Type 2 Meds for Type 1:
-
Community Pushback:
- Some users prefer reliability over duration; tech must work well, not just longer.
"If you had to focus on works really, really well or lasts longer, I would prefer works really really well and is reliable as opposed to longer lasting."
—Neil (20:06)
- Some users prefer reliability over duration; tech must work well, not just longer.
5. Insurance, Affordability, and Systemic Barriers
- Concerns about insurance only covering fixed numbers of devices, barriers to replacement, the slow shift to over-the-counter CGMs, and legislative pushes for rental-only pump models which may not suit users' real needs (23:00–25:00).
- Quote:
"We need to tell people what's going on. We're a small population and that's why when I mention the greater diabetes community... we need all hands on deck."
—Stacey (24:42)
6. Technology "Hype" that Fell Short
- The highly anticipated but still-unavailable Tandem 7-day infusion set and continued wait for more automated and resilient closed loop systems.
- DIY community innovation vs. commercial pace.
- Quote:
"My son... loves to say this. 'You know, mom, any infusion set is five days if you just believe.'... Hope is not a strategy..."
—Stacey & Neil (26:09)
7. Looking at a Decade of Progress
- Massive Change Since 2015:
- 200,000-patient study:
- Pediatric pump use: 16% → 50%.
- CGM use among kids: 4% → 82%.
- Adoption precedes perfect outcomes, but quality-of-life steps matter.
- DIYers pushed industry change; social media now shapes, and sometimes pressurizes, how families live with T1D.
- 200,000-patient study:
- Quote:
"In kids under 18, CGM use went from 4% to 82%... these incremental things have made... he is doing less work for better outcomes. And that is the dream."
—Stacey (29:56, 32:58)
8. Busting T1D Myths & The Pressure Not to Be "Perfect"
- Perfection is not a requirement or possibility.
- Supported parents (moms especially) raise healthier, happier T1D kids:
"The more supported a mother feels from her community... the better the health outcomes in the kid with Type one."
—Stacey citing Dr. Steven Ponder (36:58) - Social media amplifies pressure, but real connection trumps Instagrammable "success."
9. Personal Reflections: Confessions, Regrets, Reality
- Even veterans like Stacey struggle with feeling they've never done "enough" as parents.
- The importance of perspective:
"You cannot be perfect. So I try to let it go. But that's my confession..."
—Stacey (42:33)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
- On fighting perfectionism:
"You’re not doing a bad job, you’re doing a difficult job. And there’s a difference."
—Neil (13:36) - Letter-writing at Mom’s Night Out:
"After every event... we drive home or we fly home. We read the letters and we cry. It's amazing."
—Stacey (09:50) - The value of in-person community:
"Find your local people... The reward is unlike anything you will get from a quick dopamine hit on social media."
—Stacey (51:57, 53:46) - On tech priorities:
"I would prefer works really really well and is reliable as opposed to longer lasting. That's just my take."
—Neil (20:06) - Advocacy and Industry Gaps:
"My instinct is to say false... the advocacy community, what is the number one thing we want? Lower prices... Better coverage."
—Stacey (39:12) - Parent Confessions:
"I still feel like we didn’t do it good enough... I could have done a better job. We could have had better numbers... But you cannot be perfect."
—Stacey (42:33–44:27)
Important Segments & Timestamps
- Opening & Context: 00:00–03:52 (show schedule, community messages, why this episode is a switch-up)
- Chrissy Teigen & LeBron James story: 04:33–06:13
- Mom’s Night Out: Purpose & Impact: 06:26–13:08
- Behind-the-scenes anecdotes: 10:48–13:08
- 2025 Breakthroughs & Trends: 15:26–19:28
- CGM Tech Debate: 19:40–23:06
- Insurance & Rental Model Issues: 23:06–25:18
- Tech Hype That Fell Short: 25:18–28:10
- Technology Adoption Deep-Dive: 29:04–33:30
- Myth Busting & Parental Pressure: 35:15–38:20
- True/False Lightning Round: 38:39–41:44
- Diabetes Confession Booth: 41:44–44:27
- The Fastest Five Minutes (Rapid-Fire Q&A): 45:34–51:13
- Final Takeaway & Call to Action: 51:57–54:23
Tone & Style
- Conversational, humorous, honest; self-deprecating warmth from Stacey combines with Neil’s host energy, candor, and empathetic questioning.
- Both hosts are authentic about personal highs and lows, making expert advice feel approachable.
Takeaways & Closing Messages
- No one can be perfect; community support, not just gadgets or Instagram posts, is crucial.
- In-person connections (however awkward to start!) are uniquely sustaining.
- Tech is advancing—sometimes quietly, sometimes imperfectly—but family and community resilience matter more than metrics.
- Progress comes in both industry and advocacy, but the system is slow, access is unequal, and all voices are needed.
Where to Find Stacey Simms & Diabetes Connections
- Website: diabetes-connections.com
- Social: @staceysimms & @diabetesconnections (varies by platform)
- Mom’s Night Out events, podcast archives, and resources all linked at website.
Memorable Ending
"Put in a little bit of work to do some local stuff and find in person connections because the rewards are just incredible."
—Stacey (53:46)
This summary encapsulates all major themes, insights, and moments from the episode, providing a thorough and accessible recap for anyone passionate about diabetes advocacy and community, whether they listened or not.