Episode 23 — From Diabetes Brunches to Bali: Building a T1D Community

In this episode

Dr Temi Olonisakin joins The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast to share how lived experience, openness, and representation can spark community and confidence in type 1 diabetes. Say hello on Instagram: @temidiabeticdoctor.

Diagnosed at 17, Temi knows first-hand the isolation that comes when diabetes arrives just as independence begins. Years later, she began bringing people together — from one-to-one coffees to full-scale Diabetes Brunch Live events — mixing friendship, advocacy, and education with a healthy side of pancakes.

It’s not about brunch. It’s about belonging, visibility, and joy.

Episode summary

• Diagnosis at 17 — the hardest age for independence and self-management
• How Diabetes Brunch began — starting with nine people and growing to 26+ live events
• Representation — why seeing people like yourself changes everything
• Turning frustration with care into practical advocacy
• Creating safe spaces for laughter, learning, and cultural honesty
• The dream of Brunch Abroad — connection that travels

Key take-homes

The “difficult age” (14–18) needs special care.
Adolescence collides with diagnosis. Young people tend to thrive in fun, peer-led spaces rather than formal education settings.

Start small, then grow.
One conversation, one brunch, one community. Authenticity scales naturally.

Fun beats formality.
Joy opens the door to learning — brunch works because it feels human.

Representation equals safety.
People attend when they can see themselves — across ethnicity, gender, body size, and culture.

Community normalises variable glucose.
Sharing CGM patterns replaces shame with solidarity.

Advocacy is learnable.
You can switch hospitals via GP referral. You can request technology that fits your life.

Words matter.
Replacing “good” and “bad” with clear, compassionate language builds confidence.

Temi’s community playbook

1. Choose a format people already enjoy — brunch, coffee, Pilates and pastries
2. Invite 6–10 people first
3. Set the tone early — judgement-free, laughter encouraged
4. Offer value — share quick tips on clinics, technology, and self-care
5. Collect shared insights — post-brunch CGM reflections, normalising real glucose patterns
6. Keep the conversation alive — WhatsApp group, regular meet-ups
7. Build diversity deliberately
8. When the group passes 20, add co-hosts or table leads to keep it intimate

Chapters

00:00 Diagnosed at 17 — the lonely years
05:30 First coffees to first brunch
12:20 From 9 to 26 — growth and facilitation
16:40 Bottomless brunches and normalising glucose variability
21:30 Brunch Abroad dreams
24:30 Beyond London — plans for the North
25:50 Doctoring and sustainable work
31:20 Advocacy wins — getting the right technology
38:30 Representation and equity
45:40 What services for teenagers miss
47:50 Wrap-up and reflections

Connect with Dr Temi Olonisakin

Instagram: @temidiabeticdoctor

She engages, listens, and challenges gently. Bring curiosity, not perfection.

Key links and resources

• CGM accuracy explainer — 70% time in range is not equal across CGM systems
• Hybrid closed-loop (AID) systems overview
• Language Matters in Diabetes — NHS England

Follow The Glucose Never Lies®

• The Glucose Never Lies — website
• Instagram — @theglucoseneverlies
• LinkedIn — The Glucose Never Lies Ltd
• LinkedIn — John Pemberton
• X / Twitter — @GlucoseNLies

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