Ep 133 - Food Should Bring Joy, Not Stress — Kaycee Parker’s Diabetic Meals Made Easy
Release Date: 11/24/2025
Ep 140 - Basal Insulin in Perimenopause: What MDI Users Need to Know
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
If your basal insulin suddenly feels wrong, morning highs, overnight lows, or afternoons that make no sense, you’re not imagining it, and you’re not failing at diabetes. In this solo episode of the Type 1 in Midlife, I’m breaking down why basal insulin becomes a moving target during perimenopause, especially for women on multiple daily injections (MDI). We’ll talk about how fluctuating estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol change insulin sensitivity hour by hour—and what you can do about it. I share real client examples, explain why basal timing matters more than ever, and walk...
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Ep 139 - From Hormone Chaos to Clarity: What’s Ahead in 2026
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
In this episode, I’m pressing pause and taking a deep breath. As we step into a new year, I’m reflecting on what 2025 revealed—about hormones, insulin needs, burnout, faith, and what women ith diabetes truly need more of. This year was full of honest conversations about perimenopause, menopause, sleep, cortisol, insulin resistance, and learning to trust your body again. I’m also sharing what’s ahead for 2026: shorter, clearer episodes… more practical “what do I do now?” guidance… and the book I wish I had decades ago. Inside this episode, we cover: Why blood sugars can...
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Ep 138 - When Hormones Meet Insulin: Aisha Coons on Navigating Cycles, Sensitivity & Self-Advocacy
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
In this powerful episode, Melissa sits down with Aisha Coons, medical copywriter, researcher, and creator behind Heed Her Health and Her Homeostasis. Diagnosed with both Type 1 diabetes and hypothyroidism at age four, Aisha shares her lifelong journey of learning to balance multiple autoimmune conditions while navigating the hormonal shifts of womanhood. Together, Melissa and Aisha explore: How early diagnosis shaped Aisha’s independence and mindset The connection between thyroid function, insulin needs, and menstrual cycle patterns Why some diabetes technologies can help or...
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Ep 137 - My 2025 Reflections: 3 Changes That Brought More Steady Blood Sugar, Mood & Strength
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
This week, Melissa gets real about the three lessons that shaped her health, her training, and her mindset in 2025 — and how you can carry these into 2026 with less pressure and more clarity. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, sprinting through December, pushing your workouts harder than your body seems to tolerate… this one is going to speak right to you. Inside, she walks through: Why she shifted from HIIT to strength + restorative work How cortisol and midlife physiology change the rules Why doing less actually improve her blood sugar, sleep, mood, and strength How to build a...
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Ep 136 - Fibromyalgia Explained: Causes, Symptoms, and Hope for Women 40+
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
If you’ve ever wondered why your fatigue, pain, or brain fog feels bigger than it should — this episode is for you. Melissa sits down with Tami Stackelhouse, award-winning author, founder of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute, host of the Fibromyalgia Podcast®, and executive producer of the feature documentary INVISIBLE. Tami shares her journey from diagnosis to remission and the holistic framework she teaches women to reclaim their lives from chronic pain. Together, they unpack: What fibromyalgia really is (and why it’s so often misunderstood). Why it overlaps...
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Ep 135 - Are We Expecting Too Much—or Not Enough—from Our Doctors?
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
If you’re questioning whether you’re asking too much or too little from your doctor, you’re not alone. Get the support and clarity you deserve inside the Type 1 In Midlife Community Join us in the circle for a 14-day free trial In this solo episode, I’m taking you inside my most recent endocrinology appointment—the good, the frustrating, and the moments that reminded me why self-advocacy matters so much for women with type 1 diabetes in midlife. I share how my A1C dropped after switching to manual mode on the Omnipod 5, why I pushed for a full thyroid panel, the weight gain...
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Ep 134 - Your Mouth Tells a Story: How Biological Dentistry Connects Oral Health, Hormones & Autoimmunity, with Dr. Toni Engram
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Have you ever wondered how your dental health connects to your hormones, your immune system, or even your blood sugar? My guest today, Dr. Toni Engram, is here to pull back the curtain on the powerful — and often overlooked — mouth-body connection. Dr. Engram is a biological dentist, integrative health coach, and owner of Flourish Dental Boutique in Richardson, TX. After walking through her own journey with autoimmune disease, she realized traditional dentistry often misses the deeper story of what’s happening in the body. In this conversation, we dive into: How oral inflammation...
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Ep 133 - Food Should Bring Joy, Not Stress — Kaycee Parker’s Diabetic Meals Made Easy
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Diagnosed at age 12, Kaycee Parker has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years—and she’s turned her experience into encouragement for others. A writer with a storyteller’s heart (she jokes it’s her Irish heritage), Kaycee blends her love of faith and food into a message of hope, balance, and grace. In this heartfelt episode, Kaycee joins Melissa Slemp to share: The story behind her new cookbook, Diabetic Meals Made Easy Why it’s not a “low-carb only” cookbook, but a blood sugar–friendly one for everyone How to pair foods for steadier numbers—and less stress at mealtime...
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Ep 132 - Estrogen Decline, Inflammation, and Frozen Shoulder - Dr. Matt Rieder Explains the Perfect Storm
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Today’s guest is Dr. Matt Rieder, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and owner of Renew Strength and Wellness. Matt jokes that he “gets hurt a lot”, on the amateur level, but turned that experience into a career helping others put themselves back together. A lifelong athlete and exercise enthusiast, he believes the human body can stay strong, flexible, pain-free, and ready for anything, no matter your age. When he’s not working with clients, you’ll find him climbing, running, weightlifting, scuba diving for giant fossilized shark teeth, hiking, camping, or writing. During his Army days,...
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Ep 131 - Manual Mode, Hormones, and 2 AM Alarms: A Real Look at Sleep with Type 1
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Ever wake up to a CGM alarm at 2 a.m. and wonder why you’re high (or low) even after doing everything “right”? In this solo episode, Melissa breaks down how perimenopause, pump settings, and shifting hormones can turn sleep into a nightly puzzle—and what to do about it. You’ll learn: Why melatonin, estrogen, and cortisol can all mess with your sleep How nighttime insulin settings and the dawn phenomenon play a role Real-life lessons from Melissa’s switch to Omnipod 5 manual mode Simple, science-backed ways to improve sleep quality tonight Whether you’re waking up high,...
info_outlineDiagnosed at age 12, Kaycee Parker has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years—and she’s turned her experience into encouragement for others. A writer with a storyteller’s heart (she jokes it’s her Irish heritage), Kaycee blends her love of faith and food into a message of hope, balance, and grace.
In this heartfelt episode, Kaycee joins Melissa Slemp to share:
- The story behind her new cookbook, Diabetic Meals Made Easy
- Why it’s not a “low-carb only” cookbook, but a blood sugar–friendly one for everyone
- How to pair foods for steadier numbers—and less stress at mealtime
- The biblical principle that inspired her approach to food and stewardship
- Her new Ultimate Blood Sugar Logbook and how tracking can help you find your patterns with peace, not perfection
Kaycee reminds us that food isn’t something to fear—it’s a daily opportunity to honor God, nourish our bodies, and enjoy life.
📖 Get Kaycee’s Books:
Connect with Kaycee Parker:
- Follow Kaycee: @devotionsondiabetes on IG and Facebook
· Visit her website http://devotionsondiabetes.com/
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Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on this Type 1 in Midlife Podcast should be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please always consult your medical professional before changing your diet, insulin dosages or health care plan.