Ep 129 - Cortisol Isn’t the Enemy - How Calming Your Nervous System Can Stabilize Blood Sugar.
Release Date: 10/27/2025
Ep 156 - GMI vs A1C: Why Your Numbers Don’t Match (And What Actually Matters)
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Have you ever looked at your CGM and felt confident… only to get your lab A1C back and feel completely thrown off? If your numbers don’t match, you’re not doing anything wrong. In this episode, we’re breaking down the real reason your CGM estimate (GMI) and lab A1C can show different results—and why this disconnect can feel so frustrating, especially after years of doing your best to manage type 1 diabetes. Melissa shares her personal experience of seeing a 5.9 CGM estimate vs a 6.2 lab A1C and why that moment matters more than just the number. This conversation will help you stop...
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Ep 155 - 3 Months Post Islet Cell Transplant for Type 1 Diabetes: Katie Beth Hand’s Story
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
What does life actually feel like 3 months after an islet cell transplant for Type 1 diabetes? In this episode, I’m joined by Katie Beth Hand for an honest and hope-filled update on what life has looked like since receiving her islet cell transplant as part of a clinical trial for Type 1 diabetes. Katie Beth was diagnosed with Type 1 in 2013 and is now 3 months post-transplant, sharing what this experience has been like physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We talk about what it’s like to be off insulin, how her daily decisions around food and exercise have changed, and why...
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Ep 154 - What Low HRV Is Telling You About Stress, Hormones, and Blood Sugar
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Have you ever looked at your HRV score and thought… what does this even mean? If you wear an Oura Ring, Apple Watch, sleep tracker, or use any device that gives you heart rate variability data, this episode is for you. In today’s solo episode, I’m breaking down HRV (heart rate variability) in plain English — especially for women navigating midlife hormones and type 1 diabetes. Because if your blood sugar has been feeling more stubborn lately… if your fasting numbers are creeping up… if your sleep is off… or if you feel tired, wired, and more on edge than usual… Low HRV may be...
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Ep 153 - What Labs to Ask for When You’re Told “Everything Is Normal”
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling frustrated because your labs were called “normal” … even though you know something still feels off? In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Schmidt, a registered dietitian, strength coach, and woman living with Type 1 diabetes, for an honest conversation about what to do when your symptoms are being overlooked. Kelly specializes in helping women with T1D manage blood sugar beyond just carbs and insulin. She blends real-life experience with functional nutrition, muscle-building strategy, and hormone education to help women feel stronger,...
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Ep 152 - Why Muscle Matters More After 40 (Especially with Type 1 Diabetes)
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Muscle Is Medicine Why Strength Training Improves Blood Sugar with Type 1 Diabetes Have you ever noticed that what worked for your body in your 30s doesn’t seem to work the same way anymore? Many women with type 1 diabetes begin to notice shifts in their 40s and 50s: Blood sugars become harder to manage Energy drops Body composition changes Workouts that once worked no longer deliver the same results One of the biggest reasons is something many women overlook: muscle. In this episode, I share why building and maintaining muscle is one of the most powerful tools we have for blood sugar...
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Ep 151 - Mental Health Is Health: Inside Diabetes + Mental Health Conference with Cassandra Donahue
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
I’m joined by Cassandra Donahue, registered dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Certified Specialist in Weight and Obesity Management. Cassandra was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 21 months old and went on an insulin pump at age five. Today, she works in endocrinology and obesity clinical research at UNC, supports vIOP programming with The Emily Program, and provides coverage for the SOVAH hospital system. We talk about: Cassandra’s diagnosis story and how she unexpectedly found her career in diabetes care The emotional toll of living with diabetes...
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Ep 150 - Meet the Contributors to Highs, Lows & Hormones — A Survival Guide for Women with Diabetes from Monthly Cycles to Menopause
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Today’s episode is a special one — I’m officially announcing my upcoming book: Highs, Lows & Hormones: A Survival Guide for Women with Diabetes — From Monthly Cycles to Menopause. This book was born from years of lived experience, coaching women through midlife, and realizing there simply wasn’t one comprehensive resource that connects the dots between: Monthly cycles and insulin sensitivity Perimenopause chaos and blood sugar swings Sleep, weight gain, gut health, and inflammation Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and safety What labs to run and what questions to ask your...
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Ep 149 - Type 1 Diabetes & Midlife Burnout: Rebuilding Habits That Last
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Living with type 1 diabetes means living with autoimmunity. And if you’ve ever wondered why did this happen? — you’re not alone. In today’s conversation, I’m joined by board-certified health and wellness coach, pharmacist, and host of Autoimmune Health Secrets, Amy Behimer. Amy lives with multiple autoimmune diagnoses herself, including MS and thyroid disease, and she brings both clinical insight and lived experience into this conversation. We talk about: What an autoimmune disease is (in simple terms) Why autoimmune diagnoses are increasing The difference between disease and...
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Ep 148 - Is Progesterone Making You More Insulin Resistant? T1D & Midlife Hormones
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
If you’ve started progesterone and suddenly your blood sugars feel harder to manage—especially overnight, during stress, or in the luteal phase—this episode is for you. In this solo conversation, Melissa unpacks a nuance that doesn’t get talked about enough: progesterone can be incredibly supportive for many women with type 1 diabetes… and for others, it can quietly increase insulin resistance. You’ll learn: Why progesterone is often the first hormone to decline in perimenopause How progesterone affects sleep, cortisol, and insulin sensitivity What “progesterone intolerance”...
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Ep 147 - Chronic Disease Is Expensive — Here’s How to Save on Medications with Sally Figueroa
Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
Living with chronic illness is exhausting enough. Add denied claims, surprise bills, $500 copays, and confusing insurance rules—and suddenly managing your health becomes a full-time financial battle. In this episode, I sat down with Sally Figueroa, a mom of four, chronic illness advocate, and founder of Health Savings Expert. Sally lives with Type 1 diabetes (diagnosed at age 12) and Rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s disease, chronic sinusitis, and the long-term impact of multiple surgeries She’s also supported loved ones through endometriosis, Lyme disease, and amplified musculoskeletal...
info_outline If your blood sugars rise the moment stress hits—or you notice your mornings start high for no clear reason—this episode will help you understand why.
Dr. Dawn Browning joins me to explore how the nervous system, hormones, and daily stress patterns shape blood sugar balance.
Dawn is a research scientist, certified yoga therapist, and Pranayama teacher who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for nearly four decades. She helps women in midlife understand how the nervous system shapes everything from blood sugar to mood to energy—and teaches practical ways to regain steadiness through breath, awareness, and daily rhythm.
Dawn often says that Type 1 diabetes has been her greatest teacher, guiding her toward a more mindful, compassionate way of living. We dive into the science behind cortisol, insulin sensitivity, and the power of slowing down—through awareness, breath, and rhythm—to bring steadiness to your day.
Whether you live with Type 1 diabetes or experience midlife hormone shifts, you’ll walk away with simple, science-backed tools to regulate your energy, mood, and glucose levels—starting with your next breath.
In this episode, we cover:
- The stress–cortisol–glucose connection explained simply
- How hormonal changes amplify stress responses in midlife
- What “pranayama” really means and why it’s different from breathwork
- How slow, conscious breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system
- Practical rituals to create steadiness through daily rhythm
- Why perfection and “control” don’t serve us—and what to aim for instead
Connect with Dawn Browning
On IG @holsolwellness
https://www.holsolwellness.com/
Access her free 4-minute guided breath practice https://www.holsolwellness.com/abundanthealth
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What to do now:
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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.