T1D Talks

Episode 3: Diabuddy Dialogue – Maternal Health and Type 1 Diabetes

In this Diabuddy Dialogue episode, we speak with Rugia, who became an advocate for maternal health because of her experience navigating pregnancy with T1D. She highlights important gaps in maternal healthcare and education that are all too frequently overlooked. We explore the importance of equity and access for pregnant folks living with diabetes, as well as what actual change might look like. This examination of advocacy, resiliency, and the struggle for improved maternal care is compelling – and necessary.

Guest Bio: Rugia is a mother, an engineer working in the medical device field and a first-generation Canadian. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14, she brings lived experience as a teenager, young adult and as a mother. Rugia is deeply committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and access to diabetes care and technology across Canada.

Hosted by: Aastha and Afreen
Guest speaker: Rugia Malik

Resources:

1. Research article: CONCEPTT trial, a landmark study, revealed that the use of CGM in pregnant women with T1DM was associated with better glycaemic control and reduced incidences of neonatal hypoglycaemia 
2. Healthy Moms diabetes website
3. Closed loop therapy improves glycemic control in pregnant women wtih t1d

Episode 2: Diabuddy Dialogue – Family, Culture, and the Flipside

In this episode of Diabuddy Dialogue, we chat with our guest, Tasfia, about having T1D and how it affects her family relationships, her mom’s shared but different experiences, and how she dealt with stigma in the South Asian community. We discuss how labels can shape our lives and we also look at the flip side: how to find meaning in navigating T1D, creating communities, and empowering others. Do we define diabetes, or does it define us?

Hosted by names: Aastha and Afreen
Guest speaker: Tasfia Rayhan