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In this episode, Rachael interviews a world renowned physician and clinical trialist, open to sharing details about what's happening behind the scenes in the diabetes research world when it comes to new therapies for T1D, but at a global level.

Her guest? Leading scientist and pediatric endocrinologist from the University of Florida, Dr. Michael Haller. He answers questions about IV infusions of Teplizumab and various forms of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG). They talk about a clinical trial called "Safeguard", which has been fast-tracked by the FDA, aiming to study a different human version of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG).

Dr. Haller also opens up on details surrounding events that occurred during the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Annual Scientific Sessions in June 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The story actually went VIRAL in the press; even making it to the front page of the New York Times. This was after several very prominent scientists were escorted out of the conference for distributing peer-reviewed published journal articles. Since that time, a formal boycott on the ADA has been called, asking for an internal review of the events that occurred. Now, over 1000 physicians and scientific leaders have signed the boycott, yet nothing has changed. So the diabetes community continues to search for answers.

Rachael asks Dr. Haller, "What exactly happened since you were there?" And if this boycott is honored, "Will it improve the lives of people living with diabetes?" This is the FIRST time any physician has freely spoken on camera about what actually happened, so it's an episode you WON'T want to miss.

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In this episode, Rachael podcasts live at the inaugural Breakthrough T1D Research Clinical Congress in Philadelphia, October 9-11, 2026. She interviews Dr. Aaron Kowalski, the CEO of Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), about the organization and how they are funding and supporting research that ultimately will lead to cell therapies. Aaron describes details about the Vertex clinical trial, which is evaluating if infusing stem cell-derived islet cells in people living with type 1 will relieve them of their insulin dependence. It turns out, it's already worked in 10 people! And now we are just waiting for the trial to finish and release results on 38 more. Aaron is a person living with Type 1 diabetes, and even helped bring the first insulin pumps to market. Yet ironically, he states, "I believe I'll be taking my pump off" in this lifetime. Aaron even describes what the launch of commercially available cell therapies might realistically look like and provides an estimated timeline.

If you're someone that has lost hope or ever doubted if "the cure for type 1 is almost here?", then this episode breaks it down clearly so you can understand and feel confident that we are very very close and living in a Renaissance age for Type 1 diabetes.

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In this episode, Rachael kicks off season 2 of the Diabetes Diaries, at the Inaugural Breakthrough T1D Clinical & Research Congress (CRC2026), happening October 9 - 11th, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was a Live podcast on site, where over 1000 medical leaders from over 31 countries, gathered to present and share research with the mission of ending Type 1 diabetes. Rachael has a candid interview with the chief medical officer of the organization, and pediatric endocrinologist, Dr. Thomas Danne. Danne has been a practicing physician for over 40 years and has trained and practiced in Germany, serving as president of both the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes and the German Diabetes Association. He answers questions about what "breakthroughs" are coming for treating type 1, and what that will realistically look like once rolled out. Dr. Danne describes cell therapy and who it's intended for, plus details that the organization has for a future where people with Diabetes might live insulin free.

To any person living with Type 1, or a parent whose child was recently diagnosed, this is a conversation about plans for the next generation that you won't want to miss.

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In this episode, Rachael goes live on a radio show! With Louisiana House majority leader, Michael Echols's. His show "Echols @ Eight" has been running for almost 20 years and can be found on Talk 540 KMLB — News Talk 105.7 FM and 540 AM, Monroe and iHeartRadio.

He gets straight down to business and talks about current events, policies, and healthcare issues directly affecting residents in the State of Louisiana. Mr. Echols serves as a Louisiana house representative, and has served on the health and welfare committee and brought many bills into legislation, affecting insurance and PBM (pharmacy benefit manager) reform. He is running for a seat in Congress at the federal level in Washington Washington DC this November 2026.

He and Rachael sit down to discuss the state of diabetes, what people should expect and how bad is it really going to get? Rachael talks about differentiating between type one and type two diabetes and acting early in order to avoid hospital, admissions, DKA, or heart attacks or strokes. She also explains what the Eledon trial is, and the relevance it has on the cure for type 1 diabetes.... which is coming - and what she believes will be cell therapy that will change the game.

You don't want to miss this episode if you really want to hear how Nurse practitioners are on the ground running, literally leading expertise and changing the landscape of healthcare and medicine globally.

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In this episode, Rachael podcasts with Kyle in front of a Live audience in New Orleans, Louisiana for a city luncheon. Kyle Banks is a famous broadway dancer, and was originally misdiagnosed when he began with symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. He tells his story of how he lost a rapid amount of weight, and danced across Broadway stages, fighting high blood sugar almost to the point of no return - no one could give him answers or help him. He finally got well, and then turned his experience into a large non-profit organization, "Kyler Cares", which today has served thousands of children of color and families disadvantaged with diabetes - providing them with support and education that they otherwise would never have received. Listen in as Kyle shares his story of misdiagnosis, in hopes that this will never happen to anyone ever again.

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Is America facing a metabolic crisis, yet why is no one talking about it? In this episode of The Diabetes Diaries, Rachael Sood sits down with Dr. Amit Gupta — Medical Director of the Centre for Diabetes Care in Greater Noida, Chair Elect of the American Diabetes Association's Public Health and Epidemiology Interest Group, and one of the most respected global diabetes experts in the world with over 60 national and international publications. Dr. Gupta breaks down why 90% of the American population is living with sub-optimal metabolic health, who is truly responsible for the metabolic crisis we are facing today and what needs to change before it gets worse.

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Can you have a safe and healthy pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes? In this episode of The Diabetes Diaries, Rachael Sood sits down with Lauren Bongiorno, founder of Risely Health, the leading Type 1 diabetes virtual health coaching company, who has lived with Type 1 diabetes since she was just seven years old. Lauren breaks down everything you need to know about preparing for pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes from getting your A1C below 6.5 or manageable at least, before trying to conceive. Then talks about managing insulin resistance as it triples during pregnancy and then what navigating tighter blood sugar ranges actually looks like. Lauren opens up about her experience breastfeeding with Type 1 and what nobody tells you about the postpartum period. She shares her own personal pregnancy story, including the traumatic 42 hour labor, the emergency C-section, then revealed her baby spent four days in the NICU which gave her postpartum anxiety (which had nothing to do with diabetes and everything to do with being a new mom). If you have Type 1, and are thinking about starting a family or may be pregnant, this is the most important conversation you will hear.

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Could Type 1 diabetes be identified before blood sugar is ever high? In this episode of The Diabetes Diaries, Rachael Sood sits down with Melissa Holloway, founder of SmartStart Health and Type 1 Diabetes Public Advocacy Lead at King's College in London. Melissa was actually diagnosed with Type 1 as a child after years of symptoms that every doctor missed. She was nearly in a coma and almost died before anyone caught it.

Melissa breaks down everything you need to know about Type 1 diabetes screening, what it is, how it works, why most families and even most doctors have never heard of it, and how a simple blood test or at home finger stick kit can detect Type 1 diabetes before symptoms even begin. She discusses a medication called Teplizumab, approved in 2022, that can actually delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes if caught early enough through screening.

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