EmaTypeOne

Recipes

  • Summer with Type 1 Diabetes

    Summer with Type 1 Diabetes

    For many people, summer means beach days, road trips, barbecues, and ice cream. It looks carefree from the outside. But for those of us living with Type 1 diabetes, summer often comes with extra planning, unexpected challenges, and a lot of problem-solving behind the scenes.

    The heat can make insulin work faster, increasing the risk of low blood sugar. At the same time, insulin can lose its effectiveness if it gets too hot, so we have to think about where we store it whether we’re spending the day outside, traveling, or simply running errands.

    Continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps can also become more difficult to manage. Sweat, sunscreen, swimming, and humid weather can make sensors and infusion sets loosen or fall off. Sometimes, despite doing everything right, they simply don’t stay in place.

    Staying hydrated is another challenge that many people don’t realize. Hot weather can raise blood glucose levels if we become dehydrated, while being active in the heat can also increase the risk of sudden lows. It can feel like a constant balancing act.

    Then there are the summer activities themselves. Swimming, hiking, festivals, vacations, long walks, or spontaneous adventures all require extra preparation. We pack glucose tablets, snacks, spare sensors, insulin, chargers, and emergency supplies before leaving the house. Something as simple as a day at the beach can involve an entire checklist.

    And let’s not forget the emotional side. Watching everyone enjoy summer without thinking about blood sugar can sometimes feel unfair. There are moments when diabetes is exhausting. Moments when you wish you could just leave the house with your phone and keys like everyone else.

    But here’s something important to remember: you don’t have to manage diabetes perfectly to enjoy your summer.

    Some days your numbers will be amazing. Other days they won’t make any sense. That’s okay. Diabetes doesn’t take a vacation, and neither do we. What matters is that we keep trying, learn from each day, and give ourselves the same kindness we would give someone else.

    To everyone living with Type 1 diabetes this summer: you’re doing more than most people will ever realize. Every blood sugar check, every insulin dose, every correction, every decision—it all takes effort.

    Enjoy the sunshine. Celebrate the small victories. Take care of yourself. And remember, you deserve a beautiful summer too.

    With love,
    Ema 💙

  • 5 Things Nobody Told Me About Living With T1D

    5 Things Nobody Told Me About Living with Type 1 Diabetes

    When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I thought I was just learning how to count carbs, inject insulin, and check my blood sugar.

    I quickly realized it was so much more than that.

    Living with T1D is a full-time job that never takes a day off. Some days everything works exactly as planned, and other days nothing makes sense. The same meal can give you completely different blood sugar levels, and despite doing everything “right,” your numbers can still surprise you.

    Here are five things I wish someone had told me.

    1. Perfection doesn’t exist.

    You will have high blood sugars. You will have lows. You will make mistakes. Every person with Type 1 diabetes does. A perfect graph isn’t the goal—doing your best is.

    2. Diabetes is exhausting.

    It’s not just physical. It’s the constant thinking, planning, calculating, and worrying. Sometimes you’re simply tired of making hundreds of decisions every single day.

    3. Food is not the enemy.

    You don’t have to fear food. Learning how different foods affect your body takes time, and that’s okay. You can still enjoy meals, celebrations, and your favorite recipes while taking care of yourself.

    4. Small wins matter.

    Maybe today you went for a walk. Maybe you remembered to pre-bolus. Maybe you treated a low without panicking. Those small moments count, and they add up over time.

    5. You are more than your blood sugar.

    A number on your sensor doesn’t define you. It doesn’t tell the whole story. It doesn’t measure your strength, your kindness, or how hard you’re trying.

    If you’re reading this and living with Type 1 diabetes, I want you to know you’re not alone.

    We don’t have to be perfect all the time. We just have to keep trying, one meal, one day, and one blood sugar at a time.

    Thank you for being here. I hope this little corner of the internet becomes a place where we can share recipes, everyday life, struggles, victories, and remind each other that life with Type 1 diabetes can still be full of joy.

    With love,

    Ema 💙

  • Welcome to The T1D Table 💙

    Hi, I’m Ema, and I’m so happy you’re here.

    A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and my life changed in ways I never expected. Since then, I’ve learned that living with T1D is about so much more than counting carbs or taking insulin. It’s about navigating everyday life while constantly making decisions that most people never have to think about.

    I created this blog to be an honest space where I can share not only simple, delicious recipes, but also the reality of living with Type 1 diabetes. Here you’ll find everyday moments, personal stories, tips I’ve learned along the way, and reminders that you’re not alone. From traveling and exercising to celebrating birthdays, dealing with sick days, or simply getting through an ordinary day—life with T1D often comes with extra challenges that many people don’t see.

    One thing I’ve learned is that living with Type 1 diabetes isn’t about being perfect. There will be days when your blood sugars seem impossible to manage, when you feel exhausted, frustrated, or overwhelmed. There will be days when everything goes right, and days when nothing makes sense.

    And that’s okay.

    We don’t have to be perfect all the time. We just have to keep trying.

    Every blood sugar check, every meal, every correction dose, every workout, every step forward—no matter how small—is something to be proud of. Progress will always matter more than perfection.

    Whether you live with Type 1 diabetes, care for someone who does, or simply want to learn more, I hope this blog makes you feel seen, supported, and inspired. My goal is to remind you that although this journey can be hard, it doesn’t have to define us.

    Thank you for being here. Let’s navigate life with Type 1 diabetes together—with honesty, kindness, good food, and the belief that we’re doing our best. And sometimes, our best is more than enough.

    With love,

    Ema 💙