Calling All Diabetics!

(And caregivers of a diabetic, BFFs to a diabetic, or anyone wanting to learn more about diabetes…)

Hi friends, fam, and strangers on the internet! For those who don’t know me, my name is Chloe Trout and about 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes—which is essentially where the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to a lifelong treatment of taking insulin (among a million other things) to manage blood sugar levels and, ya know, stay alive. For those who do know me, you probs already knew that and have heard me yap (or rant) about diabetes a lot. Well, now I’m putting that yapping, my English degree, and editorial experience to good use with the upcoming project Bittersweet Beat—a newsletter created for all diabetics (I’m talkin’ type 1, type 2, gestational, LADA, MODY, and so on), as well as for those who know and love a diabetic, or perhaps want to learn more about diabetes in general.

I’ve had some ideas (see: breaking news surrounding diabetes in medical research, the role that politics plays in health policy/funding/regulation, how the disease affects our physical and mental health, recipes, interviews, things to buy, memes to make you laugh when you really wanna cry, etc.) that’ve been screaming at me to become real for a long, long time. But just as long as they’ve been screaming at me, my anxiety has been screaming even louder about not making every single reader feel seen, heard, and most importantly, a little less alone. Although I have many years under my chronically ill belt, I don’t have the exact same experience as another T1D—let alone a parent to a diabetic or a healthcare professional who specializes in diabetes education or a BIPOC diabetic—which is why I need your help. I want to know:

• What would you like to see in this newsletter?

• What would you like me to avoid talking about, if possible?

• Basically, what would make you feel seen, heard, and a little less alone?

You can either leave a comment below or email hello@bittersweetbeat.com with your response(s).

Now, I don’t have an exact date for Bittersweet Beat’s first issue. (I am just a girl!) And TBH, even putting these thoughts on paper—screen?—is giving me the anxiety poops. So, I hope you stick with me as I take these first steps on building something that I wish I had when I was diagnosed, when I first experienced diabetes burnout, and through all of life’s lows, highs, and in-betweens. Oh! And don’t forget to share with literally everyone you know. 💙