Living with Diabetes with Patient Educator Danielle Batiste
Ever wonder what it’s really like to live with type 2 diabetes every single day?
It’s not just about tracking numbers or following a meal plan—it’s the constant awareness that quietly follows you, from the moment you wake up to the time you go to sleep. On this week’s episode we’re diving into the real, lived experience of diabetes with someone who knows it firsthand: Danielle Batiste
Danielle is a proud mom, veteran, and is living with type 2 diabetes. She has turned her diagnosis into a mission to help others embrace theirs with confidence and grace. Through her work with Diabetes Made Better, she shares practical tools, motivation, and insight to help people thrive—not just stay in range, but live fully.
In our conversation, Danielle opens up about the emotional ups and downs of diabetes, the power of mindset, and how support and connection can make a huge difference. She also shares real strategies she’s developed over the years, from managing stress to using modern technology like continuous glucose monitors, and how learning to pay attention to her body has become her ultimate guide.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed, have been living with diabetes for a while, or know someone navigating it, Danielle’s story offers both practical advice and inspiration. Keep reading to discover her strategies, mindset shifts, and tools that can help anyone live better with diabetes.
Your Body Is the Masterclass: Living Fully with Type 2 Diabetes
Living with type 2 diabetes can be emotionally exhausting. It’s not just about tracking numbers or sticking to a meal plan—it’s the constant awareness that follows you every day. As today’s guest shared, it’s always on her mind. “I wake up with it, go to sleep with it, and sometimes I feel like I can’t get away from it,” she said.
This is often called diabetes distress—the ongoing mental and emotional weight of managing a chronic condition. Every meal, every symptom, every check-up becomes part of that awareness. It’s not easy, but over time, she learned to embrace her diagnosis instead of running from it. “I’ve taken it by the horns,” she explained. “[it’s] not going to run my life.”
That shift—from fear to acceptance—makes a huge difference. Hard days still happen. Fatigue can hit harder now than it did when she was first diagnosed, and recovery takes longer. But she doesn’t ignore her body; she listens to it, paying attention to what it’s trying to tell her.
During a recent doctor’s visit, her A1C came back at 5.7—an incredible sign of how well she’s managing her diabetes. Her advice for others living with diabetes is simple but powerful: pay attention to your body. “Your body is your masterclass,” she said. “We can listen to all the podcasts and masterclasses out there, but your body teaches you more than anything else.”
Diabetes Isn’t Alone: The Power of Support
Living with diabetes can feel isolating at times, but one of the most powerful tools for managing it is connection. Our guest shared how talking with others who understand the experience can make a huge difference. She recalled a moment at work when a patient shared his own journey with diabetes. That simple conversation turned into something much deeper—an instant sense of understanding. “We just connected,” she said. “It felt like finding another part of my family.”
Support from people who get it—whether coworkers, friends, family, or fellow people living with diabetes—helps ease the feeling of being alone. Hearing someone say, “I’m proud of you, keep up the good work,” can have a bigger impact than you might expect. With about one in seven adults in the U.S. living with type 2 diabetes, there’s a huge community of people who understand the daily challenges. Finding that network, connecting with those who truly “get it,” and leaning on each other can make living with diabetes a lot less overwhelming.
Turning Diagnosis into Empowerment
When Danielle was first diagnosed, she didn’t immediately feel like she was part of a bigger community. She wanted to stay with what she called the “normal people.” Denial felt safer—it meant she didn’t have to change her eating habits or daily routines. “I wanted to stay where it felt comfortable,” she said. “If I admitted I had diabetes, that meant changing everything—what I ate, how I lived—and I wasn’t ready for that.”
But over time, her perspective shifted. She realized that the way she was living before—without boundaries or awareness—was actually harming her. “The way you were eating before was killing you,” she reminded herself. “Now, even though you’re living with a chronic disease, you’re truly living.”
That mindset shift changed everything. Before her diagnosis, greasy food was a daily habit, vegetables were basically off-limits, and she didn’t pay attention to protein, fiber, or overall balance. But diabetes became her wake-up call, nudging her to nourish her body differently. “I used to avoid salads and greens,” she said. “Now I actually enjoy them.”
What’s really inspiring about Danielle’s story is how she reframed her diagnosis—not as a limitation, but as a turning point. “Yes, I have a chronic disease,” she said, “but it actually saved me.” That kind of mindset is what allows real, lasting change to happen.
As she put it perfectly: “Everyone says you have to change your lifestyle. But if your mindset isn’t right, how are you going to change your lifestyle?” For Danielle, it all started with shifting how she thought about her diagnosis—and from there, everything else started to fall into place.
Diabetes Management Made Smarter
Changing mindset and habits with diabetes doesn’t happen overnight. It often takes time, trial and error, and learning along the way. For Danielle, the shift was gradual. She started by teaching herself how to manage food and exercise, slowly figuring out how nutrition and carbohydrates affected her blood sugar. While exercise came naturally, understanding food and its impact on her diabetes was way more challenging.
One of the toughest parts early on was finger-prick testing. Checking blood sugar twice a day was uncomfortable and honestly kind of intimidating. “It hurts,” she admitted. “I would count to 20 five times before sticking myself.” It’s easy for healthcare providers to underestimate just how stressful that can feel.
That’s where technology really changed the game for her. Danielle discovered continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, and they’ve been a total lifesaver. These small devices, worn on the back of the arm, track blood sugar in real time, often for about two weeks at a time. The latest CGMs even alert users when blood sugar is trending low, which cuts down on the need for frequent finger pricks. Danielle described it as transformative—she can monitor her glucose all day and night, with alerts helping her respond immediately to lows.
Practical strategies have also become part of her routine. For example, she keeps a low blood sugar station by her bedside, stocked with fast-acting glucose tabs, so she can safely handle those lows in the middle of the night. It’s also super helpful for her son, who knows exactly what to do if needed—a smart move for any single parent managing diabetes.
Danielle’s story shows how mindset, self-education, technology, and support come together to help people live confidently with diabetes. Her experience proves that with patience, awareness, and the right tools, managing a chronic condition can feel way less intimidating—and even empowering.
Living Better with Diabetes: Mindset, Knowledge, and Community
Living well with type 2 diabetes is as much about mindset as it is about numbers, diet, or exercise. For Danielle, what has helped her thrive is a combination of knowledge, community, and the ability to manage stress. Over the years, she has learned not to let a bad day or unexpected numbers define her. “Yes, you’re going to have bad days,” she said, “but don’t stay there. Don’t beat yourself down for little things that happen. Just move on.”
She emphasizes the importance of not letting others’ opinions or stressors affect her. Stress, she explains, can directly impact blood sugar levels, separate from what you eat, so managing it is crucial. Creating boundaries, focusing on what she can control, and avoiding unnecessary stress are strategies she has embraced to protect both her mental and physical health.
Danielle also credits continuous learning and connection with others as vital tools in her journey. Staying informed about diabetes and connecting with a network of people who understand the challenges has helped her feel empowered rather than isolated. “Don’t let your diabetes get you down,” she advises. “We can live with it. We can definitely live with it, and we can continue to go further with it.”
She encourages people to embrace their condition, equip themselves with knowledge, and engage with supportive communities. Danielle has created several resources to help others manage their diabetes, including her Instagram page Diabetes Made Better, her website www.daniellebates.com, her glucose planner, and her book Let Go My Glucose. She continues to develop digital tools and resources, constantly thinking of new ways to empower those living with diabetes.
Danielle’s story is a powerful reminder that living with type 2 diabetes isn’t about perfection—it’s about awareness, mindset, and grace. Her journey shows that with the right tools and support, it’s possible to live fully, not just manage the condition.
There’s so much more to learn from her experience—stay with the full episode to hear how she continues turning her diagnosis into purpose.
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