Sam Talbot Shares How A CGM Encourages Him to “Live More. Worry Less.”

Meet Sam Talbot, celebrity chef, author and entrepreneur. Sam has type 1 diabetes and has made significant contributions as an advocate to the community – through his bestselling cookbooks, as a founding member of Beyond Type 1 and most recently by spearheading our new “Live More. Worry Less.” campaign to raise awareness of diabetes technologies. Take a look at what Sam has to say on what it means to “Live More” and how he’s changing what it means to live with diabetes.

Hearing the words “type 1 diabetes” as I sat in a hospital room with my mom felt like the end of the world. At just 12 years old, I knew my life was going to change, but I didn’t want it to. And if I’m being honest, I tried to avoid thinking about it for the first few years following my diagnosis. I managed my diabetes to the extent that I needed to, but I wanted to focus on other things and not be different from my friends and classmates. It was a burden for me to think and talk about. As time progressed, I realized that this was not a diagnosis that was going to go away, and at around 15 years old I made the decision to take my diagnosis head-on and prioritize my health.

Becoming a “Top Chef”

My love for cooking and food came to life right around that same time. When I was in high school, I remember cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my family and really getting creative through experimentation in the kitchen — even trying things like putting oysters in the body of the turkey. For me, cooking is one way I can make sure I’m putting clean and healthy foods into my body. It has also helped me learn how different foods affect my sugar levels. I firmly believe that life can still be sweet – and full of flavor – for anyone living with diabetes once you’re armed with helpful cooking information and great recipes. This has become the inspiration behind my restaurants, cookbooks and my time on Top Chef.

Another Door Opened

One great thing about being a chef (and getting some attention from my time on Top Chef) is being able to raise awareness for causes I believe in. Today, those of us with diabetes can enjoy long, healthy lives if we are smart about what we eat, adopt an active lifestyle and manage our numbers well.

I know what it feels like to have to step off the field during football practice to treat a low, or how awkward it can be to explain what it means to have type 1 diabetes to your high school girlfriend. Every day I have to look ahead to what I have planned and always have the necessary supplies on hand to keep my blood glucose in range. It’s not easy navigating a chronic condition – and it absolutely requires having a community of loved ones around you.

That’s why I helped create Beyond Type 1, a nonprofit organization focused on unifying the global diabetes community and providing platforms, programs, resources and grants to improve lives today, and change what it means to live with diabetes. Through my work with Beyond Type 1, I’ve been able to connect with adults and children across the world to talk about the highs and lows of living with diabetes (pun intended!) and demonstrate how “clean ” cooking can play a role in making you feel better.

Technology for Today

Since I am always on the go – traveling, motorcycling, snowboarding, cooking – I’ve typically been a bit apprehensive toward using diabetes technologies that I have to wear on my body. That said, I recently started wearing the Guardian Connect continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system that my doctor prescribed, and it has been a game-changer for me.

Before I started using the system, if I was out for a motorcycle ride, I would need to pull over, park my motorcycle, get out my supplies, take off my gloves, prick my finger, etc. (you know the deal). Now I can just pull over and look at my phone and know exactly where my glucose is. This has added such simplicity to my life, and since I’m constantly moving that consistency is crucial. Any time I look at my phone now I can look at my glucose levels, which is so freeing.

My girlfriend is also enjoying that peace of mind since she can also see my numbers on her own phone through the Care Partners feature on the Guardian Connect app. Even my dog Tank seems to be calmer and less reactive to my glucose levels.

Learning to “Live More. Worry Less.”

I’m very excited to be partnering with Medtronic to help get the message out about their technology, and help people with diabetes truly live more and worry less, because when you live with diabetes it’s easy to worry a lot. For me, wearing my CGM and knowing my sugar levels helps me be in the moment and on top of my game.

You can visit the ‘Our Solutions for Today’ tab on www.LiveMoreWorryLess.com to learn more about the Guardian Connect system and other products that can help you think less about your diabetes. You can also watch more about my story, here.

For more information on the Guardian Connect CGM system, check out www.medtronicdiabetes.com/gc. 

This post is sponsored by Medtronic. All opinions expressed in this article are Sam’s own and reflect his real-life experience. Individual results may vary.

The testimonial above relates an account of an individual’s experience using a Medtronic device. The account is genuine, typical and documented. However, this individual’s experience does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response or experience other people may have using the device. The experience other individuals have with the device could be different. Experiences can and do vary. Please talk to your doctor about your condition and the risks and benefits of Medtronic devices.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

The Guardian Connect system requires a prescription and is indicated for continuous or periodic monitoring of glucose levels in the interstitial fluid under the skin, in patients (14 to 75 years of age) with diabetes mellitus. The system is intended to complement, not replace, information obtained from standard blood glucose monitoring devices, and is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to perform a minimum of two meter blood glucose tests per day, or for people who are unable or unwilling to maintain contact with their healthcare professional. The system requires a functioning mobile electronic device with correct settings. If the mobile device is not set up or used correctly, you may not receive sensor glucose information or alerts. For complete details of the system and its components, including warnings, contraindications, and precautions, please consult the user guide at http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/support/download-library/user-guides and http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/importantsafetyinformation.

Tweet

 Email This Post  Print This Post