Welcome to another engaging episode of Think Like a Pancreas! This week, Jenny Smith steals the podcast host role to shine the spotlight on the usual host, Gary Scheiner, the Director of Lifestyle and Nutrition at Integrated Diabetes Services. Gary shares his journey from an aspiring medical student to a leading figure in diabetes care, discussing his passion for exercise physiology, sports, and personalized diabetes management.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

Introduction and Background: Meet Gary Scheiner, our guest for this episode. Gary reflects on his initial aspirations to pursue a career in medicine and how his experiences with his pre-med peers led him to explore other interests, eventually finding his true calling in diabetes management and exercise physiology.

Discovery of Exercise Physiology and Diabetes Management: Gary discusses his journey to discovering exercise physiology's role in diabetes management. After an unfulfilling stint at an advertising agency, a diabetes meeting at a local hospital reignited his passion for sports and managing diabetes actively, leading him to pursue a master's degree in exercise physiology.

Founding Integrated Diabetes Services: Learn how Gary founded Integrated Diabetes Services to fill the gap he observed while working at the Joslin Diabetes Center. He emphasizes the importance of having a team of clinicians who personally understand diabetes and can provide detailed, empathetic care free from institutional constraints.

Passion for Sports and Diabetes Management: Gary shares his love for sports, particularly basketball, and how he manages his diabetes while staying active. He discusses his experiences with various insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, and the challenges of bolusing for his favorite snack, popcorn.

Family Life and Diabetes Management: Explore how Gary’s family supports him in managing his diabetes. He shares amusing stories about his children helping him find misplaced CGM receivers and his wife's supportive yet concerned role. Gary highlights the balance of accountability and privacy in sharing CGM data with loved ones.

Writing and Future Aspirations: Discover Gary's motivation for writing his book, "Think Like a Pancreas," to extend his reach and impact beyond his practice. He shares his future aspirations if diabetes were cured, including his vision of becoming a "facilitator of physical activity" to combat laziness and promote active living.

Conclusion and Resources: Don't miss this episode, which is filled with expert advice and personal anecdotes! Reach out to Jenny, Gary, or the Integrated Diabetes Services team for personalized guidance on managing diabetes. Explore additional resources and support networks to enhance your diabetes management journey.

Join Us: Subscribe now to Think Like a Pancreas for more episodes packed with expert advice and practical strategies. Share this episode with fellow diabetes warriors, and leave a review to let us know your thoughts!