New Year, New Path: Moving Forward with Type 1 Diabetes

Why does the New Year have to mean a "New You"? With type 1 diabetes, we often chase perfection—perfect glucose numbers, perfect routines, the “perfect diabetic.” What if, we focus on the incredible qualities and strengths we already have? Self-love isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about honouring who we are and offering ourselves the support to keep moving forward with type one diabetes in the new year and beyond.

The idea of a New You can sometimes feel like it demands a total transformation, like we’re expected to shed everything and start fresh. We often jump to filling our calendars with ambitious goals and resolutions. "New Year, New You" messages flood our social feeds, and we feel this almost unspoken pressure to reinvent ourselves.

But life—and especially life with type 1 diabetes—doesn’t work like that. It’s not about some grand metamorphosis. It’s about supporting the person you already are, being kind to yourself, and nurturing what’s good. Growth doesn’t mean abandoning the past; it means carrying the best of it with you and building on it in a way that feels supportive and true. Maybe it’s simply about moving forward—meeting ourselves where we are and taking one small, meaningful step at a time.

Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) already teaches us the art of moving forward.

Every day, week, and month brings its own challenges, and every year is a chance to reflect, adjust, and grow. So, as we step into 2025, let’s consider ways to move forward with our T1D—not with pressure or perfection but with intention, kindness, and acceptance.

A Gentle Review of Your Diabetes Management

Start with where you are. Take a moment to reflect on your current diabetes management. What’s working for you right now? What isn’t? This can include your daily routine, diabetes technology, eating habits, or exercise patterns. Diabetes management is never just about glucose readings—there’s so much more that supports your overall well-being.

Maybe it’s time to bring in a new resource. Perhaps you’ve been curious about trying a new app, integrating more mindful eating practices, or adjusting your exercise plan. But here’s the key: start with one thing. It’s tempting to overhaul everything at once, but when we do that, it’s hard to tell what’s truly making an impact. Small, sustainable changes are what help us move forward in a way that lasts.

If you’re considering a tweak, like reviewing your insulin regimen or trying a new meal routine, give yourself space to test it. Then, build from there. By starting small, you set yourself up for success, and each step forward creates momentum for the next.

Owning Your Type 1 Diabetes

It’s not your fault that you have diabetes, but the responsibility of managing it does fall on you. And let’s be honest—there’s a heaviness to that. Though when we avoid owning our diabetes, it becomes harder to move forward. Owning it doesn’t mean you have to love it or feel positive about it all the time (there is a thing called toxic positivity). It simply means accepting that it’s a part of your life—not all of it, but a piece of it.

"For me, this was a journey. I spent years hiding my diabetes, afraid of how others might react or treat me."

There was shame, stigma, and an internal fear of being seen as different. But I couldn’t fully move forward until I accepted type one diabetes as part of my life. That acceptance opened the door to freedom—freedom to talk about it, to let others in, and to stop carrying the weight of secrecy.

For you, owning your diabetes might look different. It doesn’t have to be a big announcement or a public post. It could be as simple as telling one trusted person or letting yourself feel the emotions you’ve been pushing away.

Nurturing Your Path to the Future

Where do you want to go in your life with T1D? What’s holding you back? Sometimes the barriers to moving forward aren’t external—they’re internal. It might be grief, trauma, or unspoken fears that weigh you down. These emotions deserve your attention and care. Spend time nurturing these parts of yourself, because healing them creates space for growth.

When you do think about your goals, ask yourself: How will achieving this make me feel? Is it something I truly want, or am I chasing external expectations? Goals driven by internal motivation—by what truly resonates with you—are the ones that sustain you.

Moving Forward with Grace

"We’re always evolving, and that’s such a beautiful thing."

It’s not about molding ourselves into some fixed version of who we think we should be. Instead, it’s about staying open—open to growth, open to change, and open to filling the empty buckets within us that need a little more care.

This evolution isn’t about forcing a "New You" or sticking to a rigid idea of self. It’s about nurturing the "Everlasting You"—the version of yourself that’s always growing, developing, and adapting. When we embrace a growth mindset, we allow ourselves the space to explore, to learn, and to become more connected to who we are, without the pressure to fit into a predefined mold. The journey of becoming, not starting over, but building on the beautiful foundation that’s already there.

To move forward, you need to stay present. To move forward, you sometimes need to reflect on the past. And to move forward, it doesn’t have to be monumental—it just has to feel meaningful to you.

So, as you step into the New Year with T1D, give yourself permission to let go of the pressure. Choose kindness over perfection. And trust that moving forward, in whatever way feels right, is enough. Because thriving with T1D isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing up, growing, and giving yourself the grace to move forward.

Here’s to moving forward—one step, one choice, one moment at a time. 💙

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