David Mina – Getting to Know Diabetes: The Interview Series

Welcome to the second installment of a new weekly series here on  The Life of a Diabetic called Getting to Know Diabetes: The Interview Series. Every Tuesday, I will be featuring an interview with a diabetes advocate and/or “influencer” in the diabetes community. These interviews will ask the same questions to every person.

Today’s interview is with David Mina. I first came across David from Instagram. He is one of the younger Type 1’s that I started following on Instagram. Please enjoy.

1 – Who are you? (Name, where do you live, what do you do for a living, favorite hobby, sports teams, etc.)

Hi! My name is David Mina. I am from Riverside, California. I am currently in college studying Graphic Design and Public Health and am also a full-time T1D lifestyle person of the internet on Instagram, @type1livabetic. My all time favorite hobby is going to Disneyland and trying new coffee shops! I like to snowboard every winter as well!

2 – What is your connection to diabetes?

I am connected to Diabetes through Instagram. I have been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 10 years now, so back in 2014, I made it my goal to apply my life as a Type 1 Diabetic to the world through Instagram. I decided that if I can help just one person and share my story online, someone would hopefully benefit from it in some way.

3 – Give us the elevator pitch version of your diabetes diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was only 11 years old. I had all the common symptoms: extreme weight loss, severe thirst and frequent urination, and overall, I was just not myself. I got a blood test one day and shortly after, I got the call. After going to the doctor and having them tell me that I now had Type 1 Diabetes, I went home for about 30 minutes, grabbed a few of my belongings, and went to a different hospital that was farther than the first, where my pediatric Endocrinologist was. I spent 4 days in the hospital and had to learn how to go about taking multiple daily injections, the significance of high and low blood sugars, and just Diabetes in general. Very overwhelming, but through it all, I learned how precious life truly is.

4 – What made you decide to start sharing your diabetes? (For example, why did you start an IG account, blog, Facebook group, etc.)

I started putting my Diabetic life out on Instagram simply as a way to share my story: my fears, frustrations, failures, and successes. I have always had a passion for photography and design, which I wanted to incorporate in my Instagram account as a way to stay creative and be someone who is always putting helpful and inviting content out for others to view. Over the course of the next few years after creating @type1livabetic back in 2014, I decided to make this a full-time “job”. I wanted to be the person I wish I had to look up to when I was sick and scared in my hospital bed during my diagnosis. Shortly after, I began seeing the impact I was making, not only in the Diabetic community, but in my own personal journey with Type 1.

I took on this job, and let me tell you, this is the BEST job I could ever have. Though Type 1 Diabetes is terrible and is a very scary disease, putting it out on social media for the world to see helps me stay mindful of my own health and work towards my goals. A couple of years after I began my Instagram account, I began blogging for Lyfebulb weekly, working with different T1D related brands/companies by providing lifestyle content, and attending different Type 1 events. This all has truly shaped who I am as a person and has helped me tremendously in the way I live out my day.

5 – Obviously there are a lot of facets of diabetes, but what is your number one passion to share about diabetes? (For example, sharing signs and symptoms, mental health, eating disorders, governmental issues, etc.)

One thing that I cannot share enough of is staying positive despite the darkness of Diabetes. Pretty much anyone who follows along on my T1D journey knows that I once was in a dark place with my Diabetes. I was depressed for the longest time, had no zest for life, and most nights, I would literally cry myself to sleep (something that I don’t share all the time). I felt like I had hit rock bottom and was so alone. Nobody could understand me (at least that’s what I thought). Fast forward to 2018, I forced myself to attend a T1D meet-up in Disneyland, and since that day, my life as a Diabetic truly began. I have never felt more alive and have never felt so much understanding and love as I did that day. I then made it my goal to attend at least one Type 1 meet-up every month after that in order to keep me positive and in line with my goals. That has truly helped me as a person and I want to assure everyone that no matter how bad things may be, getting involved and active in the community will truly help you stay positive and feel alone no more!

6 – What’s in your diabetes bag? (Pump, MDI, meter, syringes, adhesives, CGMs, etc.)

What’s in my Diabetes bag? Well for starters, my Diabetes bag is a fanny pack in which I take with me everywhere but school (that’s when I use a backpack). I always make sure I have a backup pump site, syringes, a vile of Insulin, alcohol swabs, lancets, and some form of sugar: juice, glucose tabs, and some type of snack. I also carry a portable charger in case my pump or phone (which I use to view my Dexcom readings) were to have low battery. I find that being over-prepared is way better and easier on the mind than being underprepared.

7 – Where do currently get your diabetes news? (Favorite blogs, IG, FB, Twitter accounts, etc.)

There are so many great ways to get access to some of the latest and greatest bits of news in the T1D community. Whether it’s through Instagram (which I use mainly) or YouTube, there are so many great accounts and channels out there that are always providing current and true news as to new medical technology or T1D life hacks!

8 – Share three blogs or IG accounts that everyone reading this should be following.

Three places for T1D support, news, and information that everyone NEEDS to visit are the YouTube channel by Michelle Lord, where she has new lifestyle videos weekly on T1D, the Diabetics Doing Things podcast by my #DiaBro, Rob Howe, and the Instagram account of Lauren Bongiorno (@lauren_bongiorno), a Diabetic Health Coach who is all about the mind, body, and spirit and the overall wellness of the individual! I highly recommend checking these three platforms out as an outlet for Type 1 Diabetes.

9 – Let’s get real for a minute. What do you struggle with the most when it comes to diabetes? For me, it’s my weight. I can’t ever seem to lose weight. I lose it, then it comes back and being over weight creates stress and anxiety of not being around for my child in the future.

Real talk: one thing that I am constantly battling with is my anxiety in terms of Diabetes. I’m not too sure when it began, maybe since diagnosis, but I am always so anxious about going severely low or high. When it comes to school, traveling, or simply being on my own and independent, I am constantly worrying about what my blood sugars are and where they are headed. I wear a Dexcom CGM, however, so when I see that my trend is going off the charts, I panic to the point where that fear and frustration consumes my mind and I cannot focus on anything else. Definitely a work in progress for me, but I am getting better. Through different tools, I am able to work towards battling my anxiety, such as using Headspace, journaling through the use of my Diabetic Health Journal from my friend Lauren Bongiorno, and prayer. One thing I always keep in mind is that I am in control and I can call all the shots when it comes to Diabetes.

10 -What is the #1 myth about diabetes that just gets under your skin every time you hear it?

One thing that I cannot stand as a Type 1 Diabetic is when non-Diabetics tell me what I can and cannot eat. They say how I am not allowed to eat any sugar or cannot eat a certain food, which is definitely not the case. I find that through balance and covering a certain food with the right amount of Insulin, you can eat anything in moderation. I use those moments as a way to educate and spread awareness as to what Type 1 Diabetes actually is.

11 – What is your top diabetes hack? For example, before inserting a new CGM you do XYZ or you use syringes instead of pens because of XYZ.

One hack of mine that I use when it comes to wearing an Insulin pump is having a rotation cycle for where I am putting my sites at the time. I start on the right side of my stomach, for example, and go in a full circle every time I need to change the site (right stomach, right lower back, left lower back, left stomach, and repeat). In doing this rotation cycle, I am allowing my body to heal from previous sites and scar tissue that may build up from each site. Hope that made sense!

12 – What is one thing you would like someone without diabetes to know about living with diabetes?

It is a hard thing to live with, but we are so much stronger than our Diabetes. With support, community, and different T1D resources, life with T1D is what you make of it!

13 – What is your favorite “healthy” food option?

My favorite “healthy” food option would definitely be some type of bowl with tofu, a healthy grain like quinoa or brown rice, and lots of veggies. I eat a consistent and clean plant-based, vegan diet, so I always gravitate towards bowls like these!

Now we’re going to do a little this or that.

Cats or dogs?
DOGS! Definitely dogs.
Coffee or Tea?
COFFEE! Definitely coffee.
Fruits or Veggies?
Veggies!
Sweet or Salty?
Salty
TV Series or Movies?
TV Series – F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
Apple/Mac or Windows?
Mac – God bless Mac!
Ice cream cake or regular cake?
Regular cake!
Pancake or Waffle?
Pancakes!
Book or eBook?
Book
Pineapple on pizza is great or pineapple on pizza is a crime
Pineapple on pizza… still not sure how I feel about that!

Take this time to add anything else. Add more to your story, include all links to all of your social media profiles and blogs, VLOGs, websites, etc.

If you would like to follow along on my journey with Type 1 Diabetes as we build a community and work towards a cure, follow me on Instagram @type1livabetic for daily content on how to live your best life with T1D! Just know, Diabetes is not in control of your life, YOU are. It always gets better!

Thank you for taking the time to do this.

Like what you read? Then sign up for The Life of a Diabetic newsletter to get all the week’s posts delivered directly to your email every Saturday morning.