Partner & Community

Introduction

Hello, I’m Julia.
Since 2016, I’ve been navigating all of life’s ups and downs alongside my diabetes. That’s why I’m especially happy to be part of the Zuckerschmuck team.

Here, I respond to messages from our lovely customers, create content for our social media channels, and get to help out behind the scenes with many exciting projects.

Overall, I have a positive outlook on my diabetes and try to see it more as a partner I work with rather than something I’m fighting against. That’s exactly why I love the positive vibes and attitude at Zuckerschmuck!

What was the most difficult moment in your life with type 1 diabetes?

The most difficult moment was actually the diagnosis itself. I was 22 years old at the time and seven months pregnant.
After days of hoping that it was temporary gestational diabetes, I was told that I would have to live with this condition for the rest of my life. The thought of becoming a mother while also dealing with this new diagnosis frightened me greatly.
Luckily, I had wonderful people by my side who supported and encouraged me. They helped me integrate diabetes into my everyday life step by step.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed?

I would advise someone who has just been diagnosed not to hide their diabetes, but to be open about it and accept it as part of their life. Making peace with diabetes can help you manage it better.

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes has __________, it has also __________.”

“Although diabetes initially knocked the ground out from under me, it also showed me what a healthy lifestyle and self-care look like.”

You interact with people with diabetes every day. What question or concern do you encounter most often?

Unfortunately, I keep seeing many people prefer to hide their diabetes. They don’t want to stand out or be asked about their condition.
Personally, I think openness is the better way. The more openly we deal with our diabetes, the more understanding we can create. This also gives people without diabetes the opportunity to learn more about the condition and better understand what it means for us in everyday life.

Is there a message or an encounter with a customer that touched you particularly?

Many messages from our customers touch me deeply. It’s always wonderful to read how much joy our products bring and how much gratitude and appreciation people show us.
At moments like these, I feel proud and grateful all over again to be part of Zuckerschmuck.

You regularly write blog posts for the diabetes community. Which topic is especially close to your heart—and why?

I’m particularly passionate about topics related to mental health. Diabetes affects not only our bodies, but also our thoughts and feelings.
I believe that our mindset plays a major role in how we manage diabetes. From personal experience, I know that our thoughts often affect our physical well-being as well. That’s why I think it’s important to talk openly about the mental challenges that living with diabetes can bring.

When you look back on your own diabetes journey: What do you know today that you wish you had known earlier?

Today, I know that I don’t have to fight my diabetes. I feel best when we work together as a team. Since adopting this mindset, managing my diabetes has become much more relaxed.
I’ve also learned to listen more closely to my body and my gut feeling. Numbers and readings are important, but they aren’t everything. That’s why I try not to be too hard on myself and to show myself understanding even when things don’t go perfectly.

Many people with diabetes put pressure on themselves. What has helped you feel more at ease managing diabetes?

I became more relaxed when I accepted my diabetes for what it is: a condition that will remain a part of my life. Of course, I would never have chosen this diagnosis, but it is now simply part of who I am.
I’ve learned that I don’t have to pretend to be perfectly healthy. It’s completely okay to listen to my body and to have limits sometimes. Since accepting this, I’ve become more relaxed not only about managing my diabetes, but also about myself.

What are you especially proud of today—despite, or perhaps even because of, diabetes?

I’m especially proud of what my diabetes has taught me about myself: to stand up for who I am, recognize my limits, and respect them.
This experience has not only made me stronger in managing my diabetes, but also as a person.

What was the most difficult moment in your life with diabetes?

Switching from a tubed pump to the Omnipod—having the courage to try something new when you have a system you were happy with. I used my old tubed pump for almost 15 years.

What one piece of advice would you give someone who has just been diagnosed?

Living life and not losing courage.

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes has …, it has also …”

Diabetes has made me dependent on insulin, but it has also taught me never to make myself dependent on other people.

What do most people not know about your life with type 1 diabetes?

I think I get really aggressive or annoyed when I’m having a hypo ;-)

When did you realize that diabetes doesn't keep you from pursuing your dreams?

Very early! I had to change and adapt in many ways, but I’ve always had a very strong will to live and I’m a powerhouse, so I came to this realization relatively early.

Have you always been this open about diabetes?

Yes, I’ve always injected myself or shown my sensor in public. My diabetes is simply a part of who I am, and without diabetes, I probably wouldn’t be the Lyn I am today.

What can adults learn from children with diabetes?

Learning new things, staying motivated, and being engaged every day while living your own life despite diabetes. I think adults can learn perseverance from children with diabetes.

You receive touching messages very often. Which message touched you the most?

I actually receive very touching messages quite often. The message that touched me most, however, was from the parents of a teenage daughter who had seen my profile and then said that a new chapter in her life was beginning: she had realized that life with diabetes can still be beautiful and that there are role models. That really motivated me. At an event recently, I met a seven-year-old girl who was absolutely delighted that I wear my diabetes accessories so openly. Afterwards, her dad sent me a message thanking me for being there and saying that it gave him a glimmer of hope.

What message of encouragement would you like to share with people with type 1 diabetes?

Diabetes doesn’t define your life—you do. Life is beautiful!

What was the most difficult moment in your life with type 1 diabetes?

The hardest time was when I already had type 1 diabetes, but no one knew about it yet, so it wasn’t being treated. I was six years old when the condition developed, meaning that my body stopped producing insulin because of the autoimmune reaction. I suffered from the usual symptoms for weeks, such as extreme thirst and very frequent urination. Eventually, I also lost a lot of weight and could only see blurry images. Fortunately, the insulin deficiency was corrected in time at the hospital. All the symptoms disappeared, I quickly got back to full strength, and my vision returned completely. It was an incredible experience. As a society, we should ensure that type 1 diabetes does not go undetected, but is diagnosed as early as possible.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed?

It’s very individual, but I would advise them to integrate type 1 diabetes into their life. Anyone who lives only for their diabetes misses out on everything else and probably won’t be happy. But living against diabetes or constantly complaining about it is not helpful either, because type 1 diabetes cannot yet be cured. Ignoring diabetes or neglecting it is of course not a good option either, because that increases the risk of complications. So my advice is to live neither for nor against diabetes, but with it—to accept it as part of life and arrange things so that diabetes management and the rest of life fit together. That is the approach I have always followed successfully. For me, in a way, it’s like brushing my teeth or sleeping: it’s simply part of life.

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes has ..., it has also ...”

“Although diabetes has taken away a bit of my carefree spirit, it has also given me gratitude, discipline, and ambition.”

You’ve been living with type 1 diabetes for many years. What has changed most in the way you think about diabetes over time?

Despite all the experience and technological progress, nothing fundamental has changed in the way I think. I found these things fascinating even as a child and thought: Surely blood sugar regulation in type 1 diabetes must be solvable mathematically, using more comprehensive models if necessary. The fact that I have always enjoyed applied mathematics played a role, as did the fact that both my parents studied mathematics. Over time, I have continued to pursue the optimization of type 1 diabetes management. I try to actually calculate whatever can be calculated and develop efficient, practical rules for everyday life. This approach has always served me well and helped me move forward.

Many people want better readings and more stability in everyday life. In your view, what is the most common misconception that holds them back?

The most common misconception is probably that they think blood sugar levels cannot be managed well anyway and that problems are inevitable. In fact, I know from experts, the literature, and my own data and experience that although not every effect on blood sugar levels is predictable, many effects are. Even with readings that initially seemed surprising, I often recognized patterns later and learned from them. If something unexpected does occur, you can and should make timely, sensible adjustments so that nothing escalates. And the better you manage your levels, the more you reduce the risk of complications. A healthy lifestyle also helps. So, in summary: A constructive attitude is important.

Was there a moment when you realized, “This is how I can manage my diabetes better in the long term than before”?

There have been many moments like this, and they are described in detail in my book. For example, I realized that my blood glucose levels are generally more stable and predictable when I limit my carbohydrate intake. I also realized that, in most situations, I should particularly limit my consumption of foods with a high glycemic index to keep my blood glucose levels stable. I live a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life with a balanced moderate-carb diet in which most of the carbohydrates come from whole grains. Another valuable insight was that I should adjust my carbohydrate intake to the level of physical activity. This allows me to provide my body with the energy it needs while avoiding low and high blood glucose levels. Over time, I also developed rules for adjusting my total insulin delivery to my current insulin sensitivity, which is beneficial, for example, after exercise to successfully prevent later hypoglycemia. Almost every one of the 38 chapters in my book describes an insight like this. I did not arrive at these insights alone, but discussed them regularly with diabetes specialists.

You’ve been analyzing data, patterns, and connections for many years. Which insight about diabetes has personally surprised you the most?

What surprised me was that most of the influences on blood glucose levels that initially seemed surprising ultimately turned out to be quite easy to explain. When I identified systematic patterns in my data that had not been taught in the introductory training sessions, it initially seemed possible that they were individual factors. But through research and conversations with diabetes specialists, I increasingly realized that general physiological mechanisms lay behind them—mechanisms that were not covered in diabetes education for the sake of simplicity. We people with type 1 diabetes are perfectly ordinary human beings; we are simply missing the cells that regulate blood glucose levels. That means we have to control differently what is regulated internally and automatically in other people. So I kept working on quantifying and systematically regulating a wide range of factors, and after more than 30 years I finally wrote a book about it so that other people with type 1 diabetes can achieve similar progress more quickly and easily. Naturally, individual details and parameters have to be adapted to each person’s situation, and the book emphasizes and explains this at various points.

If you had to start all over again with your diabetes today: What would you do differently in the first six months?

I was only six years old at the time and tried to understand the first training sessions at the hospital as thoroughly as possible, even though I was just learning to read and write. At first, I cried into my pillow at home because the reactions of the people around me also made it clear that my childhood would no longer be carefree. But I turned this crisis into productive energy and promised to keep working on optimizing my treatment until my blood glucose regulation was at least as good as that of healthy people. People laughed at me at the time, but ultimately I came very close to achieving this goal and accomplished most of it. I don’t think there was much more I could have done back then.

What should people with type 1 diabetes never forget?

Of course, they should never forget to keep a supply of insulin on hand to regulate their blood sugar levels, as well as fast-acting carbohydrates to prevent low blood sugar when needed. They should also never forget that they are strong people. After all, it’s impossible to live with type 1 diabetes without being strong.

Brief introduction

I’m Adam. I was born in Paris in 1987 and grew up in Kassel. I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes since 1994. I hold a doctorate in economics with a focus on data analysis, work full-time as a Market Intelligence Manager in Hamburg, and write in my spare time about advanced practical methods for managing type 1 diabetes.

Brief introduction

Michael Bertsch founded Diabetes-Kids.de in December 2000 after his 18-month-old daughter Carolin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Together with his wife Susann, his children, and a wonderful, dedicated team, he has been providing affected families with information, personal support, and numerous events in the real and digital world for more than 25 years.

What was the most difficult moment on your journey with diabetes kids or in your family’s life with diabetes?

The most difficult moment was, of course, our daughter Carolin’s completely unexpected diagnosis. It hit us out of the blue in the summer of 2000. Until then, we had had no contact with diabetes at all—and suddenly our little Caro was chronically ill, and we had to come to terms with an enormously complex condition that would accompany her for the rest of her life.
In the more than 25 years since we first became involved with the subject, we have met so many wonderful people through Diabetes-Kids. Unfortunately, over this long period, we have also had to say goodbye to some of them. Fortunately, they were usually not children or teenagers—but in very rare tragic circumstances, that does unfortunately happen too. Experiences like these are never forgotten.

What one piece of advice would you give parents whose child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes today?

Good pediatric diabetes care is absolutely essential. The doctor should not only be medically competent and able to communicate well with the parents, but above all should also build a good rapport with the child.
At least equally important is connecting with other families affected by diabetes. Experiencing that you are not alone with your fears, questions, and challenges can be very healing and relieving for both children and parents. Personal meetings in the real world are especially valuable—in addition to the many great opportunities available online today. Our goal is for families to build a network that supports and understands them.

Please complete this sentence:

“Although diabetes has placed a great burden on our family, it has also given us many very good friends and a meaningful purpose.”

What inspired you back then to start Diabetes-Kids?

In 2000, the situation was completely different from today. There was no social media, many food products still lacked useful nutritional information, and above all, there was no platform specifically addressing the questions that concerned us as parents of a child with type 1 diabetes.
At the time, much of the information about diabetes focused on obesity, nutrition, and type 2 diabetes. That had little to do with our everyday reality and the specific questions we faced. So, around Christmas 2000, I decided to compile all the information I had painstakingly gathered myself and make it available on a dedicated website specifically for children with diabetes and their families. That is how Diabetes-Kids.de came into being.

Do you remember the moment when you realized how many families you had already helped?

I realized very early on that there was a very great need and a significant information gap. Even before the Diabetes-Kids domain went online, I kept a diary on another website about Carolin’s first six months with diabetes.
The diary and what was probably Germany’s largest KE/BE table at the time were accessed very frequently. Excerpts from Carolin’s diary were even read aloud on BR3’s health radio program. By then at the latest, I had realized that our personal experiences and the information we had compiled were helpful to many other families.
Even today, the great demand is evident from the fact that nearly all our events fill up quickly or are even oversubscribed. The feedback we publish afterward speaks for itself. My entire family and our long-standing “best crew in the world” are involved wholeheartedly. During our events, we essentially welcome the participants into our family circle—and I believe that the families can feel that.

Is there a story or encounter that has touched you in a special way to this day?

At one of our camping gatherings at Lake Eder, a boy once said to his mother:
“Mom, I’m not different here anymore.”
Even today, that sentence still gives me goosebumps. Because that’s exactly what our events are all about. Pumps and sensors beep everywhere, a catheter peeks out here and there—and no one stares or asks silly questions. The children don’t have to explain anything and can simply feel like they belong.

What do families do differently when they manage everyday life with diabetes in a particularly calm and positive way?

I think resilience plays a major role in this. Some families manage to pull together as a team, especially in difficult situations, supporting and strengthening one another. Others, unfortunately, tend to reinforce each other’s fear and helplessness, or are simply completely alone in dealing with the situation.
Immediately after diagnosis, almost all parents are probably very afraid. Over time, however, they develop routines, experience, and a certain calmness. For example, they realize that a glucose level of 300 mg/dL needs to be corrected and monitored, but does not automatically mean a catastrophe.

It is also crucial how well a family is supported by those around them: the daycare center and school, the employer, the pediatric diabetes team, the health insurance provider, as well as relatives and friends. When everyone involved contributes constructively, that provides an excellent foundation.

Unfortunately, we repeatedly see families having to fight hard to secure appropriate care for their child at daycare, school, or on class trips. In our view, that is completely unacceptable. What is needed here, at long last, are reliable nationwide legal regulations—instead of a federal patchwork of different responsibilities, interpretations, and decisions.

What has changed most positively for people with type 1 diabetes in recent years?

A great deal has changed for the better in diabetes technology. Continuous glucose monitoring and at least partially automated insulin pumps have become practically standard for children with type 1 diabetes. They can make everyday life much easier and increase safety.
At the same time, these technologies are both a blessing and a curse for some families. Understandably, parents always want to do what is best for their child. Twenty-five years ago, that meant pricking Caro’s finger ten to fifteen times a day and getting up every two to three hours at night to check her levels and correct them if necessary.

Unfortunately, many parents today believe that the best thing to do is check their child’s glucose levels on their smartphone every five minutes—sometimes throughout the entire night. Over time, this can become a considerable burden and even pose a health risk to the parents. In my view, technical training therefore needs to be accompanied by more support in developing trust in modern systems and finding a healthy way to deal with the constantly available data.

What message would you like to share with all parents of a child with type 1 diabetes?

With diabetes, you can do anything and become anything—including an Olympic champion, world champion, or Grand Slam winner.
Don’t let this unwelcome companion unnecessarily limit you or your children. Try to manage diabetes as well as possible, but also accept that even with the greatest care, things won’t always go perfectly. If things don’t go according to plan once in a while, that’s just how it is. No one has to keep every reading perfectly under control.
Enjoy life and hold on to that joy. Some things are more complicated with diabetes and require a little more preparation—but absolutely everything is doable.

Introduction

I’m Julius, 37 years old, and I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes since the end of 2018. Professionally, I come from a field that initially had nothing to do with diabetes: I started out in auditing and later worked in the finance department of an international corporation. Hyporest nevertheless didn’t emerge from a market analysis, but from a problem that bothered me in my own everyday life. I’m the kind of person who asks why things are the way they are and whether they could be solved better—in the case of low blood sugar, I eventually couldn’t let that question go. When I’m not working, my family, reading, going for walks, and exercising are among the things that matter to me.

What was the most difficult moment in your life with diabetes?

My first day at my new job, just over three months after my diagnosis. I had just been introduced to my new colleagues in front of a large group when, right in the middle of it, the alarm on my CGM system went off loudly on my phone. The device was still so new to me that I had no idea how to handle its alarms yet—and there I was, in front of people seeing me for the first time, having to answer the question of whether I wanted to be open about my condition before I had had a chance to ask myself that question calmly.
The timing could hardly have been worse overall. I had accepted the position—a role involving a great deal of responsibility and differing in many ways from my previous work—shortly before my diagnosis. So learning to manage the condition, from injecting insulin to responding to alarms, took place during the very three months in which I had actually intended to prepare for the new job. On top of that, I hadn’t made the diagnosis easy for myself: I was working a great deal at the time, and although I knew the typical signs very well—the unusual thirst, constant urination, and exhaustion—I had decided that it could be anything, just not diabetes. The doctor’s appointment settled that self-diagnosis in a brief conversation.

As luck would have it, the alarm on that first day made one decision for me: the question of whether to be open about my diabetes had been answered, and I never had to ask it again. And from the months that followed, I know how much can be managed at once when there is no alternative—I didn’t know that about myself before, and it has helped me more than once since.

What’s one piece of advice you would give someone who has just been diagnosed?

Don’t let diabetes become your whole identity. It’s part of your life now, but it isn’t everything that defines you—it’s moving in with you, so to speak, without having the right to decorate the entire apartment. It’s normal for this to take time; for me, coming to terms with the diagnosis was a process that took time and couldn’t be rushed, and at first the condition took up far more space than it deserves in the long run.
Use the technology available today. A CGM takes an enormous amount of pressure off; for me, it’s the tool that makes the biggest difference, because without continuous readings, the condition would demand many times more of my time and attention—and since the readings also appear on my smartwatch, I no longer even have to carry my phone with me all the time.

For me, technology now also includes a pump, which I resisted for a long time because I didn’t want a tube attached to my body. For a little while now, I’ve been wearing one anyway—an Omnipod 5, which doesn’t need a tube and is barely noticeable—and I especially notice the difference at night: My long-acting insulin needs kept changing, which used to regularly give me restless nights, and the pump now compensates for exactly that. I never doubted that such a system could be very useful depending on the situation—the only thing that took time was accepting that I could wear a pump on my body permanently.

And seek out other people who have been living with diabetes for longer. They can give you the practical knowledge that no brochure contains, as well as conversations where, for once, you don’t have to explain anything. I’ve taken away more useful information from conversations like these than from any training session.

“Diabetes has certainly ___, but it has also ___.”

Diabetes may have taken away the ease of completely forgetting everything around me from time to time—but I can still do whatever I want; I just always have to keep an eye on my blood sugar: the one thing that constantly needs attention and never clocks off.
But it has also given me a purpose and the desire to make a difference—along with countless wonderful connections, a wealth of experience, and insight into an amazing community.

When did you first notice that there was no truly satisfactory solution for low blood sugar?

At night. The alarm woke me up; I was lying in bed with freshly brushed teeth, my blood sugar was too low—and the only answer was to suck on glucose tablets or drink juice at that hour, then fall back asleep with the sweet residue still in my mouth. On nights like that, it started to bother me that something sweet was the default response to every low, whether I felt like having it or not.
Then there’s the issue of my teeth, which matters to me: During sleep, saliva production drops sharply, sugar residues are barely washed away, and acids are neutralized less effectively—the risk of cavities and gum problems increases. And people with diabetes are already significantly more susceptible than people without diabetes to persistent gum inflammation, even progressing to gum recession. Yet at precisely that point, I’m supposed to simply sleep through half the night with sugar on my teeth—because, let’s be honest: practically no one brushes their teeth again in the middle of the night, and even if they wanted to, they’re supposed to wait half an hour after treating a low before brushing anyway. Who waits half an hour in the middle of the night? And during the day, the solution was never satisfactory either: For a long time, I found it difficult to stick to the amount that would actually have been necessary during a low—afterward, my blood sugar was often much too high, and the unnecessary calories came on top.

At some point, a question arose that I couldn’t let go of: Glucose tablets are available at every supermarket checkout—so why isn’t there a form where I can decide for myself whether I want to taste anything, and that can be dosed exactly the way I need it at that moment?

Many people simply accept problems. Why did you decide to develop a solution yourself?

Because the problem didn’t go away. I can overlook a lot, but something that bothers me night after night and every time my blood sugar drops eventually starts to wear me down—and I begin thinking about how to solve it better instead of continuing to get annoyed. Turning that into a product of its own was never the plan from day one; it started simply with the desire to get rid of the problem for myself.
So I looked for a form of dextrose that had no taste—and once I found it for myself, it quickly became clear that I wasn’t the only one with this need. Hyporest has been on the market since October 2024—it all began with the nighttime alarms I just mentioned.

Were there moments when you doubted the idea behind Hyporest?

Yes. Shortly after the product launch, we received feedback from people who couldn’t swallow the mini-tablets or simply found there were too many of them. That bothered me, because those were exactly the people I had made the product for—and every one of those messages raised the question of whether we had got something fundamentally wrong.
A customer survey involving hundreds of test participants finally resolved the issue: It showed that swallowing problems affect only a very small proportion of people. The rest comes down to an old truth—you can’t please everyone. Since then, I’ve taken such feedback seriously, but it no longer immediately calls the entire product into question.

Was hast du durch die Entwicklung eines eigenen Produkts über Menschen mit Diabetes gelernt?

How stubborn habits can be. Eating sweets to treat low blood sugar has been such an unquestioned part of diabetes management since the invention of insulin that hardly anyone challenges it—and no one can simply unlearn overnight a behavior that has remained unchanged ever since.
The numbers show how deeply ingrained this is: During a low, people take an average of 32 grams of carbohydrates—the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends 15 grams with an ICT regimen, and just 5 to 10 grams with an AID system. And one in three lows is subsequently followed by a high. I recognize myself in this: Every time, I knew exactly how much would have been enough; it’s just that the knowledge rarely helped me in the moment.

Two different things come together here. During an acute low, the craving is partly a biological response: a survival reflex that demands quick energy and against which willpower has little chance. And beforehand—when a low is approaching or simply in between—the trap of sweets becomes apparent: They only fuel the urge for more, and the recommended amount is often reached precisely when they are starting to taste good. That’s why you can’t blame anyone for eating more sugar than is immediately necessary—it’s the rule, not the exception.

We all keep our favorite sweets at home because we need them so often, and if we’re already forced to eat something sweet, it’s only natural to reach for something we enjoy. But that has many disadvantages—and that’s exactly where we come in: We separate glucose intake from snacking.

And the process of changing habits actually starts before the low. Ideally, I take the carbohydrates when my level is heading toward a low—then I never reach the low range in the first place. This is where it becomes clear why taste is the problem: Anyone who reaches for sweets not only in acute situations but already when their level is trending downward ends up eating them constantly, feeding precisely the urge I mentioned earlier. A flavorless form turns this into a deliberate action—take it, carry on, no appetite triggered.

That is exactly what our product is designed for: a tool for daily blood glucose management, not a sweet.

Which feedback from people affected has touched you the most or confirmed that the effort was worthwhile?

Two things. One was a conversation at a trade fair with the sales director of a major manufacturer of diabetes accessories. We already knew each other from the 2025 Diabetes Congress in Berlin, and a collaboration had already been agreed upon—so this wasn’t someone who had to be polite, but someone who knew the product. He told me he was convinced that in ten years, this would be the number-one product in this field. My first thought was: There you go—it’s happening. It takes time for something to get moving, but it is moving.
The other is the wonderful emails we keep receiving: In addition to specialist diabetes practices, hospitals and university hospitals regularly contact us on their own initiative—the Charité in Berlin, for example, and most recently a diabetes counselor at a major university hospital who is personally affected and enthusiastic about Hyporest. The fact that someone who knows the treatment from both sides reached out confirms it for me more than any award could.

If you could improve diabetes care in Germany tomorrow with a single change, what would you change?

I would like health insurance providers to cover formulations of dextrose that help people with diabetes consume less sugar in the long term. An old story helps explain what I mean: Asthma cigarettes used to exist—cigarettes containing an active ingredient that dilated the bronchi. The active ingredient was right; only the dosage form as a cigarette was wrong. With diabetes, we are now in the same situation, but hardly anyone notices: Dextrose is important and appropriate both when hypoglycemia is imminent and during an acute episode, but its form as candy, juice, or soft drink is wrong—it fundamentally delivers the sugar as a double package together with an appetite for more. Studies show how far this has become self-perpetuating: Conventional dextrose is used in only about one in ten cases of hypoglycemia—in all other cases, people treat it with whatever is sweet and readily available.
A dosage form that does not whet the appetite for more would achieve exactly that—and the very people who need to pay the closest attention to their sugar intake would no longer have to accept sweets as a fixed part of their everyday lives. That I have Hyporest in mind here will surprise no one; what matters to me, however, is the principle. The active ingredient is right—it is time to leave the cigarette behind.

You trained as a leather goods maker and still develop diabag bags by hand today. How did you first become involved with diabetes?

A relative of my wife approached me after hearing that, as a leather designer, I had made the occasional wallet for his wife. At the time, I didn’t know that he himself had type 1 diabetes.
When I visited him, he showed me all his supplies, medication, and testing devices. He carried them around in the most “adventurous” cases and bags. He was determined to put an end to this unsatisfactory situation and asked whether I could design and make a diabetes bag according to his ideas. I agreed, and a wonderful collaboration began, resulting in a very personal bag after a few weeks.

From then on, he was happy and content, and never seen without his favorite bag.

What inspired you back then to develop bags specifically for people with diabetes?

I quickly realized that there had to be more people with diabetes out there longing for a stylish yet practical bag. I did my research, reached out to a few people with diabetes, and designed cases and bags that precisely met their needs.

From your perspective, what sets a handmade diabag bag apart from a conventional bag?

Custom-fitted leather bags are my thing. I love fulfilling people’s wishes.

What do you pay particular attention to when developing new models?

As I said, it’s important to me that the medical and practical requirements are followed meticulously while maintaining a simple, understated design.

Is there a customer interaction or piece of feedback that has particularly touched you to this day?

What moved me most was designing my very first bag for the family’s friend. After that, I never saw him without his new “friend” in the form of his beloved diabetes bag.

What does working with Zuckerschmuck mean to you?

When I first got in touch with Sonja from Zuckerschmuck a few years ago, I particularly appreciated her personal and warm manner. When we spoke at the beginning of the year about one of my sales-related “challenges,” I found myself in the fortunate position of finally having found someone for a perfect sales partnership.

Brief introduction

I’m Melina. I’ve had type 1 diabetes since 1995 and have been using an insulin pump since 2002. On Instagram, I share my everyday life with diabetes—from sports and mental health to all the ups and downs that come with it. Diabetes is also accompanying me on a completely new adventure right now: my first pregnancy.

What was the most difficult moment in your life with diabetes?

Not necessarily one particular moment, but rather distinct phases.
In late adolescence, diabetes made me feel sick, unattractive, and inferior. That’s why I hid it from my social circle whenever I could.

From my mid-twenties onward, acceptance gradually improved, and I slowly began to see diabetes as part of who I am.

Even so, I couldn’t understand how anyone could achieve the recommended target values while living a normal life. My levels were “okay,” but I always experienced diabetes as a daily test that you can never truly pass.

What one piece of advice would you give someone who has just been diagnosed?

Give yourself time. No one wakes up in the morning with diabetes and has everything figured out by evening. Mistakes are part of it, and so are bad days. Somehow, diabetes becomes part of life. And most importantly: The things you truly want from the bottom of your heart are, of course, still possible with diabetes.

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes has __________, it has also __________.”

Although diabetes has caused me a lot of worry and sleepless nights, it has also shown me how much strength I really have within me. I don’t know whether I would have such a resilient character without diabetes.

You share your everyday life with diabetes very openly on social media. Was there a moment when you realized how much your experiences could help other people?

Yes, actually, whenever someone writes to me: “That’s exactly what I thought too, but I never dared to say it out loud.” Especially with topics like frustration or feeling overwhelmed, I also often notice how helpful it is when someone speaks openly about them. And sometimes even small glimpses of how another person manages to deal with everything quite naturally again can be enough.

Many people often see only the beautiful moments on Instagram. What is something that outsiders often don’t see about living with diabetes?

How much of diabetes takes place in your head. Most people see the sensor and pump. What they don’t see are the hundreds of small decisions every day, the thoughts at night, or the constant responsibility you can never completely hand over.

You’re about to become a mother for the first time. What thoughts or feelings are currently accompanying you regarding diabetes and pregnancy?

Above all, a mix of anticipation, respect, and sometimes uncertainty. With type 1 diabetes, the demands on glucose levels during pregnancy are naturally even higher.
At the same time, I’m incredibly grateful to be able to have this experience.

Has pregnancy changed the way you view your diabetes or your body?

Yes, definitely. I’ve gained even more respect for what my body does every day. I used to focus mainly on what wasn’t working perfectly. Today, I much more often see everything that actually works—despite diabetes.

You reach many people with diabetes every day. What continues to impress you about our community?

How open, helpful, and honest so many people are. Whether someone has had diabetes for three weeks or 30 years, people support one another, share experiences, and make each other feel that they’re not alone in facing many challenges. I find that impressive every time.

If you could send your younger self a message right after your diabetes diagnosis, what would it say?

You’ll experience everything that matters to you. You’ll travel, play sports, laugh, make plans, and live a completely normal life. And one day, you’ll even be able to help other people through your experiences. Trust in that.

What was the most difficult moment in your life with diabetes?

The first night in the hospital after the diagnosis was just a horrible nightmare.

What one piece of advice would you give someone who has just been diagnosed?

Stop looking for a cure and stay away from online self-help groups. Instead, attend meetups or ask experienced diabetics with a stable mindset which groups they can recommend.

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes has given me ___, it has also given me _____.”

... it wasn’t fun on the first day, but it also showed me what an amazing world, filled with so many incredible people, I never would have found myself in if I hadn’t received this diagnosis. If I had to choose, I’d choose type 1 diabetes again.

Through Zuckerjunkies, you’ve met countless people with diabetes. Which story has touched you personally the most?

I keep bursting into tears whenever I hear how toddlers and teenagers are excluded from everyday life and banned from daycare centers. The parents who stand up for their children here and have to become “diabetics” themselves are absolute heroes to me. I can never bow deeply enough to them.

What is the most important lesson diabetes has taught you about life?

Move your ass and eat well. Your body will thank you forever. Diabetes keeps reminding me of that. Exercise and clean eating make an incredible difference.
Interestingly, this applies to everyone; we people with diabetes just have the advantage of getting to see it ;)

Many people struggle with perfectionism in diabetes management. What would you say to someone who constantly feels like they aren’t good enough?

It’s just a damn number! It says absolutely nothing about you. It simply needs to be corrected. Find someone who loves you and is allowed to kick your ass. We still have a pretty long life with diabetes ahead of us. The only question is: what kind of quality of life do you want to enjoy?

After all these years in the diabetes community: What do people who handle their diabetes with particular calm do differently?

Accept your diabetes and live your life.

What statement about diabetes do you hear over and over and wish you never had to hear again?

Are you allowed to eat that? :o) — although nothing other people say stresses me out. That’s their opinion, not mine. Attention reinforces it. So just don’t comment and simply steal that food from them.

What would you really like to say to people with type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes in Germany is and remains a gift. Yes, I’d give it away too. But that’s not possible yet. Learn to accept it and seek out people with diabetes who don’t complain, but simply take action and look for solutions. That’s why: Great meetups = Great people = Solutions

Self-introduction

I’m a pathological and cheerful optimist who finds something positive in even the biggest pile of sh**… yes, it’s still a pile, but I’ll find something eventually—and if all else fails, at least I’ll find a joke about a pile.
With my podcast, I simply want to shift the focus to the positive things in life.

We have to learn to accept things as they are and, when we can’t change or leave them, simply endure them with incredible calmness :)

Introduction

My name is Ilka Simon-Wagner. I have been running my specialist diabetes practice in Lichtenfels for 25 years, and I still look forward to the daily challenge of caring for my patients with diabetes.

What was the most moving moment you experienced in your work with people with diabetes?

At the very beginning of my career as a diabetologist, a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes came to the practice. After her hospital stay, she said that under no circumstances would she inject insulin—she would rather die.
Over many hours and sessions, my diabetes educator and I managed to ease her fear of injections, and today she is one of my best-controlled patients with type 1 diabetes. I’m happy every time she comes in!

What one piece of advice would you give someone who has just been diagnosed with diabetes?

Diabetes is a diagnosis that can be managed very well today, without having to sacrifice either lifespan or quality of life.

Please complete this sentence: “Diabetes can .... but ....”

“Although diabetes can affect people, it can also help them get to know themselves.”

You have been supporting people with diabetes for many years. What have your patients taught you about life?

Life with diabetes can be fun too—not always, but more and more often!
Technology is making huge strides and making things increasingly easier.

Many people feel anxious during doctor’s visits about being lectured or receiving poor HbA1c results. How do you manage to convey courage and motivation instead?

I understand patients—it isn’t always easy to stay disciplined. To err is human, as long as you get back on the right track.
“An HbA1c that’s a little higher isn’t a reason to despair; together, we’ll get it back on track!”

Is there a patient story that has particularly touched you and shaped you in your profession to this day?

During my training, I lost a relatively young patient in the intensive care unit to hypoglycemia caused by glibenclamide. I still haven’t forgotten it. Maybe that’s why I don’t like sulfonylureas.

If you could make one wish: What would you immediately change about how people with diabetes are treated in the German healthcare system?

CGM devices for everyone—they immediately flag errors, make therapy safer, and greatly improve discipline.

What do you think people with diabetes should celebrate much more often, even though they often take it for granted?

The option of complex insulin therapies and the technical systems available for them, as well as your diabetes care team, which is familiar with them!

What would you definitely like to share with the readers of our Zuckerschmuck community?

"Life is fun with diabetes too!"

My mission with Zuckerschmuck and the community

Welcome to the Zuckerschmuck community! I’m Sonja. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of seven and kept it as hidden as possible for over 25 years. Today, I’m open about it and live my own little diabetes mission: making everyday life with diabetes more beautiful with Zuckerschmuck, and using this community to connect, inspire, and encourage people with diabetes, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals. What makes it special is that real people share their personal experiences here and encourage others—from people with diabetes, for people with diabetes.

What was the most difficult moment in your life with diabetes?

I can’t recall one single most difficult moment in my life with diabetes. For me, the hardest moments were instead the many comments from people who didn’t understand—and unfortunately, sometimes from doctors too. Statements about an allegedly shorter life expectancy, impending complications, or pitying remarks like “Poor you” accompanied me for many years and weighed on me more than diabetes itself.
Today, I try to block out comments like these. I have now been living with **type 1 diabetes for 37 years** and have **no diagnosed diabetes-related complications**. This shows me that diabetes does not automatically follow the course people so often warn about.

That is why my request to doctors and healthcare professionals is: Please think carefully about the words you choose. Of course, everyone with diabetes wants to achieve the best possible levels—but that isn’t always possible. Constant warnings about potential long-term complications or focusing on the worst-case scenario can cause anxiety and discouragement. Encouragement, understanding, and working together to find solutions are much more helpful. This attitude can make an enormous difference to people with diabetes.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed?

Be sad, be devastated, and accept that, at first, your life with the diagnosis will no longer be the same as before. These feelings are completely normal. But then start seeing diabetes not only as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to pay more conscious attention to yourself and your health.
Seek out people who are good for you. Connect with others affected by diabetes, ask questions, and let them encourage you—that’s exactly what this community is for. And if you realize that certain people, including doctors, are not supporting you emotionally or are not giving you the help you need, don’t hesitate to keep looking. You have the right to medical and personal support that gives you a sense of security and confidence.

And then straighten your crown, get back up, and live your life. Don’t let diabetes stop you from pursuing your dreams. Diabetes is part of your life—but it should never define your entire life.

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes has __________, it has also __________.”

Although diabetes has brought me many fears and unpleasant situations because of uninformed comments, it has also made my dream come true: running my own online shop with a mission to help people. For that, I’m grateful to my diabetes.

You founded Zuckerschmuck over 11 years ago. Was there a moment when you realized it had become much more than an online shop?

The moment I realized that Zuckerschmuck is much more than an online shop came through our customers. When the first messages arrived thanking us from the bottom of their hearts for making their everyday lives with diabetes easier, I knew we had created something special.

Over the past few years, you’ve been in contact with thousands of people with diabetes. Which encounter or story touched you the most and has stayed with you to this day?

I was especially touched by the story of a little girl who always hid her insulin pump and sensor at kindergarten. With our stickers and tapes, she was suddenly proud to show her diabetes and choose a design for each sensor change. For her, changing the sensor went from being a stressful moment to something she even looked forward to.
In moments like these, I realized why I founded Zuckerschmuck. It’s not just about products—it’s about inspiring confidence, easing fears, and helping people live with their diabetes with more joy and less shame.

Why was it important to you to launch the Zuckerschmuck community alongside the shop?

I want to share with others the special people and wonderful stories I’ve had the opportunity to discover through Zuckerschmuck. I’m impressed by the many strong, extraordinary people living with diabetes, and I believe creating a place for them is enriching. The Zuckerschmuck community should also connect people with healthcare professionals and provide support when needed.

Looking back on your own diabetes journey: What do you know today that you wish you could have told the young Sonja right after her diagnosis?

You’re so strong that diabetes won’t hold you back. On the contrary, it will open up opportunities you wouldn’t have had without it. And you’ll stay fit and healthy for a long time—don’t listen to doctors who predict otherwise.

After all these years, what continues to impress you about the diabetes community?

The many creative, athletic, and courageous people who live life to the fullest—with and despite diabetes.

What do you wish for the future of the diabetes community—and what should people with diabetes never forget?

I hope the diabetes community grows and that many people gain courage, hope, and new insider information about living with diabetes: people who have recently been diagnosed, long-term diabetics, family members, parents, and healthcare professionals such as diabetes educators and diabetologists.

What was the most difficult moment in your life with diabetes?

I’d say that was the day I was diagnosed. When I felt physically deathly ill and psychologically completely overwhelmed. And even though so many wonderful people were around me, I somehow felt damn lonely with it all.

What’s one piece of advice you would give someone who has just been diagnosed?

Imagine diabetes were a dog and you were someone who doesn’t really like dogs. It doesn’t even look cute, but from now on, you’re supposed to take care of it 24/7.
First, get to know it and learn to understand it. Knowledge is power! Learn something new every day and learn from what isn’t going so well yet. Keep your eyes on where you want to go, and simply take it along with you. If you take your eyes off it, it’ll probably get up to mischief. If you then spend more time engaging with it again, it’ll follow you much better—and you can do all kinds of crazy things in life together!

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes has __________, it has also __________.”

Although diabetes has taken part of my pancreas from me, it has also taught me to understand my body better and appreciate what I accomplish every day.

You’ve been living with type 1 diabetes yourself for many years. Which experience from your own life found its way directly into “Der Typ Nummer 1”?

Oh, there are quite a few! For example, before my diagnosis, I felt like I had every illness at once, even though I was so young and athletic. When Jonah learns about his diagnosis in the book, my thoughts run through his head, and what helps him most find his way was also my tool: information! He also gets his first experience of hypoglycemia from me, as well as his attitude toward glucose tablets … 🤭.

What inspired you to write a novel in which the main character has type 1 diabetes?

I’ve been writing a lot since my school days and loved pushing my protagonists to their limits in all kinds of situations. For my 20th diaversary, I got my self-designed Justsweet tattoo and started writing this story. At first, it was a kind of coping process for me. When I realized how much it helped me to have Jonah as my dia-buddy—and that I still hadn’t found a novel in which the protagonist struggled with the same things I do—the idea was born that DER TYP NUMMER 1 should help more than just me.

Many people with diabetes sometimes feel misunderstood. What do you hope readers without diabetes will take away from your book?

More empathy and medical understanding by giving them the opportunity to step into the shoes of people with diabetes and engage with the everyday decisions, feelings, and thoughts we face. At the same time, I also offer different perspectives from relatives who are often worried and overwhelmed. Because appreciation begins with wanting to understand what someone else is going through.

When writing, you immerse yourself deeply in your characters. Was there a scene in your book that particularly moved you emotionally?

Yes, it’s a scene that means a lot to me and that I named the chapter after: A Question of Resilience. Without giving too much away: Jonah and Jolene cautiously grow closer. For the first time since his diagnosis, he feels free again—and even happy—but then diabetes gets in the way. With a hypo that Jonah will always remember in a special way …

What is the most important lesson diabetes has taught you about life?

Everyone has their own burden to bear. I’m grateful that I can take mine with me everywhere and appreciate it 😇.

What would you most like to tell people with type 1 diabetes?

Focus on what makes you happy, and do it!

Brief introduction

Hi, my name is Nadine Trinkies. I live with my family in Munich and have had type 1 diabetes for 28 years. I’m a freelance behavioral therapist for dogs and their people, as well as a passionate hobby writer. Through my novels (yes, there will be a second volume soon 🤗!), I want to offer people with and without diabetes exciting entertainment, some medical information, a pinch of humor, and, above all, courage.

What has been the most difficult moment in your life since diabetes became part of your family?

The most difficult moment was when I felt extremely unwell one time and couldn’t take care of our daughter. Her catheter urgently needed to be changed, and I simply couldn’t do it. It was such terrible pressure, with no one nearby to take over this task for me. I somehow managed to do it in the end, but it showed me just how incredibly helpless she is on her own. It breaks my heart.

What advice would you give parents whose child has just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?

It sounds really strange in that moment, but a relatively normal life is possible, and you shouldn’t give up hope. Medicine has advanced so far, and healthcare in our country in particular is very good compared with other countries. It’s important for parents to look after their mental health, because if Mom or Dad isn’t doing well, they can’t be there for their little one 100%, and that’s incredibly important.

Please complete this sentence: “Although diabetes does..., ...”

Although diabetes has placed enormous demands on our family, it has also brought us closer together.

What experience as a diabetes mom had such an impact on you that you said, “I want to change this”?

I’ve already made a difference in Germany with the heyDabie app. It all started when I was driving to my parents’ house with our daughter, who was just three years old at the time, and began thinking: What if… …the car breaks down on the motorway, …we suddenly need an additional reservoir while we’re there, …I need a sensor over the weekend, …we want to meet up there for a playdate with another diabetes family? I searched for a diabetes app that could cover exactly these situations, but couldn’t find anything. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

With heyDabie, you bring people with diabetes together. Why do you think community is often just as important as medical care?

We are a large community, and no one has to be alone. The app shows this wonderfully, even across national borders, and it gives you a great sense of comfort and security. Medical care also gives us security here, but from an emotional perspective, being part of a community is so valuable because it provides a sense of belonging and understanding—something that is still often lacking in our society.

Through heyDabie, you’ve met many people and families. Which story has touched you personally the most?

Oh, there are quite a few! But this one story genuinely brought tears of joy to our eyes: A woman asked for help via the app because she was still having some trouble getting the hang of her new system. A man nearby explained everything to her clearly, and a friendship grew from there—not only that! They’re now married and expecting their first child. Isn’t that wonderful?

What statement about diabetes do you hear over and over and wish you never had to hear again?

“Is she allowed to eat that?” ... I don’t need to say more, do I? ...

What would you most like to say to people with diabetes and their loved ones?

Enjoy life and let diabetes run alongside you. It shouldn’t control you or your life.