Episode #20
Kacey Sochacki and Diversity in Diabetes on Finding T1D Care That Sees You
Kacey Sochacki, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Diversity in Diabetes , has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was seven years old. She joins Scott to discuss why feeling seen, understood, and respected by a healthcare team is an important part of living well with T1D, and why inclusive care requires more than treating the numbers. Kacey shares how early connections with the diabetes community shaped her career and eventually led her and co-founder Quisha Umemba to create the first People of Color Living with Diabetes Summit. That experience grew into Diversity in Diabetes, an organization working to connect people with resources, healthcare professionals, and community support that reflect the realities of their lives. Scott and Kacey explore how limited appointment time, unfamiliarity with cultural foods and routines, and gaps in representation can be barriers that prevent healthcare professionals from seeing the whole person. They also discuss cultural humility, using the Diversity in Diabetes Care Directory, building trust in diabetes research, and how individual advocacy can help create better care for others. What You'll Learn How Kacey’s early experiences with diabetes community shaped her career and advocacy Why Kacey and Quisha Umemba created the People of Color Living with Diabetes Summit and Diversity in Diabetes How time constraints and limited cultural understanding can affect diabetes care What cultural humility can look like in a relationship with a healthcare professional Why it is okay to ask providers direct questions and evaluate whether they are the right fit How the Diversity in Diabetes Care Directory helps people find and connect with healthcare professionals Why representation and trust are essential in diabetes research How people with supportive care can still help build a more inclusive system for others Key Quotes “There are so many people out there who are so passionate, and they are not waiting to be invited to these tables. They’re bringing their chair, and they’re sitting down.” — Kacey Sochacki “You really want to honor the individual living with diabetes and their culture, and help make diabetes fit into that.” — Kacey Sochacki “We need to build trust. So much has happened in research across different cultural communities that has crushed that trust.” — Kacey Sochacki We need to use the voices and positions we have right now to help our future selves or a future family member.” — Kacey Sochacki Resources & Links Diversity in Diabetes and the Care Directory — https://diversityindiabetes.org/ Diversity in Diabetes on Instagram, including monthly DiD Dialogue conversations — https://www.instagram.com/diversityindiabetes/ T1D Exchange and the Health Equity Advancement Lab — https://t1dexchange.org/ Diabetes Link resources for young adults with type 1 diabetes — https://thediabeteslink.org/ Blue Circle Health — https://bluecirclehealth.org/ Want to Share Your Story? Your story matters. When you share it, you’re helping to build something bigger. You’re helping others feel seen. You’re making sure the realities of living with T1D are heard. You’re inspiring needed change. Visit https://www.bluecirclehealth.org/shareyourstory/ to submit your story. We’ll share these stories to help grow the movement for better T1D care. What is Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D? The US healthcare system makes it difficult, expensive, and often impossible for people with T1D to access the care, education, and support they need to live. Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D brings together voices from across the type 1 diabetes community to share real stories, expert insight, and practical support for living well with T1D. Hosted by the team at Blue Circle Health, a U.S.-based program transforming type 1 care, this podcast helps people go from just surviving to truly living well with type 1 diabetes. https://bluecirclehealth.org/ .
