Episode 271 - Santiago Paulos, T1D, Visual Designer, Creator of The Diabetic Survivor

This episode is supported by Thrivable. Thrivable’s mission is to
create a better future together. They achieve this by making it
easy for healthcare companies to include the patient's voice in
their decisions so they can create transformative treatments and
products for you.  And for listeners of Diabetics Doing
Things, Thrivable has multiple opportunities for you to earn money
for sharing your story, your insights and your lived experience for
companies who produce and design products for people with diabetes.
You can participate in online surveys and earn up to $75 per hour
and join in-person studies to earn up to $800 per study. To sign
up, just go to thrivable.app/rob and create a profile. It only
takes a few minutes. Then, just wait for study invitations,
participate in a paid diabetes research study and get compensated
for your time. ————— In this episode of Diabetics Doing Things,
Rob, Eritrea, and guest Santiago Paulos share their experiences and
stories about living with diabetes from different perspectives.
Santiago talks about his journey of being diagnosed with diabetes,
his work in the diabetes community, and his recent experience of
becoming a new dad. Their conversation delves into topics like
encountering the diabetes stigma, using humor to navigate diabetes
challenges, and balancing life as a new parent with diabetes. This
episode also includes the opening of the Mailbag! If you want to
submit your question, email mailbag@diabeticsdoingthings.com.
Topics discussed: 1. Meeting Santiago and their initial interaction
at a diabetes conference in Abu Dhabi. 2. Santiago's diabetes
diagnosis story and how he was diagnosed during a road trip to
Argentina. 3. Santiago's journey in creating the persona of The
Diabetic Survivor and his background in art and design. 4.
Collaborations with organizations like T1International and creating
designs for diabetes awareness campaigns. 5. Exploring the
intersection of art, design, and diabetes advocacy. 6. Addressing
the diabetes stigma, challenges faced in public settings, and the
importance of communication in relationships. 7. Santiago's
experience as a new dad with type 1 diabetes, the impact of
diabetes management on parenting, and finding a balance in routine.
8. Using humor and the "diabetes card" to navigate diabetes-related
situations and advocating for self-care in relationships. Key
takeaways: * Navigating the diabetes stigma: Santiago shared
experiences of encountering the diabetes stigma, particularly
through jokes and comments made in social settings, highlighting
the importance of addressing and standing up against such behavior.
* Balancing diabetes management with parenting: Santiago's journey
as a new dad with diabetes showcases the challenges and adjustments
required to manage diabetes effectively while caring for a newborn,
emphasizing the need for open communication and support. * Using
humor and communication: Humor can be a coping mechanism in dealing
with diabetes challenges, and effective communication, both in
personal relationships and professional settings, plays a
significant role in raising awareness and advocating for diabetes
rights. * Awareness and cultural considerations: Being mindful of
cultural differences and digital literacy challenges can help in
creating inclusive content and messaging that resonates with
diverse audiences, fostering a more understanding and supportive
environment for people with diabetes. 00:00  Exciting
Opportunities for People with Diabetes to Earn Money and Inspiring
Stories from International Guests on Diabetics Doing Things Podcast
03:31  Unveiling a Multicultural Friendship and a
Diabetic Survivor's Journey 06:34  From Scooter Crash to
Diabetic Survivor: A Unique Diagnosis Story and Artistic Journey
16:34  Exploring the Intersection of Diabetes, Art, and
Community through Design and Advocacy 26:34  Navigating
the Complexities of Working with Diabetes and Stigma in the
Industry 36:34  Navigating Age-Related Content
Preferences in a Diverse Audience 37:13  Breaking the
Stigma: Navigating Diabetes Conversations and Digital Literacy
41:06  Navigating Parenthood and Diabetes: Santiago's
Journey 45:57  Diabetic Dads' Secrets and Challenges: A
Candid Conversation on Balancing Parenthood and Diabetes
49:40  Inspiring Conversation with a Diabetes Dad