World Diabetes Day 2025: More Than Just Numbers—Let's Talk About Thriving
Happy World Diabetes Day! Yes, "happy" might seem like an odd word choice when we're about to dive into some statistics that could make your pancreas nervous just reading them. But stick with me here—because if there's one thing our community knows how to do, it's rewrite the narrative from "just surviving" to genuinely thriving.
Let's Talk Numbers (The Kind That Don't Need Insulin)
According to the American Diabetes Association, the numbers are... well, let's just say they're bigger than the carb count on a holiday dessert table:
1.2 million Americans are diagnosed each year
11.6% of Americans had diabetes in 2023
97.6 million American adults are living with prediabetes
That's right—97.6 MILLION people standing at the crossroads, and many don't even know they're there yet.
These aren't just statistics. They're parents, kids, best friends, coworkers, and that neighbor who always waves at you in the morning. They're people who've had to relearn how to eat, rethink their routines, and redefine what "normal" means.
But Here's the Real Number That Matters
5.5
That's my last A1C. With type 1 diabetes. That's not just "managing"—that's thriving in the non-diabetic range. And I'm not special. I'm just proof of what's possible when you combine the right approach with consistent action.
The Thriving Formula
Here's what the diagnosis numbers don't tell you: Diabetes doesn't have to slow you down. In fact, the lifestyle that helps you thrive with diabetes—medical treatment combined with a low-to-medium carb approach, LISS (Low-Intensity Steady State exercise), and mindfulness—creates a version of you that's stronger and healthier than many people without diabetes.
Think about it:
You're more mindful about what fuels your body than 90% of the population
You're monitoring your health metrics like a pro athlete
You're building sustainable fitness habits that actually work long-term
You're developing mental resilience that translates to every area of life
Diabetes didn't make you weak. It made you intentional. And intention is a superpower.
From Epidemic to Empowered
Yes, diabetes is an epidemic. But you know what else is spreading? The understanding that a diabetes diagnosis can be a catalyst for becoming the healthiest version of yourself. Not despite diabetes—but by using it as motivation to optimize everything.
The million with diabetes? We have a choice: to see ourselves as victims of an epidemic, or as pioneers of a thriving lifestyle that most people need but haven't yet been compelled to adopt.
Small Actions, Extraordinary Results
The path to thriving isn't complicated:
Medical treatment - Work with your healthcare team, take your meds, and monitor consistently
Nutrition - Low-to-medium carb eating that stabilizes blood sugar and fuels your life
Movement - LISS exercise that's sustainable, enjoyable, and won't spike your glucose
Mindset - Mindfulness practices that reduce stress and support stable blood sugar
These aren't sacrifices. They're upgrades. And the results speak for themselves: A1C values in healthy ranges, energy levels that surprise your friends, and a body that feels strong rather than fragile.
The Hope Factor
The ADA reminds us that despite these staggering numbers, there's genuine hope. Scientists are working on breakthrough treatments. Prevention programs are reaching people with prediabetes. And every single person who chooses to thrive—not just survive—is rewriting what diabetes means.
We're not waiting for a cure to live extraordinary lives. We're living them now.
Your Move
This World Diabetes Day, here's your challenge:
Shift your language from "managing diabetes" to "thriving with diabetes"
Pick one element of the thriving formula to optimize this week
Share your wins—your A1C improvements, your energy gains, your strength milestones
Inspire someone else who's still stuck in survival mode
Because here's the truth: The best revenge against an epidemic isn't just survival. It's becoming so healthy, so strong, so vibrant that people forget you have diabetes at all—until you remind them that thriving is possible.
You're Stronger Than You Think
To everyone diagnosed this year, facing those daunting numbers: Welcome to a community that refuses to be defined by statistics. Yes, you'll have challenging days. But you're also about to discover capabilities you didn't know you had.
Your A1C can improve. Your energy can skyrocket. Your strength—physical and mental—can surprise you. I know because I'm living it. And so are thousands of others who chose to thrive.
This World Diabetes Day, we celebrate not just survival, but the powerful, intentional, thriving lives we're building—one mindful choice, one steady workout, one balanced meal at a time.
💙 Keep thriving. The best version of you is yet to come.
Join the conversation: What's your latest thriving milestone? Share your A1C victories, fitness wins, or mindset breakthroughs in the comments below!
