#301: Faith, Fitness, and Finding Balance With T1D: A Conversation With Mark Brezzel

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

A cardiovascular clinician describes how he diagnosed his own type 1 diabetes after ignoring the signs.

Host Coach Ken Kenis introduces episode 301 of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, sharing his own type 1 diagnosis at 25 and his coaching company. He welcomes guest Mark Brezzel, a type 1 diabetic for 25 years and former cardiovascular clinician trained at Johns Hopkins. Mark recounts noticing symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, and increased urination, leading him to self-diagnose with a store-bought test. He was initially misdiagnosed with type 2, transitioning to type 1 within months, which he and Ken discuss as a possible misdiagnosis or honeymoon period. Mark describes feeling angry and shocked by his diagnosis, despite his medical background. He talks about seeing poorly controlled diabetics in cardiac surgery and the urgency of education. Mark shares a harrowing hypoglycemic episode in March 2024 where he was resuscitated after 25 minutes by paramedics. He wrote the book 'A Matter of the Heart' to address the psychological component of diabetes, which he felt was missing from other books. The conversation shifts to systemic issues in healthcare, noting that patients often get only 15-20 minutes with a doctor every few months with little follow-up. They discuss the lack of urgency until complications arise and the importance of holistic health principles like sleep, exercise, and moderation. Mark emphasizes self-advocacy, recommending second opinions and being informed about medical tests. He illustrates how doctors change their tone when he uses medical terminology, highlighting the need for patient empowerment. Ken and Mark agree on the 80/20 rule for management and the non-discriminatory nature of diabetes. Mark provides his website for contact and promotes his book and upcoming business in diabetes education.

As heard by us

A grounded discussion of self-advocacy, follow-up, and making limited medical time matter.

Healthcare can leave people with type 1 diabetes carrying complicated questions into very short appointments, and this episode gives that pressure a clear, practical frame.

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Why you'd press play

Want a steadier way to speak up when diabetes care feels rushed, spaced out, or unfinished?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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