Ep 151 - Mental Health Is Health: Inside Diabetes + Mental Health Conference with Cassandra Donahue
From Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges by Melissa Slemp
March 30, 2026 · 36 min · Season 3 · Episode 151
About this episode
Cassandra Donahue discusses the intersection of diabetes and mental health, sharing her personal journey and insights from the upcoming Diabetes and Mental Health Conference.
I'm joined by Cassandra Donahue , registered dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Certified Specialist in Weight and Obesity Management. Cassandra was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 21 months old and went on an insulin pump at age five. Today, she works in endocrinology and obesity clinical research at UNC, supports vIOP programming with The Emily Program, and provides coverage for the SOVAH hospital system. We talk about: Cassandra's diagnosis story and how she unexpectedly found her career in diabetes care The emotional toll of living with diabetes long-term Why A1C and time-in-range don't tell the whole story Diabetes burn out and how to recognize it Stigma in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes Why mental health must be integrated into diabetes care A preview of the upcoming Diabetes and Mental Health Conference This fully virtual conference takes place May 1–2 and is designed for: People living with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) Caregivers and partners Healthcare professionals seeking continuing education The event includes keynote speakers, breakout sessions, panels on longevity, discussions on intimacy, stigma, perfectionism, burnout, and the…
People in this episode
Host: Melissa Slemp
Guest: Cassandra Donahue
Topics covered
- mental health
- diabetes care
- emotional toll
- diabetes burnout
- stigma
- healthcare professionals
- conference preview
Keywords
- type 1 diabetes
- mental health
- A1C
- time-in-range
- diabetes burnout
- emotional impact
- healthcare
- conference
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Emily Program, SOVAH hospital system, UNC
More episodes of Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges
- Ep 156 - GMI vs A1C: Why Your Numbers Don't Match (And What Actually Matters) · May 4, 2026 · 27 min
- Ep 155 - 3 Months Post Islet Cell Transplant for Type 1 Diabetes: Katie Beth Hand's Story · April 27, 2026 · 60 min
- Ep 154 - What Low HRV Is Telling You About Stress, Hormones, and Blood Sugar · April 20, 2026 · 27 min
- Ep 153 - What Labs to Ask for When You're Told "Everything Is Normal" · April 13, 2026 · 42 min
- Ep 152 - Why Muscle Matters More After 40 (Especially with Type 1 Diabetes) · April 6, 2026 · 18 min
- Ep 150 - Meet the Contributors to Highs, Lows & Hormones — A Survival Guide for Women with Diabetes from Monthly Cycles to Menopause · March 23, 2026 · 1h 1m
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