The Educated Patient Podcast: Breaking Down Stigma and Building Awareness in Type 1 Diabetes
The first episode of The Educated Patient Podcast explores what it’s like to live with and treat Type 1 diabetes through the voices of Natalie Bellini, DNP, and patient advocate Brielle Eder.
By
Lana Pine
| Published on September 29, 2025
3 min read
The inaugural episode of The Educated Patient Podcast, hosted by Mike DeMarco, brings together two powerful voices in the Type 1 diabetes (T1D) community: Natalie Bellini, DNP, an endocrine nurse practitioner and program director for diabetes technology at University Hospitals in Cleveland, and patient advocate Brielle Eder.
What makes this episode especially compelling is Bellini’s unique perspective. She not only treats thousands of patients with diabetes but has also lived with T1D herself for more than 50 years. She explains the importance of understanding the stages of T1D, noting that the disease often develops silently before symptoms appear. With early screening and monitoring, it’s possible to detect the condition before serious complications arise. Bellini emphasizes that bringing primary care providers into the conversation is key — since many patients first present outside of specialty clinics — and stresses the role of new therapies and technologies in improving care.
Eder shares her deeply personal story of being diagnosed with T1D at age 24 after routine bloodwork. As an avid long-distance runner, she opens up about the shock of her diagnosis and the adjustments she had to make in managing her health while continuing to pursue her passion for running.
Eder also highlights the importance of transparency with friends and family, building a strong support network and leaning on the diabetes community for shared experiences and encouragement. Her advocacy work — including running the New York City Marathon to raise funds for Beyond Type 1 — demonstrates her commitment to raising awareness and supporting others living with the condition.
Together, Bellini and Eder dismantle the misconception that T1D is solely a childhood disease, pointing out that adults are diagnosed too, and often face unique challenges. They also underscore how far treatment has come, from advances in continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps to the promise of immunotherapies that may change the course of the disease in the future.
The episode ultimately delivers a hopeful and empowering message: With early screening, better education, community support and access to evolving treatment options, people with T1D can live full, active lives. From raising families to achieving athletic goals, patients are not defined by their diagnosis.
As the first installment of The Educated Patient Podcast, this conversation sets the tone for the series — highlighting real-world experiences to educate, inspire and advocate for better care.
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