T1D Mindset Reset, Choose Curiosity Not Judgment
Summary Swap the hammer for a magnifying glass. Curiosity lowers stress, which lowers cortisol, which helps insulin work better. Keywords: diabetes distress, self-compassion, mindset, CGM alarms, five minute reset. What you’ll learn A...
The episode, word for word
You ever get a Dexcom alarm at the worst possible moment?
Middle of a work presentation? First date?
Suddenly, you're fumbling like your CGM is a car alarm and you don't have the keys. That's stress.
And if you're like me, your first reaction is judgment:
What did I do wrong this time?
But what if there's another way?
This is Your Best T1D Year.
(15-second music intro)
Intro / Why This Matters
This month is about the Five-Minute Reset.
And today's reset isn't a tool you can hold, it's a mindset: curiosity over judgment.
This is something I learned from coaching with Risely Health. Their team teaches that curiosity is like holding up a magnifying glass, you lean in, look for clues, try to understand.
Judgment is a hammer. You beat yourself up with it.
Only one of those helps you move forward.
Study + Science
This isn't just good advice. There's research behind it.
A 2020 review in Diabetic Medicine found that diabetes distress, especially negative self-talk, was linked to A1C increases of 0.3 to 0.6%, on average. That's more than the effect of some diabetes meds.
On the flip side, a 2022 study in Diabetes Care linked self-compassion and mindful reflection with lower A1Cs and reduced burnout.
In plain English:
Judgment spikes stress. Stress raises cortisol.
Cortisol blocks insulin.
But curiosity breaks that loop, and helps your biology catch a breath.
Practical Reset Ideas (Magnifying Glass vs Hammer)
What does curiosity actually look like?
Here's one way I coach people, something I learned from Risely: say the word out loud.
When an alarm goes off, instead of groaning 'Not again,' try saying: Huh... interesting.
That tiny shift creates distance and opens the door to ask:
What might've caused this?
What can I test differently next time?
What is my body telling me right now?
That's curiosity. That's the magnifying glass.
The hammer sounds more like: I blew it. I'm failing. I suck at this.
You're not bad at this. You're in the lab. You're learning.
Practical Takeaway
Here's your reset:
Next time a number pops up that makes you groan, take five minutes. Say: Huh... interesting.
Then jot down three possible reasons, without judgment. Just data. Just observation.
Because the win isn't a perfect number.
It's the space between what happens and how you react.
That space, that pause, is where stress goes down... and insulin starts working again.
September Challenge // Reset Bingo Reminder
The Reset Bingo card is in the newsletter. If you're not getting it yet, you're missing half the fun. Go to [ ](https://yourbestt1dyear.com) and I'll send it straight to your inbox.
Today's square? Curiosity over judgment.
Try it. Pause, observe, and then snap a photo of your Bingo card and tag me.
That's your entry for the weekly prizes, and the big end-of-month giveaway.
If You Don't Remember Anything Else...
If you don't remember anything else from this episode, remember these:
Curiosity is the magnifying glass. Judgment is the hammer. Only one helps.
Your CGM isn't a grade. It's just data. Nothing more. Nothing less.
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Blue Circle Health connects us with free coaching and care from people who understand the daily grind, alarms, boluses, sensor fails, all of it.
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Closing + Teaser + Encouragement
So here's today's challenge:
Next time an alarm goes off, pause for five minutes and swap judgment for curiosity.
That small moment of observation might change the whole trajectory of your day.
In the next episode, we're talking about pre-meal micro-resets, those 30-second habits that can change how your blood sugar responds to food.
And remember, you're not alone.
Every reset, every pause, every time you choose grace over guilt, you're building something stronger.
That's progress. That's growth.
That's worth being proud of.
91 - September 12
This is the script as read on the mic, lightly tidied for reading. Education, not medical advice. Talk to your care team before you change anything about your insulin.