Every January, I find myself doing a little more reflecting than usual. A new year has a way of inviting perspective, and for me, that perspective always circles back to something that has shaped nearly every part of my life since I was nine years old: living with Type 1 diabetes.
I’ve written before about my diagnosis and the evolution of medical devices that have made life with diabetes more manageable. This year, I wanted to revisit the experience from a different angle, not as a patient, but as a leader, business owner, and human navigating complexity. Over the years, managing Type 1 diabetes has quietly taught me lessons that show up every day in how I approach work, decision-making, and leadership.
The Myth of Absolute Control
If there’s one word that shows up constantly in the diabetes world, it’s “control.” Blood sugar control. Insulin control. Diet control. Routine control.
The irony is that absolute control is neither possible nor healthy.
Think about it this way: the safest place in the world is solitary confinement at Alcatraz. Almost no risk. No surprises. No uncertainty. And absolutely no joy. It’s technically safe, but it’s not a life anyone would choose. (If this concept sounds familiar, it’s because I also included it in my book!)
That realization changed how I think about control, both personally and professionally. Absolute control isn’t just unrealistic, it’s unenjoyable. It strips away curiosity, growth, and momentum. It keeps you contained instead of moving forward.
Diabetes has a way of teaching you that chasing perfection is exhausting and ultimately unproductive. The same is true in business. Leaders who chase flawless execution, perfect information, or total certainty often stall progress, avoid opportunity, or burn themselves out and their teams.
Progress doesn’t come from perfect control. It comes from thoughtful decisions made in imperfect conditions.
Avoiding Extremes and Finding Balance
With Type 1 diabetes, extremes are dangerous. Low blood sugar is immediately obvious and can be life-threatening. High blood sugar is more insidious. You might not feel it right away, but over time it causes real damage.
That balance lesson translates directly to business.
Overreacting to every issue creates chaos. Ignoring problems because they are not immediately painful creates long-term risk. Healthy leadership lives somewhere in the middle, responsive but measured, aware but not panicked.
I see this often with organizations that swing between extremes. Either everything is a fire drill, or nothing gets addressed until it becomes unavoidable. Neither approach works long-term. Balance, consistency, and awareness matter far more than dramatic reactions.
Expectations Shape Behavior
Living with diabetes also forces you to develop realistic expectations. Blood sugar will fluctuate. Devices will fail. Plans will get interrupted. Weather changes alone can throw off everything you thought you had dialed in.
Because I expect things to go sideways occasionally, I don’t panic when they do. I adjust.
That mindset is critical in business. Leaders who expect smooth sailing tend to react emotionally when things don’t go as planned. Leaders who expect disruption build resilience into their systems and responses. They don’t ignore problems, but they also don’t catastrophize them.
Expectations drive behavior. Calm expectations lead to calm decisions.
Adjustment Is Not Failure
There are days when nothing works the way it should. Insulin doesn’t behave. Food reacts differently. Stress shows up uninvited. Being a Type 1 diabetic means that my body doesn’t automatically adjust in real time the way a healthy body does, so I have to be willing to pause, assess, and change course.
Business works the same way.
Plans age. Assumptions expire. Systems that once worked stop working. Adjustment is not failure, it’s learning. It’s also where outside perspective becomes invaluable. Someone not embedded in the day-to-day often sees gaps and patterns that insiders miss. That’s true in health and it’s true in organizations.
Owning Your Lot
One of the most impactful moments of my early adulthood came when a doctor asked me to talk with parents of children newly diagnosed with diabetes. Many of those families were consumed with thoughts of their life’s new lot – and understandably overwhelmed, fearful, or stuck in a loop of “why me?”
Been there. Understand that. I have lived with diabetes since childhood. I don’t love it, but I have had to learn to own it.
The same pattern shows up in business. People can be so consumed with their circumstances and challenges – many of which are out of their control – that they become overwhelmed, fearful, or stuck in a loop of “why me?” They wish things were different. But resisting reality or becoming stuck in it doesn’t change it. Owning it does.
Success isn’t contingent on perfect circumstances. It’s driven by attitude, effort, and consistency over time.
Diabetes measures this clearly. The A1C test is a common blood test that quantifies how well diabetics manage blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. It’s not about one perfect day or one bad one. It’s about steady effort over time.
Business outcomes work the same way. Consistent, thoughtful behavior compounds when you actively own your lot instead of passively resisting it.
Stress, Health, and Leadership Are Connected
One advantage of living with diabetes is that I see the effects of stress immediately. Emotions drive blood sugar up. Chaos shows up physically.
That has shaped how I lead. Staying calm isn’t just a preference; it’s a necessity. Physical health and organizational health are deeply connected. Leaders who create constant stress pay for it personally and professionally.
There’s a truth I wrote about toward the end of my book: growth requires stress, but not constant strain. Trees grow strong roots because of wind, not hurricanes. Without stress, we don’t grow. With too much, we break.
Lessons Worth Carrying Forward
Type 1 diabetes has never been something I would have chosen. But it has shaped how I think, lead, and decide in ways I’m grateful for.
Control is limited. Balance matters. Expectations shape outcomes. Adjustment is strength. Ownership changes everything. And calm leadership compounds over time.
As we step into a new year, those lessons feel as relevant as ever…in life, in business, and in leadership.