Welcome

Welcome to Type 2 Foodie, a blog focused on providing resources, ideas, and support for people living with all types of diabetes who want food that’s joyful, authentic, and exciting.

The beautiful logo above was designed by my friend Sarah Waites.

Who I am

I’m Maureen, a children’s librarian who’s living with type 2 diabetes. I love crafts, gardening, cats, and (of course) reading. I’ve loved cooking and baking since my teens and relearning how to love being in the kitchen has been a big part of my own journey.

My diabetes journey

Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in December 2023, after a routine blood test. While, in retrospect, I had some obvious symptoms of diabetes, I had no previous reason to believe I was at risk of developing the condition. However, I had a medically necessary hysterectomy in 2017, and there’s some indication that the shift in hormones afterward may have increased my risk.

Recovery

Over the course of the next few years, I was able to reduce my a1c from over 13% at diagnosis to around 5.5%. It’s taken a lot of support from medical professionals and my family and a lot of work and commitment on my part to get here. Part of that journey has involved a lot of emotional reflection and work; mental and emotional health is, I think, an overlooked aspect of managing diabetes.

Currently

Currently, I’m considered “in remission,” which means that I have stable blood sugar levels without use of medication. However, since diabetes is a progressive disease and I was in my 30s when I was diagnosed, it’s possible that could change at some point in the future.

What you’ll find here

Respect for you

Everyone who’s living with diabetes has their own unique story, needs, and journey. Diabetes as a disease is so much more complex than the normal understanding or pop culture portrayal, and there are so many individual factors that make up the picture of who someone is and how they approach managing this disease throughout their life.

Along with that, I’ve found that some diabetes resources adopt a condescending tone when it comes to nutritional info and health education. (You can usually tell when they include a desserts section that emphasizes that these are only occasional treats that you should eat in moderation.)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that this is a marathon, not a sprint. I emphasize long term approaches over quick fixes, and healthy attitudes towards food and your body over strict diets and shaming. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, so you won’t find “miracle” supplements here either.

Instead, I strive to write with understanding that we’re all human, imperfect, and with our own struggles and needs. Again, there’s a huge mental and emotional component to handling this disease, and food has a personal and cultural importance in many peoples’ lives that should be honored.

Adaptations and alternatives

Food and exercise are not neutral topics and never have been. Physical access to grocery stores is not always a given, let alone time to cook, money to purchase “healthy” food, or physical ability when it comes to cooking steps like chopping or stirring. If you’ve never faced these issues, it can be hard to understand, and I’m still always learning from others’ experiences.

As much as possible, I try to include adaptations and alternatives for both ingredients and methods in recipes and meal plan posts. The motto “fed is best” is used in pediatric care, but I believe it applies here as well. Again, recognizing our own emotional and physical limitations and needs is incredibly important.

Honesty and transparency

Sometimes it can feel like almost every diabetes education post is a sales pitch. While I respect the people who make their living by providing resources, that’s not my situation. So I’ll never feature sponsored products or require payment for resources or anything I post here. Everything I post is my genuine and honest opinion.

Disclaimer

I am not a medical professional, trained dietician or nutritionist. This site is not meant to in any way replace medical opinions and I will never offer specific advice for individuals. Please consult with your medical team before making major changes to your diabetes management approach!

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