Type 1 Diabetes: “Diabetes is just a bump in the road, not a roadblock.”

Could you start by sharing a bit about yourself?

Richard C. Meyer, 56 years old, Type 1 diabetic for 43 years, married with 2 children, 16 and 20 years old. I have been a professional chef my entire life, mostly in the private restaurant world. I accepted a job working with the MLS soccer team, the Portland Timbers, 6 years ago. In this role, I manage the food service for the Timbers’ 1st team, 2nd team, staff, and the academy program.

When were you first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes? How did you feel at the time, and what steps did you take to manage your condition?

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes back in 1981 when I was 13 years old. I had no history of diabetes in my family, so this came as a surprise to me and my family. My blood sugar was over 700 at diagnosis, and I had all the common symptoms: constant thirst, weight loss, tiredness, hunger all the time… I was quickly sent to the hospital, where I stayed for over a week, learning about the disease and the steps I would need to take to live with it—injecting insulin, changing my diet, and checking blood sugar. I learned how to inject myself by practicing on an orange.

How has living with Type 1 Diabetes impacted your daily life, both personally and professionally? Has it shaped your career choices or the way you approach cooking?

I was, and still am, an active person. I grew up playing soccer, snowboarding, skiing, swimming, and golfing… I quickly learned that I would need to change some things in order to continue with these activities. Keeping an eye on blood sugar was much more difficult back then, and it was also a lot less accurate. I had a few incidents of very low blood sugar in my teens, which sent me back to the hospital more than once. My career choice to cook for a living also threw some hurdles my way. Chef life is fast-paced, stressful, with long hours on your feet. I learned very quickly, early in my career, how important it is to manage this disease correctly.

As a father of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, what has it been like managing the condition for both yourself and your child? What challenges do you face as a parent and a patient, and how do you support each other in this journey?

My son Beck, now 16, was diagnosed with Type 1 in June of 2020, during Covid. He was 12 years old at the time. Having Type 1 myself, I knew there was a chance I could pass this on to my kids. This was something I always feared would happen. Beck had all the same symptoms as I did, and he did his best to try to hide his weight loss and constant thirst. Beck spent three nights in the hospital, quickly learned how to self-inject with an insulin pen, and was released from the hospital with a prescription for a Dexcom CGM and an Omnipod insulin pump.

What strategies or treatments do you use to manage your diabetes? Have you tried any new technologies like insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)? How effective have they been for both you and your son?

I was already using a Dexcom CGM but wasn’t on a pump. I did multiple daily injections for 40 years of my diabetic journey. After seeing how successful Beck was in managing his Type 1 with a pump, I quickly decided to go on one myself. This was ultimately the best decision I made. We now both use all the same equipment and insulin—Omnipod 5, Dexcom G6, and Lyumjev insulin. Beck has had an A1C between 5.7 and 6.3 since he was diagnosed. I typically have an A1C of 6.1-6.3 with 90%+ time in range. The Dexcom Follow app is a game-changer for parents/caregivers of a Type 1 diabetic. Being able to see your kid’s blood sugar anytime sure helps. I can’t imagine the stress my parents went through when I was away at school or in college.

Has your diagnosis affected your mental health and well-being?

In my teen years, I felt Type 1 made me different from the other kids. I just wanted to fit in with everyone, so at times, I was very defiant about managing my diabetes. I did speak with a professional counselor a number of times, though I’m not sure how much that helped. My parents insisted I do it. We all go through diabetic burnout at one time or another, which is perfectly normal. Diabetes never gives you a break. You’re always either counting carbs, dosing insulin, checking blood sugar, correcting a low, or correcting a high… With Beck, we have a system where I follow his blood sugar all day, every day. This puts me at ease, and it helps him, as I can send him a quick text message if his blood sugar is trending downward or upward.

What role has your family played in your journey with Type 1 Diabetes? How important has their support been, and what advice would you give to other families navigating life with diabetes?

My parents helped me as much as they could back in the ’80s during my teen years. When I left for college, I really took management into my own hands, as there was no technology for anyone to help when you lived far away from each other. My wife and I are VERY involved in Beck’s management—we plan daily meals and help with carb counting.

As someone in the culinary world, are there any diet tips or tricks you’ve developed to help manage your diabetes? How do you balance nutrition for both yourself and your child while keeping your love for food at the forefront?

This is a great question. Having a career in culinary arts has helped me in so many ways. Food is the number one factor in good/bad diabetes management. Cooking for so many years has opened my eyes to what exactly is in the food we eat. I prefer to cook for myself but, of course, cherish a very good meal at a restaurant or party. Knowing ingredients and cooking styles can be a big help in figuring out how to bolus (take insulin) for the food you are eating. I’ve been very lucky to have had the opportunity to do quite a bit of traveling with my career and have learned about many cultures and their food styles. Many people don’t realize how much hidden fat/carbs can be in restaurant food, which can make eating out a bit tricky for diabetics. So, I am thankful for the food knowledge that I’ve gained over my 30+ years of cooking in restaurants and for professional athletes.

Have you been involved in any advocacy or awareness efforts for Type 1 diabetes?

Since Beck was diagnosed, I’ve become more active in the diabetic world. I do some diabetic activities around the area we live in and participate in Type 1 diabetic fundraising. I also have an active Instagram account, @type.1chef, which I started to help diabetic friends create and bolus for meals. I wish I had more time to spend on that account, but time is hard to come by while working full-time in the sports world. Beck did spend a week at a Type 1 camp near us, which was great for him to be around other kids his age also living with diabetes.

Finally, do you have any words of advice or encouragement for others who are dealing with similar challenges?

To newly diagnosed folks with Type 1: don’t be overwhelmed by the amount of information on Type 1 management—there is a lot! Seek out the online diabetic community; this is a great resource for support in all aspects of diabetic life. The best advice I can give a newly diagnosed diabetic is this: You are not alone. Your management will never be PERFECT, and that’s okay. Don’t stop doing things you love. Diabetes is just a bump in the road—not a roadblock.

A big thank you to Rich for this interview!

Don’t forget to check out his Instagram page: @type.1chef

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Take care of yourself!