The Other Side of Type 1 Diabetes: My Wife Gina on What It’s Really Like
Thirty years, three DKAs, countless alarms - and one marriage that somehow survived it all.
In this episode, Neil sits down with his wife Gina Greathouse for the conversation everyone’s been waiting for. Together, they talk about what diabetes distress really does - not just to the person living with type 1 diabetes, but to the person who loves them, supports them, and sometimes carries the weight right alongside them.
This is the real, unfiltered, funny, heartfelt look at love, marriage, and the mental load of life with T1D.
What You’ll Learn
• Partner perspective – What it’s really like to love someone with type 1 diabetes
• Emotional honesty – The tension between helping and not nagging
• Marriage under pressure – How distress, burnout, and fear show up in daily life
• How they healed – What changed when Neil began working on diabetes instead of reacting to it
Big Takeaways
1. Diabetes affects both of you.
The distress isn’t one-sided. When T1D moves into a marriage, both people feel it - one physically, one emotionally.
2. Communication changes everything.
Gina shares how they learned to talk with each other instead of around diabetes, especially when burnout hit.
3. Small wins build real trust.
As Neil began simplifying his diabetes management, the emotional load for both of them got lighter. Simple daily habits turned fear into confidence.
Take Action
Ready to assess your own diabetes distress or explore tools that strengthen your support system?
Take the T1-DDS-7 (quick) or 30-question version at yourbestt1dyear.com.
Resources
Helpful resources, free guides, and newsletter: yourbestt1dyear.com
Sponsor
Blue Circle Health offers free coaching and coordinated care that fits real life - from mental health support to prescription help.
Now available in 16 states across the U.S.
Sign up free: bluecirclehealth.org
Connect
Instagram: @thebetes
TikTok: @the.betes
Website: yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon:
Type 1 Diabetes: One Day at a Time