Boundless Body Radio Podcast – A Parent’s Guide to Normal Blood Glucose for T1D Kids

We believe families living with Type 1 diabetes deserve calm, confident control—and the chance to aim for normal blood sugars without fear. That belief guides everything I do as a clinician and as a mom.

I recently sat down with Casey Ruff on his Boundless Body Radio podcast to talk about exactly that—how families can move from chaos to confidence with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Casey is a seasoned coach and host (850+ episodes) who’s helped thousands of people explore low-carbohydrate, ketogenic, and ancestral lifestyles. He asked thoughtful, practical questions, and together we traced the arc so many families know: shock at diagnosis, overwhelm with standard guidance, and then—step by step—a clearer path forward using Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction (TCR).

Below is my first-person recap of that conversation: what day-to-day T1D really looks like, why standard advice often feels unworkable, what changed for our family, and how I now support parents and adults with T1D to use TCR safely and sanely in real life.

Boundless Body Radio Podcast – A Parent’s Guide to Normal Blood Glucose for T1D Kids

When a child is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, parents are handed a full-time job they never trained for—one with life-or-death decisions, 24/7. On the podcast, I shared how common it is to feel like you’re “walking a tightrope,” trying to avoid immediate danger from lows while also preventing long-term damage from highs. Casey has worked for years at the intersection of coaching, testing, and nutrition; he understands the human side and the practical side. That’s why this episode wasn’t just theory. It was about routines, decisions, and the realities of a family’s week.

Diagnosis day: the moment everything changes

Our son, Lachlan, was nine when he was diagnosed. We were fortunate he didn’t present in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), but the lead-up was classic: frequent nighttime urination, weight loss, and a vague “flu-like” picture. In the ER, we heard the words every parent remembers forever: “Your child has Type 1 diabetes.”

The next week was a blur of hospital-based education—insulin injections, carb counting, targets, and safety. We were told the goal was to keep his blood glucose between 4 and 10 mmol/L (70–180 mg/dL), to learn the timing and types of insulin, and to dose “to the carbs.” We also heard the line many families hear on day one: “He can eat anything—just dose for it.”

On paper, that sounds reassuring. In practice, it put us on a roller coaster.

The early weeks: math, meals, and the limits of “dose to the carbs”

Within days at home, we discovered how complex real life is with standard high-carb guidance:

• Pre-bolusing 15–30 minutes before meals felt like threading a needle. If our son got full halfway through dinner, we’d already dosed the insulin. Do we force more food? Do we scramble for glucose tabs?
• Activity swings (running around at recess vs. a rainy indoor day) changed insulin sensitivity, even when the food was the same.
• Injection variables (site, dose size, and absorption) added noise we didn’t yet know how to interpret.
• Big inputs, big variability. Large carbohydrate loads plus large insulin doses produced wide swings—post-meal spikes, then urgent corrections, then drops.

We did everything “right” by the book—counted perfectly, weighed food, learned timing—and yet the numbers still zig-zagged. Our older daughter became the designated “sit with your brother if he’s low” helper. Everyone felt on edge. Nights were fraught. Days were unpredictable. That’s the part people don’t see from the outside: the emotional bandwidth a family spends just to get through meals and sleep.

What kids feel (and what the whole family carries)

Casey asked what this looks like from a child’s perspective. In our experience, glucose swings often show up as behavior and mood. When our son ran high, we saw irritability and even a strange, sing-song “baby talk” that vanished when we later stabilized his glucose. Lows brought shakiness, nausea, and a need to lie down—plus the constant vigilance: in those early months, he didn’t go to the bathroom at school without a buddy.

And there’s the emotional layer. Our son never wanted to stand out. He didn’t want special treatment; he wanted to be “normal.” As parents, we felt the same—we wanted steadier days without making diabetes his identity or disrupting family life more than necessary.

The pivot: discovering a different way to manage food and insulin

A few weeks in, my husband found a talk by Dr. Troy Stapleton (Low Carb Down Under) and the book Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution. We wondered: Would reducing carbohydrates calm the swings? We were anxious about growth and nutrition, and we didn’t see many pediatric examples. So we did what I now encourage families to do: we asked for support.

Our diabetes care team didn’t lead with low-carb, but they were open-minded and helpful when we returned and said, “We’d like to try lowering carbs.” We adjusted insulin accordingly—conservative at first, with safety as the priority—and began a gradual, family-wide shift: simpler, lower-carb meals built around protein, healthy fats, and non-starchy vegetables; fewer “high-variance” foods; more predictable routines.

Within days, our graphs told the story: flatter lines, fewer alarms, calmer days. It wasn’t magic; it was math and physiology simplified. Fewer glucose molecules entering the system meant smaller insulin doses—and smaller mistakes.

I share this part carefully. Not every family starts in the same place, and not every child embraces changes at the same pace. But I want parents to know what’s possible when food inputs are aligned with insulin action and real-life routines.

What changed (and what didn’t)

What changed:

• Tighter post-meal control with less chasing
• Fewer overnight panics
• Happier mood and more energy for school and sports
• A family sense of “we can do this” replacing the constant adrenaline

What didn’t:

• T1D still requires skill and attention.
• You still need insulin education and a plan for sports, sickness, and social life.
• You still have to navigate birthdays, holidays, and relatives who love bringing pasta to Christmas.

But the everyday load got lighter. And once we saw the difference, I wanted to understand the “why” deeply—so I went back to graduate school, completed my graduate Master of Science in Human Clinical Nutrition, became a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), and focused my clinical work on helping families use Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction (TCR) in a practical, compassionate way.

The social stuff: cupcakes, birthdays, and what “compliance” really means

Food is culture, comfort, and community—especially for kids. Early on, I baked a lot of low-carb alternatives so our son could bring a cupcake to parties. Later, he sometimes preferred to eat before a party and skip food there. Over time, taste buds adapt (often in three to four weeks). Fat helps with enjoyment. We start with real foods first, and we keep replacements simple.

The bigger work is mindset and clarity. Families do best when expectations are clear (“What do we do at school? At sports? On weekends?”) and when kids feel included without being singled out. There’s no single “right answer” for birthdays or holidays; there’s only what your family decides—and repeats calmly.

From lived experience to professional practice

I now run T1D Nutrition, where I help parents and adults with Type 1 diabetes implement TCR as a low-carb strategy to aim for stable, normal blood glucose—with clear insulin-with-food frameworks and realistic routines. I also serve as Director of Educational Services at the Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre in Australia. We build education that reduces confusion and increases confidence, because T1D is fundamentally self-managed. Families need tools that work outside clinic walls.

Alongside colleagues, I’ve also co-authored the Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction for Type 1 Diabetes: A Guide for Dietitians & Nutritionists (Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition). It’s written for clinicians in their language—step-by-step, aligned with the nutrition care process—so that dietitians, educators, and coaches can support families who choose TCR. (It’s now being translated into multiple languages because the need is global.)

What diabetes educators tell us they need

When my colleague Amy Rush and I present to diabetes educators, we hear the same honest concerns:

• “I’m worried about hypoglycemia on my watch.”
• “I don’t know how to adjust insulin when the plate changes.”
• “I want to help—but I need a practical starting point.”

That’s why our trainings focus on conservative starting adjustments, clear observation (expect higher first, then adjust gradually), and simple, repeatable meal patterns. Educators are eager to help; they just need a safe framework to teach. Families thrive when clinicians partner with their real goals—like aiming for more time in a truly normal range—rather than only the broadest “in range” targets.

What we covered on Boundless Body Radio (and why it resonates)

Casey and I explored the entire arc:

• The chaos after diagnosis—and how to talk to families who are still in shock.
• Why the conventional “carb up, dose up” model creates high variance.
• How smaller inputs (fewer carbs, smaller insulin doses) lead to smaller mistakes.
• Daily realities: school, sports, sleepovers, and the emotional weight siblings carry.
• Taste adaptation and practical cooking when you’re not a chef.
• How to work with care teams (even when TCR isn’t their default).
• Why education—not perfection—is the path to confident care.

If you’re just getting started—or you’ve been at this for years and it still feels like a roller coaster—I think you’ll find the episode both honest and hopeful.

🎧 Listen: Boundless Body Radio — “A Parent’s Guide to Normal Blood Glucose for T1D Kids with Beth McNally (Episode 873)”

Audio: https://www.myboundlessbody.com/podcast-1/episode/7ddea959/a-parents-guide-to-normal-blood-glucose-for-t1d-kids-with-beth-mcnally-873

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtLhr4qx45Q

What TCR looks like in plain English (and how I teach it)

WHY: We believe families deserve steady days and restful nights—without living in fear of food or insulin.
HOW: Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction taught with compassion and clear insulin-with-food frameworks, anchored to your real life.
WHAT: Step-by-step education, meal mapping, conservative insulin adjustments, and simple data habits you can sustain.

A week in practice might include:

• Meal patterns built around protein, healthy fats, and non-starchy vegetables.
• Pre-meal insulin strategies that match the actual meal (not a theoretical carb load).
• One data habit (e.g., checking CGM trends 90–120 minutes post-meal) to refine the next time.
• A plan for sports (what to change on big activity days vs. rest days).
• A “social script” for birthdays and school events that your child helps create.

None of this requires perfection. It just requires a direction, a framework, and practice.

Common questions I get from parents (and how we address them)

“Isn’t a low-carb approach ‘restrictive’ for a child?”
T1D itself is restrictive when blood sugar swings dominate the day. Our aim is freedom through stability—more energy for school, sports, and friends. We prioritize nutrient-dense, enjoyable foods and involve kids in choices so they feel autonomy, not deprivation.

“How do we handle school?”
Clarity and repetition. Agree on routines with staff (CGM checks, hypo plan, lunch timing), keep meals predictable on school days, and teach your child a simple “If X, then Y” script for common scenarios.

“What about growth?”
Families worry, and I understand why. In practice, we focus on adequate protein, nutrient density, and total energy—then we monitor growth with your care team. (In my clinical work, growth is always a top-line consideration, discussed case by case.)

“Our care team doesn’t lead with TCR. Can we still do this?”
Yes. Many clinicians are open when families come prepared and prioritize safety. Share your goals, start conservatively, and bring resources written for clinicians (like the TCR guide). Ask for partnership on insulin adjustments and monitoring.

For adults with Type 1 diabetes reading this

Everything above applies—with the bonus that adults often appreciate the predictability and satiety TCR brings. You may find it easier to create meal routines, notice how different foods affect your CGM, and adjust insulin in smaller, more forgiving increments. The same principles—smaller inputs, smaller mistakes—still hold.

What I hope you take from the episode

• You’re not alone. The confusion you feel in week one (or year one) is normal.
• You have options. If high-carb, high-insulin feels unworkable, there’s another way to manage food and insulin.
• Education beats perfection. One clear routine trumps ten hacks.
• Kids can thrive. With steadier glucose comes steadier moods, more energy, and a life less dominated by diabetes.

Casey’s interview felt like a conversation with a coach who sees the person behind the numbers. If that’s the kind of support you want more of, I think you’ll enjoy it.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Boundless Body Radio
Audio: https://www.myboundlessbody.com/podcast-1/episode/7ddea959/a-parents-guide-to-normal-blood-glucose-for-t1d-kids-with-beth-mcnally-873
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtLhr4qx45Q

If this resonates, here are helpful next steps

• Free clinician guide: Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction for Type 1 Diabetes: A Guide for Dietitians & Nutritionists (IPTN)
  https://www.therapeuticnutrition.org/tcr-type-1-diabetes-guide
• Work with me / learn more tools for families:
  https://www.t1dnutrition.com
• Follow Boundless Body Radio to hear more thoughtful conversations like this one:
  https://www.myboundlessbody.com/podcast-1/

Closing thought

I began this journey as a mom staring at a glucose graph, willing the line to calm down. I became a clinician because I wanted families to have a clearer, kinder path than we had at the start.

If you believe life with T1D shouldn’t feel chaotic—if you want steadier days and nights without overwhelm—I hope you’ll listen to the episode, take one small step this week, and remind yourself: you’re allowed to aim for normal. You’re allowed to feel calm and confident again.