Episode Details

In this episode, Coach Ken sits down with Kelly Schmidt, diabetic dietitian and longtime Type 1 diabetes advocate, to have a deep conversation about one of the biggest topics in diabetes right now:

With medications like Ozempic and other GLP-1-based therapies becoming more common, there are a lot of questions:

1. Are these just weight-loss medications?
2. Can people with Type 1 diabetes benefit from them?
3. How do you use them safely?
4. What happens with food, muscle, digestion, and long-term health?

Kelly shares her personal experience using GLP-1 medications since 2017 and explains why these medications are about much more than weight loss. The conversation explores how GLP-1s impact appetite, digestion, hormones, inflammation, and blood sugar management.

Ken and Kelly also discuss the difference between single agonists and dual agonists, why the “strongest” medication is not always the best medication, and why having conversations with your healthcare team is critical when deciding what works for your individual needs. 

The episode also dives into some of the biggest concerns people with Type 1 diabetes have:

• Can GLP-1 medications worsen gastroparesis?
• Do they cause bone loss?
• How do you protect muscle while using these medications?
• What role do protein and strength training play?

Kelly shares practical guardrails around using these medications, including the importance of adequate nutrition, resistance training, and building systems that support your health—not just chasing a number on the scale.

This episode is an honest conversation about a rapidly evolving area of diabetes care and how people with Type 1 diabetes can ask better questions, understand their options, and make informed decisions with their healthcare team.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why GLP-1 medications are about more than weight loss
• How GLP-1 and dual agonist medications work differently
• The importance of individualized medication decisions
• Why insurance access has become such a major challenge
• How food quality impacts results while using GLP-1 medications
• Why protein and strength training are essential
• How gastroparesis fits into the conversation
• Why medication should support your health—not replace healthy habits
• How to have better conversations with your healthcare team

Kelly's Other Episodes:

• Testosterone, Cortisol & Hormones in T1D - #334
• Diabetes Vulnerabilities - #135
• Debunking Diabetes Detox Myths - Episode #130
• Manipulating Your Blood Sugars During The Female Cycle - Episode #123
• The 5-Pillars to Healthy Blood Sugars - Episode #119
• Gut Health w/T1D Dietitian - Episode #117
• Food Sensitivities - Episode #72
• The Expert Dietitian Series - Part 3 - Episode #44
• The Expert Dietitian Series - Part 2 - Episode #40
• The Expert Dietitian Series - Part 1 - Episode #35
• Why Is Nutrition Important in Diabetes? - Episode #9

Additional Resources:

• Watch our LIVE episodes Mondays & Wednesdays @2p