Episode 5: Between the sheets

In this episode of Sweet Talk, we’re getting real about something that doesn’t get talked about enough… intimacy and Type 1 diabetes. Yep! nothing is off limits.

We dive into what it’s actually like navigating sex, relationships, and vulnerability while living with diabetes. From managing highs and lows (in every sense of the word), to dealing with pumps, CGMs, body confidence, and those not-so-sexy interruptions, we’re covering it all.

We chat openly about communication with partners, feeling comfortable in your own skin, and how to handle the unexpected moments that come with having T1D in the bedroom. Whether you're living with diabetes or loving someone who is, this episode is all about breaking stigma, normalising the conversation, and reminding you that you’re not alone.

⚠️ Content note: This episode contains adult themes and discussions around sex and intimacy.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Sweet Talk with Abby and Elise. Hey everyone and welcome back to Sweet Talk, where life, laughs, and type 1 diabetes collide. I'm Elise, I'm a credential diabetes educator and accredited exercise physiologist.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

And I'm Abby, a registered nurse living with type 1 diabetes. We're here to talk all things diabetes, health, and real life. Answering your questions, busting myths, and having honest conversations about what type 1 diabetes really looks like. We share evidence-based advice, practical tips, and real-world experience to make diabetes feel a little less overwhelming.

SPEAKER_00 0:37

We want to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land in that we're recording on and the young bar people and pay our respects to elders past and present. Just a reminder that this podcast is for education and conversation only. For personal medical advice, always chat to your own healthcare team. Alright, let's get into it.

SPEAKER_01 1:01

Welcome back. This is our first episode for 2026. It's actually not though. Well, my first episode. Your first episode. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

Because didn't we do the travel one though? That was technically released in January. We re recorded it. In December though. Yeah. This is our first recording session for 2026.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

Amaze Falls. Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

We got there in the end. We got there in the end. Today is a really fun topic. We're kind of stepping away from the hospital and clinical. More into our how do we say private setting? Exciting. I know. Right, today we're tackling what is often missed in our consults with our specialists. I definitely would not be talking to my endocrinologist about this. Love you, Mark, but not that much. We're talking all things intimacy and type 1 diabetes. Not something we often talk about, no. So before we jump into today's episode, if you've got little ears around, maybe skip to the next episode.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Or put your headphones on. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:59

We're going to be having open and mature conversation intended for adult listeners.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

So this is very real and important topic because, of course, as we know, intimacy is a part of life and it deserves to be talked about properly and not awkwardly brushed aside.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

No, never. Living with a chronic condition like type 1 diabetes means wearing devices, managing alarms, thinking about blood sugars, and while that might sound like a non-issue to someone on the outside or who isn't dealing with it either as the person living with the condition or the partner of the person living with the condition, for those of us who are living it, it can be a real source of stress and self-consciousness.

SPEAKER_00 2:36

Mate, so much to think about. So whether it's body image or hypos during sex or bloody pump size. Oh my god. CGM's beeping at the worst possible moment. Look, all these things matter. You're not silly, you're not dramatic for caring about them, and that's what we're here to chat about today. Totally.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

So we're gonna create a safe space for honest, shame-free conversation about sex, confidence, safety, and connection when you're living with type 1 diabetes. Let's get started. Yay!

SPEAKER_00 3:06

Have you ever heard a horror story? Maybe it was you yourself. Has a CGM alarm gone off at a bit of an inappropriate time?

SPEAKER_01 3:14

No. No, you're not. I don't think so, but I actually I did I did have a quick look at this question and what I the only thing I can liken it to is like your vibrant diet.

SPEAKER_00 3:27

Oh that's unfortunate.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

It's just like and it's gone. And that's why. Yeah. So a bit of a moon killer. Especially if it's a low alarm. Like you don't necessarily want to wait for something like that to fit for that.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

Look, you probably wouldn't be really feeling it, to be completely honest. And then your alarm would be like, oh. And then yeah, I was gonna say if you're in a bit of a precarious position, you wouldn't really want to, you know, have a hypo when you are upside down doing a handstand or something. Some like crazy chromatic moves. Yeah. I feel that that's you. Maybe. Maybe a little bit of a dabble. Who knows? Anyway. We'll find out. Um so how do we stop this beep of doom from killing the vibe? Do you have any tips?

SPEAKER_01 4:06

I mean, I would I check my blood sugar before any exercise activity. That's responsible. Yeah. Because it's basically exercise. I know, and not to um give too much away, but like Jordan and I are like in the shower type people. Nice. So my pump's usually not on me anyway. That's gonna be asked in asked up ahead. Yes. I was concerned about disconnecting what I think. Anytime I disconnect my pump, I check my blood sugar to make sure it's not too high or too low before I take it off.

SPEAKER_00 4:34

So Because gone of the days, of course, you have nothing on you, of course. I sent you that Instagram reel earlier this week where it was this fellow having a shower and he's gonna be like, Oh yes. Oh my goodness, no CGM and no pump connector. I feel so free.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

The sexy naked shower. The sexy naked shower. I know, but I tend to do if I had get a naked shower by naked shower, everyone we meet. Showering with no CGM or devices on. So when you your day for changing your pump and your CGM lineup. That's wild. Ask any type one diabetic, we plan the most indulgent shower or bath of our dreams.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

And just put your phone a long way away. Yeah, it's just like if that alarms, just silence that for me. Look, if that happens, then you need to be like, Jordan, it is time. Yeah. It it is time we need to we need to go between the sheets. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

This is what's happening. It's like when you're like ovulating and you're trying to have a baby.

SPEAKER_00 5:25

Now or never, never, whether your CGM's connection or not. Yeah. But in all serious, no. The next question was to disconnect or not to disconnect. And so you said you guys are shower guys, so you guys always disconnect.

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Yeah, but I I don't necessarily feel like I've taken it off otherwise. I don't I don't have like crazy memories of it.

SPEAKER_00 5:44

Because that was my next question. Is that when it comes to pumps, do you think it's better to stay tethered or to have kind of a tactical brain for half an hour or something like that? Because for our listeners at home, our individuals using pumps, they can disconnect for two hours potentially. Yeah. So, you know, we always say to monitor pre and post and during, but it is very safe for you to take your pump off if you need to. Yeah. Yeah. But you haven't really thought about it for you.

SPEAKER_01 6:05

No, like I feel like make I mean, I feel like it would be different if you were a single person and meeting new people and like the spontaneity of intimacy and like anxiousness and lust.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

And if it was kind of a new relationship, maybe you'd be quite conscious of getting tangled.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Yes, whereas like I had been in a relationship with Jordan for two years when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so like it was never a concern or a no an area of like where I was self-conscious because it was like, oh, this is a part of who I am now.

SPEAKER_00 6:38

Probably the first time post-diagnosis would have been a little bit daunting for my life.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

Yeah, for sure. I think too, because I was still so like labile and brittle in my numbers, I would go up very fast and down very fast. Yeah, everything was fresh. Yeah. The old pancreas had a little bit of kick to her left. Yeah, and I was looking really skinny then too. So maybe I felt really conscious about it.

SPEAKER_00 6:58

Body image, this is what we're talking about. Body image is huge. So, look, as the exercise nerd in the room, Abby, I've gotta ask, I'm curious. How should our listeners be kind of pre-gaming their BGL plan, essentially? So, you know, should they be treating it like they're rolling into a 5k run? Do you have a snack beforehand? Kind of, I guess depends on kind of what it is. Like you said, if it's kind of that lusty kind of moment, you can't really prepare for that, right? No, that's what I'm saying. So what kind of tips?

SPEAKER_01 7:25

Look, I'm all for a pregame snack, especially pre-game snack in adult life when sometimes it's like you're not as spontaneous, you almost like not plan it, but it's like okay, sure.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

Let's what would your pregame snack of choice be? Fast glucose?

unknown 7:42

Yeah. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Maybe like a date night, have some pasta. Nice.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

I was gonna say some of the runners that might be listening, their runners pre-run are kind of into like crumpets and honey or like toast and honey. So a little bit of complex carbs but a bit of simple carbs. I don't know if I'd think that much into it. Yeah, cool. Just be like look, if you're having a pre-date and then it's kind of like post-date, you're like, yeah, you know, hey, hey, let's uh take this one step further. Let's get in the shower or let's take this one step further. I guess you're already kind of pre-fueled for the game, right?

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Yeah, especially if it's a day, like a first date or you know, a 10-year anniversary day and you tend to go out for dinner.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

Hopefully the person had previously disclosed that they had diabetes in the first place, and if they did wear a pump or something like that.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

Yeah, yeah. I'd be interested to hear from anyone listening who has dated or been like a new new to dating with a pump. Like with a pump or something, because I don't have any experience. Um, and Jordan was always very accepting a little. I mean, he walked through it all with me. Amazing.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

But um makes it so easy when you've got a supportive partner.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

Yeah, but I would imagine me myself, if I were to be single again, I feel like it would definitely be something I was maybe self-conscious about. Especially because I have a tubed pump, so I and I have it hooked on me most of the time.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

And sometimes it's showing for you, but sometimes it's not. So I mean if you were meeting someone for the very first time and it was quite spontaneous, I guess, and they didn't know you had a pump, like that could be challenging.

SPEAKER_01 9:15

Totally. Especially because I'm not the type I know some people with tube pumps like sleep, they'll happily sleep naked and have their pump in the bed with them. I'm not that type of person. I like to have it clipped either on my bra or if I have like high waist underwear, like on my underwear. So I don't imagine I would enjoy being like completely naked and being intimate. You'd want it clipped on, and then having my pump just like also following me around awkwardly like like an emotional support animal, like, oh, never mind, that that's fine.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

Well, I guess like the perks of having things like accessories, right? Like you could have a little garner. I was thinking the same thing like high weight, high thigh, high stockings. You can make it sexy, yeah. Could be like an accessory, totally, yes, amazing. I love that. I love that. So obviously different to yourself because you said you and Jordan were together before you were diagnosed with type one. But do you have any tips for our listeners with type one entering the bedroom with their partner for the first time?

SPEAKER_01 10:10

Yeah, I mean, it's definitely, I think, uh like acknowledging how life-changing it can be, not only for you having these things suddenly attached to you, but also how your body changes, especially when before you get diagnosed, lots of people lose a lot of weight, and then post-diagnosis people will often get it.

SPEAKER_00 10:28

So, how they feel, right? Like body image is hard to kind of accept. Yeah. Because you look different to what you used to.

SPEAKER_01 10:33

Yeah, so like figuring out how you can still feel empowered and sexy, whether you're a male or a female with these things attached. I know for me what I did was even though I was in a very happy, healthy relationship, I still struggled with how my body had changed and having these things attached to me and knowing that, like, yes, during sex I'm gonna have this during when I get married, when I have a baby, this is all like a part of me and how my body and feelings about myself change and other how other people perceive me. So I did um a photo shoot and we'll be sure to post some photos with this episode where it was like a boudoir photo shoot essentially where I really not like showcased the equipment, but like it showed off your amazing sexuality with despite.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

Yes. Yes, or regardless. Yes, and it just happened to be there.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

Yeah, and like we did, we I had like a little garter and like I twisted it around the pump so it was a little bow in front of my little pump. I was like on my leg, you know what I mean? And like I think things like that. I mean, obviously that's not for everyone. Of course, actually on our Instagram. I think it was the very first photo that you posted. Oh, there we go. I do, yeah. So we have to post another one, or pin it or something. Yeah. I don't know for me that was like very healing, empowering, empowering with um your body image things. Yeah, and accepting that these are now a part of who I am. And you're okay about that. Yeah, but it took me a while to get there. And I can understand how people, especially maybe people coming of age, so heading into adulthood or like heading into like figuring out their sexuality and how they interact with people in like that intimate way, how that how that could be a challenge and having like not being able to talk to your parents about it in the way that you would have necessarily talked about type one diabetes things, or your care team either. Um you might not feel comfortable talking about it. No, and so I know for a lot of people like they just take them off and pretend like they're they don't have to have them, especially in those moments because it's just easier.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

And I think for our listeners that might be living with type one that don't wear pumps or pods and things like that, and they might just inject their insulin, something like that they could, I guess, hide, maybe, but it it is really hard because if you're getting to know your partner, I mean it's important that they know about you too. I think it's really important to communicate, and it sounds like you and Jordan do that so well, which makes it easy. Yeah, but I mean not everyone has that luxury. No, no, and so I mean, if you have that luxury to be able to have a really good communicator and say, hey, like this is this is what's happened. Yeah, and this is what that beat means. Yes. If I'm doing this, this is why. If my symptoms suddenly change, yeah, I'm not crazy, I haven't had my drink spiked.

SPEAKER_01 13:13

Yeah, maybe just prompt me to check my glucose levels. Absolutely, yeah. And I mean, people can burn a lot of energy very quickly having sex. So it is a very real possibility.

SPEAKER_00 13:24

Mate, those acrobats that do those handstand positions, my goodness, imagine all the calories, so you'd be hypoing left, right, and center. Exactly right.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

So you could like suddenly be very symptomatically unwell, like in this very fun, like spontaneous environment.

SPEAKER_00 13:38

And I feel like the person that you're with. And can you imagine if you've got that added bonus of having hypo-unawareness in that situation? I feel good and then standing up and just being like, whoa, don't feel good. By the way, my glucose is 1.8. Yeah. Gosh, my goodness. Sorry, non spiritual. To our listeners that don't know, some people with any type of diabetes might have what's called hypo-unawareness, meaning that they can get a low or a level less than four and they don't actually feel it. So it'd actually be pretty dangerous. So thankfully, Abby, you can feel your hypothesis.

SPEAKER_01 14:08

It's definitely, I'm definitely becoming less symptomatic, though, I've noticed. Right. Like oftentimes I'll be alarming thinking I'm like going low and it'll be like two point something, and I'm like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

Oh gosh. And then if you're, you know, in a bit of a situation between the sheets. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:22

And it can be really easy to like not prioritize that.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

I get that. Because you're in the moment. If your head's elsewhere, I can see that that's not a priority. This is not a problem for me right now. So look, maybe being prepared, like you said, checking your glucose, you're already doing tick, textbook, amazing. Communicating with your partner, you're doing that, making sure you feel comfortable. I think that's the biggest thing. Yeah. Yeah. Because it it can be hard to like that, be in a moment when you're not feeling it. Yeah. Yeah. And I know it sounds a little bit lame, but you know, have your finger pricker in a hypo kit close by because it's jelly beans in the bedside drawer. Always. We've we've taken photos of your beautiful hypo kit in the past. It doesn't have to be jelly beans. It it could be, you know, your beautiful chalky chews of your choice or whatever. So that was look, if you are going low post-session, what's the sexiest recovery snack that do you think? Is it the chalky chews? Absolutely not.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

No, for a single scale, I remember when you were diagnosed. There is never an appropriate situation to get the chalky chews. Like, give me anything else.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

For those that don't know, there are these glucose tablets you can get and they taste, their texture is like chalk.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

Yeah. Yeah, it's like a They do the job. Yeah, they do. Bid gosh, there are better choices. Disgusting?

SPEAKER_00 15:31

Yes. Yes. Not sexy. No. No, I do love Skittles. Um you could always kind of, you know, make this part of the process is that, you know, bit of the foreplay, put the Skittles, you know, on your partner. Nice. And have your five grams and just say, let's just pause for a minute. Yeah. And let's just have, you know, a little bit of foreplay to bring my glucose up. Hold on a second, let me check my phone. Yeah, I'm above five. We're good. Let's go. Let's go. Round two.

SPEAKER_01 15:56

Or let's continue. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

No, I love that actually. It's like the um. I'll copyright that. Yeah. Please, everyone, write in if you try it.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

Eating gummy bears off your partner. It's like body shots. Amazing.

SPEAKER_00 16:08

I feel Skittles might be a little bit more fun because if they roll off, you have to go chasing them. I know and they leak colours. Oh, bit of artistic. Bit of sexy. Oh no, so I love that. I love that. So can you name one thing you wish every partner of someone with type 1 diabetes knew before they got intimate?

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Yeah. I guarantee you the person living with type 1 diabetes is more conscious, aware, and annoyed by their alarms than you are. Yeah. Because it can be easy to get frustrated, like you're in the moment, you're getting too close to the end, this alarm goes off, and then suddenly the other person isn't in it, and it's frustrating. Yeah. But I guarantee you they're very aware of it. Yeah. And they're feeling self-conscious. So be patient. Be patient, be loving. Ask if they're okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

If they're not into checky, maybe if you want to be spontaneous, you can have a little sneak at their phone or at their pump before you initiate. Yeah. Before you even initiate. So you know that they're good to go and you can just say, babe, you're good to go. Don't even worry about it. I got you. You don't have to worry about it.

SPEAKER_00 17:08

That's so hot. That is hot. That's so hot. Having, you know, someone else's. Oh yes. Yeah. Love that. But I mean, look, if you happen to be into all sorts of other kind of stuff between the sheets and you didn't have the capacity to actually check your phone beforehand, get someone else to do it. Yeah. Let them take charge. Totally. That's important. I love that. All right. And just to finish up, have you ever had a tangled up moment? And did you recover?

SPEAKER_01 17:37

Always.

SPEAKER_00 17:38

Always recover.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Yeah. Jordan and I like are big into laughing at each other, laughing at ourselves. That's good. So yeah, like I said, I can only speak on me personally, but I'm sure I've even not in like a saucy moment. I tell I always like get off and my pump's like hanging off somewhere. I'm like, what are you doing? Like I talk to her, like it's like come on, mate.

SPEAKER_00 17:57

Like, bro, come on, Tamagotchi. You're not meant to be that wasn't job. Stay attached. What are you doing? Have you ever stood up and it just suddenly detached?

SPEAKER_01 18:05

Yeah, I've had it like full pull my sides out before. And did you realize? Yeah. I feel like I did because I was like, wait a minute.

SPEAKER_00 18:12

Because I can imagine if you were pretty kind of steamy in the moment and you didn't realise and it just ripped it out, but you know, it was in the moment.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

But that's something you probably want to share. Like the cannulas that. Hopefully they're using soft cannulas so they don't re-poke your side. Your partner.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

Oh gosh. Like own needle stick injuries from my own cannula. You've done that before. Yeah, I have. Yeah, okay. Or like I'm like driving the home and it's like an hour and a half to go home, and like I pull it out and then I just stick it back in. Don't do as I say, not as I do, everyone. Oh my god, I don't have time for this right now. I don't have time for diabetes.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

Stay right there, and then I'll look if it gets you home and you're safe and your glucose is safe. I don't want to know about it. But I don't want to know about reusing needles, reusing cannules. But look, if it works, it works. Yeah, in a pinch, guys. In a pinch. That's alright. So look, overall, this has been a pretty saucy topic. Totally. Really appreciate you opening up. It's a big thing. So I think overall, you know, it's important. We've spoken about tonight about making sure that you communicate with your partner. Yeah. Making sure that you're okay. Yeah. And safe. Yes. That you feel safe. And look, it's not something that if being diagnosed, and you probably remember this, being diagnosed and then getting back into the bedroom, it's not something you've got to race into. No. It's like postpartum for our girls that are pregnant. It's not something you want to race back into. Six weeks. Gosh. Minimum. Apparently, my body said I was ready for another child for six weeks. And I said, no, girl, not yet. Lisa's hormones were like, give me more. And my body was like, no, stay away. Do not fast go. Do not fast go. So yeah, look, you've got to feel comfortable. So I appreciate you. I appreciate you opening up. This is such a tricky thing to talk about. But look, if any of our listeners don't feel comfortable talking about it with their provider, feel free to write in. Yeah. Yeah. Send us a message. Send us a message. Abby's here. I'm here. It's always good to get other opinions. It's real life for us, you know what I mean? And it's important. It's an important part of relationships. Whether it be, you know, like you said, more of the foreplay side of things or more other side of things or role play or whatever it is that's important to you, it's gonna be important to the relationship. So as long as you feel comfortable, it's the best thing.

SPEAKER_01 20:17

Yeah, and figure it out with your partner.

SPEAKER_00 20:19

That's it.

SPEAKER_01 20:20

Talk to each other.

SPEAKER_00 20:21

Janks. Done. Thanks everyone. Thanks. Bye everyone. This is your life, your body, and type 1 diabetes just fits into your schedule.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

Thanks for listening and join us next month for a whole new episode of Sweet Talk with Abby and Elise.