Danica Doble, a fitness coach and content creator who has been living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) since 2009 recently partnered with Breakthrough T1D Canada as a social media ambassador. She sat down with the organization to share more about her journey, and why she’s so open about how teenage struggles living with T1D empowered her to become a fitness trainer and passionate advocate for the T1D community.
Content warning: please note this piece discusses eating disorders
What do you remember about your T1D diagnosis?
I remember being a seven-year-old little girl and experiencing all of the vicious symptoms that come along with a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. It was a Monday night, and I was at gymnastics practice. Immediately after practice, my mom got a phone call from my doctor stating that I needed to go to the hospital because I had just been diagnosed with T1D. For the next five days, I spent eight hours in the hospital each day and my parents learned everything they could about T1D. Back in 2009, type one diabetes wasn’t talked about much, so my parents really didn’t know what to expect. I remember playing with all the toys that they provided in the hospital and thank goodness for my parents for being attentive, because I most definitely was not. I returned to normal life after those five days, not knowing what was happening to me, not knowing why my parents had to poke my finger and poke my arm every time I wanted to eat. However, as hard as that week was, that week is the reason that I’m who I am today.
Can you tell us a little about starting your fitness journey, after being an active teenager with T1D?
My fitness journey began in 2018; I was like every other teenager. I played sports. I hung out with my friends. I went to school. To be honest with you, I probably lived too much of a normal life. I neglected my blood sugars throughout my teen years and was definitely not focussed on diabetes management. I partied a little too much at times and had a little too much fun with my friends, however, I definitely don’t regret anything because not only did I experience life, but it also prompted me to start my fitness journey.
Although I was quite active as a competitive soccer player, my nutrition was really something that I neglected. After my trip to Europe in 2018, I had told myself that I just wanted to lose 5 pounds to feel better about myself. I quickly learned about calorie deficits and strength training and began doing things to an extreme. 5 pounds later turned into 50. During this time, I had not only lost too much weight but had also lost my period and had developed two eating disorders. It was at this point that I decided to become the healthiest and strongest version of myself. I put on about 20 to 30 pounds, much of it being muscle, and learned everything you could about working out and nutrition.
Can you share a little about your dual diagnoses and how you manage your binge eating disorder (BED) today
My binge eating lasted for about two years, and it was due to the fact that I had eaten so few calories for so long. There were many days when I felt so out of control with my eating and I would compensate these binges by doing hours worth of cardio the next day. It’s an incredibly vicious cycle and very, very difficult to get out of. After my binges, my blood sugars would be so incredibly high, and it would take them hours if not days to come down then the cycle would repeat itself. Today, I am proud to say that I have been
free for five years. I started fueling my body properly and made sure that I was getting enough calories. Although I still struggle at times with overeating I no longer eat until I feel sick, which in my opinion is major progress.
How did you come to have food neutrality?
My relationship with food has been rocky over the years, but I am proud to say that my relationship with food is at an all-time high. I now understand that there are no good or bad foods and food is food. Some foods are more nutrient dense while other foods are less nutrient dense. However, that does not make one better over the other. Sometimes my body craves a chocolate cake while other times my body is craving a bowl of fruit. In my opinion, I believe that all food serves a significant purpose whether it’s food that makes your body feel good, or food that makes your soul feel good. While the way I physically feel matters, so do memories. I’ve come to realize that food will always be a massive part of celebrations and events, and when I’m 80 years old, I want to be able to look back on these memories and remember all of the laughs that were shared over good food, not how little I ate that day or how healthy I was during these events.
How does powerlifting help you feel empowered with managing your T1D, both physically and emotionally?
Weightlifting has done wonders for me not just physically, but emotionally too. Not only has it significantly helped my blood sugars, but it helped me in so many other aspects of my life. The empowerment I feel from weightlifting is like no other because it just really goes to show that you can do absolutely anything in your life, even with type 1 diabetes.
How do you use your social media platforms to connect with others in the T1D community
I started my social media platforms in 2022 to mainly focus on the fitness side of things however, after about a year, I wanted to do more. I wanted to make an impact for the T1D community and show people that living with it can have positives. I started my type one diabetes account by posting relatable content and bringing light to dark topics quickly. I was able to grow a substantial following on that account and created a community like no other! I’ve connected with hundreds, if not, thousands of people and it is something I will forever be grateful for. I get tons of messages from people telling me that I’ve helped them, when in reality they’ve helped me just as much.
What are you excited about partnering with Breakthrough T1D Canada?
I’m excited to partner with Breakthrough T1D Canada because of the incredible impact the organization has on the type 1 community. I believe that it’s so important to hear stories and experiences from other type 1s, so people know they’re not alone in their experience & journey.
Anything else you’d like to share with the Canadian T1D community?
I’d like to share with the community that as much as diabetes can suck sometimes, and be incredibly difficult, perspective is everything. Type 1 diabetes has connected me with so many amazing people, and it’s made me strong, courageous, and powerful!
Follow Danica on her IG account @deeabetes
