160: How to Make Managing Diabetes Easier with Diabetic Dietitian, Ben Tzeel

Feb 6, 2026

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If you want to make managing your diabetes easier or if you are curious about how diabetes alters your life, today's guest, Ben Tzeel (founder of Your Diabetes Insider) is one of the leading experts in diabetes.

When Ben was 7 years old, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and it altered the course of his life. Back then, people didn't believe that diabetics could participate in sports or even be active without extreme risk.

As Ben lived with this condition for his entire life, he defied many of the expectations that were put on him at a young age. He also wanted to help other diabetics like him actually be understood by their dietitians and doctors.

That's what led him to creating Your Diabetes Insider - a healthcare and nutrition practice where everyone on his team is also a dietitian with diabetes.

(He's also a strength coach in addition to being a dietitian.)

Anyway, here's what Ben and I discuss in today's episode:

What's the difference between prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes?
The #1 most important metric diabetics must know and keep in balance (or they could die).
How diabetes affects muscle growth, mobility, quality of life, and more
And the best ways to exercise with diabetes

Listen now.

The highlights include:

How Ben defied the expectations of his doctors, his parents, and himself after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 7 years old. (2:21)
Why Ben created a "Dietitians with Diabetes" service. (Growing up, there was a stigma all doctors had that barred kids with diabetes from playing sports or even being active. Ben's Your Diabetes Insider is his response to nobody truly understanding what life's like with diabetes.) (3:45)
Why people with diabetes have to make an extra 180 decisions per day. (8:28)
How Covid (and other viruses) might trigger a dormant gene in the body that causes type 1 diabetes to develop. (15:01)
An incredible story about how insulin saved lives that's easy to overlook today because it's been around for so long. (Before insulin, a type 1 diabetes diagnosis meant you had only 3 to 12 months to live.)
Why ignoring a prediabetes diagnosis can mean you're on insulin for the rest of your life. (And how to adjust your lifestyle after prediabetes to avoid full-blown type 2 diabetes.) (19:29)
How globs of sugar can "stick" to your joints if you have diabetes (particularly type 1) and undermine your mobility. (The good news? Yoga appears to be one of the best ways to exercise with diabetes.) (21:53)
Why a trained dog is the fastest "technology" for detecting low blood sugar (dogs are much faster and more accurate than the latest continuous glucose monitor technology). (33:13)
The best way to build muscle with diabetes from a registered dietitian and strength coach with type 1 diabetes. (45:48)

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Man of Tzeel

Your Diabetes Insider

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Man Flow Yoga Events: On February 28, I'm hosting a Saturday Workshop in Denver, CO. If you want to do yoga with me and get feedback in real-time, get your ticket here: https://shop.manflowyoga.com/collections/in-person-events/products/mfy-workshop-denver-february-2026-02-28

2. Man Flow Yoga: Haven't signed up yet? Start your 7-day free trial and see how yoga can eliminate aches and pains better than other types of exercise here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7