{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Around the Circle: Living Well with T1D","title":"Val Luong on Finding T1D Community That Fits Your Life","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1988,"description":"Val Luong from The Diabetes Link was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 23 while serving in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. Far from her family and without peers who understood what she was experiencing, she didn’t even know community was something she might need. Years later, one Instagram message helped her find the connection she had been missing, and ultimately helped shape her work as Manager of Community and Engagement at The Diabetes Link.\nScott and Val explore community during young adulthood when life is already full of transitions. Val explains why connection doesn’t have to mean joining a formal support group or making a big commitment. It might be one person, a text message, an online space, or a casual meetup built around a shared interest.\nAlong the way, Val shares how The Diabetes Link helps young adults connect on college campuses, whether it’s online through Discord, at informal in-person gatherings, or in their chapter meetings. She also offers practical guidance for reaching out, participating quietly, recognizing whether a community feels welcoming and useful, and taking one small step toward connection that genuinely fits your life.\nWhat You'll Learn\nWhy community can feel especially complicated during young adulthood\nHow Val’s experience of isolation after diagnosis led her to seek connection years later\nWhy diabetes community doesn’t have to mean a formal support group or a major commitment\nHow one person, a text message, or quiet participation online can provide meaningful support\nWhat online and in-person communities can each offer young adults with T1D\nHow The Diabetes Link helps young adults connect through college programs, Discord, and informal local meetups\nPractical, low-pressure ways to reach out and begin building a connection\nHow to recognize whether a community respects your needs, boundaries, and energy\nKey Quotes\n“All I wanted was to know one person. I didn’t even know if we were going to be friends, but I just wanted to know...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ZwtJk5cNfIfgz2P3gzr9JcObYabO_Mtb5PIacekPQ7A/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zNTk3/NjFhNWRiZjNkMTEw/MTg4NzAyMDkwMWI1/MDk5YS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}