The winding roads to acceptance, fireside chat with Jen Grieves

The winding roads to acceptance, fireside chat with Jen Grieves

For many, receiving a diagnosis of a chronic illness like type 1 diabetes is a huge upheaval and the path to acceptance is rarely linear, with ebbs and flows as we grapple with coming to terms with our new reality.

For this candid Fireside chat, we’re delighted to welcome broadcaster, copywriter and all-round podcast legend in the type 1 diabetes community: Jen Grieves of Type1one1

Jen and Alex, founder of Diabetes By Design, will explore the multifaceted experience of coming to terms with a lifelong health condition and share their own winding roads toward acceptance—the hurdles, the breakthroughs, the laughs and the ongoing evolution of making peace with a life-changing diagnosis.

Through their shared stories, they will discuss what “acceptance” looks like to them. Because acceptance isn't a final destination—it's an ongoing practice of self-compassion, resilience, and finding light in the darkest moments.

This event is free but tickets are limited so book up to avoid disappointment!

About Jen Grieves

Jen Grieves is a broadcaster and editorial producer with over 15 years’ experience building digital communities for some of UK’s biggest TV and radio brands such as Love Island, The Voice, The Apprentice, BBC One, BBC Health News, Channel 4, BBC Woman’s Hour, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1996 at the age of 8, Jen began sharing her experiences online in 2009 to try and better understand her own health while still making the most of life. What she found was an incredible community of people who were all also trying to figure out what it really means to live with this complex and often misunderstood condition.

A belief in the importance and magic of connecting people through storytelling has never wavered, which led to the launch of the Type 1 on 1 podcast in 2019. Through candid and compassionate connection, hundreds of people from all over the world affected by the condition have now opened up to Jen about their lives. The podcast shares real, unfiltered stories to help others feel less alone with the day to day frustrations - and triumphs - of the wild ride that is life with type 1 diabetes.

Despite the concerns that prompted that first blog post, Jen has definitely made the most of life, and in 2021 she embarked on an adventure across the world, living out of a suitcase for 18 months. She now lives in Barcelona, Spain.

You can find Jen on Instagram, spotify and substack

This event is part of the DbyD fest: Spread over 10 days, this free exhibition, event series, and product launch is designed to be a dynamic exploration of what it means to live and thrive with a chronic condition. Learn more