Katie Bartel, Registered Dietitian

02/09/2026

Today I did something so completely out of my comfort zone – and I am so happy I did!

Improv at with a group of other T1Ds 🤩

It was incredibly fun and silly and was a great reminder that life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time.

Thanks Allie!! I will for sure be back again 😊

02/06/2026

Katie’s got a new T1D toy to play with – and already it’s changing my style.

I am so fortunate that has allowed me a trial of their 780G with SmartGuard AID pump.

It’s only been a few days, and I’m not yet sure how I feel about it overall.

Definitely larger (and heavier) than others, forcing me to switch out of my lightweight shorts in favour of tights for my workouts – just to keep my shorts from falling down!! 🙊

That said, it is easier to sleep with than other tubed pumps I’ve had – being able to store it under my hugging pillow and not having to worry about loss of sensor signal. Bonus!

More details to come once I’ve got more days under my belt. Stay tuned 🤩

01/30/2026

Did you know that Connect in Motion has a "platinum club" for us - ahem - grey haired folk. I think it's fantastic!! Our T1D population is aging, and we all need supports from childhood, straight up into seniorhood.

And guess what – I'm doing a virtual talk for the April Platinum Club!!! All about "Eating Well Through the Ages". If you want to come hang out, you totally should 🙂

Full details can be found here. Keep in mind times are in EST. So if you're in BC, like me, the start time is actually 4:30 PST

TITLE: Eating Well Through the Ages: Nutrition Strategies for Changing Bodies DESCRIPTION: As we age, our metabolism, hormones, and activity levels shift — and so do our nutritional needs. This session will explore practical ways to enjoy food while maintaining a healthy relationship with food and...

01/30/2026

Who wants to come and see me – in person!!! – chat all about managing sport with T1D? Plus, have a super wicked weekend with other T1Ds in BC 🤩

Check out this year's Connected in Motion Western Slipstream event!!!

Connect with the Type 1 Community at Western Slipstream in BC!Welcome fall with Western Slipstream, hosted at the stunning Camp Summit in Squamish, British Columbia—in the heart of the Coast Mountains! Camp Summit is known for its warm, rustic atmosphere and incredible outdoor experiences, making ...

01/28/2026

Having a baby is, no word of a lie, like running a marathon.

You work up a sweat, with your heart beat raging, you pant most of the time, completely out of breath, and all you want to do is stop for just a moment.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃, 𝐈 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧!

The day I delivered my son was a day that I had prepped and studied for over the course of 37 weeks. I had plans. I had intentions. I had directives.

My labour wasn’t long – just 3.5 hours, which is actually less time than it took me to run any of my marathons.

It felt like 10 hours.

My blood sugars crashed almost from the get-go. I was sipping juice every 20-30 minutes just to stay afloat. Going in, I didn’t want anything to do with an IV full of glucose – I’d heard negative things about the drip, and I wanted to avoid it. But after three hours, I was exhausted.

Exhausted from the exercise and exhausted from the lows.

With just 30 minutes left to go (I had no idea we were that close), I said: “Give me the drip!”

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃, 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃, 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫. The more prepared we can be the better. I do recommend having a plan going into all these stages, but I also heavily recommend being the flexible.

The goal is keeping both mom and baby healthy and safe throughout 😊

My live-only virtual 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐅𝐞𝐛. 𝟐 (that’s just six days away!!) will cover all of this. We will strategize how to manage blood sugars during the more insulin resistant stages (hello 2nd and 3rd trimester) as well as strategies for managing the more insulin sensitive times, including labour and delivery, immediately postpartum and weeks to months after, and breastfeeding too.

Attendees will leave with a wealth of resources and ample confidence moving into this next stage of their T1D lives.

𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 $𝟔𝟎 – 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫.

The workshop is on Feb. 2 with two time options available – 4 pm or 7 pm PST. Duration is 90 minutes.

For more information: 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨@𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐥.𝐜𝐚 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐌 𝐦𝐞.

* 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳

01/26/2026

Pregnancy with T1D workshop – just one week before it goes live!

In this workshop, we will explore the changes of type-1 diabetes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, as well as labour and delivery, postpartum and breastfeeding.

For anyone who’s pregnant this time can be a whirlwind of emotions. Add T1D into the mix, and it is even more so.

Whether you are already pregnant with T1D, or are thinking about getting pregnant and have T1D – this workshop is for you!

There is no judgement and no fear mongering. This is a safe space to share knowledge and grow confidence.

DM me or email info@katiebartel.ca to sign up or get more information.

Workshop Details:
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
Time: 4 pm or 7 pm PST
Location: Virtual, live only
Cost: $60 – many extended health plans will cover the expense

01/25/2026

This isn’t a motivational talk about pregnancy with T1D.

This 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 will help you leave with:

• a clearer sense of what’s 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 in pregnancy with T1D
• practical strategies for changing insulin needs
• language to advocate for yourself in appointments
• reassurance that you’re not doing this wrong

If you’re currently 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃 or 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 and want support that feels human – this is for you 💙

🗓 Feb 2 — live only
💻 Virtual + small group
💬 DM me 𝐅𝐄𝐁𝟐

01/21/2026

If you’re pregnant with T1D and thinking: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞?

I want you to hear this clearly:

You’re not doing anything wrong! And, you're not alone!

Pregnancy hormones change insulin needs dramatically – especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimester.

What you need is NOT stricter rules. You need tools, flexibility, and someone who understands both T1D and pregnancy.

That’s exactly what we’re going to cover in my 𝐅𝐞𝐛. 𝟐 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃:

✔ real-life strategies
✔ labour & delivery prep
✔ breastfeeding & postpartum planning
✔ no shame, no judgement

Pregnancy with T1D can be challenging – but you don’t have to do it alone 🤩

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨@𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐥.𝐜𝐚

* 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 – 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘯

01/20/2026

If you have 𝐓𝟏𝐃 and are 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 – and blood sugars suddenly feel harder …

You’re not doing anything wrong!

Hormones dramatically change insulin needs before and during pregnancy.

In my 𝐅𝐞𝐛. 𝟐 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩, we’ll cover real-life strategies for:

✔️ 2nd and 3rd trimester blood sugars
✔️ Labour and delivery with T1D
✔️ Breastfeeding and postpartum needs

If you’re planning a pregnancy, this session can help you prepare for what’s coming later – before you’re in the thick of it.

Participants will walk away with practical strategies, increased confidence, several resources and a community of others navigating the same journey.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬:
⏰ Times: 4 pm and 7 pm PST
⏳ Duration: 90 minutes
🌎 Location: Live and Virtual
💲Cost: $60
—— many have been reimbursed through their extended health plans

For more information, or to register: DM me or email: info@katiebartel.ca

01/20/2026

“𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙏1𝘿: 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚 𝙪𝙥!”

These were the words told to me by the nurse at the diabetes and pregnancy clinic as I was about to enter my third trimester of pregnancy with Dear Diabetes.

I was freaking out 😬

My insulin needs were increasing like crazy. I was going through 180 units every two days, whereas previously I could get less than 130 units in three days. My insulin to carb ratio had gone from 24 units per gram of carb to 5 units per gram of carb.

The increased insulin resistance was the sign of a healthy placenta, which was normal and great. But for me, it was also the sign of higher blood sugar levels, which as a person with T1D, I was freaking out over – worried I was doing harm to my growing baby.

Looking back on that sentence from the diabetes nurse, I laugh – it is funny, and I’m sure she was trying to lighten the mood. But at the time, it felt awful. I didn’t want to be on a rollercoaster. I wanted to be solid ground.

And I wanted the voice of someone who knew what I was going through. Someone with T1D.

Fast forward.

I am a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. I have T1D, and have been pregnant with T1D.

𝐎𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐛. 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃.

In this workshop, we will focus on the second and third trimesters (with a brief overview of the first trimester recommendations – I have another workshop for that topic as a whole), plus labour and delivery, postpartum and breastfeeding, all with a T1D scope.

You will walk away with real-life tools – and a T1D community – to help you towards a successful pregnancy and postpartum with T1D. Tools provided include:

✅ Pregnancy with T1D cheat sheet
✅ Sample meal plan
✅ Birth plan template
✅ And more.

𝐓𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨@𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐥.𝐜𝐚

* Photo 1️⃣ - hiking Lynn Valley ~23 weeks pregnant
* Photo 2️⃣ – I much prefer riding real rollercoasters (with my boy) than the T1D rollercoaster

01/18/2026

Are you a female with T1D curious about pregnancy – and filled with 𝙖𝙡𝙡 the questions:

⁉️ Can I reach the recommended blood sugar targets for pregnancy?
⁉️ Will my blood sugars ever feel stable?
⁉️ How will labour, delivery, or breastfeeding affect my diabetes?

𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 – 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞.

I asked all of them when I was pregnant with T1D too!

Pregnancy with T1D is intense, emotional, and often under-supported. That’s why I created a workshop I wish had existed when I was pregnant.

On Feb. 2, 2026, I’m hosting an online workshop:
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃: 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝

In this workshop, we'll focus on:

✔ second & third trimester strategies
✔ labour & delivery with T1D
✔ breastfeeding & postpartum planning

This workshop blends professional guidance with lived experience – no judgement, no perfection required (𝘱𝘴𝘴𝘵: 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦!).

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

* This photo of me just moments after I met my son for the first time 😍 Pregnancy with T1D didn’t end at delivery – postpartum and breastfeeding brought a whole new learning curve and is a very important part of the pregnancy with T1D conversation!

01/17/2026

Weekend thought 🌿

What if pregnancy with T1D came with
tools, strategies, and real-life guidance –not just rules?

That’s exactly what I’m offering on Feb. 2 😊

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝟏𝐃 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩.
We’ll focus on managing blood sugars through pregnancy, labour and delivery, breastfeeding, and postpartum — plus many other practical strategies you won’t find in pamphlets or clinics.

📧 info@katiebartel.ca