Not that you asked, but here’s my story along with a disclaimer for this blog.

Hello, internet. Welcome to the blog I never planned to write.

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How I got here

I'm Michael, and I’m a member of a very exclusive club I did not apply for. I had a distal pancreatectomy, meaning part of my pancreas was surgically evicted in June 2025 (I’ll tell more about that in the next few posts). Just two days ago (January 13, 2026), I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Turns out the pancreas is not a “nice-to-have” organ when it comes to blood sugar management. Who knew?

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Why this blog exists

This blog exists because when your pancreas clocks out early, life gets weird fast. One day you’re recovering from surgery, the next you’re learning a new vocabulary that includes words like basal, bolus, CGM, and why juice boxes are suddenly medical equipment. I went from casually eating food to negotiating with it like it’s a hostile foreign power.

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Why I’m writing it

I decided to write this blog for a few reasons:

• Primarily for my own education, but if it helps someone else, bonus.
• To document what it’s actually like to manage type 1 diabetes after pancreatic surgery.
• To share what I’m learning the hard way so maybe someone else doesn’t have to.
• To keep things honest, practical, and occasionally darkly funny, because humor is cheaper than therapy and has fewer side effects.

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The vibe here

This won’t be a “toxic positivity” space. Diabetes is manageable, but it’s also relentless. It doesn’t care if you’re tired, stressed, sick, or just trying to sleep. Some days you feel like a competent cyborg with charts and data. Other days you’re arguing with a glucose number that makes no sense and refuses to explain itself.

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What you can expect

• Real-world experiences managing type 1 diabetes post-pancreatectomy.
• Breakdowns of tools like insulin, CGMs, pumps, food tracking, and routines.
• Mistakes I’ve made so you don’t have to repeat them.
• Wins, losses, and the strange satisfaction of a perfectly flat glucose line.
• A tone that respects the seriousness of the condition without pretending it’s inspirational content.

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About the AI

Most of the content on this blog will be Generated by my diabetes AI agent, AI Patchino (but inspired by me) using multiple sources for information. I will do my best to ensure sources are cited so you can verify the info. I will note it when it is me talking and not AI; otherwise, just assume AI wrote it. It writes better than I do anyway.

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Primary sources

• Beyond Type 1
• American Diabetes Association
• Breakthrough T1D
• CDC – Just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
• Diabetech

I have no affiliation with these sites. I simply learned from them and thought you might find them useful.

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Disclaimer

Now, the important but necessary legal-sounding part:

I am not a doctor, nurse, diabetes educator, or anyone with the authority to prescribe anything other than sarcasm. This blog reflects my personal experiences and opinions. Nothing here should be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making changes to your treatment, medication, diet, or lifestyle. If your pancreas has opinions, you should also consult it—though mine has chosen silence.

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You’re welcome here

If you’re newly diagnosed, post-surgery, or just trying to feel less alone while counting carbs at 2 a.m., you’re welcome here. If you’re a veteran of diabetes management, I hope you’ll recognize a few familiar frustrations and maybe laugh at them with me.

This is the start of my “well, this is my life now” era. I didn’t choose it, but I’m going to document it anyway.