Stacey Simms and Kerri Sparling will be presenting the keynote address at the Breakthrough T1D Greater New England Chapter’s TypeOneNation Summit Boston on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. 

Keynote Address | Press Your Luck: Diabetes Edition – Living Well and Avoiding Whammies

Don’t miss this engaging and entertaining keynote presentation featuring Stacey Simms and Kerri Sparling, two dynamic advocates who bring insight and diabetes lived experience to the stage. With Stacey Simms, host of the award-winning podcast “Diabetes Connections,” and Kerri Sparling, author and creator of the popular blog “Six Until Me,” this keynote promises a lively discussion that goes beyond the ordinary. The duo will bring you on a candid and humorous exploration of the intersection between diabetes management and everyday adventures. Their unique blend of storytelling, wit and invaluable insights into the challenges and triumphs of navigating life’s unpredictable twists will help you discover practical strategies for avoiding and/or dealing with “diabetes whammies.” 

Stacey Simms

Stacey Simms is the host of the long-running and award-winning podcast “Diabetes Connections” and the author of “The World’s Worst Diabetes Mom” book series. Her son was diagnosed with T1D in 2006. Stacey launched a second podcast, “Diabetes Connections TYPE 2,” in November 2023. Her podcasts have been awarded the WEGO Health Top Ten Best in Show – Podcasts; The Podcast Awards – People’s Choice – Top Ten Health; and Diabetes Forecast Magazine: Top Diabetes Podcasts. In 2023, “Diabetes Connections” surpassed 2.3 million downloads.

“The World’s Worst Diabetes Mom” won Best New Non-Fiction at the American Book Fest, a 2020 Communicator Award, and was named to Book Authority’s 100 Best Parenting Books. Its sequel, “Still the World’s Worst Diabetes Mom” received a 2023 Mom’s Choice Gold Award.

Stacey is the organizer of “Diabetes Connections presents: Moms’ Night Out,” a new overnight conference for mothers of children with diabetes. She has been named to Diabetes Forecast Magazine‘s “12 People to Know,” the Charlotte Business Journal’s “Forty under 40,” and as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Mecklenburg County” by the Mecklenburg Times. For more than a decade, Stacey hosted Charlotte’s Morning News on WBT-AM, the city’s top-rated morning radio news show.

Kerri Sparling

Kerri Sparling is a writer, poet, and speaker who has dedicated her life to the power of patient narratives. Since 2005, she has been a leading voice in the patient advocacy space, sharing her personal story of over 37 years with type 1 diabetes and helping share stories from others in the patient community. Kerri has worked to bolster the influence of patient stories in the healthcare space, from academic journals to keynote presentations around the world.

She is best known for her work as a patient storyteller at SixUntilMe.com, and as author of Balancing Diabetes (2014), the poetry anthology, Rage Bolus (2021), and Six Until Me: Essays from a life with diabetes (2022). You can subscribe to Kerri’s newsletter at LifeWithType1Diabetes.com.

Pre-registration is required for the Breakthrough T1D TypeOneNation Summit Boston by Wednesday, March 21 at noon. We cannot accept walk-in registrations the day of the event. To register, please visit typeonenationboston2024.eventbrite.com.