Episode 138 - Living with celiac and type 1 diabetes with Andrea Limbourg

Andrea Limbourg is one of the first people in the type 1 diabetes community I spent time with in real life, although we’ve met only a handful of times. I didn’t really realise until we were recording this episode how much of an impact she’s had on my approach to my type 1 diabetes, and I’m excited that you get to experience her wisdom in today’s episode.
 
Diagnosed in Canada in 1997, Andrea took off to study abroad in Ireland just a few months after her diagnosis. A decision that may be unfathomable to some, but Andrea has always found type 1 diabetes easier to manage in comparison to the debilitating effects of undiagnosed celiac disease that she experienced for years.
 
Fast forward to 2025 and now living in France, Andrea chats to me about how the two diseases impact both her and her family’s lives, as well as their similarities and contrasts.

‘Diabetes is all about the balance. All of my flexibility is in diabetes, whereas I don't have any flexibility in celiac. There's zero gluten. Not a crumb.’
 
We also discuss the emotional cost of being vocal about your health, moving countries with type 1 diabetes (for love!) and why despite ongoing advances in access to technology and the best efforts of her endocrinologist, Andrea remains on a DIY open-source insulin pump.