Meet the hungry t1D: Sloane Haines!
Shortly after moving to New Jersey at the start of my sophomore year of high school, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Adjusting to a new school was hard enough, but learning how to manage a life-changing diagnosis forced me to grow up fast.
A week at CHOP turned into a crash course on insulin, carb counting, and listening to my body. Between finger pricks, injections, and emergency Capri-Suns, I eventually transitioned to an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor; tools that made daily life feel more manageable, especially with college on the horizon.
Learning how to manage my blood sugars also taught me something unexpected: food matters. A lot. If I have to give insulin to eat something, it better be worth it. That realization sparked a deep appreciation for good food, intentional eating, and the joy that comes from memorable meals—at home and on the road.
I went on to attend Florida State University, earning a degree in meteorology before working at a small news station as a TV meteorologist in Salisbury, Maryland. Today, more than a decade after my diagnosis, I live in South Jersey with my husband, Adam, our daughter, Este, and our two dogs, Kona and Moose. I now work as a video editor in the nonprofit sector, while sharing my love for food, travel, and living well with T1D through this blog.
This space is about finding balance—between blood sugars and dessert, adventure and routine, planning ahead and savoring the moment. If T1D has taught me anything, it’s that life is meant to be lived fully, deliciously, and with a strong support system behind you.
More about Sloane
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The broiled king crab leg with miso butter from Mina’s Fish House on Oahu, the beef cheek and bone marrow toast from Alpen Rose in Philadelphia, al pastor tacos from El Nopalito in Haddonfield (NJ), a crisp glass of rose and a crema gelato from RivoReno in Florence (Italy).
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I’ve traveled across the US from coast-to-coast along with Hawaii and Puerto Rico. I’ve been to a few places in the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas and St. Lucia. And then I have been fortunate enough to explore Paris and St. Moritz, Italy, and the Heathrow Airport.
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I would race home from school everyday to hopefully catch something on the Travel Channel before I would have to rush to swim practice. Those few moments I got were my first taste of travel. I love the experience of being somewhere new for the first time and falling in love somewhere I haven’t been before.
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Sitting in a barstool at the kitchen island watching my mom cook made me fall in love with food. Watching her cook each meal from scratch after working all day, made me realize that she wanted to cook us something homemade because she loved us. So to me, food means love. Especially after I was diagnosed with T1D, she worked harder to be able to provide an accurate carb count with each meal.
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Don’t be afraid to ask for help. T1D can take a real toll—both emotionally and physically—and trying to carry it alone can make it feel even heavier. While T1D is a burden, letting others support you and educating them on how they can help can make it far more manageable.
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