Inspired by Katie DiSimone: A Legacy of Wisdom in Diabetes Management

Katie DiSimone. Image credit: Diatribe

Katie DiSimone left a lasting mark on the Type-1 diabetes community through her honesty, wisdom, and advocacy. Her insights and lived experience continue to encourage and support families navigating life with T1D today.

Katie was the author of the original LoopDocs and LoopTips. Recently, someone shared one of her earlier blog posts that I still refer clients to. It helps them get comfortable with Loop and Nightscout. These two tools go hand in hand. Katie showed us how to use them effectively, reducing the burden of living with Type 1 diabetes.

Technology Can Only Mirror What We Understand

Katie taught an entire community that T1D technology doesn’t eliminate the need to think — it magnifies it. Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) systems are only as wise as the people using them. Basal rates, insulin duration, carb ratios, and sensitivity aren’t just numbers; they reflect how our bodies respond in real time. Katie’s lesson was simple: when we learn to read our data with curiosity instead of frustration, technology becomes a partner, not a master.

Precision Without Perspective Is Just Math

Too-short insulin durations once made algorithms act like impatient parents, giving insulin before the last dose had finished working. Katie showed that the Duration of Insulin Action (DIA) must be long enough to honor the insulin’s real tail — about five to six hours, not three. This change, now standard in Loop, turned frantic corrections into steady rhythms.

Balance Beats Control

Those “lightning-bolt” temp-basal graphs became famous in early Loop groups. Katie explained that chasing numbers with an insulin sensitivity factor (ISF) that’s too strong creates endless oscillations. Her guidance was simple and profound: weaken ISF (increase the number), trust the math, and let the Loop do its thing. Good settings create calm curves, not perfect lines. Diabetes isn’t a math problem to solve once — it’s a landscape we keep learning to navigate.

Timing Is the Quiet Superpower

Carb ratios are only half the story of bolusing for meals. When we eat, how we pre-bolus, and how we prepare Loop matters just as much. Katie urged people to use “eating-soon” targets — gentle nudges to the algorithm that anticipate life rather than chase it. Thoughtful timing is kinder than forceful correction with technology. This principle works well in life as well!

Your Diabetes Will Vary — and That’s Not Failure

No algorithm can outsmart hormones, stress, or grief. Katie reframed variability not as chaos, but as feedback. Patterns over time — not single data points — deserve our attention. Her phrase lives on:

“It’s not YDMV (Your Diabetes May Vary) — it’s YDWV (Your Diabetes Will Vary.)" - Katie DiSimone

Embracing Change in Diabetes Management

Change is a constant in diabetes management. As we learn more about our bodies and the technology available, we must adapt. Katie’s teachings encourage us to embrace this change. By doing so, we can improve our health outcomes and quality of life.

1. The Importance of Community Support

One of the most valuable lessons from Katie is the importance of community support. Sharing experiences and knowledge can empower individuals living with diabetes. It fosters a sense of belonging and understanding. When we come together, we can learn from each other and navigate the complexities of diabetes management more effectively.

2. The Role of Education in Diabetes Care

Education plays a crucial role in diabetes care. Understanding how to use technology, interpret data, and make informed decisions can significantly impact health outcomes. Katie emphasized the need for continuous learning. As we gain knowledge, we become better equipped to manage our diabetes.

3. Building Resilience Through Knowledge

Resilience is key in managing diabetes. Knowledge gives us the tools to face challenges head-on. Katie’s approach encourages us to view setbacks as opportunities for growth. By building resilience, we can adapt to the ever-changing landscape of diabetes management.

Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy

Katie DiSimone’s greatest legacy wasn’t just software or settings — it was perspective. She showed us that empathy, patience, and data literacy can coexist. The essence of #WeAreNotWaiting is learning together and ensuring no one has to learn alone.

In Loving Memory

Katie faced her final season with the same grace she brought to the community — open, honest, and generous. Every time we explain insulin on board (IOB) to someone new or calm a parent who’s afraid of over-corrections, we echo her teachings. Because of Katie, some truths about Type 1 diabetes technology — and life — have become foundational:

• Data is only as useful as the compassion we apply to it.

• Automation works best when paired with understanding.

• No one should ever have to learn alone.

  
  

You can find Diatribe's wonderful tribute here: Katie DiSimone's Tribute