Mila Clarke, a diabetes patient advocate and nutrition health coach, is no stranger to the trials of living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Diagnosed in 2016, she has since built a platform through her blog Hangry Woman and the Glucose Guide Community app, offering advice and support for those navigating the complexities of diabetes management. Here, she shares the piece of advice that has had a profound impact on her own journey with the condition.
For Mila, the most impactful piece of advice she received about diabetes came in the form of a simple four-word acronym: YDMV—Your Diabetes May Vary.
When Mila first heard this phrase, she was struggling with the frustration of doing everything right but still facing erratic blood sugar levels. “You know the feeling,” she says. “The kind of day where you question if your pancreas is laughing at your efforts.” Despite the exaggeration, the message resonated deeply.
YDMV was a reminder that diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all condition. It taught Mila to stop chasing perfection and to instead focus on understanding her unique experience with diabetes. “No two bodies—or blood sugars—will ever respond exactly the same,” she says. Whether it’s food, insulin, stress, sleep, or even something as minor as a sneeze, every factor interacts differently in each person’s body.
The acronym also helped Mila sift through the endless stream of unsolicited advice that often accompanies a diabetes diagnosis. “Have you tried cinnamon?” or “My cousin cured her diabetes with celery juice!” YDMV reminded her that she is the expert on her own body, empowering her to experiment and find solutions that work for her, rather than blindly following trends or external suggestions.
In the end, embracing YDMV brought a sense of relief. “Once you stop comparing and start personalizing, everything starts to feel a little more manageable,” she reflects. “Or at the very least, a little less annoying.” For Mila, this mantra continues to guide her in her ongoing journey of self-discovery and diabetes management.
