MY STORY
Hi, I’m Coach Ken Kniss, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 25. Like most newly diagnosed people I never thought I would get this condition. No one in my family had T1D going back generations. Trust me I checked!
As an athlete I never had to worry about eating habits, hormonal changes, low or high blood sugars, mood swings, fatigue, and of course, the list goes on. Denial hit me hard. I struggled for the first 3 years and wasn’t in a place to make a real change because I didn’t have a good relationship with diabetes. Diabetes and I weren’t on the same page. After years of struggling and battling swinging blood sugars, I emerged from denial and was forced to take a hard look at my life. I had to accept that my life wasn’t going to be the same, and once I understood this, new doors and opportunities opened to give me the confidence I needed to move forward.
Today, I’m healthy and in control. I no longer answer to diabetes, diabetes answers to me.
My vision for the future is for every person with diabetes to be empowered to live life on their own terms instead of fighting against the condition. I want to inspire others to live their FULL lives, so they can make their own choices that will directly impact their lives and the lives of everyone around them.
My Story
My name is Coach Ken Kniss. I am a Diabetes Health Coach, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes, host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, and a certified nutrition and strength coach.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at the age of 25 in 2007. It’s no exaggeration to say that I was eager to finish college and move on to the next chapter of my life. However, everything changed for me in June of 2007.
While on vacation at our summer house in Upstate NY, I started experiencing mild symptoms. I found myself constantly drinking water and visiting the bathroom every 45 minutes, which was unusual for me. When I returned home, I decided to see my primary care physician. I vividly remember sitting in the doctor’s office and thinking that I probably just had some type of bug. I described my symptoms to the nurse, and I was shocked by her reaction. She pricked my finger, and sure enough, 450mg/dl or 25 mmol/L. She promptly left the room and returned with my doctor a couple minutes later. I will never forget what they said next, “We believe you have Diabetes.” I sat there for what felt like 5 minutes and responded, “That’s impossible; I’m not unhealthy or fat.” I know; I was that person. They then clarified, “No, Type 1 Diabetes.”
My next question still cracks me up to this day.
“What the heck is Type 1 Diabetes?”
They gave me a brief explanation of the difference and then proceeded to explain how I would need to manage this condition for the rest of my life. But what they said next has taken me a long time to get over. “Here is a glucose monitor to check your blood sugar and a 70/30 insulin pen. We want you to take 12 units in the morning and 12 units in the evening, and we’ll see you back in two weeks.”
WHAT?…come again.
There were no instructions on how to take a shot, what a 70/30 split insulin pen was, or how I was supposed to navigate this condition. I felt overly anxious as if something important was being left out.
Later that night, I sat down to give myself the first of a lifetime of shots. As I was sitting there with an insulin pen in one hand and grasping my stomach in the other, I started shaking and realizing tears were running down my face. I took a deep breath and poked myself for the first time, saying, “Is this now my life.” After that first night, I progressively started to feel angry, scared, isolated, frustrated, confused, and depressed, which pushed me into deep denial. Not receiving much support at the beginning from a medical team or the community (as I didn’t even know the community existed), I was forced to figure out every aspect of my management alone.
Over the first three years of fighting denial and trying to hide Diabetes from those closest to me, I woke up and decided to make a change by dedicating my life to Diabetes. I began my coaching career as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach in 2008. At that time, I started crafting my own way of managing Diabetes and began helping Type 2 Diabetics lose weight, change their eating habits, and manage their Diabetes. In 2014, I was lucky enough to start a lifestyle performance facility with a colleague and friend from LifeTime Fitness.
As the years passed, I felt something was missing from my coaching career.
In 2020, the gym shut down due to Covid, and I wondered if I was doing what I was meant to do. I launched my podcast “The Healthy Diabetic” in July 2020, and everything changed. Having life-changing conversations with Endocrinologists, Dietitians, Doctors, Diabetes companies, and others affected by Diabetes was just the change I needed. In 2021, I chose to start Simplifying Life With Diabetes (SLWD). A Diabetes coaching company bridging the gap between your medical team and the daily challenges, confusion, and Diabetes fears that plague all of us. I decided that Diabetes was my future, and had a difficult conversation with my business partner to sell my shares to a business that I had spent 8 years of my life. It was a hard decision but the right one for me, the business, and the future clients I will help in the Diabetes community.
Diabetes has had a profound impact on my life. We all strive to live our best life with Diabetes. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed, scared, isolated, or confused about your daily decisions. Diabetes is challenging to manage, but I believe that with the proper guidance, we can make it a little bit easier so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed and can live your best life with Diabetes!
My Story
My name is Coach Ken Kniss. I am a Diabetes Health Coach, founder of Simplifying Life With Diabetes, host of The Healthy Diabetic Podcast, and a certified nutrition and strength coach.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at the age of 25 in 2007. It’s no exaggeration to say that I was eager to finish college and move on to the next chapter of my life. However, everything changed for me in June of 2007.
While on vacation at our summer house in Upstate NY, I started experiencing mild symptoms. I found myself constantly drinking water and visiting the bathroom every 45 minutes, which was unusual for me. When I returned home, I decided to see my primary care physician. I vividly remember sitting in the doctor’s office and thinking that I probably just had some type of bug. I described my symptoms to the nurse, and I was shocked by her reaction. She pricked my finger, and sure enough, 450mg/dl or 25 mmol/L. She promptly left the room and returned with my doctor a couple minutes later. I will never forget what they said next, “We believe you have Diabetes.” I sat there for what felt like 5 minutes and responded, “That’s impossible; I’m not unhealthy or fat.” I know; I was that person. They then clarified, “No, Type 1 Diabetes.”
My next question still cracks me up to this day.
“What the heck is Type 1 Diabetes?”
They gave me a brief explanation of the difference and then proceeded to explain how I would need to manage this condition for the rest of my life. But what they said next has taken me a long time to get over. “Here is a glucose monitor to check your blood sugar and a 70/30 insulin pen. We want you to take 12 units in the morning and 12 units in the evening, and we’ll see you back in two weeks.”
WHAT?…come again.
There were no instructions on how to take a shot, what a 70/30 split insulin pen was, or how I was supposed to navigate this condition. I felt overly anxious as if something important was being left out.
Later that night, I sat down to give myself the first of a lifetime of shots. As I was sitting there with an insulin pen in one hand and grasping my stomach in the other, I started shaking and realizing tears were running down my face. I took a deep breath and poked myself for the first time, saying, “Is this now my life.” After that first night, I progressively started to feel angry, scared, isolated, frustrated, confused, and depressed, which pushed me into deep denial. Not receiving much support at the beginning from a medical team or the community (as I didn’t even know the community existed), I was forced to figure out every aspect of my management alone.
Over the first three years of fighting denial and trying to hide Diabetes from those closest to me, I woke up and decided to make a change by dedicating my life to Diabetes. I began my coaching career as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach in 2008. At that time, I started crafting my own way of managing Diabetes and began helping Type 2 Diabetics lose weight, change their eating habits, and manage their Diabetes. In 2014, I was lucky enough to start a lifestyle performance facility with a colleague and friend from LifeTime Fitness.
As the years passed, I felt something was missing from my coaching career.
In 2020, the gym shut down due to Covid, and I wondered if I was doing what I was meant to do. I launched my podcast “The Healthy Diabetic” in July 2020, and everything changed. Having life-changing conversations with Endocrinologists, Dietitians, Doctors, Diabetes companies, and others affected by Diabetes was just the change I needed. In 2021, I chose to start Simplifying Life With Diabetes (SLWD). A Diabetes coaching company bridging the gap between your medical team and the daily challenges, confusion, and Diabetes fears that plague all of us. I decided that Diabetes was my future, and had a difficult conversation with my business partner to sell my shares to a business that I had spent 8 years of my life. It was a hard decision but the right one for me, the business, and the future clients I will help in the Diabetes community.
Diabetes has had a profound impact on my life. We all strive to live our best life with Diabetes. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed, scared, isolated, or confused about your daily decisions. Diabetes is challenging to manage, but I believe that with the proper guidance, we can make it a little bit easier so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed and can live your best life with Diabetes!
THE SLWD PHILOSOPHY
WHAT WORKS FOR YOU?
How do you make diabetes management seamless? By creating your own system for success. Diabetes is a unique condition that is different for each person. This is why Simplifying Life With Diabetes takes a personalized coaching approach. My goal is to help you shape your own journey and provide you with the support and tools needed to live the life you desire.
THE 5 PILLARS OF DIABETES SUCCESS
Like many before me, I struggled to find a management style that worked for me. That’s why I created the 5-Pillars Of Diabetes Success. I created the 5-Pillars out of necessity to understand diabetes on a deeper level.
I wanted to find an approach that would work for me no matter the situation, circumstance, or stage of life. Each pillar is a principle, and it’s up to you to fill these pillars with your ideas and personal experiences. What works for others isn’t necessarily what will work for you.
Pillar 1 - mindset
When I was diagnosed, I struggled to understand my identity with diabetes. Diabetes and I weren’t on the same page. This is why the first pillar is all about how you view diabetes and yourself. This idea is where your journey with diabetes must begin. It doesn’t matter how well you are at carb counting or bolusing for food. If you don’t have a positive relationship with diabetes, you’ll self-sabotage yourself. Ask yourself, “what is my relationship with diabetes?”
As you start to define this, it will allow you to gain insight into your beliefs and help you to lay the groundwork for diabetes success.
pillar 2 - foundational learning
Once you begin to align yourself with pillar one, you can start to shape your management skills. This pillar takes the skills learned on your journey and fine-tunes them into a specific management style. This could include counting carbs, insulin timing, pre-bolusing, carb to insulin ratios, understanding data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), insulin pump, journal entries, finger sticks, etc.
The objective is to make it easier and more manageable so you’re able to identify what you do well and what you don’t do well. If you’re newly diagnosed, experimentation is a great place to start.
pillar 3 - consistency
Consistency is about having a daily routine to help you build habits to overcome any situation you face. Diabetes is a condition with a complex amount of decisions that effect your day in many different ways.
The more consistency you have over your diabetes decisions the more you will avoid the blood sugar rollercoaster ride.
Pillar 4 - Physical well-being
I defined this pillar as anything to do with your physical health. What’s your exercise routine? How much sleep do you get every night? What is your relationship with food? How much water are you consuming regularly? Are you stressed? These are basic questions that deal with your physical health. Building this pillar to work for you is crucial.
Remember, it’s about finding WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!
Pillar 5 - support system
The people who support you in life are those who provide emotional support. This could include family, friends, your significant other, colleagues, and even your medical team. My only question is, are they giving you real-time diabetes advice? Are you able to be successful with their support alone? As important as these individuals are to your emotional health, I would argue that the diabetes community is more aligned with providing you with honest and accurate advice.
The real power of a diabetic’s support team is the community that deals with diabetes challenges every day—no matter what type of diabetes you have.
Create your own story, and discover what works for you!
THE SLWD PHILOSOPHY
WHAT WORKS FOR YOU?
How do you make diabetes management seamless? By creating your own system for success. Diabetes is a unique condition that is different for each person. This is why Simplifying Life With Diabetes takes a personalized coaching approach. My goal is to help you shape your own journey and provide you with the support and tools needed to live the life you desire.
THE 5 PILLARS OF DIABETES SUCCESS
Like many before me, I struggled to find a management style that worked for me. That’s why I created the 5-Pillars Of Diabetes Success. I created the 5-Pillars out of necessity to understand diabetes on a deeper level.
I wanted to find an approach that would work for me no matter the situation, circumstance, or stage of life. Each pillar is a principle, and it’s up to you to fill these pillars with your ideas and personal experiences. What works for others isn’t necessarily what will work for you.
Pillar 1 - mindset
When I was diagnosed, I struggled to understand my identity with diabetes. Diabetes and I weren’t on the same page. This is why the first pillar is all about how you view diabetes and yourself. This idea is where your journey with diabetes must begin. It doesn’t matter how well you are at carb counting or blousing for food. If you don’t have a positive relationship with diabetes, you’ll self-sabotage yourself. Ask yourself, “what is my relationship with diabetes?”
As you start to define this, it will allow you to gain insight into your beliefs and help you to lay the groundwork for diabetes success.
pillar 2 - foundational learning
Once you begin to align yourself with pillar one, you can start to shape your management skills. This pillar takes the skills learned on your journey and fine-tunes them into a specific management style. This could include counting carbs, insulin timing, pre-bolusing, carb to insulin ratios, understanding data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), insulin pump, journal entries, finger sticks, etc.
The objective is to make it easier and more manageable so you’re able to identify what you do well and what you don’t do well. If you’re newly diagnosed, experimentation is a great place to start.
pillar 3 - consistency
Consistency is about having a daily routine to help you build habits to overcome any situation you face. Diabetes is a condition with a complex amount of decisions that effect your day in many different ways.
The more consistency you have over your diabetes decisions the more you will avoid the blood sugar rollercoaster ride.
Pillar 4 - Physical well-being
I defined this pillar as any habit or practice that will improve your overall health. What’s your exercise routine? How much sleep do you get every night? What is your relationship with food? How much water are you consuming regularly? Are you stressed? These are basic questions that deal with your physical health. Building this pillar to work for you is crucial.
Remember, it’s about finding WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!
Pillar 5 - support system
The people who support you in life are those who provide emotional support. This could include family, friends, your significant other, colleagues, and even your medical team. My only question is, are they giving you real-time diabetes advice? Are you able to be successful with their support alone? As important as these individuals are to your emotional health, I would argue that the diabetes community is more aligned with providing you with honest and accurate advice.
The real power of a diabetic’s support team is the community that deals with diabetes challenges every day—no matter what type of diabetes you have.
Create your own story, and discover what works for you!
THE SLWD PHILOSOPHY
WHAT WORKS FOR YOU?
How do you make diabetes management seamless? By creating your own system for success. Diabetes is a unique disease that is different for each person. This is why Simplifying Life With Diabetes takes a personalized coaching approach. My goal is to help you shape your own journey and provide you with the support and tools needed to live the life you desire.
THE 5 PILLARS OF DIABETES SUCCESS
Like many before me, I struggled to find a management style that worked for me. That’s why I created the 5-Pillars Of Diabetes Success. I created the 5-Pillars out of necessity to understand diabetes on a deeper level.
I wanted to find an approach that would work for me no matter the situation, circumstance, or stage of life. Each pillar is a principle, and it’s up to you to fill these pillars with your ideas and personal experiences. What works for others isn’t necessarily what will work for you.
Pillar 1 - mindset
When I was diagnosed, I struggled to understand my identity with diabetes. Diabetes and I weren’t on the same page. This is why the first pillar is all about how you view diabetes and yourself. This idea is where your journey with diabetes must begin. It doesn’t matter how well you are at carb counting or blousing for food. If you don’t have a positive relationship with diabetes, you’ll self-sabotage yourself. Ask yourself, “what is my relationship with diabetes?”
As you start to define this, it will allow you to gain insight into your beliefs and help you to lay the groundwork for diabetes success.
pillar 2 - foundational learning
Once you begin to align yourself with pillar one, you can start to shape your management skills. This pillar takes the skills learned on your journey and fine-tunes them into a specific management style. This could include counting carbs, insulin timing, pre-bolusing, carb to insulin ratios, understanding data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), insulin pump, journal entries, finger sticks, etc.
The objective is to make it easier and more manageable so you’re able to identify what you do well and what you don’t do well. If you’re newly diagnosed, experimentation is a great place to start.
pillar 3 - consistency
Consistency is about having a daily routine to help you build habits to overcome any situation you face. Diabetes is a condition with a complex amount of decisions that effect your day in many different ways.
The more consistency you have over your diabetes decisions the more you will avoid the blood sugar rollercoaster ride.
Pillar 4 - Physical well-being
I defined this pillar as anything to do with your physical health. What’s your exercise routine? How much sleep do you get every night? What is your relationship with food? How much water are you consuming regularly? Are you stressed? These are basic questions that deal with your physical health. Building this pillar to work for you is crucial.
Remember, it’s about finding WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!
Pillar 5 - support system
The people who support you in life are those who provide emotional support. This could include family, friends, your significant other, colleagues, and even your medical team. My only question is, are they giving you real-time diabetes advice? Are you able to be successful with their support alone? As important as these individuals are to your emotional health, I would argue that the diabetes community is more aligned with providing you with honest and accurate advice.
The real power of a diabetic’s support team is the community that deals with diabetes challenges every day—no matter what type of diabetes you have.
