Type 1 Diabetes Goals 2026: How to Actually Stick With Resolutions

Disclaimer: While I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist with Type 1 Diabetes myself, this blog post is not intended as medical advice. I'm sharing from my personal experience and professional knowledge, but your diabetes management should always be discussed with your healthcare team. What works for me or others may need to be adjusted for your unique situation.

Before We Start: Recommended Reading

If you didn't already read it, I encourage you to check out last week's article, "What Your CGM Data from 2025 Is Really Telling You (And What to Do About It)."

And if you already did that reading AND you already read Chapter 12 in my book "You Have Permission," you're going to be set up for success. If not, I encourage you to read that blog post, then come back here. Oh, and you might want to read that chapter of my book. And if you don't have a copy, here's a free one: typeonetypefun.com/free-book

Got it? Great.

Okay, now back to business.

How Do You Actually Set Yourself Up for Success?

This is the question, isn't it? How do you actually set yourself up for success when so many times it feels difficult or impossible, and we often fail on the goals we set for ourselves?

This is such a tough question, but I am so truly, thoroughly convinced that we have the power and the capacity to bend the world to our will as long as we know it's possible.

This is something my business coach Nicholas Trevillian taught me. Thanks, Nicky T! (Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholas_trevillian)

Okay, so it might seem a little bold that I say "bend the world to your will," but I truly mean it. If you have this idea, if you have this thought, be absolutely delusional about it. I'm so convinced anything is possible if you set your mind to it. We can't do everything, but we can do anything.

So how do you do the thing you want? Truly?

I talk a lot about Type 1 Diabetes, and this blog is meant to talk about Type 1, but it's meant for so much more than that. If you're struggling with your gym goals, your nutrition plan, really anything, what I'm going to talk about today is applicable to everything.

So buckle up and get ready.

The 100% Day vs. The 20% Day

Here's a lesson I love to teach: the 100% day versus the 20% day. Let me explain.

The 100% Day

On a 100% day, there's nothing stopping you. You're not sick. You didn't get bad sleep. You don't have a really stressful conversation to have with your boss. Your blood sugar is fine. Your schedule isn't crazy. You feel fine mentally, emotionally, and physically. You're fed. You're happy. That's a 100% day.

They don't always happen, but it's that day where nothing can get in your way.

On a 100% day, I am convinced that if you give 100% effort, that is 100%.

The 20% Day

Now picture a 20% day.

On a 20% day, maybe you woke up not feeling so great, or you didn't get great sleep to begin with. Maybe you have a super stressful conversation to have with your boss or your significant other. Maybe you're not feeling great emotionally. Maybe you're not feeling great physically. Maybe it's a mental game. Maybe your nutrition is out of whack. Maybe you haven't been able to move your body for a bit. Whatever it may be, let's call this our 20% day.

There are several factors getting in the way of you being able to give 100%.

But that's okay.

I am convinced that if you give 20% on a 20% day, girl math, that is 100%.

So giving 100% on a 100% day is 100%, and giving 20% on a 20% day is 100% as well.

Why This Matters

The point is not perfection. The point is intentionality and progress. And that is something I talk about over and over with all of my clients.

If you use this idea to your advantage? Oh my goodness, you are going to be so set up for success.

Now you have all the context you need for this mindset piece. I've talked about this with hundreds of clients, and I am so glad you're here reading this now.

Actionable, Specific Takeaways

Here are actionable, specific takeaways from this conversation.

Step 1: Write It Down, But Make It Specific

If you want to achieve something, write it down. But from there, make it so specific that you know exactly what you're doing.

One example I get all the time is: "I want to eat healthy."

Think about it. What does that even mean?

If we have 10 people in a room, I know they all thought something just slightly different from each other. And that's okay. So let's get more specific from there.

Real Client Example

One of my clients used to say, "I want to be healthy."

What she meant was, "I want to eat healthy."

And what she meant from there was she wanted to eat protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates that had fiber.

What she meant from there was that she wanted to do that regularly and consistently.

What she meant from there was that she wanted it to become second nature and become a habit or a system, as opposed to a one-off.

What she meant from that was that she wanted her lab results to reflect her work in her nutrition, and she wanted to feel better. She wanted to have more energy throughout the day. She wanted to sleep better. She wanted to show up better in her relationships.

Can you see how "I want to be healthy" meant nothing until we learned all those details?

THAT. That is what you have to do for yourself.

You have to be so raw, real, authentic, and honest that maybe it hurts. But be unapologetic. Be selfish. And write this stuff down.

What is it that you actually want? What do you care about? And why?

If you can figure it out to a T, you're going to set yourself up for success.

Step 2: Get Even MORE Specific

So what do I mean about the specificity part? Well, we didn't even go all the way with my client example.

What we had to figure out was:

• What day was she going to go grocery shopping?
• What groceries did she need to purchase?
• What budget did we need to be considerate of?
• What days should she cook?
• Did we need to leave room for eating out or someone else cooking?
• Were we trying to go for specific numbers like macros or micronutrients, or were we wanting to feel good about what we see on our plate?

Any answer is fine. But you have to figure it out so clearly that when you're going through your week to week, there is literally no question in your mind what you need to be doing.

Another Example: "I Want to Get Fit"

Here's another example: "I want to get fit."

What does that mean to you?

To some people, that means weight loss. To some people, that means building muscle. To some people, that means being able to run a long distance. Maybe it's a combination of all of those things. Maybe it's something else entirely.

I worked with someone who wanted to get fit, and that actually included nutrition and physical activity in their mind, which of course I love.

So what we had to do was figure out a specific routine for them to do every single week that included those specifics in nutrition and the specifics in exercise, of course paired with blood sugar management because they had Type 1 Diabetes, just like a lot of you reading my blog.

We had to break it down, make it small, and make it actionable. And the other thing was that change didn't happen overnight. It can happen overnight, but that's often not sustainable.

So we had to take this "get fit" idea and break it down:

• Piece by piece
• Month by month
• Week by week
• Day by day
• Hour by hour
• Minute by minute
• Choice by choice

And make it make sense for that person's life.

Sustainability Is Everything

I'm fully convinced that if something is not sustainable in your life, it's not going to lead you to ultimate success. I don't care how great it sounds ideally. If it's not realistic, it's not for you.

Now, there are certain things I will argue against that. For example, if you're saying it's not realistic for you to ever eat a vegetable, unless you're allergic to every single vegetable in this world, I bet there's a way.

But in general: being specific, being intentional, and not overdoing it so that you feel burned out is going to change your life.

Here's the thing though: your life doesn't feel like it changes day to day. But it will change.

The Power of 1%

I would again like to reference the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. If you read just the first few pages, you will learn the lesson of a biking team who made 1% changes. Theoretically, it's technically not significant, but over time, they became world champions.

Why do I say this? Because I want you to know that you're not going to feel like Superman tomorrow. But you can feel like you are building the life and the dream you want to live eventually. But it starts with one.

The power of one is so significant.

Would you agree with me that:

• One push-up is better than zero if you're trying to work on strength?
• A one-minute walk is better than 0 minutes if you're trying to increase your endurance?
• One minute of mindfulness or meditation is better than zero if you're trying to work on your mental health?
• One extra minute of sleep could help you feel a little more rested?
• One extra vegetable in the day could do something significant to your health long term, or at least maybe improve your poops a little bit?

Okay, I know I got silly there. But back to the point.

If you agree with these things, the entire lesson I've presented to you today should benefit you. And what I also know is, if you're agreeing with these things, you have the power inside of you already to find the things that are going to make a difference in your life.

But Here's What I Also Know

Motivation comes and goes. And that's why accountability can be key. Because we don't always feel like doing it, but having someone help you can make a difference.

That could be your brother or your sister or your cousin or your best friend, a parent, a loved one, a coworker, a neighbor. It could be anyone.

Or it could be a professional like myself.

I want you to ask yourself: who or what helps you stay accountable? Truly?

And I want you to take action on who or what that is.

And if I am that answer, let's jump on a call.

How I Can Help You in 2026

Here's what working with me looks like:

We don't just set vague goals like "get healthier" or "manage diabetes better." We get specific. We break it down. We create systems that actually fit into your life.

We figure out:

• What your actual goals are (not what you think they should be)
• Why those goals matter to you
• What small, sustainable steps will get you there
• How to handle the 20% days without feeling like a failure
• How to adjust your insulin as your body changes
• How to build habits that stick, not just for January, but for the whole year

And we do all of this with kindness, not judgment. With flexibility, not rigidity. With progress, not perfection.

If you want to start 2026 with real support, not just good intentions, let's talk.

January coaching spots are filling up NOW. If you want personalized strategies, accountability, and someone in your corner who actually understands Type 1 Diabetes, this is your moment.

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation call here: calendly.com/typeonetypefun/30min

And if you haven't already, grab your free copy of my book for the complete framework on goal setting, diabetes management, and living your life on your terms: typeonetypefun.com/free-book

Your 2026 Can Be Different

Look, I know New Year's resolutions have a bad reputation. Most people give up by February.

But you're not most people.

You're someone who's reading this blog in December, planning ahead, thinking strategically. You're someone who's willing to be honest with yourself about what you really want and why.

That already sets you apart.

Now it's just about getting the right support and building the right systems so that this time, the goals actually stick.

2026 can be the year everything clicks. The year you feel confident with your diabetes management. The year you build sustainable habits. The year you actually achieve what you set out to do.

But it starts with being honest, being specific, and being willing to ask for help.

So here's my challenge to you:

Take 10 minutes right now. Write down one goal you have for 2026. Then ask yourself, "What does this really mean? Why does this matter to me? What would success actually look like?"

Get specific. Get real. Get honest.

And then, if you need help making it happen, reach out.

I'm here. And I'm ready to help you make 2026 your year.

Let's do this.

Ready to set goals that actually stick? Let's create your personalized plan for 2026: calendly.com/typeonetypefun/30min

Want the complete framework for sustainable goal setting and diabetes management? Download your free book: typeonetypefun.com/free-book