Love Is Blind Season 9 and the Type 1 Diabetes Conversation Everyone’s Talking About
- Julia Flaherty
- Oct 31
- 6 min read
Reality TV rarely gets chronic illness right. But recently, Love Is Blind did something few mainstream shows have managed: it sparked a conversation about type 1 diabetes (T1D).
During Season 9, set in Denver, Colorado, viewers witnessed an exchange between contestants that sparked a ripple effect through both the Love Is Blind fandom and the diabetes community. At first glance, it looked like a simple misunderstanding, but what followed revealed something deeper about accountability and education.
Let’s unpack what happened, why it matters, and what we can take away from it.
What Happened on Love Is Blind Season 9
In the current season of Love Is Blind, contestant Megan was dating two people simultaneously—Jordan and Mike—when diabetes unexpectedly became a topic of conversation.
During one of Megan’s dates with Mike, she mentioned that her father had lived with T1D, sharing it as part of her personal story. Mike later responded on another date by saying he couldn’t believe another man in the pods—Jordan—had a son with diabetes. His comment implied that diabetes was caused by diet and lifestyle, an all-too-common misconception.
It was clear Mike didn’t fully understand the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, or that even with type 2, the causes extend far beyond food choices alone. He was trying to relate to Megan, but in doing so, he unintentionally echoed a stereotype that has long frustrated people in the diabetes community.
When the season aired, viewers—including Jordan—saw the moment play out. Instead of avoiding it, Mike reached out to Jordan privately to offer an apology. He took full accountability for his words, admitted he had been misinformed, and committed to learning more. He even made a generous donation to Life for a Child, an organization that provides insulin and supplies to children with diabetes worldwide.
Jordan publicly acknowledged the apology and encouraged others to forgive Mike, emphasizing that he had shown real accountability and growth. I agree.
The diabetes community and Love Is Blind fans alike were intrigued by the unfolding events. It was a rare example of a public mistake leading to genuine education, empathy, and connection—something we don’t often see on reality television.
Type 1, Type 2, and the Oversimplified Narrative
It’s easy for the public to conflate “diabetes” into one box, but as Jordan explained during a later discussion, there are different types.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It isn’t caused by diet, sugar intake, or lifestyle choices. It just happens.
Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is characterized by insulin resistance: the body still produces insulin but doesn’t use it effectively. While it’s often linked to lifestyle and metabolic factors, those factors are tied to much bigger systemic issues: food insecurity, healthcare inaccessibility, cultural stigma, economic inequality, and more.
Reducing any form of diabetes to “poor diet” erases these realities. It also fuels shame, which helps no one. We are all a part of the same community. At the end of the day, we have to be.
Even more importantly, there are actually more than two types of diabetes. Type 3c, LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults), MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young), and gestational diabetes all exist, and they all present differently. Recognizing this complexity helps us better support one another and push for more nuanced public understanding.
So while it was refreshing to hear Love Is Blind even mention type 1 and type 2, it’s equally important to remind viewers that diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.
What Love Is Blind Got Right and Why It Matters
It’s rare that a show with such a massive audience even mentions T1D, let alone opens the door to a conversation about it. In that way, this moment was historic, even if it began with a misunderstanding.
Jordan handled the moment with grace and used it as an opportunity to educate. Megan, too, modeled empathy and understanding, helping correct the narrative.
And perhaps most notably, according to Jordan's testimony, Mike didn’t double down. He didn’t get defensive or dismissive. He took responsibility, learned from his mistakes, and acted accordingly. That’s the part I wish more people were talking about.
Because let’s be honest: we’ve all gotten something wrong before. Maybe not on national television, but in conversations with friends, family, coworkers, or even strangers online. We’ve all said something we wish we could take back.
The difference lies in what we do next.
Mike’s decision to apologize and donate to a cause, Life for a Child, that directly helps people living with diabetes, shows that growth is possible when we meet mistakes with humility rather than hostility.
The “Us vs. Them” Mentality
Still, there’s something about how these conversations unfold that we need to be cautious about.
Too often, the diabetes community—and the public discourse around it—falls into an “us vs. them” mindset: type 1 versus type 2, “real” diabetics versus “lifestyle” diabetics, “educated” versus “uninformed.”
But here’s the truth: people living with any form of diabetes share far more in common than we might realize.
We all face judgment, misinformation, burnout, healthcare challenges, and emotional fatigue. We all navigate systems that often misunderstand or overlook us. When we divide ourselves, we weaken the collective advocacy that could actually make life better for everyone living with diabetes.
So instead of gatekeeping who “gets it right,” I want to see more compassion. More bridge-building. More of what happened between Jordan and Mike, not just in private DMs, but in public discourse.
Giving Grace in a Public World
When the episode aired, some people in the diabetes community expressed anger at Mike’s comment—and understandably so. I was angry too, at first. It’s frustrating to hear harmful stereotypes echoed again and again.
But I also think it’s important to zoom out.
Imagine being on a show like Love Is Blind, saying something ignorant on camera, and then seeing it broadcast to millions of viewers. That’s a nightmare scenario for most of us.
Social media can turn moments like that into instant pile-ons. And while accountability matters, public shaming rarely leads to deeper learning. Most of us grow through curiosity and empathy, not humiliation.
The reality is that many people are unaware of T1D because it hasn’t affected their lives. That doesn’t excuse misinformation, but it does remind us why awareness and education are still so important.
And we can't be defeatist about it either. While there are many who don't want to learn, I'd like to believe there are handfuls that do, even when it takes time and effort.
And it often takes saying something at least seven times to get it across. So when someone is willing to listen, learn, and even take action, I count that as progress.
A Win for the Diabetes Community
In the end, this story isn’t about who was right or wrong; it’s about what happens when people are willing to grow.
Jordan used his platform to share what life is like as a parent of a child with T1D. Mike turned his mistake into empathy. Megan reminded viewers that compassion comes with experience and a willingness to participate. And millions of people who might’ve never thought about diabetes before now know a little bit more.
That’s the kind of awareness we need more of: honest, imperfect, and real. Because if this conversation had never happened, we might not be talking about it right now.
And maybe that’s the lesson: that even uncomfortable moments can lead to meaningful dialogue when we stay open to learning from one another.
Final Thoughts
As someone who’s lived with T1D for over two decades, I’ve had my fair share of frustrating conversations about it. People mean well, but they don’t always know better, and sometimes, that hurts.
But watching this unfold on Love Is Blind, I didn’t just feel frustration. I felt hope. Hope that more people will ask questions instead of assuming. Hope that education will continue to replace ignorance. Hope that compassion can coexist with correction.
Diabetes isn’t a single story: it’s millions of them. And if a reality show about love can start a national conversation about it, maybe that’s a step toward the kind of understanding we’ve been asking for all along.
Disclaimers:
The stories and reflections shared on Chronically Climbing are for educational and storytelling purposes only. They are not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for guidance about your personal health or diabetes management.
Be Chronically You, LLC and Chronically Climbing are not affiliated with Love Is Blind, Netflix, or Life for a Child. References to these organizations and individuals are made solely for commentary and educational context.
This article is written from a personal perspective and aims to encourage understanding, curiosity, and compassion within the diabetes community and beyond. It is not intended to criticize or misrepresent any individual or group.
