In this powerful episode of Five Rivers, sponsored by Heald, host Dr. Sumeet Arora is joined by Dr. Todd Smith, a seasoned physician, to explore the evolving landscape of diabetes management in today’s world. Titled “Culture, Care & CGMs: Key to Modern Diabetes Management”, this conversation dives deep into how personalized care, cultural sensitivity, and the use of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are reshaping the way we approach Type 2 diabetes and metabolic health in the U.S.

Dr. Smith shares firsthand clinical insights on why early intervention in pre-diabetes is critical, how emotional and financial burdens compound after a diabetes diagnosis, and what healthcare systems can do to catch and reverse insulin resistance before it escalates. Discover how CGMs aren't just for the tech-savvy—they’re an empowering behavior modification tool that enables users to track real-time blood glucose trends, identify triggers, and actively reverse metabolic decline.

What makes this episode especially relevant is the attention to health disparities and the need for culturally competent care. Dr. Smith outlines real-world examples from his practice in Minneapolis, where diverse communities such as Somali and Southeast Asian populations bring unique dietary habits, languages, and family structures to the healthcare table. The discussion highlights how understanding cultural nuances and removing judgment from care conversations can make or break a patient’s long-term outcome.

You’ll also hear about the SMART goal approach in diabetes care, the importance of educational resources, the role of AI and health apps in interpreting CGM data, and why mental health support is a non-negotiable element in chronic disease care.

Visit HealD for more resources on diabetes management!

Are you constantly tired, struggling to lose weight, or waking up feeling foggy, even after a full night’s rest? In this eye-opening episode of Five Rivers, sponsored by Heald, host Preetpal Singh sits down with Dr. Shilpa Pandey, a board-certified sleep medicine expert, to decode how poor sleep could be sabotaging your metabolism, hormones, and long-term health.

Titled "Tired and Gaining Weight? Your Sleep Hormones Are to Blame", this conversation dives deep into the misunderstood connection between sleep deprivation, weight gain, and chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Pandey breaks down how critical hormones like leptin and ghrelin regulate hunger and satiety and how disrupted sleep throws them completely out of balance.

From understanding the difference between fatigue vs. sleepiness to learning about sleep's effect on your immune system, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity, this episode is packed with science-based insights and relatable real-life scenarios. You’ll also hear about how shift work, blue light exposure, and late-night snacking loops can trigger metabolic chaos that no amount of willpower can fix without restoring sleep quality.

This isn’t just about getting 8 hours of sleep, it’s about hormonal timing, circadian rhythm alignment, and recognizing the early signs of sleep disorders.

If you’re on a wellness journey, trying to reverse insulin resistance, or wondering why your best efforts at dieting still leave you stuck, this conversation will change the way you think about restorative sleep as a foundation for metabolic health and weight management.

Visit HealD for more resources on diabetes management!

Hunger, Hormones and Health: What Your Body’s Really Telling You kicks off this week’s Five Rivers episode, powered by Heald, and delivers a front-row seat to the most important conversation happening inside your body right now. Host Preetpal Singh welcomes ultramarathon runner, CEO, and founder of an IT company Vinayak Sharma to decode how everyday hunger signals, master hormones, and whole-person health metrics interact, information every U.S. viewer managing Type 2 diabetes, pursuing wellness, or producing health podcasts needs to hear.

The CDC projects one-third of Americans may develop diabetes by 2050, yet most treatment still ignores the hormonal conversation beneath calorie counts. Vinayak shows how small, evidence-backed changes to meal timing, nutrient ratios, nightly wind-downs, let your body’s real messages surface, lowering A1C, reducing visceral fat, and boosting morning energy without crash diets.

Visit HealD for more resources on diabetes management!