Interview: A Chat With Fabulous Food Blogger Mila Clarke A.K.A The Hangry Woman

We spoke to Mila, also known as ‘The Hangry Woman’, a truly fantastic food blogger, whose Instagram feed always gets us drooling. Mila also happens to be a person with diabetes. We wanted to hear her perspective on what it means to be a food blogger living with diabetes. Mila just goes to show that diabetes shouldn’t come between you and a life full of deliciousness. 

Tell us about the role that food plays in your life…

I only learned to cook in college when my college roommate asked me what I liked to cook, and I told her I only really knew how to microwave my food. After a long laugh and her advice, I started reading cookbooks and learning what combinations and flavors went together. 

I started cooking for my friends and family, and they'd ask me what I made, and how I did it. They encouraged me to start a blog about food and learning to cook, and ever since then, food has really been the center of my life. 

How did your diabetes diagnosis change your relationship with food?

In 2016, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Initially, my relationship with food changed it for the worse. My first appointments with health care providers were spent talking about all of the deficits - what I couldn't eat, and all of the foods I had to remove from my life. 

I learned that I couldn’t eat sandwiches anymore because the bread was too carb heavy, or that rice in all of its forms was bad for people with diabetes. I believed these things for a long time.

In addition to going on an NPH insulin where I didn’t have my freedom, and had to time my eating patterns to take insulin, I felt miserable and like I didn’t have any joy around food. It was all very calculated.

I viewed food negatively in the beginning. I just wanted to find foods I enjoyed, but I felt like I couldn't balance the foods I loved and in-range blood sugars. 

In 2020, I found out that I was misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and found out that I have LADA - Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults - a slow onset form of type 1. 

I felt like conversations with my healthcare providers changed after that. We didn’t focus on restriction. There were more conversations about adapting. Of course I couldn’t eat pizza all the time, but if I did want a couple of slices of pizza, I could learn how to offset it. 

I also dealt with some “food police” judgement after my initial diagnosis. People asking “can you eat that?” I think most times it was out of genuine concern, but it was hurtful that people didn’t think I knew how to take care of myself because I have diabetes. 

I coped with that question by lending some explanation about how and why I could eat certain foods, and helped educate others about it. 

I also started doing a series on YouTube exploring how foods affect blood sugar numbers so people could see that ordinary foods, and sometimes foods labeled as “bad foods” have a place. It’s all an experiment! 

Over time I learned to love foods, portion them appropriately and figured out how to fit most foods into my diet. 

What post-diagnosis advice would you give your former self when it comes to food and eating?

Test and try things out to see what works for you. Even if you're told you can't eat a certain food, or you have to diet a certain way, see what happens with your blood sugars.

Measure your food, then check your blood sugars to understand how different foods affect you. It's surprising what foods you can still have - you just may have to vary the portions. 

What tips would you give to other people with diabetes who often find themselves worrying about food? 

It's hard to stop thinking about because food is always a worry. Your entire day centers around how your food will impact your blood sugar and whether it will make you spike, or stay steady.

In spite of that, I like to remind myself that every day is a new day. If you didn't do as well as you'd expected today, take a deep breath, and try again tomorrow with a new lesson under your belt. 

How do you factor in your diabetes when it comes to coming up with new and exciting recipes?

I develop recipes that I know I'd like to eat, while asking myself how it might impact my blood sugar. 

I do a lot of initial research about ingredients, their benefits, what they pair best with and how they balance out in a dish. Then I test! The big key for me is that the recipe has to be delicious and crave worthy. 

Usually, it ends up also fitting in with my blood sugar goals! I do everything I can to ensure that I don't feel guilty about food. 

If you could only eat three foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Strawberries - I just love a good bowl of ripe strawberries. It's always lovely and satisfying. 

Unflavored sparkling water - I love bubbly drinks and am a total fan of a plain sparkling water with a little bit of lime. 

Tacos - A delicious corn tortilla taco with spicy beef, white onions, avocado, and cilantro hits the spot! I never get tired of tacos!