Type 1 Diabetes Advocate Transforms Personal Journey into Professional Mission

Amanda Mueller never imagined that switching insulin pumps would lead her to discover a vibrant online community, pursue fitness certifications, and become an inspiration to others living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Yet that's exactly what happened when this East Texas accountant decided to take control of her health journey and share it with others.

Living with T1D for more than 17 years, Mueller admits the early years were challenging. "I was just kind of letting life happen to me," she reflects. "I didn't even know what T1D was before I was diagnosed. I was just trying to get a good check mark when I saw my doctor four times a year, take my insulin, and really just survive."

Everything changed when she switched to a new insulin pump in 2023. Searching for guidance online, Mueller discovered an entire community of T1D individuals sharing their experiences on Instagram. This discovery sparked a transformation in how she approached both her condition and her fitness journey.

Strength in Knowledge

Though fitness had always been part of Mueller's life—she even met her husband Kameron when he was her personal trainer—her perspective shifted dramatically when she began researching the connection between strength training and T1D management.

"I learned how much strength training and exercise improves glucose uptake and the long-term benefits for type 1 diabetes," Mueller explains. "The more muscle we build, the more we have a place for that glucose to be stored versus in our bloodstream. By building that muscle mass, it can help us have improved insulin sensitivity, which as someone living with type 1 diabetes, the more we can improve that insulin sensitivity, the better."

The Path to Certification

As Mueller deepened her understanding of fitness and its impact on T1D management, she recognized an opportunity to help others facing similar challenges. "I wanted to get my certification so that I felt more confident in educating women in our space about how they can manage their blood sugar from a T1D standpoint and then properly execute those reps in the gym," she explains. "As a T1D, we have another layer of hurdles - like how is this going to impact my blood sugar?"

Her decision to pursue certification through ISSA was influenced by the program's structured approach to learning. "The way it was lined up really worked for me. I'm very analytical—surprise surprise, as an accountant," she laughs. "I functioned really well with visuals and data, graphs and things like that. I really appreciated how in the ISSA curriculum there was kind of a mix of high-level stuff, but then also drilling down into it."

Mueller particularly valued ISSA's comprehensive video library. "I loved all the videos you can reference, all the different movements you can go back and reference. That was really impactful to be able to go back even as someone who feels confident in the gym on my own."

Building a Future

After completing her Certified Personal Trainer certification in October 2023, followed immediately by her nutrition certification, Mueller has been quietly building her presence in the T1D community. While maintaining her accounting practice, she dedicates time to helping others through social media, offering form checks and programming advice via direct messages.

Her mantra, "Reps Remove Doubt," extends beyond the gym. "The more repetition we do with T1D management, the more we remove that doubt and replace it with confidence," Mueller explains. She's planning to launch a formal coaching program in 2025, focusing on helping women with T1D understand how strength training can positively impact their health management.

"My hope and anticipation is to create a level of support and understanding unique to T1D,” Mueller says of her community. “I want to create a space where women can fall in love with movement and strength training, at any level. We will inspire one another to build sustainable habits that not only improve our health but also empower us to chase goals—both in the gym and in life."

Through her ISSA certifications, Mueller has transformed her personal journey into a mission to help others, proving that education and community can turn challenges into opportunities for growth and inspiration.