How Justin Eastzer Connected the Pieces: Diabetes Technology, Education, and Comedy

When Justin Eastzer started experiencing the tell-tale signs of diabetes around the age of 30 – extreme thirst, mood swings, blurry vision, and rapid weight loss – his physician ordered a blood test that revealed an A1C over 12% and he received a swift diagnosis.

However, “I wasn't told what type of diabetes, just that I had diabetes,” said Eastzer, who lives in New York City. “I was prescribed metformin and sent on my way.” After a few weeks of continuing to feel unwell and lose weight, he went to another physician who switched him to a long-acting insulin and encouraged him to test his glucose levels more frequently, but he still felt a little lost and confused.

It wasn’t until he turned to social media, particularly TikTok, that the diabetes online community helped guide him through his diabetes management, and toward the right diagnosis.

"I was already a tech YouTuber, so it felt natural to go on TikTok and start making videos about what I was going through," said Eastzer, who would document his self-management over video. 

The content he created served as a way for him to ask questions about diabetes. As they gained more attention, he not only received answers, but the community also encouraged him to visit an endocrinologist. This was how he was able to get a proper diagnosis for latent autoimmune diabetes in adults or LADA (a form of type 1 diabetes often referred to colloquially as type 1.5).

This experience not only helped him learn more about diabetes and get the proper care, but it also showed him the power of this type of communication, and ultimately inspired him to create even more content that might help others. 

“I realized that there are so many people like me, lost in the system, who need to see that one video that will inspire them to go get tested, or go get a CGM or an insulin pump,” he said.

Now, Eastzer is a vocal advocate for diabetes technology, a content creator, and a podcaster. Using social media as his main tool, he shares the insights he’s learned in order to make diabetes management more approachable and accessible for everyone. 

Finding his niche at the intersection of diabetes technology and advocacy

For Eastzer, his passion for technology and his background in television production and editing (he’s worked on shows including “America’s Got Talent,” among others) helped him to carve out a unique niche in the diabetes space and tell stories through video that really connect with people.

Before his diagnosis, Eastzer was running his own tech-focused YouTube channel, where he reviewed everything from smart home gadgets to virtual reality. “I’ve always loved experimenting with technology and finding all the ways it could be used to better my life,” he said.

When diabetes became central in his life, it was a natural transition for him to merge his love for technology with his health journey – and that’s when his channel, Diabetech, was born.

The content he produces today not only highlights how diabetes technology works, but also emphasizes the importance of access.

“A lot of people don’t have access to education or the right technology,” said Eastzer. “I realized the power and the effect that [my content] had on people, and how a simple 30 second video about how I look at my CGM data could really resonate with and help them.”

But his platform is not only reserved for education and tech talk. One of his favorite contributions to the diabetes space is his comedic character Fran, a fast-talking, tough-loving Long Island mom who offers humorous takes on diabetes scenarios. 

“I've always enjoyed making people laugh,” said Eastzer, “and who doesn’t love putting on a wig?”

Fran is inspired by the real-life people he grew up with and comedic influences like John Roberts (the voice of Linda from “Bob’s Burgers”). With this character, Eastzer is able to educate his audience about what life with diabetes sometimes looks like – without them even knowing – through laughter and levity.

He’s learned that comedy just has a way of sticking with people. “When you make a joke about something, they’re more likely to remember it,” said Eastzer. For example, “If I make a joke as Fran about being able to bring an extra bag for my diabetes supplies on a flight, people are going to remember that and maybe use it when they travel.”

Spoonful of Laughter

When it comes to comedy, however, diabetes isn’t always portrayed in a positive way.

“I think that most people with diabetes have all been at the other end of a joke that is misinformed,” said Eastzer, “And there’s so many jokes about diabetes in the media, but none of them ever get to the root of what diabetes is and how difficult it is while still portraying it in a funny way.”  

So when diaTribe reached out to him to be a part of Spoonful of Laughter, a campaign co-created with comedians, advocates, and artists that uses comedy to educate about diabetes and push back against stigma, it was a perfect fit.

“I wanted to be a part of this movement,” he said, “And what an incredible opportunity to write, create, and produce content that makes people laugh while also really diving into the intricacies of diabetes management – everything from the crazy doctors you sometimes interact with to the fact that you're given this life-saving drug insulin that could also kill you. There’s comedy in that.”

Through his work with Spoonful of Laughter, Eastzer hopes to reach not only people with diabetes but also those without the condition to help spread awareness and understanding using humor. 

“None of this is going to work if we only talk to people with diabetes,” said Eastzer. That’s why the campaign is designed to reach as broad an audience as possible, to make a big impact.

Expanding his reach

Since helping create the Spoonful of Laughter content earlier this year, Eastzer has taken many of the creative principles learned through that process forward with him in his own work. From the improv principle of “yes, and…” to finding new ways to collaborate with other creators, it’s helped him continue to grow his own social media presence and audience.

As Diabetech continues to expand, Eastzer is finding new ways to connect with people including a bimonthly newsletter that shares advancements in diabetes technology and blog posts with personal stories. He’s also working on two new video series: one focused on the evolution of diabetes technology and the other on conversations with people in the diabetes community.

Blending humor, tech knowledge, and strong ties to the diabetes community, Eastzer is actively creating a space for people to learn, connect, and laugh together. 

See more of Eastzer’s work at @Diabe_Tech on social media and in diaTribe’s Spoonful of Laughter campaign.

Learn more about how people with diabetes are using humor to fight diabetes stigma:

• Fighting Diabetes Stigma, One Joke at a Time
• 5 Minutes With Matthew Garza on Stigma and Pride
• New Movie ‘Quarter’ Brings Type 1 Diabetes to the Big Screen
• Join the Spoonful of Laughter movement