Hi, I’m Dr.Santhosh Natarajan.
About Me
I’m the creator of Figuring Out Diabetes (FOD), a practical system built for real life, not perfect life.
I was diagnosed with pre‑diabetes in 2021 and have been actively managing my own numbers ever since, learning what actually works when you only have a few minutes between meetings. I’m also a caregiver together with my spouse for both my father and father‑in‑law, who live with diabetes, so I see the day‑to‑day challenges from the family side as well.
Over the last years I’ve watched friends and colleagues struggle to manage diabetes for themselves and as caregivers, often feeling overwhelmed by apps, advice, and guilt. FOD – Figuring Out Diabetes – grew out of that experience: a way to turn evidence into simple 15‑minute steps that fit into busy schedules and complicated lives.
My Approach
Figuring Out Diabetes (FOD) is built for real life, not perfect life. I combine clinical evidence with lived experience—managing my own pre‑diabetes and caring for family members—to design tools that fit into the 15‑minute gaps in a busy day. Instead of asking you to overhaul everything at once, FOD breaks diabetes management into small, repeatable steps you can actually keep doing between meetings, school runs, and family responsibilities.
Simple ideas
Every FOD idea has to pass a simple test: “Can a busy person or caregiver do this in 15 minutes or less?” That’s why the system focuses on clear checklists, quick decision trees, and short scripts you can use with doctors, at the dinner table, or when reading your CGM. No jargon, no guilt—just practical moves that turn numbers, food, meds, and tech into something you can understand and act on today.
Lasting impact
The goal isn’t a perfect week; it’s a sustainable life with diabetes. FOD is designed to support you over years: building confidence with numbers, preventing burnout for caregivers, protecting heart health, and reducing the mental load with smart technology. Over time, those small 15‑minute actions add up—to more time in range, more energy for work and family, and a relationship with diabetes that feels manageable, not overwhelming.