Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1441: Small Sips: Timing and Amount
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Jenny Smith
Date: February 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this quick, focused “Small Sips” episode, Scott Benner distills one of the core lessons echoed throughout the Juicebox Podcast: the pivotal importance of timing and amount in insulin management for people with type 1 diabetes. Together with diabetes educator and long-time collaborator Jenny Smith, Scott breaks down how this concept powers practical, successful glucose control—no matter what eating style or insulin type is in play.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Central Rule of Diabetes Management: Timing and Amount

• Scott’s Core Principle:
  “If I only had 30 seconds to explain diabetes to you, I would tell you that everything is timing and amount. It's the amount of insulin, using the right amount of insulin at the right time.” (A, 00:52)
• Scott refines the explanation: while diabetes is complex, at its heart, using the right insulin amount at the right time is foundational to better outcomes.

2. This Universal Principle Applies Regardless of Diet

• Jenny highlights how the concept holds true across dietary preferences:

  “I think that's valuable in all walks of nutrient intake or fueling plans… The real low carb eaters, the all fruit eaters, whatever. It's 100% about timing.” (B, 02:31)

• Even those on specialized regimens (like ketogenic, high-protein, or regular-carb diets) focus on when insulin is given for optimal glucose responses.

3. Examples of Practical Application

• Scott shares an anecdote:
  “I've sat at lunches with type ones who are eating no carbs at all, just taking in protein, but they know they're going to get a bump from the protein later… 45 minutes later she's like, I have to bolus now.” (A, 03:18)
• Jenny explains use cases for different insulins:

  “Many people are using R because it hits in a slower pattern, much like the fats and the proteins in the diet… Slower onset, much longer than our today's quote unquote rapid insulin.” (B, 03:51)

4. Timing Errors and Their Consequences

• Scott gives practical warnings:

  “You can use the right amount at the wrong time, you could pre bolus too long and get low. That's the right amount of insulin at the wrong time.” (A, 04:23)

• This underscores that both amount and timing must align for desired outcomes.

5. Data-Driven Confidence

• Scott shares a personal example of his daughter’s overnight glucose graph to illustrate the method’s effectiveness:

  “…Arden has not been under 70 or over 120 for the last sleeping six hours of her life. And she's 76 right now. That stability in that graph is being controlled by… the right amount of insulin being used at the right time.” (A, 04:52)

• Emphasizes that, although advanced tech can help (algorithms, GLP-1, pumps), the basic principle is unchanged.

6. You Don’t Need Perfection Every Time

• Scott reinforces realistic expectations:

  “It might take you a long time to figure it out. I'm not saying on the first try it's going to go awesome. Like, I'm not saying that if you have like a Twinkie sandwich with a cupcake chaser that it's going to, like, you know, be as easy. But…if you put that insulin in the right places it would, generally speaking, work for you.” (A, 05:33)

• Jenny adds how learning from repeated, familiar meals builds confidence and skill for harder situations:

  “It's the meals that you regularly eat over and over that then give you a confidence level of trying something maybe a little bit more aggressive...” (B, 06:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott:

  “If I was falling off a cliff and you're like, ‘Scott, help me with my diabetes,’ I'd yell ‘It's all timing and amount!’” (A, 06:53)

• Jenny:

  “It's all good. It's all about timing. That's it.” (B, 06:51)

Timestamps & Key Segments

• 00:52 — Scott’s 30-second “essence of diabetes” explanation: timing and amount
• 02:31 — Jenny on why timing matters regardless of diet
• 03:18 — Example: protein-only meal and delayed bolusing
• 03:51 — Jenny on why some people use older “R” insulin for slow-release foods
• 04:23 — Scott on timing mistakes (pre-bolusing too early or too late)
• 04:52 — Overnight graph data from Scott’s daughter illustrating stable control via timing and amount
• 05:33-06:07 — “Twinkie sandwich with cupcake chaser” analogy on challenging foods
• 06:19 — Jenny: mastery grows through repetition with familiar meals
• 06:51-06:54 — The final summation: “It’s all about timing. That’s it.”

Additional Resources Mentioned

• Diabetes Pro Tip Series:
  For those noticing patterns or wanting to go deeper, Scott recommends the Pro Tip Series (episodes 1000–1025), which dives into glycemic index, insulin strategies, and more practical advice.
• Bold Beginning Series:
  For newly diagnosed families and individuals, the Bold Beginning Series (from episode 698; co-hosted with Jenny Smith) covers the foundational questions after type 1 diagnosis.

Summary

This episode condenses the most actionable, transformative diabetes management concept—timing and amount—into a concise and practical lesson. Listeners are reminded that while there are nuances and life with type 1 diabetes is never perfectly predictable, honing these two aspects is universally effective. Whether through personal anecdotes, technical insulin choices, or the data stories of others, Scott and Jenny drive home that fluency in “timing and amount” is both the core skill and the path to greater confidence and freedom with diabetes.

For more information, including Scott and Jenny’s in-depth teaching, listeners are invited to revisit the Pro Tip and Bold Beginning series via the Juicebox Podcast website or Facebook group.