#1444 Floppy Duck

Summary

Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1444 — “Floppy Duck”

Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Polly (Northern Nevada)
Release Date: February 25, 2025

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Brief Overview

This episode features Polly from northern Nevada, who shares her long, complicated, and at times frustrating journey to a proper Type 1 diabetes diagnosis (specifically LADA—Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults). The conversation delves into medical misdiagnoses, Polly's experimentation with strict diets, struggles with healthcare professionals, and eventual empowerment through advocacy and support communities. Throughout, Scott guides with humor, empathy, and pointed criticism of systemic healthcare failures, in a relatable, conversational tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Polly’s Diagnosis Odyssey

• Initial Suspicion & Dismissed Symptoms

  • Polly had avoided doctors for years and saw a midwife for routine checks. Her A1C result was startling: 12.6 ([03:49]).
  • Immediate recommendation for ER visit and endocrinologist referral, but Polly declined traditional care in favor of diet-based management.

• Strict Diet Experiments

  • Tries the Rice Diet (white rice, fruit, ~900 calories/day), inspired by Dr. McDougall, despite high A1C ([05:41]).
  • Four months later: A1C down to 6.2. Felt she'd “cracked the code” ([06:52]), but lost less weight than expected.

• Years of Dietary Self-Management

  • Stays on modified rice diet for five years, loses weight steadily, but then mental and physical health declines.

• Breakdown and the "Floppy Duck" Appointment

  • During the pandemic, desperate for care, Polly finally gets an appointment at a local clinic; A1C is now 17 ([12:12]).
  • Memorable moment: A flappy, excitable, Russian PA in a “duck bill” mask strongly urges ER visit ([13:00]).

• Missed Diagnoses and Systemic Failures

  • Multiple providers continue treating Polly as Type 2, ignoring autoimmune test (GAD antibodies, C-peptide) showing Type 1 (LADA).
  • Endocrinologist refuses to review test results: “If you had type 1, you’d be dead” ([17:22]).
  • “I gotta tell you something. […] It’s all being held together by good luck and duct tape.” — Scott [17:30]

2. Struggles with the Medical System

• Multiple Problematic Providers

  • Polly recounts negative experiences with several providers, especially Physician Assistants (PAs) who lacked bedside manner, ignored evidence, or were dismissive ([21:12]; [22:03]).
  • “I can't say anything nice about him. He had no bedside manner. He wouldn't listen. He would yell at me… The only time he was nice […] was when he had a trainee… and he was flirting with her.” — Polly [22:12]

• Impact of Insurance and Access Issues

  • Purchasing and using CGMs and medications complicated by type misdiagnosis—insurance coverage depends on diagnosis codes ([37:41]).
  • Frustrations with the back-and-forth and feeling bounced around “siloed” medical offices ([49:20]).

3. Breakthrough and Self-Advocacy

• Correct Diagnosis at Last

  • After 18 months and multiple doctors, a new endocrinologist in Reno finally recognizes LADA: “You're a LADA. Why are you being treated for type 2?” ([28:46]).

• Community and Support

  • Discovers LADA and diabetes communities on Facebook; is initially put off by the “Juicebox” name, but joins and finds kindness, practical support, and information ([33:01]).
  • “I went to the Facebook group and just fell in love with it because everybody is just so helpful and it’s a kind place” ([33:12]).

• Adoption of Technology & Bold With Insulin

  • Finds Afrezza (inhaled insulin) extremely helpful for erratic digestion and management ([41:19]).
  • Utilizes CGMs (Libre, Dexcom) and finds the “sugar pixel” display helpful for vigilance ([41:48]).

4. Ongoing Challenges & Key Strategies

• Complicated by Gut and Endocrine Issues

  • Chronic yeast infection (worsened by high blood sugars), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, erratic digestion, frequent UTIs.
  • Difficulty with pre-bolusing due to unpredictable digestion.

• GLP-1 Agonists (e.g., Ozempic, Mounjaro)

  • GLP-1s help stabilize Polly’s digestion and blood sugars, but insurance restricts access after her Type 1 diagnosis ([37:41]).
  • Scott shares Arden’s (his daughter’s) experience with low-dose Mounjaro, self-titrating with smaller doses for benefit without excessive weight loss ([54:08]).

• Navigating Insurance and Provider Limitations

  • Frustration at clinicians simply stopping drugs like Ozempic but not adjusting insulin, neglecting the broader context of the patient ([41:14]).

5. Emotional Reflection and Resilience

• Coping with Chronic Illness
  • Polly expresses resentment at small joys denied by diabetes (e.g., enjoying a fruit juice at a gathering) ([52:08]).
  • “Just because you're doing well at it doesn't mean it’s fun, that’s for sure.” — Scott [53:32]
  • Finds solace in faith, humor (“I have learned, obviously, that I don't know everything”), and the support of the diabetes community ([25:55]; [59:19]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Polly’s frustration after years of misdiagnosis:
  “He [doctor] would not look at them. He goes, if you had type one, you'd be dead.” [17:22]

• Scott’s take on healthcare system dysfunction:
  “I gotta tell you something. […] It’s all being held together by good luck and duct tape. Do you understand?” [17:30]

• On provider attitude:
  “The only time he was nice to me was when he had a trainee physician’s assistant there, and she was very cute, and so he was flirting with her.” — Polly [22:12]

• On community support:
  “I went to the Facebook group and just fell in love with it because everybody is just so helpful and it’s a kind place.” — Polly [33:12]

• Polly on diet journey:
  “I did the modified version of the rice diet. I had never felt better in my life.” [07:04]

• Discussing innovation in diabetes tech:
  “Ever since—put it in once… One insertion a year, and if it works out, only calibration once a week.” — Scott [23:33]

• On frustration with being denied simple pleasures:
  “I have to think about that. I can’t just have a juice like a normal person.” — Polly [52:08]

• Concluding sentiment:
  “Just because you’re doing well at it doesn’t mean it’s fun, that’s for sure.” — Scott [53:32]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Diagnosis Odyssey & Diets:

  • A1C 12.6 diagnosis & midwife: [03:39–06:56]
  • Four years on the rice diet, mental collapse: [10:26–12:01]

• Medical System Frustrations:

  • “Floppy Duck” and high A1C at clinic during COVID: [12:38–14:19]
  • Doctor ignores autoimmune test: [17:22–20:12]
  • Series of problematic PAs: [21:12–22:52]

• Community Empowerment:

  • Discovers Juicebox Podcast/Facebook group: [33:01–34:13]

• Technology and Modern Management:

  • Experiences with CGMs, Afrezza: [41:14–41:48]
  • UTI, infection-induced insulin resistance: [42:52–44:10]

• Discussion of GLP-1s:

  • Loss and return of benefits, titration strategies: [54:08–58:43]

• Polly reflects on challenges & small losses:

  • Loss of freedom around food, sugar: [52:08–53:38]

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Flow & Tone

• Scott’s interviewing style is empathetic yet direct, using humor to highlight absurdities and vent frustration at medical failures.
• Polly is candid, wry, and self-reflective—open about missteps and learning to advocate for herself (“I’ve learned, obviously, that I don’t know everything.”).
• Key themes: The importance of persistence, self-advocacy, community, and technological empowerment. Critical of medical inertia but focused on practical strategies for thriving.

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Key Takeaways & Strategies

• Advocate for thorough testing (autoantibodies, c-peptide) if diagnosis is in doubt; don’t settle for “it must be type 2.”
• Persistence pays: Even after years of stubborn misdiagnosis, eventual access to the right endocrinologist can change everything.
• Community matters: Support groups (especially Juicebox Facebook group) offer essential information and emotional support.
• Technology is a lifeline: CGMs, modern insulins, Afrezza, and “sugar pixels” help those with unpredictable digestion and other complexities.
• Self-experimentation is key: Within safe bounds, working with (and sometimes around) medical advice can lead to better quality of life.
• Be bold with insulin and trust your lived experience—even when doctors dismiss your perspective.

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For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

• A cautionary but hopeful tale, showing the hazards of medical inertia but also the power of insistence, information, and peer support.
• Offers actionable advice on technology, community, and adaptive management strategies.
• Explores the sometimes invisible emotional toll of living with diabetes “by the book”—but also how to push beyond it for better care and quality of life.

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For support and information, explore:

• Juicebox Podcast Website
• Juicebox Podcast Facebook Community

Episode Sponsor Links:

• Dexcom G7: dexcom.com/juicebox
• Omnipod: omnipod.com/juicebox
• Blue Circle Health: bluecirclehealth.org

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Summary Prepared for Listeners Who Want the Full Story at a Glance.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome back, friends. You are listening to the Juice Box Podcast.

[B]

My name is Polly and I live in Northern Nevada. I'm excited to talk to you.

[A]

Nothing you hear on the Juice Box Podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. Always consult a physician before making any changes to your healthcare plan. I know this is gonna sound crazy, but Blue Circle Health is a nonprofit that's offering a totally free virtual type 1 diabetes clinical care, education and support program for adults 18 and up. You heard me right. Free. No strings attached. Just free. Currently, if you live in Florida, Maine, Vermont, Ohio, Delaware, Alabama or Missouri, you're eligible for Blue Circle Health right now. But they are adding states quickly in 2025, so make sure to follow them at BlueCircle Health on social media and make yourself familiar with blue circle health.org Blue Circle Health is free. It is without cost. There are no strings attached. I am not hiding anything from you. Bluecirclehealth.org you know why they had to buy an ad? No one believes it's free. The Diabetes Variable series from the Juice Box Podcast goes over all the little things that affect your diabetes that you might not think about, from travel and exercise to hydration and even trampolines. Juiceboxpodcast.com go up in the menu and click on Diabetes Variables. Today's podcast is sponsored by the insulin pump that my daughter has been wearing since she was four years old. Omnipod omnipod.com juicebox you too can have the same insulin pump that my daughter has been wearing every day for 16 years. The episode you're about to enjoy was brought to you by Dexcom, the Dexcom G7, the same CGM that my daughter wears. You can learn more and get started today at my link. Dexcom.com juicebox My name is Polly and.

[B]

I live in northern Nevada. I'm excited to talk to you.

[A]

Excellent, Polly. Thank you for doing this. I appreciate it.

[B]

You're welcome.

[A]

So you have the diabetes, as they say.

[B]

I do got a touch of it.

[A]

Just a splash.

[B]

A big splash.

[A]

When did it splash on you?

[B]

Well, I've got a very long, embarrassing, I guess, path. So about 12 years ago.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

My husband said, you haven't been to the doctor in a very long time. I think it's time. So I really dislike, probably dislike and distrust doctors. And so I was friendly with a very capable midwife. So I went to see her. She said, what's your A1C? And I was like, what the heck are you talking about? And she was like, you've never had your A1C done. And I said, no. She goes, well, let's do it.

[A]

How old are you at that point?

[B]

12 years ago, probably about 39.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And so she did it, and she did a bunch of other stuff. And so she goes, oh, it was really cold that day. And she said, this A1C needs to be a little bit warm. So she's like, let me go put it in the bathroom and I'll be right back. So she came back about five minutes later and she was white. And she was like, I peed on your test.

[A]

I'm so sorry. Yeah, we have to do it again. By the way, when does it get cold in Nevada? I don't understand.

[B]

I'm in northern Nevada.

[A]

Oh, I see.

[B]

In the mountains.

[A]

I see. Go ahead.

[B]

Yeah. She was white. She goes, you've got a problem. And I was like, what are you talking about? She goes, this is 12.6.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

I said, what are you talking about? I knew. I mean, I knew absolutely nothing.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And so she said, this is indicative of diabetes. I've always been overweight to some degree. At that particular point, I was losing weight. And, you know, we all know why now. And she said, you need to go to the ER right now and get this checked out and then get to an endocrinologist. And so I said, no, I'm not going to do that. And I had just read about. We were following a diet called the McDougal diet at that time.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And it's a low fat vegan diet. And I was really getting serious about it, which is why I thought I was losing weight. And Dr. McDougall had just posted on his newsletter about this diet called the Rice diet, which was used originally formed for high blood pressure, but people had had really good success 40, 50 years ago with diabetes. I mean, it's really a miracle. And it's not used anymore because it is tough. I mean, it is a tough diet. And now we have medication that they didn't have back then. So I said, I'm going to try the Bryce diet. She was like, I'll give you third. She's like, I'll give you 90 days, and then I'm not going to treat you anymore. She was like, you've got to do something.

[A]

Polly, let me stop you for a second. I want to live in this moment for a second. At 12A 1C, are you thinking now in hindsight, she thought you had type 2 diabetes?

[B]

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

[A]

Okay. All right. Because at A12A1C, I'm going to go eat. Rice is like well, then you're going to come back with a 15A 1C. Like, what are we doing here? You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah, yeah. So she, she was like, well, you've gone this far, basically, let's do it your way and then we'll do it my way. So I went to do this and it's not just rice, it's rice and fruit. That's all. You eat very little. I think I was at like 900 calories a day. She had a scheduling conflict so we had to go four months. So I went four months on this diet. So I went to see her after four months and my A1C was 6.2.

[A]

Okay. And had you lost weight?

[B]

Surprisingly, when you're, when you're sick and on the right side, you don't always lose weight is what I found out eventually. So I lost 18 pounds, which with such little calories was surprising to me. I was expecting the weight to just lose, fall off. That was my introduction to diabetes. And I thought, hey, I've cracked code.

[A]

You know, you went from this 12 to the 6.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Not thinking that you probably had Lada and you had like, like ebbing and flowing.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[A]

Okay, I see.

[B]

I did the modified version of the rice diet. I had never felt better in my life. I'm a pretty big advocate of this diet because so many people have studied it and so many people are, do really well. But it's tough, I mean, just eating rice and fruit. So food became non fuel at that point.

[A]

Yeah. Hey, give me a second here. Key components of the rice diet. White rice is a staple. Fruits and vegetables. The diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables which provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber, low sodium, minimal animal products, low fat, low protein, whole unprocessed foods. That sounds like the diet.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

Okay. And it runs in phases. Is that right? There's like a detox phase. And the Dexcom G7 is sponsoring this episode of the Juice Box podcast and it features a lightning fast 30 minute warmup time. That's right from the time you put on the Dexcom G7 till the time you're getting readings. 30 minutes. That's pretty great. It also has a 12 hour grace period, so you can swap your sensor when it's convenient for you. All that on top of it being small, accurate, incredibly wearable and light. These things, in my opinion, make the Dexcom G7 a no brainer. The Dexcom G7 comes with way more than just this. Up to 10 people can follow you. You can Use it with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes. It's covered by all sorts of insurances and this might be the best part. It might be the best part alerts and alarms that are customizable so that you can be alerted at the levels that make sense to you. Dexcom.com juicebox links in the show notes [e-mail] to Dexcom and all the sponsors. When you use my links, you're supporting the production of the podcast and helping to keep it free and plentiful. Today's episode of the Juice Box Podcast is sponsored by Omnipod. And before I tell you about Omnipod, the device, I'd like to tell you about Omnipod, the company. I approached Omnipod in 2015 and asked them to buy an ad on a podcast that I hadn't even begun to make yet because the podcast didn't have any listeners. All I could promise them was that I was going to try to help people living with type 1 diabetes. And that was enough for Omnipod. They bought their first ad and I used that money to support myself while I was growing the Juice Box Podcast. You might even say that Omnipod is the firm foundation of the Juice Box podcast and it's actually the firm foundation of of how my daughter manages her type 1 diabetes every day. Omnipod.com juicebox Whether you want the Omnipod 5 or the Omnipod dash, using my link lets Omnipod know what a good decision they made in 2015 and continue to make to this day. Omnipod is easy to use, easy to fill, easy to wear, and I know that because my daughter has been wearing one every day. So since she was four years old and she will be 20 this year. There is not enough time in an ad for me to tell you everything that I know about Omnipod, but please take a look. Omnipod.com juicebox I think Omnipod could be a good friend to you, just like it has been to my daughter and my family.

[B]

Yeah, there's like the first phase which is just what you mentioned, and then you can add. They joke that you can add, that you got chicken so you can add like protein. And I never did because I just wanted to jump in. I knew nothing. I had never even heard the word A1C at that point. So I thought, hey, I've looked this, you know I'm good. So I stayed on a modified version and I started losing weight and I thought, hey, I am good. And I didn't lose, you know, massive amounts. It was very steady. So I thought, you know, I'm doing this healthy. Even I am good. That went on for about five years. And then the best way to say it is my mental state just collapsed. I couldn't think. I was upset all the time. We own our own business, so I was just under a lot of pressure. I was putting myself under a lot of pressure. I really don't remember what caused me to get up one morning and call my reproductive endocrinologist that I had had 16 years earlier when I was trying to get pregnant with my son. And I said, I need to see an endocrinologist. And I really. I can't tell you what got me to that point. I called them, and they said, oh, yeah, across the parking lot. Go see Dr.

[A]

So and so I'm going to guess what got you there is five years of rice and apples. But, you know.

[B]

Yeah. So I called, and I couldn't get in. And I just felt at that particular moment, I felt very desperate. So at the time, I didn't have insurance. So we have a wonderful nonprofit. It's not the health department, but it's a medical facility. So I called them, and they got me in that day, and they did an A1C. And it was 17, I think.

[A]

Jesus.

[B]

It was during COVID and lady, you know how things stick in your brain. The lady, the physician's assistant that was helping me, she's Russian, and she's just one of these flappy people, you know, and she had on one of those masks that look like a duck bill, you know what I'm talking about? That people were.

[A]

I'm still stuck wondering what flappy means. What is it when people are flappy?

[B]

Just a real excitable person.

[A]

I gotcha.

[B]

And she had on this mask. So here I am, you know, knowing that my health is just falling apart, and this Russian lady, you know, is just flapping around the room with. With this, you know, duck bill mask. And I wanted to laugh, but it was just crazy. So anyway, so she's like, you got to get to the emergency room. You got to get to the emergency room. And I was like, okay, okay, I'll do it. Shut up. You know, just calm the hell down. You know, go to the car. My husband's in the car waiting for me because it's Covid, and he can't come in. And I did not know he had called his brother, who is a doctor, and he had not been able to get back in touch with his brother. As I get in the car, you know, my head is just spinning. I'm saying, this lady is saying, I got to go to the er. And he said, I'd really rather talk to my brother before we go, just to see what we're looking at. And I thought that was reasonable. And then my phone rings and it's the endocrinologist that I had called that morning and she said, we had a cancellation, we can see you tomorrow.

[A]

Did you tell them what had just happened?

[B]

Yeah, well, it was just the receptionist. And so I told her and she.

[A]

Said, because at this point, Polly, you're five years late to go to the er.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you're like, one more day, one more day.

[B]

Well, exactly, that's exactly what I was thinking. And I told her and she said, she's like, you can go to the er. And she said, then we'll see you. But she's like, you know, she's like, you've gone this far, why don't you wait till tomorrow?

[A]

I have to be honest, for everyone listening, I don't think that's a reasonable medical response.

[B]

I know she was just the receptionist. So I was talking to my husband and he's like, I really would rather talk to my brother. We can come back into town and go to the ER if he says to go. So he calls us back as soon as we walk in the door. We tell him start to finish. And he said, if this is a reputable endocrinologist and not just, you know, like a general practitioner kind of thing, he's like, I would just go tomorrow and see what happens.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So we went tomorrow, the next day. And once again, and I'm gonna sound like. But open on physician's assistance. I have not had good experience with physicians assistance.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So the physician's assistant at the, at the endocrinologist comes in. Oh, I forgot to. My brother in law is a very, he's very thorough.

[A]

What kind of doctor is he?

[B]

Neurologist.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

He's very thorough and he's very kind. He's just the tops in his field. So he said, you really ought to go get this thing called a GAD test. He said, I doubt you have type one, but at least he said when, when an A1C is that high, that might, you might have type one. And he said, that's going to tell you if you do or you don't. So we ran back into town and went to a walk in and we did the GAD test. And what's the other one? I forget It's.

[A]

You did the auto. Antibodies for the. For the GAD And. And the C peptide.

[B]

C peptide. So he told us to do those. We did those. And the next morning we got it. And they. They text. They faxed it to me. And I looked at the, you know, the range, and my range was on.

[A]

The back of the paper. Did it. Flip it over to find it. Yeah, I would imagine.

[B]

I said, look at. I told my husband, I was like, look at this. I'm not even remotely in the range. And he says, does that mean you have type one? Because we didn't know.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And I was like, it looks like it. And he was like, well, that might explain a lot. So I get to the endocrinologist and I show him these tests. He would not look at them because.

[A]

He wanted to run them and bill you for them.

[B]

No, not at all. He wouldn't run them. He goes, if you had type one, you'd be dead. That's what he told me.

[A]

I swear to God, Polly, I gotta tell you something. I don't know if I've said this in a while, but the whole thing, it's all being held together by good luck and duct tape. Do you understand?

[B]

No kidding.

[A]

Yeah. I don't mean you or your health. I mean everything. We're the worst stewards of logic. People just like. How many people like that one doctor. I'm five years back in this story. That doctor knew what to do, told you to do it. You said no. And she went, okay. What she should have said is, polly, are you a doctor? Shut up and go to the er, Right? But instead she goes, polly wants to try the. The rice diet. We'll go with like, are you kidding me? And also, you're not a person who goes to the doctor, so you're trying not to go to the doctor to begin with, and she should have pushed back on you. Then, no. And then your life falls apart, you end up in another place. Go to the emergency room, then you leave. How about sit here and I'm going to call an ambulance for you? Do you know what I mean? We're like, go get your husband, or we'll go get your husband who's out in the car or something. Like, everybody just, like, hopes it's going to be okay. It's fascinating. And then you get to an endocrinologist who tells you, oh, if you had type one, you'd be dead.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Unless. No. And now, I'm sorry, this is very frustrating. Go ahead, keep talking.

[B]

He says that my frustration because you.

[A]

Got to be out of your mind.

[B]

I knew enough. I mean, I can read, you know.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now, so I could read that the. The ranges were off, and I saw that with my own two eyes. And here he is. I'll give him credit where credit is due. He slapped a Libra 2 on me and said, this is going to tell you where you are, and we need to bring the numbers down, and that's what we're going to do. So he slapped a CGM on me, gave me Ozempic and gave me Jardiance and. Oh, and I skipped an entire portion of the.

[A]

But, Polly, how does he ignore the C peptide and gout antibody?

[B]

I have no idea.

[A]

Like, because he did everything right. If you had type 2 diabetes, but he's looking at testing that says you have type one.

[B]

He wouldn't even look at it. He never looked at it. He would not look at it. I know. I mean, we've considered. We are not litigious people, but we have considered Suanmouth because it was so malpractice. So much.

[A]

I don't understand anything that happens. It just. In general, like, some of you have great doctors. Like, you just do. But for those who don't run into great doctors, this is the other side of it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's not like a slow gradient from fantastic down to amazing down to. It's either you get a good one or you get this. It seems to be what it is. Anyway, I'm sorry, you said you missed something in the story. What did you miss?

[B]

Yeah, so I failed to say. About a year before the flappy physician's assistant, I went to see a naturopath doctor, and she came very highly recommended. We were back on the type 2 diagnosis, and she had put me on. What's the pill? Oh, God.

[A]

Metformin.

[B]

What am I thinking of? Metformin.

[A]

I'm in your head, Polly. Everything you haven't thought of, I've known today. Go ahead.

[B]

I know. There you are. And so she had put me on metformin, and I must have had some kind of reaction.

[A]

You make a lot of poopy.

[B]

It was like nothing I could even imagine, much less had ever happened before. It was terrible.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So that's when I went back on the rice diet and all that. So. So there was that portion there, and. And she was like, you've got to get to an endocrinologist. And I was like, no, we're gonna do this. Blah, blah, blah. So. So here I am diagnosing myself. So anyway, so I'm with this physician's assistant, and he's throwing all these type 2 medications on me, and he was just a terrible person. I mean, I can't say anything nice about him. He had no bedside manner. He wouldn't listen. He would yell at me. It was just my husband. The only time he was nice to me was. Was when he had a trainee physician's assistant there, and she was very cute, and so he was flirting with her. And that was the only time he was nice to me in the six months I saw him.

[A]

Are you?

[B]

Me? No.

[A]

Polly. Are you telling me that you only get good medical care when the doctor's showing off for a pretty girl in the room?

[B]

Exactly. It was terrible. I don't know what was going on with the MD that was in that practice, because I tried getting in touch with her, telling her, you know, this is what's going on, and they would never let me talk to her. She dealt with the really big cases. I guess it was. It was.

[A]

I don't know. I just. I. Hold on a second. You're exhausting me. Not you, but this story is exhausting me.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

It was. It was. It was interesting.

[A]

I'm trying to picture me walking into my doctor's appointment going, I hope there's a young, perky girl in the room so that my doctor tries.

[B]

I'll tell you the cherry on top of the story with this guy. After your episode about ever since, I thought, oh, that sounds great. I would like to give it a try. So I call ever since. And guess who is the only one who does the implants in my area?

[A]

Dr. Feelgood.

[B]

Yeah. And the girl. And I started just laughing. I started cackling, and I was like, no, so we'll have to try something else. And she.

[A]

I'm gonna tell you something, because when this recording comes out, it should be the truth, but they're gonna have a one year. Their sensor's gonna go for one year soon.

[B]

Oh, cool.

[A]

Ever since. Put it in once. Here's what I understand is coming one insertion a year, and if it all works out, it's only going to require calibration once a week.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah, it's pretty awesome. I mean, it's a big leap for that device. So just imagine not having to change your device, like 10 days, 14 days. However you're changing yours now, can't get knocked off. Can't fall off in a pool. If you want to stop using it for an hour, you don't have to restart over again with a new device. Like, man, it's just a lot of value there. It's coming. You know what I mean? It's pretty awesome. Is it a thing you actually consider?

[B]

I'm pretty excited about it because right around the time of that episode, you know how you can go a year without having any issues. And then it's like one thing after. I had to call Libre or Abbott for six replacements, and the lady on the phone was like, why? Why are you doing six at one time? I was like, I have not had time. It's been one thing after. So I got six replacements.

[A]

I can't call every time your thing blows up.

[B]

I know. And it was just like, one thing. I hit it once, twice. It just didn't work, you know, Another one. So really excited to hear about that. Ever since.

[A]

Yeah, I think a big part of why people might consider switching to it. I mean, once it goes to the year and again, by the way, it should be at a year by the time this episode comes out. It should be. It should already be. Ever since cgm.com juicebox go look if you want to see what it says. But the idea that you won't have to mess with devices, like, I mean, devices, listen, they're all terrific and they add to your life, but then they're almost like buying a pet. You know what I mean? Like, you're like, oh, I got a thing. It's so cute. I love looking at it. But I also have to clean out its cage and I got to, like, give it water. Yeah. Like, so you get a cgm. Like, it's amazing all the things it brings to you. But now that's also part of your job. So a lot of people are going to see the value and going to a doctor once a year, getting this thing inserted, calibrating it once a week and not thinking about it other than that, I think. But we'll see what happens. So, I don't know, does your story get better? Does anybody realize you have type 1 diabetes at any point in this story?

[B]

So I'll. I'll just go. Keep going. So she's like.

[A]

Polly's like, don't knock me off this course.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, it eventually gets better. So I'm going to this yo yo. And I just don't feel good about it. And so I'm a Christian, and I have learned, obviously, that I don't know everything. And so I. I prayed about it and I was like, you just gotta help me through this, Lord, because I'm not getting anywhere. I've felt I learned about Lotta, and I just felt confident that I was Lotta. I remember. And at the time, I have a chronic yeast infection in my intestines, so I was going to another doctor for that. And he was looking at the whole thing. He was trying to just figure out why this yeast infection would not get better. Well, now we know, because it was my 17.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

It was just getting fed constantly with sugar. And so he looked at my GAD and. And C Peptide, and he said, you don't. He says, you sure don't make a lot of insulin. And I was like, thank you. I'm trying to tell, you know, this guy. And he was like, I want to get you on some insulin. He said, I think that's going to help everything. So he put me on Lantis, a real low dose. He was afraid of killing me with Lantus. And again, this is during COVID so.

[A]

Just not a lot of context either.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, everything was on zoom, and getting into other doctors was difficult. And he's like. He says, I feel confident that this is going to help you. So I am sitting in front of the grocery store after picking up my lantus, and my phone rings, and it's the endocrinologist's office. And the girl said, I've got some bad news. The PA just left the practice, and you have an appointment next week, and we don't have anybody for you to see. I started cackling, like. And she. I'm sure she thought I was just the craziest person in the world. And I started cackling. I was like, I believe in prayer. I said, I got my answer because I am not supposed to see him. So she was like, we just don't know what we're going to do, so when we get somebody else, you know, we'll call you and set up an appointment. That was December, and I probably went five months without seeing anybody, which was just fine. I mean, because I wasn't getting good care to begin with. I went back to the health department place, and they were like, you need to be seen. And so they did a referral to a big hospital in Reno, which is the next big town. Got in there to see the doctor, and he immediately looked at the GAD and the C. Peptide, and he goes, you're a Lada. He said, why are you being treated for type 2? And I was like, well, thank you. That's been my question for the last year and a half.

[A]

Wow. It's a. It's 18 months since you went to that endocrinologist and said, look at this test. And he said, no, I'm not going to look at it. You'd be dead. Yeah, I don't.

[B]

And so. And it took a doctor, you know, three minutes. Yeah, he kept me on Ozempic. He took me off of the Jardiance.

[A]

Was the Ozempic helping you? Like, did you lose weight?

[B]

I was losing weight. I would say overall it definitely helped.

[A]

I mean it must have been helping a little bit with your. The resistance as well, I would imagine. Like your.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Your limited beta cells were probably, you probably getting more bang for your buck than you would without it.

[B]

Exactly. I think that's what it was. He was not convinced that it was helping. And at that time I didn't need to lose any more weight. I was pretty thin at that time. But he thought it would help with the gut issues because it was giving me some consistency on, on digestion.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So like right now I'm not on the Ozempic and my digestion is one meal. It might digest in 20 minutes, in another it might be three hours. It's very inconsistent. So that's very frustrating.

[A]

I don't have diabetes and I love GLP for how, how consistent it makes your digestion. It's fantastic.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

For me, he kept me on that. I saw him in September three years ago. I was pretty good. My, my A1C. I think I was like around 6.2. He was pleased. So I was still just doing the low, very low dose of Lantus and those epic. And so I was just kind of rocking along with that. And then Christmas came and went and between Christmas and New Year's I could not bring my numbers down. I was constantly at 200, 250. I called them and they said, yep, you're over your honeymoon. They put me on a pin and I started taking that.

[A]

Here comes the next part.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Wow, what a slow. It's so. I mean, obviously we'll never know, but how interesting would it be to go back to the beginning, go to that emergency room on day one, get that testing, find out you have Lada and I wonder how well it would have got managed if they knew exactly what it was and how long it might have strung this out because you really, the reason you're not dead is because your onset was so slow.

[B]

It was so slow. And my brother in law pontificates that it's because we were on a vegan diet and so I was very consistent with what I was eating.

[A]

Were you lower carb?

[B]

No, it was actually high carb. It's a. It was a very high carb diet. High carb diet.

[A]

That high carb, high fat thing.

[B]

Low fat.

[A]

Low fat. Excuse me. Like the mastering diabetes thing or. No.

[B]

Yeah, probably a lot like them.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I'll be honest. I tried. I looked into mastering diabetes. For whatever reason, it just didn't click with me. And maybe it was because I was doing this other diet for so long, just the high fruit just really would send me flying. So I just. It. It just didn't sit well with me even after the rice diet. But the high fruit of mastering diabetes just didn't make sense to me.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

After I got the cgm, I could see, you know, where it would just send me flying. But I know a lot of people do well on it, but it just didn't click with me.

[A]

With a lot of those different, like, plans, if you stick to them, they often give you what they. They say they're going to. And I think where the hiccup is is when people can't stick to them. So.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

I don't want to or whatever. How do you find me?

[B]

So I did what any 21st century person did did. And I got on Facebook and I looked up local lotta there I found two lotta groups and one of them was just hardcore low carb, which I just haven't even looked into that. It's just not. It wouldn't fit my life.

[A]

I'd love to see you jump in there and tell them about your rice diet. I think that'd be awesome.

[B]

Yeah, they would. Their heads would blow up and then the. Another one. Not hardcore, but they definitely leaned towards the low carb and they would talk about Juice Box, Juice box podcast, juice box, Facebook group, da, da da. And I'm like, what in the hell is this juice box? And I really ignored it because, I mean, no offense, I mean, absolutely no offense, because I love the podcast and I love the Facebook group, but I thought, what a stupid name. You know, I'm not going to go look at Juice Box. That must be for kids. And then one day I was like, okay, I got to find out what this juice box. Because they were just talking about one of the episodes. I went to the Facebook group and just fell in love with it because everybody is just so helpful and it's a kind place. It is very kind, very nice people. I kind of left that lotta group behind and went to the Facebook group, and I probably stayed on the Facebook group for a good three months before I ever Listened to an episode. It was a little bit overwhelming because there's just so much information. So went to the website and I saw where you had, you know, different groups of episodes, and that was helpful.

[A]

I'm glad. That's Isabel. She did that for me.

[B]

She did a fabulous job.

[A]

Because I'm a boy.

[B]

That was very.

[A]

She met me and she goes, you need to be more organized. And I was like, well, that's not going to happen if you're waiting for me to do it. So, yeah, if you'd like to get involved, that'd be wonderful. I get stuck in that spot. Like, I don't know what to do. Like, I. I create. I create content. You know what I mean? So if you make an episode once a week or once a month or something, it's not enough. You don't cover enough details and you don't cover enough subjects. And if you put it out as fast as it needs to be put out so you can get it all out there, then some people say, oh, my God, I feel overwhelmed. And you're like, I can't win. So I throw it all out there, and I just hope you can find it and try to give you some opportunities to find it. Yeah, you know, it's. It's an imperfect system, but it sounds like you made your way through it. About the way we expect, by the way.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Get on Facebook, hear a bunch of people saying, juice Box Podcast. You're like, what the hell is that? I'll go, fine, I'll go. Look. Actually, the way I market the podcast is the way I got my wife to marry me. I was just like, I just put her in a situation. She was like, oh, my God, if you're going to keep asking that, okay, you know, you hear juice Box, Juice box. You head over, you find the Facebook group, and then it's unavoidable. If you're in that group at any interval, you are going to see three people a day say, this podcast really saved me. And then I guess it's got to draw you in at some point, right? You know?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, it was. I am not a. It's just the truth. I'm not a deep thinker. I'm more of a. My husband. I leave that to my husband and my children. They all have that engineering brain type thing going on, and I'm the one who just kind of fills in the gaps. So I was listening to the podcast and it was making so much sense to me. My husband and I got in the car and I was like, you've got to listen to this and tell me if you know I'm understanding this correctly. If you understand it the same way.

[A]

You'Re hearing what I'm hearing, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so we did. And he probably like three or four of the bold beginnings that day. We were in the car and he was like, yeah, that makes perfect sense. He was like, I would have never thought of it, but it makes sense. So it really changed. Not drastically, but it changed and kind of put us on a path of management that I think has been very helpful.

[A]

I'm glad. That's excellent.

[B]

The digestion thing is, you know, the monkey wrench and everything. Dealing with that is not easy. I can't pre bolus like other people can. I'm constantly playing catch up because I just don't know when the food is going to hit. So one would say, well, you know, you know that such and such is going to hit you quickly. And that's not true. There's just no.

[A]

Are you on the GLP right now?

[B]

No, I'm not.

[A]

Is there a reason why.

[B]

My husband was having some endocrine issues, so we went to. He went to an endocrinologist in another one. He got recommended to another one, and we just really liked him. So I started going to him as well. And the endocrinologist is great, but his PA is not. The PA took me off of the ozempic and made. Wouldn't increase my basal. Just really made a lot of bad choices.

[A]

I mean, if you take somebody off a glp, they're going to need more insulin, very likely. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[B]

So now that I'm off of it, the insurance won't pay for it. My doctor did a conference call with the insurance company. They still won't do it. So we're going to try again in six months. So we'll see.

[A]

The getting off it is horrible because, like, once you've got the okay, you don't want to make them look over at you again. You know what I mean?

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

I've learned that you got it when you had a type 2 diagnosis. Exactly right. So now they're gonna have to go back and give you a dual diagnosis of type 1 and insulin resistance, and they're gonna have to call that type 2. And then the insurance company's gonna have to accept that there's a dual diagnosis, which is starting to happen, but you're not for sure that it's gonna happen. And you're gonna need somebody really thoughtful to have those conversations with them. And that doctor's gonna have to be invested in following through or you're not gonna get anywhere.

[B]

And he's not right now because he's not 100% sure that that's the direction we need to go.

[A]

Have you explained the value behind the digestion and what it was doing for you?

[B]

Yes and no. I don't think it has clicked with him. He's just grateful the yeast infection has gotten compared to where I was even six months ago. It is night and day.

[A]

Yeah, but that's apples and oranges. Those two things don't. I mean, I see why he thought they were connected originally, but they're not.

[B]

We've talked about it and he's just not. There's so much going on. You know, I've got the Hashimoto's and the yeast infection and.

[A]

Oh, you have Hashimoto's. Where's your tsh?

[B]

I don't remember. I'm sorry.

[A]

Don't be sorry.

[B]

The last time I had it done, he apparently was very good because he messaged me saying, this is amazing, we're making progress. And so it was good.

[A]

Keep pushing until you get under two if you can.

[B]

Now that you mentioned a number, I think it was four.

[A]

Yeah, keep pushing it under two. You'll see a reduction in symptoms, I would imagine, if you can get it under 2. What symptoms of Hashimoto's do you currently have?

[B]

Well, lately I really have. Other than being tired and the typical stuff, lately I've been having my throat kind of close up, which is not happy. Making me happy. No, that's a new thing. Like within the last five or six weeks.

[A]

What's your dose? Do you know? Is it 0.88?

[B]

No, I want to say 0.25. It's pretty low.

[A]

Yeah, it should probably be. I mean, this is a good time for me to say probably. I'm not a doctor and I barely got through high school, but I would think that given like, I saw you for a split second when we first started talking and I don't know your weight or I'm not guessing it, but I don't see how 0,25, if 0.25 is keeping you in the FL fours, that seems like a low amount. I would think you could handle more.

[B]

From hearing other people talk on the podcast and on the Facebook group. I thought it was low.

[A]

Yeah, there's a lot of things they could do. They could even just giving you one extra pill a month sometimes. You'd be surprised how good doctors work through it. But just push for under two and that'll help. And it could help your digestion a little. I mean, digestion is. I mean, your thyroid does help with digestion.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's not crazy to think that you could get some benefit from that. And if. If he wants to go the route of no glp, I want to handle it through getting your tsh. Right. Well, then that's fine. But then adjust my tsh.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And don't take me off a glp and then don't adjust my insulin. That's insane.

[B]

We are, you know, obviously watching the insulin, but I. I mostly take Afrezza so I can get on it quickly when it does start going up, because since I can't pre bolus, that's cool. And I can't do a pump. So it's been very, very helpful. Up until my last A1C, which was about six weeks ago, I was 5.4.

[A]

Oh, wonderful.

[B]

Yeah. So between the Afrezza and I am a big fan of the sugar pixel on my desk, I know where I stand. And so I can, you know, I can jump on it pretty quickly when the food does start digesting.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that's been really nice. And so, Mr. My new pa that took me off the Ozempic, he left the practice. So once again, I've gotten rid of another PA. You'll like this another PA story. So I am prone to UTIs, and I knew I had a UTI and nobody would do the flipping test, you know, to tell me I had one. One day I knew I just had this raging UTI and I was at 2:80 and it took 22 units to bring me down to 150. And I have never taken that much insulin in my life.

[A]

That's the infection, right?

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So coincidentally, at the hospital called to do an appointment for a test. I was so upset over this high blood sugar that would not move. And all this insulin I was taking, I was sure I was killing myself, you know, so this poor girl in the scheduling office, Dr. So and so could care less if I was laying flat on the floor. And I told her what was going on. She was like, well, that's just not right. And I was like, well, I can tell you it's not right, but that's where my life is right now. And she was like, well, we're going to fix that. And I mean, God bless her, I would say. Twenty minutes later, I get a call from, from the doctor, the md, and he said, what's going on and I told him, he's like, he's like, well, there's a lot going on there. He was like, you should be on more than eight units of Basil. He was like, that's just not doing any good. And so he said, we got to fix this Basil. And he said, we got to fix this uti. I was like, well, yeah, you know, thank you. I would say that was kind of a turning point. That was about, that was probably about four months ago. And so we got the Basil worked out and we got the UTI worked out. So I've been flying high since.

[A]

You're getting better? Yeah. I mean, it's moving on. It's just so slow for you. Like, it shouldn't take this long to get these things straight. It's just, I mean, do you have a feeling after having been through all this, like, are there? I know you said you're not the, you're not the engineering thinker in your family, but what could have happened to you? I don't usually ask ham fisted questions like this, but along the way, I mean, you must have been thinking about this forever. Like, along the way, what would have helped you? Like what would people need to have done in certain situations that would have been really valuable for you?

[B]

The gut issues, like I said, just throw a monkey wrench into everything because number one, it just makes me feel so bad. And then add high blood sugars and all that to it. I really don't know, honestly, because we are trained to trust doctors, to trust the medical establishment. I've just gotten such bad advice.

[A]

Yeah. So where have they let you down? Like looking back now, like, are there moments where you're like, I was told this and I. Or have we gone over all of them? Or I'm just trying to figure out if, like, if I'm a doctor and I'm listening to this, like, you know, it's going to be easy to hear this and go, oh, this is the problem. You know, we're all fractured. There's one doctor does this and one does that. And you've got to get references and referrals and insurance and not everybody knows what's happening. And like, I get all the arguments, but what fixes that for you?

[B]

Yeah, I, you don't know? I guess just, you know, I gotta go back to my brother in law, him thinking out, out of the box, you know, what neurologist thinks about, you know, type one.

[A]

See, that's not, it shouldn't be out of the box thinking it's an out of the box thinking for a neurologist, but not for an end and not for an endo. Your endo was, like, literally 100% wrong. When you face them.

[B]

I really can't say. You know, I mean, I guess just it's shocking the number of people on, you know, your podcast that are misdiagnosed. It's the norm.

[A]

It's funny because can I say, Polly, that people like, I'll hear from doctors. Like, you have a lot of episodes where people are being negative about their doctors, and I want to say to them, like, do you think this was my goal? Like, do you think I started up a podcast? And I thought to myself, like, I'll have a lot of conversations about how doctors let people down. I never thought that, you know, oddly enough, my doctors were, you know, for Arden, were okay. Like, they weren't great, but I was masking so much of it. I didn't know if they were good or bad to begin with. Like, I wouldn't have known, but if you would have come from my personal experience, I would have been like, oh, the doctors are fine. It's not until I start talking to, like, these are the people who are reaching out. You know what I mean? Like, and other people who have good doctors hear these episodes, and sometimes they reach out. But if you're listening to this and you're like, wow, this podcast has a lot of conversations about how doctors are, you know, not doing a good job. Like, this podcast is a problem. Like, I'm not the problem. I'm just. People are just coming on and telling their story. I didn't know what the hell Polly was going to say before she got here today. Like, seriously, you know, do a better job. Like, I don't know what you want from me as a whole. Like, you know, as a.

[B]

As a profession, the only thing I can think of, there's just such a prevalence of type two that that's just top of mind. I used to. I think you were, too. I was in advertising for a while, you know, and you talk about top of mind awareness, and I think that just type two is what everybody's thinking about type one is. And definitely Lotta is, you know, just so way back in everyone's mind that it just falls by the wayside. That shouldn't be the case. Yeah, you know, bodies break down, so, you know, when it's gonna.

[A]

I mean, it's not like there's a million possibilities for what was wrong with you. You had type one or type two type. You know what I mean? Like, it's not like they had.

[B]

We only had two choices.

[A]

There were two choices, like, why don't we go crazy and pay attention to both of them? I don't know. Like, it just. It seems so ridiculous that they can't. And listen, I've also had conversations with doctors that at the end of them, they sway me. And I'm like, all right, well, I see how this happens. And, you know, like, I could probably talk to your doctors and they might say stuff like, I don't know. Polly's non committal. She's, you know, like, said something and she went with me or like, whatever. Like, she didn't fight me, so I thought she didn't. I don't know what they would say, you know, But I'm frustrated by this conversation over and over again. And I think it's possible people think I'm frustrated about diabetes. I'm frustrated about people. Like, that's my concern. You think this is about diabetes? It's not. This is about everything. And the example people use all the time. Fifteen years ago, people used to love to say, these computers are ruining everything. I went to a cash register and my cashier didn't know what my change was. And people would use that as an example of society not being able to make decisions about stuff or understanding things well enough to even do their own jobs. But I do think that as automated as everything is getting, it's good. I do think it's good. But at the same time, we're not.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

Yeah, we're not there yet. And we still need people to think. And I think a lot of people have given up on the thinking part. They're like, oh, the process takes care of it, or someone in another department does that. I had a conversation this morning. It's nothing against, like, it's not a big thing. I was talking to an advertiser and they were like, oh, yeah, we gotta get that set up. I have to move that to this person. And I'm like, you don't know how to do that part. Like, wow. Like, this is segmented. You know what I mean? Like, you hear about siloing. You know what I mean? That's a professional term, right. But they say that the reason these organizations are so. Like, organizations in general are so inept is because everyone's siloed, meaning that they're stuck in this one knowledge spot within the company. They know how to do one thing, and if you ask them to think about the silo next to them, not only can they not think about It. They don't even know what's in that silo. They just, like, they just know that when I hear that word, Bill gets the email. That's it. Nobody understands anything. And now, okay, if it's an advertising, but when it's a physician, like, Jesus, that's frightening. I was watching something. I don't remember what the hell it was. And the host was talking. This is not a show that usually talks about medicine. And the hosts started talking about, if you think your doctor knows best, you better be careful. Check for yourself. And. And then he used the word. And then he goes, you're gonna have to be your own best advocate. And I was like, oh, now, wait. That got outside of conversations around, like, health stuff. Like, now other people are aware of this. So it's into the mainstream now. Like, you think I'm like, you think I'm talking about. Wait till the mainstream who doesn't have any. A compassion for how hard it is to be a doctor or how difficult it is to figure things out. Like, wait till they get a hold of the fact that people are going to you and getting misdiagnosed for five years. Then you're really gonna. You're gonna think you're gonna run back to me and say, oh, Scott was nice. So I don't know, Polly, I'm. The whole thing just. I've been frustrated by it by. For years, you know, so it's hard for me to talk about without getting upset sometimes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Anyway, I'm sorry. Was there anything else you want to talk about?

[B]

I just think it's more manageable now, and I hate it. You know, I was just. I was just telling my husband. We were. We went to some kind of meeting a couple weeks ago, and they were serving these fruit nectar juices, and they're really tasty. And, you know, I used to drink them when I was a kid. And I said, you know, I can't even think about drinking something like that because it would just send me sky high. And I said, you know, I have to think about that. I can't just have a juice. You know, like a normal person.

[A]

You're not looking to drink a gallon of juice a day, but, like, you're at a thing and there's a cup of something there, and you feel reminiscent about it. You'd like to be able to take a couple of sips. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And, you know, I said, I have to think about, you know, juice. You know, who thinks about juice? And I've never been a juice drinker, but, you Know, if I wanted it, I. I would like to be able to. To drink it, but I can't. And so that. That kind of stuff is frustrating.

[A]

Listen, my only. My daughter has diabetes, and we were away somewhere, and someone had lemonade. I love lemonade. Right. But this was like, full on sugar made from lemons. Lemonade. And I got a glass of it, and I got about halfway through it, and I thought, oh, I should stop drinking this.

[B]

Yeah. My husband's the same way.

[A]

Yeah. So I just put it down.

[B]

He loves, like, that lemonade slushy stuff, and he'll drink, you know, maybe two sips of it. And he's like, my eyes are fuzzy because of the sugar.

[A]

You know, we all live, like. Well, not everybody, but, like, I. I limit sugar pretty significantly for me. And. Yeah, you have a little bit. And you're like. You're like, oh, my God, is this what cocaine's like? Meanwhile, people who have done cocaine are like, no, but we're all cheap drunks. But, yeah. Yeah, exactly. I. I would be a very, very cheap date, for sure. I'd be like. I'd have a half a beer and I'd be buzzing around. So, yeah. Anyway, I. But I take your point. Like, it's just.

[B]

It.

[A]

It sucks. It's not something you want to be doing. Just because you're doing well at it doesn't mean it's fun. That's for sure.

[B]

Yeah. You know, when you add all of it, the Hashimoto and the diabetes and the. The gut thing. And I know you're a. A big advocate for GLPs right now, and I do see, now that I'm off of it, I can see that there's a lot less consistency because that. Which is interesting. You know, I don't know enough about it. You've probably studied it a lot more than I have, but it just seems to be a lot less consistent right now than.

[A]

Study is a strong word. Poly. But I am trying to pay attention to it because I really believe after what I saw with Arden, I'm like, man, this is really something. Like, there's a lot here to be learned. You know, Arden was at the lowest dose of Manjaro. Two and a quarter. What is the lowest dose of Manjaro? Hold on a second. I should probably also learn how to pronounce it at some point, but I honestly don't care. Manjaro. Manjaro. Is that 2.5 milligrams, right? Is the start. Is the starting. Lowest dose. That's all arden was using. 2.5 a week. But she got to the point where she was. We were like, you look too thin. So how do you balance all the value you're getting? Insulin use, insulin sensitivity. You know, her acne cleared up. Like, all this stuff, like, Right. Like, there's a lot going on here that is clear about it to me, is clear. It's impacting insulin resistance and, you know, probably a 20% reduction in her insulin use. But she's like that. I'm like, I'm never hungry. And so she's making herself eat, and, you know, she's like, I. You know, I'd like to be hungry once in a while. I'm like, yeah, right on. Like, I'm not looking for you to, like, lose. Like, she lost some weight, which was fine, but then she lost some more, and we were like. And she got to the point where we were like, you got to put, like, £7 on here. And so we got the weight back on her, which wasn't hard, but we did it by taking her just off the Montro for a week or two for a month, and she put the weight back on, and. But Jesus. Like, her insulin needs went crazy again. And I was like, all right, so now we're dosing it. By the way, sometimes I say stuff on here. I'm like, I don't know if I should be saying this or not, but I'm not a doctor. This isn't advice. You shouldn't be doing this, et cetera and so on. Use drugs the way they're meant to be used. We're injecting the pen into a new, clean vial and then drawing it out with an insulin needle. And we started by giving her half of it. So if she was 2.5, it's what, 1.25? And that wasn't enough and that. But that was basically about 15 units in an insulin pen. So this week, I texted her, and I said, hey, when you inject the MANJARO this week, do 18 units. Like, we're gonna move up slowly because we're trying to find the balance between impact on her insulin stability for her digestion and for her blood sugars and still being able to eat. And we're very hopeful we're gonna find it. I see the difference this week, and I think next week we'll move up a little more and then find that balance between being able to eat and getting the good impacts for the rest of the stuff. So my expectation is, once it gets wider used by type ones, they're gonna have to Put it into a vial, and then let you talk to your doctor about dosing instead of just saying, like, here's the. Cause these are all set up for. Here's your starter dose. Here's your move up, your move up, your move up. And we gotta get you up to this big dose in order for it to really work for you if you're really trying to lose a lot of weight and everything. But what if you're not trying to lo a lot of weight? There's still a ton of, like, value here. Anyway, I just went on for a while, but that's what I think about it at the moment.

[B]

It didn't affect my appetite. It didn't completely take my appetite away. But at 4 o', clock, it was as if a switch was turned on, turned off, and the thought of food was the last thing on my mind. And so from like 4 to like 10 o' clock the next morning, I would not want to eat. It was the craziest thing.

[A]

Oh, it hit you times a day. That's interesting.

[B]

Yeah, it was crazy.

[A]

Today is my injection day and I don't have the. I have to go to the pharmacy today to pick it up. Right. And I woke up this morning and I was standing in here like, like planning my day out. And I was like, man, am I hungry. Like, I haven't felt hungry like this. And I was like, oh, in about a week. It's really crazy how it hits different people different ways.

[B]

The injection day. Yes, I would be hungry on the injection day.

[A]

Yeah, it was.

[B]

It was crazy. Well, but which makes sense.

[A]

Yeah. I know more and more people, they're calling it micro dosing, but they're. They're basically finding their own dose of it. And it's going to get popular. Like, people are going to have success with it and start talking about it, and then it's going to. It's going to make its way out. I know some people are shooting tiny bits of it every day. Some people are doing what we're doing with Arden, which is once a week, but less like, you know, it's gonna find its footing.

[B]

And then, you know, I tried the. The smaller amounts like two or three times a week, and it didn't make a huge difference.

[A]

Not enough of an impact. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

It wasn't worth the effort.

[A]

Well, for Arden. Arden's like, I'm not injecting every day, just so you know. And I was like, okay. Like, she's like, that's just not happening. So I was like, gotcha. So that's why we're. We're trying to find a balance here. And I don't. I don't know. Like, I've just. All I can tell you is it's not for everybody. Are some people are going to have, like, side effects that they're just going to be like, this isn't worth it to me, or they just can't do it. But you're going to hear about more and more people who are finding value with it too. So we'll see what happens. What else? Anything else? Are we good?

[B]

I think that's enough.

[A]

Done it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Polly, I love that attitude. I think that's enough. I like how earlier you said, I'm Christian, so I know I don't know everything. And I thought, I'm not Christian. I don't. I know too. How did she find out? Can I ask one question, though, before we go?

[B]

Sure.

[A]

If your family's brains work in, like, an engineering way, how do you describe how yours works?

[B]

All over the place. Just. I see everything, but not details. I'm not a detailed person.

[A]

Big picture. You see big picture stuff.

[B]

Definitely big picture. Yeah.

[A]

You know how things impacted something else, but you don't. Like, you see that it impacts it. You know for sure it does, but you're not sure the mechanism. It just does.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Artistic. Are you artistic?

[B]

I'm not particularly. I've been told to have artistic brain, but I'm not an artistic person. Like, I like to cook and make things. Make? Yeah. Not really. But I mean, cooking is probably. Cooking is probably my thing. Cooking's probably my outlet, you know, Paul, you have no.

[A]

You have no ego when you're talking about yourself. It's. It's. It's very nice.

[B]

Well, I don't. It doesn't do any good.

[A]

You're just like, I don't know anything about that. Some people would be like, oh, no, I've. You know what? No, not really. That's excellent. How many kids do you have?

[B]

2.

[A]

Do they have any autoimmune issues?

[B]

I think my daughter does. We had her thyroid tested because she was just right after she started college two years ago, she was just exhausted. And so that was my first thought, but it came back. No. I mean, not even close to problem. My son, we did the type 1 test for him and he came back clear.

[A]

Okay. Does your daughter have any of your digestion issues?

[B]

No.

[A]

No.

[B]

Okay. My endocrinologist is pretty convinced this was an acquired thing. That. And then the high blood sugars fed it that somehow I got this Yeast infection and then the sugar just fed it for so long.

[A]

I meant more about the. The speed of your digestion because. Is it possible she's not picking up nutrients, maybe?

[B]

We had that thought, but she's. I think she had just run herself down. Both my kids were homeschooled and we did a dual enrollment program at a community college. And so she was pretty young and she was taking college classes and she got involved in student government and all of that. I think she was just running herself ragged.

[A]

Burned the candle at both ends. Yeah.

[B]

Yep. Absolutely.

[A]

Gotcha.

[B]

So she's doing much better as far as energy and all that. So I don't think it's a. My gut tells me it's not a health issue.

[A]

So our daughters are the same age then? Arden's 20.

[B]

Mine just turned 18.

[A]

18. Oh. What? Oh, but she's in college. Two years.

[B]

Yep. She started when she was 15 and a half.

[A]

Schooling thing that I didn't account for. Okay, Gotcha.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Well, I really appreciate you taking the time to do this and adding your voice to the podcast. It's been fantastic getting to know you. I really do appreciate your time. Thank you.

[B]

Oh, thank you. Thanks for all you do.

[A]

Oh, that's nice. You're welcome. Would this go the way you expected?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Good.

[B]

Pretty much. You're. You're good at what you do.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Yeah, you are.

[A]

I know I am. I just. I tried to sound humble. It didn't work. I'm just teasing. Now I'm just being funny. And now people are like, he's not being funny. He. I know I'm pretty good at this, but I've gotten a lot better at it over time, which makes me think there's another ceiling that I'm just not aware of. So I'm trying to keep. I'm trying to keep going and. And getting better at it. So we'll see. And doing my best here. So I appreciate you very much. Hold on one second for me.

[B]

Ok.

[A]

A huge thanks to Omnipod. Not just my longest sponsor, but my first one. Omnipod.com juicebox if you love the podcast and you love tubeless insulin pumps, this link is for you. Omnipod.com juicebox Dexcom sponsored this episode of the Juicebox podcast. Learn more about the Dexcom G7 at my link dexcom.com earlier you heard me talking about Blue Circle Health, the free virtual type 1 diabetes Care education and support program for adults. And I know it sounds too good to be true, but I swear it's real thanks to funding From a big T1D philanthropy group, Blue Circle Health doesn't bill your insurance or charge you a cent. In other words, it's free. They can help you with things like carb counting, insurance, navigation, diabetes technology, insulin adjustments, peer support, prescription assistance, and much more. So if you're tired of waiting nine months to get in with your endo or your educator, you can get an appointment with their team within one to two weeks. This program is showing what T1D care can and should look like. Blue Circle Health is currently available in Florida, Maine, Vermont, Ohio, Delaware, Alabama and Missouri. If you live in one of those states, go to bluecirclehealth.org to sign up today. The link is in the show notes and please help me to spread the word. Blue Circle Health had to buy an ad because people don't believe that it's free, but it is. They're trying to give you free care if you live in Florida, Maine, Vermont, Ohio, Delaware, Alabama and Missouri. It's ready to go right now. And like I said, they're adding states so quickly in 2025 that you want to follow them on social media. Blue Circle Health and you can also keep checking bluecirclehealth.org to see when your free care is is available to you. Thank you so much for listening. I'll be back very soon with another episode of the Juice Box Podcast. If you're not already subscribed or following the podcast in your favorite audio app like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please do that now. Seriously, just to hit follow or subscribe will really help the show. If you go a little further in Apple Podcasts and set it up so that it downloads all new episodes, I'll be your best friend. And if you leave a five star review, oh, I'll probably send you a Christmas card. Would you like a Christmas card? The episode you just heard was professionally edited by wrong way recording wrongwayrecording.com.