Juicebox Podcast #1618: T1Daredevil

Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Crew (13-year-old living with T1D)
Date: September 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and candid conversation, Scott Benner interviews 13-year-old Crew from Lawrence, Kansas, about his experiences living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) since age 7. The episode explores Crew's approach to diabetes management, his positive mindset, challenges faced, and the ways he integrates T1D into a fun and adventurous life. Crew’s mother Marcia also joins at the end to offer a parent’s perspective on late-in-life parenting and their family’s diabetes journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Crew’s Diagnosis Story and Initial Experiences

• Rapid onset and DKA: Crew was diagnosed at age 7 after a dramatic onset—he felt numb, lost weight, and was rushed to urgent care where he was quickly diagnosed and sent to a children's hospital.
  • “The lady came in, smelled my breath, took a look at me and said, yeah, he has diabetes, type 1.” (03:32 - Crew)
  • Blood sugar at diagnosis: 485 mg/dL.
  • Spent ~48 hours in DKA and 3 days total in hospital.
  • No family history of T1D or autoimmunity; Crew has ADHD, managed with medication.

Adjusting to Diabetes and Building Independence

• Transition to pump and CGM: Started with injections/fingersticks for a few weeks, then rapidly moved to an insulin pump and Dexcom CGM.
  • “It was with pen and needles... and then I went... to my pump and my Dexcom.” (07:09 - Crew)
• Learning curve: Crew describes diabetes as “fun, hard, and kind of confusing”—hard at first, but they found ways to manage and enjoy life.
  • “The fun part is we figured out how to do all of our stuff so far, I think, and it’s been fun. I can do the stuff I want to do.” (02:24 - Crew)

Crew’s Approach & Mindset: Making Diabetes Fun

• Curiosity and problem-solving: Crew approaches diabetes like other challenges, applying a love of tinkering, math, and technology.
  • “Are you telling me that you were presented with a challenge like diabetes, and you find it interesting or engaging to try to figure it out?”
    “Yes.” (08:06-08:07)
• Building speakers as a hobby: Crew details wiring speakers, creating custom audio setups—even on his RC car—illustrating a creative, tech-minded approach to both hobbies and T1D management.
  • “I build speakers... I wired it all together. I have a double decker speaker right now... I just figured out how to do it.” (08:18-09:01)

School, Interests, and Social Life

• Improvement with ADHD medication: Crew notes a major academic improvement since starting meds, making Principal’s Honor Roll.
  • “Ever since I’ve started taking medication for it... I’ve had all A's the whole year.” (06:20-06:30)
• Music tastes: Enjoys country (Morgan Wallen, George Strait, Jelly Roll) and rap/pop (Tyler, The Creator).
  • “Would you say Morgan Wallen? Morgan Wallen and Tyler, the creator?...” (11:51)
• Sports and biking: Active in baseball, interested in track/football, and passionate about mountain biking—his “thing.”
• Friendships: Crew’s close friend Emmett knows about his diabetes and helps monitor him during activities.
  • “We were out biking one time... he heard my beeper go off... he said, your beeper is going off. Are you okay? I have snacks in my bag.” (33:02-33:30)

Managing Lows, Highs, and Activity

• Challenges with hypoglycemia:
  • Experiences lows—sometimes once or twice a week, more often with activity and heat.
  • Admits to sometimes overdosing or activity-induced drops.
  • “Especially riding my bike, it goes low a lot. Especially in the heat in the summer.” (31:37)
• Response plan for lows:
  • Stops activity, notifies friends, takes sugar.
  • Carries nasal glucagon (Baqsimi), but hasn’t needed it.
  • “If I get too low, I will just immediately stop biking... and I will get some sugar....” (35:23)

Confidence and Advice for Others

• Positive reframing: Encourages others not to be scared.
  • “You don’t have to be scared... Once it’s over with... it’s okay. It’s good.” (28:25-28:41)
  • “As long as you take care of yourself and take care of your blood sugar and your insulin... make sure you dose for your food because if you don’t, you’ll go high and that’s not good.” (28:41)
• Describing highs/lows: Highs feel like a “sandblaster on the inside of your body.” (29:11)

Technology: Pumps and Phones

• Tandem Mobi Pump: Likes the new pump’s features but dislikes the battery life.
  • “It’s really fast at charging, but it only holds its charge for three days. And that’s actually worse than the old pump I had.” (27:06-27:26)
• Dexcom G7 CGM: Integral part of management.
• Phone as a tool: Relies heavily on phone for diabetes tech; campaign for a new iPhone (jokingly encouraged by Scott) for health reasons.
  • “Mom, I really would like the iPhone 16.” (16:30)
  • “It's important that that phone doesn't die.” (16:56)

Family Dynamics & Parenting Later in Life

• Crew’s parents: Both older—mom Marcia is 60, dad is 70. Crew is their only child (he has a much older half-brother).
• Parenting approach: Older age brings unique energy and perspective. Crew feels supported but is learning to take more responsibility for his care.
  • “Sometimes whenever I’m playing my video game, [my mom will] just ask me to give her my phone and my pump, just take it off real quick... She’ll just do it, and then I can go back to play my video game.” (47:58-48:17)
• Perspective from Marcia: Describes meeting her husband later in life, Crew’s diagnosis, their T1D learning curve, and the community support found via the podcast.
  • “I am, because I listen to the Juicebox... He’s maintained low 6A1Cs his whole diagnosis.” (60:10-60:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Diagnosis Impact
  “I remember I could not feel, like any part of my body. I just kind of felt I was there. That’s it.” (03:08 - Crew)

• On Learning by Doing “I just kind of figured it out... I didn’t use a YouTube video or go online.” (09:19-09:34 - Crew)

• On Attitude “You don’t have to be scared. Only part you might have to be scared about is... going into the hospital. But other than that... it’s good.” (28:25-28:41 - Crew)

• On Low Blood Sugars and Sports “One time... I hit a curb... and jumped my bike. My dad was like, oh, my God... He was scared. He thought I was going to crash my bike. But I didn’t.” (19:08-19:27 - Crew)

• Positive Self-Image “I love math. Math is my favorite subject in school.” (09:37 - Crew)

• Balancing Independence and Parental Help “It is nice... Sometimes whenever I’m playing my video game, she’ll just ask me to give her my phone and my pump... She’ll just do it... and I can go back to play my video game. So it’s nice.” (47:58-48:17 - Crew)

• Advice to Other Kids “If you do go really, really low, I would say be calm, be relaxed. Because if you... get really, really scared... adrenaline, I did not know what to think about at all... If something does happen that’s really, really bad... just try to [get] sugar.” (50:21-51:21 - Crew)

• From Marcia on Resilience “We’ve just kind of taken the attitude like, you have this and you’ll have it the rest of your life... and we’ve never made it so it’s something to be embarrassed about.” (61:30-61:44)

Segment Highlights & Timestamps

• [02:04-04:46] Crew’s diagnosis, DKA, and family background
• [06:17-06:54] School struggles turn to success post-ADHD diagnosis/medication
• [08:18-09:10] Speaker-building hobby insight into Crew’s creative problem-solving
• [13:14-14:00] Applying problem-solving skills to managing diabetes
• [16:23-17:55] Humor about needing a new phone for diabetes management
• [18:45-19:33] Biking: gaining confidence and loving mountain biking
• [28:25-29:12] On not being afraid and staying diligent with care
• [31:21-32:07] Reasons for lows, impact of activity/heat, and managing unpredictability
• [33:02-34:08] Friendship with Emmett and social support system
• [47:17-48:17] Learning all aspects of self-management before college
• [54:00-62:43] Mom’s perspective: Late-in-life parenting, diagnosis stories, T1D community, strategies for active kids

Tone & Style

The conversation is light-hearted, encouraging, and full of humor—Crew is witty, self-aware, and positive, while Scott’s hosting is warm, playful, and empathetic. Marcia offers a reflective and practical parent’s perspective with warmth and humility.

Summary Takeaways

• Living with T1D as a young teen is challenging but manageable with support, curiosity, and a positive mindset.
• An active, adventurous life is possible: sports, hobbies, and friendships can thrive alongside T1D.
• Learning, support, and a little humor—plus the right technology—make a big difference.
• Empowering kids to own their care, bit by bit, while keeping things age-appropriate, leads to growing independence and self-confidence.

Advice from Crew for listeners:
“You don’t have to be scared... as long as you take care of yourself and your blood sugar and insulin... it’s okay. It’s good.” (28:25-28:41)

For more inspiring stories and practical advice, visit JuiceboxPodcast.com.