Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1636: Premature to Postponed
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Laura (mother of a child with Type 1 diabetes, social worker, upstate New York)
Date: September 24, 2025

Overview

This episode features an honest and personal conversation between host Scott Benner and Laura, a social worker and mother of two daughters, the oldest of whom was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just before her third birthday. The discussion traces Laura's journey from the initial trauma of diagnosis and associated medical crises through years of evolving diabetes management, emotional processing, and self-discovery as both a parent and professional. Laura candidly explores the delayed onset of grief, the challenges and learning curves of diabetes technology, family medical history, coping mechanisms, and the practicalities (as well as emotional impact) of raising children with multiple health conditions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diagnosis Story and Early Years

• Laura’s daughter diagnosed at almost 3 years old (02:57). She noticed classic symptoms: excessive thirst, frequent urination, and diaper changes.
• The diagnosis came after a urine test at the doctor’s, with a critically high blood sugar of 978 mg/dL (03:13).
• Hospital Birthday: Her daughter spent her third birthday in the hospital, compounding parental shock and emotional trauma.

"I think I must have been in denial because I went back to work and my husband took her to the emergency room." — Laura (03:15)

• Family history includes autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto’s, Celiac, Graves), many on Laura's husband's side (05:17).

2. Coping with Medical Trauma

• Before diabetes, Laura’s daughter had been airlifted and intubated for a severe respiratory virus at age two, resulting in a traumatic $65,000 medical bill (eventually resolved) (06:02).
• The repeated hospitalizations and major crises created lingering trauma and stress.

“It had just been a long year of trying to fight that. …Then here we are at the same hospital, you know, doing something different.” — Laura (06:43)

• Discussed feeling overwhelmed and the perceived insensitivity of the hospital’s diabetes educator during the initial diagnosis (09:07).

3. Prematurity and Health Issues Beyond Diabetes

• Both daughters were born early due to intrauterine growth restriction and low amniotic fluid (11:19). The oldest spent 30 days in the NICU.
• Ongoing growth challenges and the possible impact of celiac disease on growth (16:19).
• Other complications: the younger daughter had hip dysplasia requiring multiple casts (23:43).

4. Evolving Approach to Diabetes Management

• Started with multiple daily injections (MDI): Transitioned to pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) over time (18:53).
• Insurance and lack of initial knowledge delayed access to CGM and pumps (19:31–19:45).
• Laura’s husband initially took on most diabetes care, especially during Laura’s recovery from her second pregnancy and periods of postpartum fog (21:53).

5. Family Dynamics and Gender Roles

• Laura describes splitting responsibilities: her husband was more hands-on early, but she became more involved as she processed the experience and recognized the need to learn (23:01).

“If something happens to my husband ... we're doomed. Like, I need to know what I'm doing.” — Laura (35:34)

6. Emotional Processing, Grief, and Coping

• Laura experienced delayed emotional grief — not registering the full emotional impact until three years after diagnosis (29:09, 29:41).
• Acknowledged compartmentalizing and denial as initial coping mechanisms (32:25).
• Mom guilt and perfectionistic tendencies emerged more as her understanding deepened (34:27, 43:02).

“For me, the grief with the diabetes came later ... it didn't hit me probably till like, three years later when I really had to come to terms with this diagnosis.” — Laura (29:41)

• Stressed the importance of talking about grief, even if it appears years later (62:08–62:58).

7. Multiple Allergies & Autoimmune Complications

• Both daughters have severe tree nut and peanut allergies; the oldest uses an EpiPen (46:03).
• Daughter also has EoE (eosinophilic esophagitis) and celiac disease, requiring a carefully controlled, restrictive diet (27:02, 47:16).

8. Technology and Management Strategies

• Podcast and peer education played a crucial role in Laura’s growing confidence and competence.
• Strong supporter of Omnipod 5 (insulin pump), acknowledging the learning curve and the value of proper settings (47:24–48:03).
• Looking ahead to technology improvements, such as the Omnipod Smart Adjust 2.0 (48:18–49:40).

9. Changing Perspectives, Personal Growth, and Parenting

• Laura works to balance vigilance with not letting diabetes dominate family life. She aims for “neutrality” in her reactions, so as not to pass her anxiety onto her daughter (53:40, 54:30).
• Described embracing community events and connecting with the larger diabetes community for support and shared experience (65:36).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Realizing Diagnosis:

“Don’t Google it, because it says diabetes ... we kind of like chucked because I always think of the worst-case scenario. So in that case, it was actually right.”
— Laura (03:13)

On Processing Trauma:

“It was a little bit traumatizing just being there after, you know, a year prior we had this, you know, helicopter experience ...”
— Laura (06:43)

On Medical Education:

“I’m terrible at math. ... I wasn’t too happy with the diabetes educator that we had. She, I thought, was a little harsh in the hospital.”
— Laura (09:07)

On Delayed Emotional Impact:

“For me the grief with the diabetes came later ... it didn’t hit me probably till like, three years later when I really had to come to terms with this diagnosis.”
— Laura (29:41, echoed at 62:08)

On Learning & Taking Over Care:

“I think what hit me was, like, if something happens to my husband ... we're doomed. Like, I need to know what I'm doing.”
— Laura (35:34)

On Perfectionism:

“I didn’t realize I had [perfectionist tendencies] until, you know, I suddenly became involved in this diabetes world. And my husband was the one that pointed it out. He’s like, you’re trying to be perfect with her numbers. And this is driving us crazy, you know?”
— Laura (43:02)

On Parenting Dynamics:

“She’s like a rule-follower like me. ... She’s picking up on some things, which I think is great.”
— Laura (52:54)

On Food & Management:

“Watching her numbers, like, I think just watching the Dexcom, when she eats certain things, I’m like, whoa ... like, I know my pancreas is working, but I'm like, wow, that’s gotta be doing, you know, wreaking havoc on my body too.”
— Laura (51:36)

Scott on Support:

“Best part of my life, other people. Worst part of my life, other people.”
— Scott (61:42)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|-------| | 03:04 | Diagnosis Story—first symptoms, ER, very high blood sugar | | 06:02 | Previous hospital trauma and airlift experience | | 09:07 | Overwhelmed in hospital, harsh diabetes education | | 11:14–12:53 | Prematurity, NICU stay, birth complications | | 16:19 | Ongoing growth and celiac disease issues | | 18:53–19:45 | Transition from MDI to pump/CGM; initial insurance/lack of knowledge obstacles | | 21:53 | Husband taking early lead in care; postpartum struggles | | 29:41 | Delayed grief: “The grief with the diabetes came later...” | | 34:27 | Mom guilt and control issues: “Now I'm like, I can't let this happen...” | | 43:02 | Perfectionism and diabetes micromanagement | | 46:03 | Allergies—EpiPen, nut & celiac conflicts | | 47:24–48:03 | Adapting to and optimizing Omnipod 5 | | 49:40 | Anticipating new tech: Omnipod Smart Adjust 2.0 study | | 51:36 | Impact of diabetes management on family diet and personal health awareness | | 53:40–54:30 | Fostering healthy independence in her daughter, managing own emotional responses | | 62:08 | Encouragement: “...for them, if their grief came later ... it can come out later on...”|

Tone and Notable Moments

• Laura’s candor and resilience stand out: she openly discusses guilt, delayed processing, anxiety, and the burden and breakthroughs of learning diabetes management.
• Scott’s humor lightens heavy topics—e.g., joking about family history and drawing parallels between their thinking styles (“Boys are confusing...I don't understand boys sometimes...” 45:15).
• The episode strikes an empathetic, practical, and often uplifting note, with both Scott and Laura reflecting on growth, support, and the ongoing adjustment of “normal” in the context of chronic illness.

Practical Takeaways

• Delayed grief is normal: Diabetes diagnosis and management may not hit emotionally all at once. “Delayed” reactions are valid and deserve support.
• Family teamwork matters: Sharing and eventually shifting responsibilities (even after emotional hurdles) ensures both parents are equipped.
• Find your community: Local support may be scarce, but podcasts, online groups, and events are valuable for connection and sharing strategies.
• Adapting strategies over time: Advances in technology (Omnipod, CGM) and education (podcast, working with diabetes educators) empower parents to better manage their child’s health.
• Perfection is not the goal: Approaching diabetes management as data-driven rather than emotion-driven helps mitigate anxiety and promotes healthier family dynamics.
• Self-care is critical: Both professionally (as a social worker) and personally, Laura emphasizes recognizing when to focus on her own needs to better care for her children and clients.

Final Note

This episode is a deeply relatable and practical exploration of a parent’s journey with a chronically ill child, highlighting the messiness, resilience, humor, and humanity enmeshed in living—and eventually thriving—with Type 1 diabetes and its many, often overwhelming, companions.