Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1640 – "Bush League"

Host: Scott Benner
Guests: Tammy & her 13-year-old son Devin
Release Date: September 30, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode features a candid and humorous conversation with Tammy and her son Devin (13), who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 18 months ago. They discuss the dual challenges of navigating type 1 diabetes as a family, the unexpected discovery and treatment of Tammy’s thyroid cancer, and the emotional and practical adjustments that come with chronic illness. The conversation ranges from advocacy and medical decision-making to baseball stories, family dynamics, and the lighter side of living with type 1 diabetes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes: Devin’s Story

• Diagnosis & Initial Experience
  • Devin, diagnosed about a year and a half ago, initially had little memory of the specifics:

    "So then she brought me to the doctor’s office. They just did a bunch of tests and then had to go to the hospital, obviously." (09:28)

  • He recalls fear at the initial diagnosis and feeling overwhelmed by the seriousness:

    "I just knew diabetes existed, I just didn’t know what it was. And like, as they started teaching me, I was like, I could die from this." (10:40)

  • Hospital staff communication could have been more sensitive, especially when discussing potential organ failure with a child (11:14).

2. Family Health Connections: Thyroid Cancer Discovery

• How Diabetes Led to Tammy’s Diagnosis:
  • Tammy revisited the podcast’s role in educating her about autoimmune links and self-advocacy:

    "It's 100% because of the podcast that I was able to [catch it early]. If he wasn’t diagnosed [with diabetes], I’d still be full of cancer right now." (07:01–08:05)

  • After her son’s diagnosis, Tammy connected the dots with her own symptoms, pushed for further testing, and ultimately discovered thyroid cancer (39:09–43:58).
  • Her self-advocacy (insisting on seeing an endocrinologist, requesting biopsy despite small nodule size) was pivotal:

    "My doctor, of course, messaged me and said: everything’s normal. And I said, well, I’m not feeling… there’s something going on here. I’d like to explore what my options are." (39:09)

  • Surgery was successful, and early detection made a major difference.

3. Navigating Adolescence & Diabetes

• How T1D Changed Devin

  • Devin describes the emotional and practical maturity that diabetes has prompted:

    "Before I was diagnosed… I was insanely immature. But obviously in the one-and-a-half years, I’ve changed a lot." (18:02)

  • He now recognizes what’s truly important:

    "I think they got like… a cold, and they’re, like, constantly complaining about it. I’m like, that’s really just nothing." (19:31)

  • His insights stress the shift in perspective that chronic illness forces at a young age.

• Record-Keeping & Mental Load:

  • Devin feels the daily pressure and frequency of diabetes decisions:

    "It’s just lots of medical choices over and over again, like maybe a hundred times a day." (17:24)

  • Pre-bolusing is a point of contention; adherence drops at his dad’s house due to time constraints and less parental involvement (23:21).

4. Family Dynamics, Support, and (Friendly) Sarcasm

• The episode is full of playful banter between Scott, Tammy, and Devin, reflecting candid family dynamics:

  • Host jokes about parental favorites and the replacement of lost pets or children, leading to tongue-in-cheek debates about who Tammy loves more (30:55–32:46).

• Living in a Two-Household Family:

  • Devin shares logistical challenges and differences in care and routines between his mom’s and dad’s homes (24:33).

5. Advocacy, Community, and the Podcast’s Impact

• Tammy credits the Juicebox Podcast for the information and mindset that empowered her to pursue her cancer diagnosis:

  "If you weren't doing this, then I never would have dug a little deeper... I wouldn't have advocated for myself as much as I did without the knowledge that you’ve put out there." (75:52)

• Scott emphasizes self-advocacy for everyone facing chronic conditions:

  "Please advocate for yourself... what could have happened by waiting, right?" (76:38)

6. Diabetes Tech, Management, and Wrestling With the Details

• Tech Stack:

  • Devin uses the Omnipod 5 insulin pump; challenges are discussed regarding its auto-mode not keeping up during illness (49:33–51:41).
  • Working through strategies: when to override, switching to manual mode, making basal/bolus adjustments based on temporary needs (51:30).

• Sports, Illness & Blood Sugars

  • Devin describes how being sick impacts blood sugars—running high, needing extra insulin, and adjusting routines while not feeling well (49:07–51:02).
  • Practical discussions about real-world management, not just theory.

7. Youth Sports, Hometown Banter & Life Lessons

• The second half meanders through baseball and football stories, emphasizing the real-life joys and absurdities of little league sports.

• Baseball “Bush League” Anecdote:

  • A comically extended story about a youth baseball “trick play” leads to a coach challenging Tammy’s assistant to a fight in the parking lot (61:02–64:37).
  • Scott’s advice: “Anybody who wants to fight with somebody at a child’s baseball game needs to go to therapy.” (70:24)

• Coaching Challenges:

  • Tammy coaches Devin’s baseball team; they reflect on women coaching boys’ teams and the importance of modeling good sportsmanship (54:30–56:07, 71:06).

• Humor & Relatability:

  • Ongoing teasing about Midwestern culture, food (“Chicago-style hot dogs”), the woes of being a Bears fan, and differences between regional dialects (12:19–14:07, 24:24–27:29).

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the First Days with Diabetes (fear, learning, and coping):

  “As they started teaching me, I was like, I could die from this.”
  — Devin (10:40)

• On How Chronic Illness Changes Perspective:

  “I think they got… a cold... complaining about it. I’m like, that's really just nothing.”
  — Devin (19:31)

• On Podcast Advocacy Saving Lives:

  “If he wasn’t diagnosed, I’d still be full of cancer right now… it’s 100% because of the podcast…”
  — Tammy (08:05)

• On Family & Sibling Rivalry:

  “Women love their firstborn son more than their other children. And you just jumped ahead of him, so good for you.”
  — Scott (30:12)

• On Dealing with Difficult Youth Coaches:

  “Anybody who wants to fight with somebody at a child’s baseball game needs to go to therapy.”
  — Scott (70:24)

• Mom’s Parting Words:

  “If you weren’t doing this, then I never would have dug a little deeper... If this story resonates with anybody, then great, because honestly, I would still be sitting here with my entire thyroid feeling like crap, not knowing why and who knows when it would have gotten found.”
  — Tammy (75:52)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [03:13] — Reintroduction and recalling previous episode
• [05:27] — Devin shares how his diagnosis unfolded
• [06:00] — Tammy explains the events that led to discussing thyroid issues
• [10:22] — Devin’s emotional response to diagnosis
• [12:16] — Hospital communication & effect on family
• [17:24] — The constant decision-making load of T1D
• [18:02] — How maturity and perspective changed for Devin post-diagnosis
• [22:11] — Devin’s acceptance of new responsibilities
• [23:55] — Differences in diabetes management at mom’s vs. dad’s house
• [39:09–43:58] — In-depth retelling of Tammy’s journey to a thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment
• [44:05] — Devin’s reaction to his mother’s illness news
• [51:30] — Diabetes tech: adjusting settings, insights on Omnipod 5
• [61:02–64:37] — “Bush league” baseball tale: kid antics, coaches, and adult escalation
• [70:24] — Host’s PSA on adult behavior at youth sports
• [75:52] — Tammy’s closing gratitude for the podcast and advocacy lessons

Tone & Style

• Conversational, humorous, and playful (host frequently teases guests and himself)
• Candid and relatable about tough moments (diagnosis, parenting, hospital stays)
• Educational on medical self-advocacy and technical management details, woven with real-life stories

Takeaways for Listeners

• Importance of Self-Advocacy:

  • If you sense something’s wrong, don’t accept “normal” test results—advocate for comprehensive investigations.

• Growing Up Fast:

  • Chronic illness brings rapid maturity—kids like Devin reflect on responsibility and develop a new appreciation for what matters.

• Support Networks Matter:

  • Community, education, and shared experience (including podcasts) can impact both physical and mental health outcomes for entire families.

• Laughter as Medicine:

  • Humor, sarcasm, and being able to “laugh so it won’t kill you” are vital coping tools for families with chronic illness.

• Podcast Host’s Role:

  • Scott’s approach blends empathy with comic relief, modeling how to navigate serious topics without descending into fear or self-pity.

Episode Title Reference

The phrase "Bush League" is used both as a comedic refrain for youth baseball trick plays and as a metaphor for moments when adults lose perspective. It underscores both the levity and the real friction that can occur in everyday life with chronic conditions.

For New Listeners

This episode provides a rich mix of practical advice, humor, and real-life family moments for anyone touched by type 1 diabetes (parents, teens, caregivers). The conversational style and willingness to tackle both medical and everyday absurdities are typical of Juicebox Podcast’s accessible approach.