Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1655 – Bain’s Mom Marlee (TikTok) – Part 1
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Marlee (Mom to 1-year-old type 1 diabetic, Bain)
Date: October 17, 2025

Overview

This engaging episode features Marlee, known online for her TikTok account documenting daily life with her toddler, Bain, as they navigate his type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Marlee and host Scott Benner (who also has a child diagnosed with type 1) dive into the early warning signs, harrowing diagnosis, learning the ropes of diabetes management, and the power of online community support. Their conversation is packed with candor, relatability, and both emotional and practical insights for families dealing with young children and type 1 diabetes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Marlee and Bain's Story

• Marlee introduces herself as mom to Bain, a one-year-old diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and notes their popular presence on TikTok and Instagram ([00:14], [02:35]).
• Bain was diagnosed just 5 days after his first birthday, brought to the ER for unexpected lethargy and vomiting—ultimately in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and coma ([03:34]-[05:09]).
  • "Five days after his first birthday...it was horrible." - Marlee ([03:54])

2. Early Symptoms & Misdiagnosis

• Looking back, Marlee recognizes symptoms like excess thirst, heavy urination, and increased fussiness, but at the time, these were attributed to normal toddler behaviors ([06:16]-[07:26]).
  • “...He was always peeing out of his diapers...People just were like, that’s what boys do...” - Marlee ([05:43]-[06:16])
• The acute episode escalated quickly from lethargy to vomiting and heavy breathing—classic but little-known diabetic symptoms for infants.

3. The Diagnosis Experience

• Bain was first misdiagnosed with a double ear infection but rapidly deteriorated; at the hospital, the doctor abruptly announced, "your son's got diabetes," which left Marlee both shocked and hurt ([09:14]).
  • “Honestly, it was kind of hurtful to me. He walked in, it was like, 'your son's got diabetes.' Like, that's exactly how he said it...” - Marlee ([09:14])
• Marlee describes feelings of guilt and confusion, wondering what she could have done wrong despite her efforts to be the “perfect mom” ([09:14]-[10:13]).
• Eventually, Bain was airlifted to a major children’s hospital due to the seriousness of his DKA ([10:13]-[11:11]).

4. Family Background & Genetics

• Marlee notes type 1 diabetes is present in her husband’s family, even if only in distant relatives ([12:02]-[12:13]).
• Host reassures that even distant family history matters with autoimmunity ([11:51]-[12:13]).

5. Emotional Fallout & Coping Mechanisms

• The diagnosis triggered intense emotions: guilt, helplessness, and uncertainty about Bain’s survival ([13:38]-[14:22]).
  • “...Is my child going to stay alive? How does this happen when I’m such a type A perfectionist...?" - Marlee ([13:38])
  • “There’s nothing you can do about it.” - Marlee ([14:22])
• Faith played a role—Marlee shares prayers for Bain’s survival during the medevac flight ([37:55]-[38:26]).
  • “...God, if you're real, you will save my baby, and I will do...anything you need me to be. Like, I just need you to save my baby.” - Marlee ([38:03])

6. Hospital Stay, Education, and Aftermath

• Bain spent ~3 days in Pediatric ICU, two of which he was essentially comatose ([17:03]-[17:47]).
• Marlee and her husband received a crash course in insulin dosing, carb counting, and diabetes math—which felt overwhelming, especially given the rarity of infant diagnosis ([17:47]).
  • “...I'm supposed to draw this insulin? He's getting one unit of Lantus. Like, I can't even find one unit on this insulin pen.” - Marlee ([17:47])
• Moving from ICU to the education floor felt like being transferred from “the nicest hotel to the crappiest hotel”—the system wasn’t tailored to such a young case ([17:47]).

7. Challenges with Infant Diabetes Management

• The “Diapers and Diabetes” Facebook group became Marlee’s essential resource ([24:43]-[25:21]).
  • “That Facebook group saved me, like, truly.” - Marlee ([24:56])
• Insurance hurdles: Many diabetes tools aren’t cleared for infants, requiring off-label prescriptions and persistent advocacy ([25:21]-[26:01]).
• The return home was traumatic: Marlee felt “traumatized by even giving your kid food,” all while fighting insurance and learning dosing ([25:25]-[25:46]).
• Responsibility and marital strain: Both Marlee and Scott discuss their families’ “bubble” responses, focusing on just enduring and absorbing the workload emotionally ([22:19]-[24:03]).
  • “You just put your head down and go...there's not a lot of time to, like, sit around and think about how you feel.” - Scott ([23:09])

8. Adjusting Careers and Home Life

• Marlee left her in-person SLP job immediately following diagnosis, moving to part-time teletherapy ([27:40]-[27:42]).
• Her husband continues to work from home as a server engineer ([26:13]).

9. Management Tools & Daily Realities

• Insulin delivery challenges: Half-unit syringes often still delivered too much; Marlee and Scott both devised creative methods to deliver microdoses ([29:26]-[30:29]).
• Constant finger pricks and injections (up to 13 shots/day) were the norm before transitioning to a pump ([33:06]-[33:08]).
  • “I was having to give him 13 shots a day...that's just too much.” - Marlee ([33:06]-[33:09])
• Switch to CGM (Dexcom) and finally, Tandem Mobi pump gave significant improvements in glycemic control and ease for the family ([30:32]-[34:27]).
  • “Those microdoses are just everything. Like, they truly are.” - Marlee ([34:27])

10. Impact on Family Planning & Future

• The diagnosis initially put having more children on hold due to the intensity of care required, but after a year, Marlee feels less fearful about managing another child ([35:43]-[36:37]).

11. Raising Awareness on Social Media

• Marlee’s viral TikTok (a Dexcom placement video) reached millions, exposing widespread misunderstanding about diabetes in infants and opening a channel for education ([44:03]-[44:35]).
  • "No one understood diabetes and toddlers." - Marlee ([44:10])
• Regular content includes both diabetes management and snippets from Bain’s daily life, contributing to wider community knowledge.
• The account now has over 128,000 followers and nearly 5 million likes ([46:49]-[47:05]).
• Marlee credits other diabetes families—and groups like Diapers & Diabetes and the Juicebox Podcast Facebook group—for guiding her journey ([45:46]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I think Bane truly would have done that because I've never seen...it was like a crack addict trying to get their drug. Like, that's literally what it looked like." – Marlee, describing Bain’s excessive thirst ([08:49])
• “When we got there, hundreds of people start coming in. They're talking to me like, 'Oh, my God, we never see 12-month-olds in DKA.' ...I'm feeling, like...a unicorn that has a horrible thing on her.” – Marlee ([13:16])
• “You don’t look at [toddler symptoms] as like, my baby's weird...you want them to be growing, you want them to be doing that type of stuff. So now that I know, yeah, he had all of them.” ([06:28])
• “I just felt...what did I do to deserve this?” – Marlee, grappling with blame and guilt ([13:38])
• "I was worried about myself. I was worried about our family in a hole. I was worried about Bane, obviously, continuing to live..." ([22:19])
• “Every time [the endo] would come in, she would let me know, like, he's going to be okay...he's going to be fine. He's just in a horrible state right now.” – Marlee on the supportive endo ([18:41]-[19:21])
• “That Facebook group saved me, like, truly.” – Marlee on Diapers and Diabetes ([24:56])
• “He needed those microdoses...” ([33:14])
• “People really love Bane. Like, they really do.” – Marlee, on the community that’s grown around their story ([47:38])
• “I will literally be anything you need me to be. Like, I just need you to save my baby.” – Marlee ([38:03])

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |---|---| | 00:14, 02:35 | Marlee introduction, social media background | | 03:34–05:09 | Bain’s diagnosis and DKA hospitalization | | 06:16–07:26 | Hindsight on symptoms and missed warning signs | | 09:14 | Abrupt diagnosis delivery by ER doctor | | 10:13–11:11 | Transfer and medevac to children's hospital | | 12:13 | Family history, genetics | | 13:38–14:22 | Emotional fallout, feelings of control, guilt, faith | | 17:03–18:34 | Pediatric ICU experience, crash course in diabetes care | | 22:19–24:03 | Family and marital strain during crisis | | 24:43–25:21 | Diapers & Diabetes Facebook group as a key resource | | 25:25–26:05 | Insurance and logistical hurdles for infant diabetes care | | 27:40–27:42 | Career and family adjustment post-diagnosis | | 29:26–30:29 | Microdosing insulin, resistance to standard syringes | | 33:06–34:27 | Burden of frequent injections, transition to pump | | 35:43–36:37 | Family planning, impact of diabetes on future decisions | | 44:03–44:35 | Viral TikTok and the public’s lack of awareness | | 46:49–47:05 | TikTok growth statistics | | 38:03 | Reliance on faith during airlift to hospital | | 13:16 | Feeling like a "unicorn" (rarity of infant DKA) |

Conclusion

Marlee’s story—emotionally raw, practical, and bracingly honest—is a window into the complex world of managing type 1 diabetes in infants. The episode explores not just the tactical parts of disease management, but the invisible toll it takes on parents, the role of social support, and the unexpected reassurance of community and faith. With vivid anecdotes, actionable advice, and memorable humor, this episode is a must-listen for families, caregivers, or anyone seeking to better understand what it means to be “bold with insulin” from day one.

Listen to Episode #1656 for Part 2 of Marlee’s story.

Find Marlee on TikTok: @marleebrandon
Join the Juicebox Podcast Facebook Group: “Juicebox Podcast Type 1 Diabetes”

(Note: All timestamps in MM:SS)