Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1667 – After Dark: Persistence
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Curtis
Date: October 31, 2025

Overview

In this deeply personal episode, host Scott Benner sits down with Curtis, a newly-diagnosed LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) patient, military veteran, paramedic, husband, and father of four. Their wide-ranging conversation details Curtis’s journey through misdiagnosis, military trauma, depression and PTSD, persistence in self-advocacy, and achieving diabetes management. The episode’s central theme: perseverance in the face of adversity and taking charge of your diabetes care.

Key Topics & Discussion Highlights

Curtis’s Diabetes Journey

• Initial Diagnosis and Mislabeling

  • Curtis was first categorized as pre-diabetic, then type 2, despite efforts at weight loss and lifestyle change.
  • "[I lost maybe about 30 pounds, went back in and was told, oh, well, you’re not doing it right.]" – Curtis [02:46]
  • Despite being active at work (UPS/FedEx delivery driver), his weight persisted and blood sugars worsened.

• The Reality Behind the Diagnosis

  • Curtis encountered dismissive medical professionals:
    • "[She looked at me and said, well, all y’all are stupid.]" – Curtis on a nurse practitioner [13:08]
  • Self-advocacy became essential, especially as he documented food, exercise, and Dexcom data to counter disbelief.

• Insistence on Proper Care & Diagnosis

  • After significant health decline and persistent high blood sugars, he requested advanced testing.
  • Antibody results confirmed LADA, not type 2 diabetes.
  • "[I was like, I want all my labs done that I do every three months, but I also want all my antibodies for type one done.]" – Curtis [38:35]

• Transition to Better Management

  • Switched providers and secured a collaborative care team.
  • Requested insulin pump therapy for tailored diabetes management.
  • "[I told them, you know, I was doing the sliding scale, but I went and did the carb counting. I know my carb ratio, I know my insulin resistance. I know it all.]" – Curtis [39:35]
  • Lost 90 pounds, increased energy, and drastically improved A1c and variability.

Trauma, Recovery, and Mental Health

• Military Background and Injuries

  • Curtis survived multiple injuries during combat:
    • "I was blown up, three pieces of shrapnel and shot seven times." [04:05]
    • Hospitalized for over two years, lost memory of life before the injury.
    • "[The only thing of that day that I truly remember is laying down on the ground, facing up, looking at... the most beautiful blue sky I’ve ever seen in my life.]" – Curtis [04:50]

• Memory Loss and PTSD

  • Lost all memories of his life prior to the injury.
    • "[I did not have any memory from anything prior. I didn’t know who my parents were...]" – Curtis [19:54]
  • Memories would occasionally return, sometimes triggered by music:
    • "[Phil Collins 'In the Air Tonight' came on... It sparked a memory of me and my father... and that’s when it clicked.]" – Curtis [21:21]
  • Career as a firefighter-paramedic, both before and after the military, provided some coping skills for trauma.

• Family Strain & Moral Injury

  • Curtis’s role as a scout sniper led to estrangement from some siblings:
    • "[Now no longer have a relationship with one of my sisters and two of my brothers.]" [22:18]

• Mental Health & Suicide Attempt

  • Suffered severe depression and substance abuse after military discharge.
  • Survived a suicide attempt when his gun misfired:
    • "[I put my handgun to my head and... the firing pin hit... the round just never went off.]" [17:05]
  • This near-death experience prompted a commitment to recovery—detoxing, returning to paramedic work, and eventually meeting his now-wife, who supported his healing.

Strategies for Diabetes Persistence

• Proactive Research and Learning

  • Curtis emphasizes the need for personal research and organization:
    • "[Do your research. Honestly, a little bit of research goes a long way.]" [54:48]
    • Created binders with logs, labs, and data to advocate for proper care.

• Utilizing Resources

  • Discovered Scott’s Juicebox Podcast after finding others “boring,” and credits it with aiding his self-management:
    • "[...none of them are helping. They were boring to me. And then I was like, then I, of course, saw your podcast... and that's what helped me with my carb ratio, insulin resistance, and just getting my levels all figured out myself.]" [40:30, 40:50]

• Family Support

  • Wife (an ER nurse, now nurse practitioner) played a pivotal role—offering medical insight, emotional support, and advocating at appointments.

• Empowering Others

  • Curtis is now helping his own father with diabetes management, promoting carb counting and pump therapy.

Achieving Control & Outcomes

• Improvements Noted

  • Reached 210 pounds from a peak of around 300.
  • Last A1c: 5.1 or 5.2, standard deviation 7–12 mg/dl.
    • "[My last blood draw, my A1c was a 5.2 or a 5.1. And the standard deviation that I run with the Dexcom is anywhere from 7 to 12.]" [48:09]
  • On the Tandem Mobi insulin pump, daily insulin usage dramatically reduced to 23 units (basal + bolus):
    • "[Now... my summary... says my average daily use of insulin is 23 units.]" [50:02]

• Pump & Medications Strategy

  • Stays listed as “type 2, insulin dependent” to maintain insurance coverage for Manjaro, which helps with insulin sensitivity and other metabolic effects.
  • "[If they were to switch mine to type one or Lada, I’d lose the Manjaro, and they want me to stay on the Mondoro because the Manjaro is helping my insulin sensitivity...]" [48:54]

Life After Trauma

• Building a New Life

  • Married, blended family with four children, all of whom he considers his own.
  • Daughter is now a nurse, oldest son an engineer, another pursuing police academy, and one in high school.
  • "[I have one son and she has two sons and a daughter. I'll tell you straight up, they're all my kids...]" [52:48]

• Service Dog & Adventure Goals

  • Training his own diabetic alert dog (a 2-pound chihuahua named Pepper).
  • Preparing for the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, planning to raise funds for diabetic alert dogs for those in need, especially veterans:
    • "[...I've decided that what I am going to do... is to be one of the top elite finishers... So what I'm gonna try doing is getting... enough money to... pay for two diabetic alert dogs to be given to diabetics in need. And I'm hoping that I can give at least one to a veteran.]" [63:35]

• Commitment to Staying Well—for His Family

  • Depression is still present, but Curtis says he will never attempt suicide again because of his family.
  • "[Now I’ve got all my family... and if I was willing to do that and hurt myself again, how would that help them?]" [54:12]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Trauma & Survival:

  • Curtis: "I was blown up, three pieces of shrapnel and shot seven times." [04:05]
  • "I died a couple times in different operating rooms..." [07:34]

• Misdiagnosis & Advocacy:

  • Curtis: "[You’re carrying a lot of muscle, it sounds like... where does the weight come?]" – Scott [13:32]
  • "If you tell me I’m wrong, I’m going to prove you I’m right." [31:49]

• On Hitting Rock Bottom:

  • Curtis: "I attempted suicide. I was successful in the attempt, but what I used didn’t work." [17:05]
  • "After that... I was like, how stupid I was because I was just going to put a ton of burden on my family." [17:33]

• Resilience & Reason to Live:

  • Curtis: "Everything I do is I do it for my family. I don’t play that game anymore." [54:29]

• On Taking Control:

  • "The biggest thing is... do your research. A little bit of research goes a long way." [54:48]
  • Scott: "You did their job for them, really." [55:21]

• On Helping Others:

  • "[Our daughter, she's now a nurse. Our oldest son, he is an engineer...]" [53:05]
  • "I'm not really trying to push it on him, but saying, hey, a pump could really help." [44:09]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamps | |---------|------------------------------------------|------------| | Military trauma, injury, memory loss | 03:58–07:34| | Misdiagnosis, medical dismissiveness | 13:08–31:16| | Formal diagnosis of LADA | 38:35–41:20| | Insulin pump journey, research, self-advocacy | 35:13–41:20| | Suicide attempt and aftermath | 17:03–18:32| | Family, blended family discussion | 52:48–53:24| | Taking charge, advice to listeners | 54:48–56:19| | Discussing the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge | 62:38–66:30| | Closing reflections and thanks | 67:06–67:45|

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is candid, empathetic, and hopeful despite heavy topics. Scott offers warmth and validation; Curtis is open about struggles but demonstrates perseverance and resourcefulness. Humor and heart are present throughout, balancing the weight of serious issues.

Actionable Lessons:

• Self-advocacy and persistent research are essential for good diabetes care.
• Don’t accept poor medical advice—seek second opinions and bring evidence.
• Family and personal motivations can pull you through the hardest times.
• Diabetes management can and should be personalized—don't be afraid to fight for what you need.
• Mental health matters—support systems and direct action save lives.

Memorable & Impactful Moments

• Curtis’s story of survival after severe combat injuries and memory loss [03:58–07:34]
• The firing pin not firing during his suicide attempt, and his reflection on the family he’s built since [17:05, 54:12]
• Becoming an expert in his own diabetes management and using Juicebox Podcast as a key resource [40:30, 50:29]
• Advocacy for others—helping his dad, planning to fund service dogs, and sharing to inspire listeners [44:09, 63:35, 53:37]
• Training his own diabetic alert Chihuahua (and rousing laughter from Scott) [61:39]

Final Message

Curtis’s journey is a testament to persistence through trauma, misjudgment, and health system failures—with meaningful triumph via self-education, support, and unwavering advocacy. His parting words urge listeners:

"If I can pull through it, you can." [53:49]