Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1684: "What Are You Running From?"

Host: Scott Benner | Guest: Natalie
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the personal journey of Natalie, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10 and now thriving at 47. Through candid storytelling and insightful conversation, Scott and Natalie reflect on the evolution of diabetes care, the emotional and practical hurdles of long-term management, the transformative impact of new treatments (including CGMs and GLP-1s), and the importance of self-acceptance and resilience. The episode is rich with honest dialogue about motivation, mental health, and the continuous learning process required to live well with diabetes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Natalie’s Diagnosis and Early Diabetes Management

• Diagnosed at 10, influenced by her uncle's earlier diagnosis and experiences ([09:39]-[12:13])
• Early glucose testing involved using color-matching blood strips ("We wiped the blood off after an hour and compared the color..." – Natalie, [10:38])
• Limited understanding of carbohydrate and protein effects, reflecting the era’s diabetes care ([17:45])

2. Evolution of Diabetes Technology and Access

• Reminiscing on the shift from blood strips to early blood glucose meters to current CGMs ([13:33]-[17:16])
• Barriers in Canada to latest tech, like Omnipod 5 not yet government-approved in Alberta ([13:37])
• Insurance as driver for technology use: sticking with Libre for full coverage ([14:23])

3. Family, Support, and the Weight of Chronic Illness

• Uncle’s struggles with diabetes, undetected alcoholism, and emotional impact ([12:18]-[13:28])
• The generational knowledge gap: parents wanting to help but lacking understanding ("She'll be like, oh, I brought you a bag of cookies ... they're still a ton of carbohydrates..." – Natalie, [18:25])
• Lessons learned from familial fear tactics and scare-based motivation from parents & doctors ([52:00]-[52:33])

4. Adolescence, Denial, and the Turning Point

• Lying about blood tests as a coping mechanism in youth ([19:18])
• Lack of actionable data led to reacting based on feelings rather than numbers
• The shift: pregnancy as a critical catalyst for tighter control and better habits ([25:03])

5. The Power of Motivation and Focus

• Pregnancy introduced obsessive blood sugar management, frequent monitoring, and more medical support ([27:00]-[28:11])
• Mental shift centered on responsibility and desire for longevity as a parent
• Supportive, empathetic OBGYN made a significant positive difference ("...you're doing better than most of my patients that aren't type one diabetics..." – Natalie, [27:31])

6. GLP-1 Use and Its Multifaceted Benefits

• Natalie approached her endocrinologist about Ozempic after hearing positive experiences on the podcast ([39:04]-[41:24])
• Microdosing led to almost immediate improvements in hunger and weight management
  • "I was hungry all the time ... for me, taking that GLP one stopped that hunger..." – Natalie, [35:50]
• Side effects subsided after a few months, and broader benefits reported (less insulin needed, reduced shoulder pain/frozen shoulder, improved mental freedom about weight/body image)
• Paradigm shift: GLP-1s as more than "weight loss drugs" ([43:36])

7. Comparing Effort vs. Outcomes in Diabetes Control

• Honest discussion that diabetes management always requires effort, regardless of A1C ([31:36])
  • "I'm trying to get across ... it's not harder to do better ... It's hard at every level." – Scott, [31:37]
• Technology and knowledge help, but psychological readiness, support, and focus are key

8. Mental Health, Exercise, and "What Are You Running From?"

• Exercise played dual roles: health management and coping mechanism for stress/anxiety ([59:27]-[60:13])
• Reflection on whether running (or other outlets) substitute for addressing underlying pressures ("What else are you running from? ... Maybe she's just happy she's not in jail. I don't know." – Natalie, [60:23])
• Shift over time to healthier approaches to exercise, balance, and self-acceptance

9. Continuous Learning & the Role of Community

• The power of podcasts in ongoing education and connection, especially when compared to clinical, sometimes "militant," doctor interactions ([63:32], [64:26])
• Natalie credits the podcast with keeping her engaged, informed, and less isolated
  • "I learned something new every time that I listen to your podcast. So it's been really inspiring for me." – Natalie, [03:19]

10. Advice to Parents and the Importance of Patience

• Encouragement to parents of children with T1D: Kids may "figure it out" in their own time, despite rocky teenage years ([61:14])
  • "Eventually, if you're going through a rough time, it gets better." – Natalie, [61:16]
• But also acknowledges not everyone is as lucky, and genetics play a role in long-term outcomes

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[09:13] Natalie:
"I just knew how I felt if my blood sugar was low or how I felt if my blood sugar was high... There were times that I didn't even do it for months and months and months and just lied for months."

[27:31] OBGYN to Natalie:
"Natalie, you're doing better than most of my patients that aren't type one diabetics. So just calm down a little bit."

[31:37] Scott:
"I'm trying to get across to people that it's not harder to do better. This thing's as hard. It's always hard. It's just, it's hard at every level."

[35:50] Natalie:
"From 10 years old until I started taking the Ozempic, I was hungry all the time... for me, taking that GLP one stopped that hunger..."

[41:56] Natalie:
"I had some shoulder problems... I swear a week after I started taking that, my shoulder pain went away, and it's still gone."

[48:02] Natalie:
"We're lucky because it's not expensive here... I spend $270 for two months... in January, they're going to start something here where they sell it for like 40 to $80 a pen."

[52:00] Natalie:
"I remember being a kid and telling my parents, I wish you guys didn't have me because this happened to me. It's your fault."

[61:16] Natalie:
"...for the parents out there... eventually, if you're going through a rough time, it gets better."

[64:45] Scott:
"I want to be a million percent clear to anybody listening or to you, Natalie, that I am aware of how valuable the podcast is because of all the feedback that comes from it. But if you told me to down right now and, like, write out a master plan of why the podcast is valuable, like, I don't know that I even understand that. Exactly."

Important Timestamps

• [09:39] – Diagnosis at age 10, family influence
• [13:37] – Evolution of testing and technology
• [19:18] – Lying about testing as a child
• [25:03] – Pregnancy as catalyst for control
• [27:31] – Positive reassurance from OBGYN
• [35:50] – Relief from constant hunger post-GLP-1
• [41:56] – Frozen shoulder improvement after GLP-1
• [52:00] – Parental scare tactics and emotional journey
• [61:14] – Message to parents: "It gets better"
• [64:45] – The unquantifiable value of community and the podcast

Engaging, Relatable Moments

• Natalie’s humorous reflection on outdated diabetes management tools ("wiping your blood on something and waiting to see what color it turns" – Scott, [17:32])
• Finding support in unexpected ways, such as being called "the Joe Rogan of diabetes" ([04:13])
• Real conversations about body image and the joy of feeling free on vacation or in everyday life ([53:44])
• Scott sharing personal family anecdotes about worry, mental load, and siblings' health journeys ([54:18])

Closing Thoughts

This episode is a compassionate, nuanced look at the journey from fear and frustration to empowerment with type 1 diabetes. Natalie and Scott give listeners permission to honor their own struggles and celebrate their gains—mental, physical, and emotional. Their candor about medicine, motivation, hunger, body image, and the value of connection speaks directly to those living with or caring for someone with diabetes.

Essential message:
"It's not harder to do better—you always have to put in effort, but with the right knowledge, support, and tools, you can put it where it matters most."

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