Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1701 Bolus 4 – Boba Tea

Host: Scott Benner | Guest: Jenny Smith
Release Date: December 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the practical strategies for bolusing insulin when consuming boba (bubble) tea, a trendy but carbohydrate-heavy beverage. Scott Benner and diabetes educator Jenny Smith break down how to approach an unfamiliar, high-carb food like boba tea using their Meal Bolt roadmap. The discussion is candid, light-hearted, and rooted in lived diabetes experience, emphasizing both math and mindset for those navigating real-life diabetes management.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Meal Bolt Approach

Bolus 4 Series Purpose: Each episode focuses on how to bolus for one specific food using a structured, but conversational approach.
Meal Bolt Roadmap (explained at [16:05]):
- M: Measure the meal
- E: Evaluate yourself (current blood sugar, insulin on board, activity, stress, illness)
- A: Add base units (carb count/insulin:carb ratio)
- L: Layer a correction dose if needed
- B: Build the bolus shape (100% up front, combo bolus, extended bolus)
- O: Offset the timing (pre-bolus window)
- L: Look at CGM (continuous glucose monitor) data
- T: Tweak the plan for next time

“These episodes are going to be very conversational and not incredibly technical. …But we’d also like you to know that this is kind of the pathway we're considering while we're talking about it.”
—Scott [00:14]

2. What Is Boba/Bubble Tea?

Scott and Jenny confirm that boba tea and bubble tea are the same: sweet tea-based beverages with chewy tapioca pearls.
Both puzzle over why people love drinking their carbs so much, with Scott joking about preferring to “have some ice cream or something” instead.
- [01:29–03:31]

3. Hidden Dangers: The Nutrition Bombshell

Using Sharetea’s nutrition facts, Scott reads out shocking stats for a typical strawberry matcha fresh milk boba tea:
- 532 calories, 4g saturated fat, 111g carbs, 100g sugar ([04:36])
Size isn’t always clear, but they estimate these drinks are at least 16 oz.
Many menu items exceed 100g carbs, some even surpassing 200g of carbs per drink ([08:12])
The overwhelming sugar content provokes laughter and disbelief from both.

“You better hope that your blood sugar is like falling off a cliff with this before you start drinking it.”
—Jenny [06:42]

4. Bolusing for Boba: Practical Strategies

Pre-Bolus Is Non-Negotiable:
- These drinks hit blood sugar hard and fast. A strong pre-bolus is essential.
- Jenny brings up the idea of a “super bolus,” front-loading insulin beyond a standard calculation ([07:17])
- Using a 1:10 carb ratio, a mango green milk tea (114g carb) would warrant “11 units of insulin. That's a lot of insulin. For a drink.” ([07:36])
Trial & Error: Scott shares that his daughter’s first time bolusing 45g for boba “didn't work,” underlining that learning your own response is necessary.
Start Small: Jenny advises starting with the smallest serving size for less risky experimentation ([14:12])
Look for Lower-Carb / Sugar-Free Options: Inquire about sugar-free flavor syrups or ways to reduce carb load ([09:49])

“For me, this would be a, like, it's better to skip it situation.”
—Scott [07:44]

5. The Challenge of Unlabeled Nutrition Info

Scott and Jenny lament the lack of transparent nutrition facts across most boba shops—making it nearly impossible to bolus accurately without guesswork.
Jenny recommends using ingredient lists and leveraging tools like ChatGPT to estimate nutrition ([12:49])
- “Your best probably honest guess would be to use like chat GPT and ask for this size with these ingredients...” —Jenny [12:49]

6. Mindset & Safety

Both emphasize it’s not “never have boba,” but to approach it mindfully and with caution.
If new to boba, expect to need significant pre-bolus (start when blood sugar is dropping, not just steady).
Be ready to learn and adjust: look at CGM data, and tweak for next attempt.
If possible, “stick with the small”—the smaller the portion, the safer and easier to manage ([14:16])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Stunned by the Carbs:

"That's a lot of insulin. For a drink." —Scott [07:41]
On Hidden Beverage Calories:

“People do not consider beverages calories.” —Jenny [03:32]
On Experimenting with Boluses:

“For Arden, there was a lot of trial and error on trying to figure out how to bolus for this.” —Scott [13:26]
The Ultimate GFL Food:

“Maybe boba falls under the GFL, which stands for...we know what that stands for: Good Luck.” —Scott [13:34]
Jenny’s Practical Advice:

“If you can figure out something small, my professional recommendation would be: stick with the small.” —Jenny [14:16]
On the Ubiquity of Sugar:

"But then you can just jump right in and start mainlining sugar into people. And I'm assuming you’ll be incredibly successful at it." —Scott [15:05]

Timeline of Important Segments

00:14 — Explanation of the MEAL BOLT approach
01:29 — Confirming boba = bubble tea and why people drink their carbs
04:36 — Reviewing nutrition facts for typical boba drinks
06:42 — Bolus strategy: pre-bolus, super bolus, insulin calculations
08:12 — Reading carb totals from multiple menu items (revealing high sugar content)
09:49 — Discussing flavor syrups and the practicality of finding lower-carb options
12:49 — Addressing the lack of nutrition information and suggesting using AI to estimate
13:26–14:16 — Real-life trial and error, advice to start small, and “GFL” foods
16:05 — Step-by-step recap of the Meal Bolt formula for bolusing

Summary Table: Bolusing Boba Tea—At a Glance

| Step | Key Actions | Episode Reference | |--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Measure | Estimate/Research total carbs (likely 100–200g); ingredient check | [04:36], [04:56] | | Evaluate | Consider current BG, insulin on board, recent/future activity, stress, illness | [16:05] | | Add Base Units | Carb count ÷ insulin:carb ratio (could be 8–20+ units for one drink!) | [07:36], [16:05] | | Layer Correction | Adjust for current BG (highs/lows) | [16:14] | | Build Shape | Consider 100% up front for rapid-acting carbs; possible combo bolus | [07:17], [16:14] | | Offset Timing | Strong pre-bolus (start as sugars drop); expect rapid spike | [06:42], [14:16] | | Look & Tweak | Track with CGM, review outcomes, and adjust next time | [16:14] |

Tone & Takeaways

Scott and Jenny keep the conversation light, honest, and supportive, mixing humor with pragmatic advice. Their core message: boba tea is a “Good Luck Food” for people with diabetes due to sky-high carbs and unpredictable nutrition. If you try it, start small, pre-bolus aggressively, prepare for trial and error, and always review your CGM data for future tweaks. And if in doubt? Maybe skip the boba—or at least, save it for a special treat.

For more diabetes management strategies and MEAL BOLT resources, visit juiceboxpodcast.com/meal-bolt.

Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1701 Bolus 4 – Boba Tea

Host: Scott Benner | Guest: Jenny Smith
Release Date: December 6, 2025

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Meal Bolt Approach

Bolus 4 Series Purpose: Each episode focuses on how to bolus for one specific food using a structured, but conversational approach.
Meal Bolt Roadmap (explained at [16:05]):
- M: Measure the meal
- E: Evaluate yourself (current blood sugar, insulin on board, activity, stress, illness)
- A: Add base units (carb count/insulin:carb ratio)
- L: Layer a correction dose if needed
- B: Build the bolus shape (100% up front, combo bolus, extended bolus)
- O: Offset the timing (pre-bolus window)
- L: Look at CGM (continuous glucose monitor) data
- T: Tweak the plan for next time

“These episodes are going to be very conversational and not incredibly technical. …But we’d also like you to know that this is kind of the pathway we're considering while we're talking about it.”
—Scott [00:14]

2. What Is Boba/Bubble Tea?

Scott and Jenny confirm that boba tea and bubble tea are the same: sweet tea-based beverages with chewy tapioca pearls.
Both puzzle over why people love drinking their carbs so much, with Scott joking about preferring to “have some ice cream or something” instead.
- [01:29–03:31]

3. Hidden Dangers: The Nutrition Bombshell

Using Sharetea’s nutrition facts, Scott reads out shocking stats for a typical strawberry matcha fresh milk boba tea:
- 532 calories, 4g saturated fat, 111g carbs, 100g sugar ([04:36])
Size isn’t always clear, but they estimate these drinks are at least 16 oz.
Many menu items exceed 100g carbs, some even surpassing 200g of carbs per drink ([08:12])
The overwhelming sugar content provokes laughter and disbelief from both.

“You better hope that your blood sugar is like falling off a cliff with this before you start drinking it.”
—Jenny [06:42]

4. Bolusing for Boba: Practical Strategies

Pre-Bolus Is Non-Negotiable:
- These drinks hit blood sugar hard and fast. A strong pre-bolus is essential.
- Jenny brings up the idea of a “super bolus,” front-loading insulin beyond a standard calculation ([07:17])
- Using a 1:10 carb ratio, a mango green milk tea (114g carb) would warrant “11 units of insulin. That's a lot of insulin. For a drink.” ([07:36])
Trial & Error: Scott shares that his daughter’s first time bolusing 45g for boba “didn't work,” underlining that learning your own response is necessary.
Start Small: Jenny advises starting with the smallest serving size for less risky experimentation ([14:12])
Look for Lower-Carb / Sugar-Free Options: Inquire about sugar-free flavor syrups or ways to reduce carb load ([09:49])

“For me, this would be a, like, it's better to skip it situation.”
—Scott [07:44]

5. The Challenge of Unlabeled Nutrition Info

Scott and Jenny lament the lack of transparent nutrition facts across most boba shops—making it nearly impossible to bolus accurately without guesswork.
Jenny recommends using ingredient lists and leveraging tools like ChatGPT to estimate nutrition ([12:49])
- “Your best probably honest guess would be to use like chat GPT and ask for this size with these ingredients...” —Jenny [12:49]

6. Mindset & Safety

Both emphasize it’s not “never have boba,” but to approach it mindfully and with caution.
If new to boba, expect to need significant pre-bolus (start when blood sugar is dropping, not just steady).
Be ready to learn and adjust: look at CGM data, and tweak for next attempt.
If possible, “stick with the small”—the smaller the portion, the safer and easier to manage ([14:16])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Stunned by the Carbs:

"That's a lot of insulin. For a drink." —Scott [07:41]
On Hidden Beverage Calories:

“People do not consider beverages calories.” —Jenny [03:32]
On Experimenting with Boluses:

“For Arden, there was a lot of trial and error on trying to figure out how to bolus for this.” —Scott [13:26]
The Ultimate GFL Food:

“Maybe boba falls under the GFL, which stands for...we know what that stands for: Good Luck.” —Scott [13:34]
Jenny’s Practical Advice:

“If you can figure out something small, my professional recommendation would be: stick with the small.” —Jenny [14:16]
On the Ubiquity of Sugar:

"But then you can just jump right in and start mainlining sugar into people. And I'm assuming you’ll be incredibly successful at it." —Scott [15:05]

Timeline of Important Segments

00:14 — Explanation of the MEAL BOLT approach
01:29 — Confirming boba = bubble tea and why people drink their carbs
04:36 — Reviewing nutrition facts for typical boba drinks
06:42 — Bolus strategy: pre-bolus, super bolus, insulin calculations
08:12 — Reading carb totals from multiple menu items (revealing high sugar content)
09:49 — Discussing flavor syrups and the practicality of finding lower-carb options
12:49 — Addressing the lack of nutrition information and suggesting using AI to estimate
13:26–14:16 — Real-life trial and error, advice to start small, and “GFL” foods
16:05 — Step-by-step recap of the Meal Bolt formula for bolusing

Summary Table: Bolusing Boba Tea—At a Glance

Tone & Takeaways

For more diabetes management strategies and MEAL BOLT resources, visit juiceboxpodcast.com/meal-bolt.

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#1701 Bolus 4 - Boba Tea

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Summary

Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1701 Bolus 4 – Boba Tea

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Meal Bolt Approach

2. What Is Boba/Bubble Tea?

3. Hidden Dangers: The Nutrition Bombshell

4. Bolusing for Boba: Practical Strategies

5. The Challenge of Unlabeled Nutrition Info

6. Mindset & Safety

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timeline of Important Segments

Summary Table: Bolusing Boba Tea—At a Glance

Tone & Takeaways

Summary

Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1701 Bolus 4 – Boba Tea

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Meal Bolt Approach

2. What Is Boba/Bubble Tea?

3. Hidden Dangers: The Nutrition Bombshell

4. Bolusing for Boba: Practical Strategies

5. The Challenge of Unlabeled Nutrition Info

6. Mindset & Safety

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timeline of Important Segments

Summary Table: Bolusing Boba Tea—At a Glance

Tone & Takeaways