Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1703: Rachel, Mike, and Molly
Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Scott Benner
Theme: Practical family perspectives and strategies for living well with Type 1 Diabetes—addressing both the emotional journey and the technical “bold with insulin” mindset.

Episode Overview

This episode features Rachel and Mike, parents of 11-year-old Molly, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in August 2021 at age 7. The conversation touches deeply on the family’s emotional journey, their adaptation to daily diabetes management, and the supportive community they've found online. The show offers candid insights into balancing scientific/technical aspects of insulin management with parenting emotions, communal sharing, and how diabetes reshapes daily life and family dynamics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Family Background and Diagnosis Story

• Molly’s Diagnosis: Molly was diagnosed at age 7 during a short respite in the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel noticed something was wrong after Molly had several overnight accidents—a major change from her previous behavior. Having a family history of diabetes (Rachel’s brother has T1D), Rachel was attuned to the possibility.
  • Quote, Rachel [07:09]: “At age 7, when your kid has three overnight accidents within five nights, you know something's up.”
• Path to Diagnosis: Rachel tried to rationalize the symptoms as a UTI or stress but knew diabetes was likely. The pediatrician (who also has T1D) insisted on an immediate visit, confirming Rachel’s suspicions.
• Hospital Experience: Molly’s blood sugar was high (around 575 mg/dL) but she wasn’t in DKA. The family was told to prepare for several days in the hospital at CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia).

Molly’s Empathy Even in Crisis

• Quote, Mike [12:03]: “[Molly] says to us how lucky she feels that we have this hospital in our backyard and how... she feels bad that not everybody has this.”
• Rachel: Molly’s main emotional reaction was realizing that other children might not have access to such good care.

2. Community Support: Facebook & Online Resources

• Mike’s Early Search for Help: Immediately joined the Juicebox Podcast Facebook group from the hospital, seeking any resource due to sleepless nights.
  • Quote, Mike [04:07]: “I would get 95 answers in 15 minutes from across the globe. It was kind of wild.”
• Impact of Community: Mike found reassurance that they weren’t alone and gathered various approaches and support.
• Rachel’s Different Path: Initially overwhelmed, she was a “lurker” rather than an active participant; for her, the information was too much in the beginning and she needed time to process emotionally.

3. Family History and Management

• Autoimmune Stack: Rachel’s family includes multiple autoimmune conditions (T1D, MS, Hashimoto’s).
• Rachel’s Personal Medical History: She has Barrett’s esophagus, managed with medication—emphasizing that autoimmune and chronic conditions are woven through the family narrative.
• Family Dynamics:
  • Rachel’s brother lived with T1D for years, mainly on injection therapy and without a CGM—only shifted to a CGM when Molly did, wanting to be a supportive role model for his niece.
    • Rachel [14:03]: “He got a CGM... if my niece can do it, I can do it.”

4. Parenting: Emotions vs. Science

• Differences in Approach: Mike is “technical/medical,” focused on numbers, patterns, and device management. Rachel handles the emotional load and worries about Molly’s confidence, social adjustment, and daily wellness.
  • Rachel [18:06]: “He wants to dive into the numbers and the trends... My mind doesn't work like that. I'm not a math person. I was like, I'm the least medical person, and you're gonna throw me into this diabetes thing...”
• School & Social Life: Rachel was worried about Molly’s transition to middle school, support from friends, and her ability to feel empowered and unashamed with visible devices.
  • Quote, Rachel [20:07]: “I probably could have skipped over [my worries] because she's amazing and she's confident… she, like, wears a crop top with her, you know, device you’re worried about.”
• Therapy: They enrolled Molly in therapy after diagnosis to pre-empt emotional issues, but even the therapist felt Molly was well-adjusted and didn’t need intensive support.

5. Management Routines & Family Adjustment

• Mike’s Role: Troubleshoots device management, tweaks settings, coordinates with CHOP’s diabetes care team, and continually seeks validation of management tactics.
  • Quote, Mike [32:55]: “Just hearing from someone who really should know more than me… is valuable… and reaffirming that, like, okay, I'm on the right track here.”
• Molly’s Growing Responsibility: Molly sometimes under-boluses at school, typically out of distraction or mild fear of insulin, not rebellion.
  • Mike [33:58]: “I literally said to her, Molly, no one's upset with you... But... your wrist vibrates... you can't ignore this...”
• Balancing Control & Independence: As Molly grows, Mike and Rachel consciously empower her, but also step in as needed ("hey, a little correction would be a good idea" via text).

6. The Effects of T1D on Family Life

• Increased Parental Involvement:
  • Mike describes how daily routines (like breakfast) are more involved—requiring careful timing due to pre-bolusing and device checks.
    • [41:36]: “What are seemingly mundane moments of your day for many people are not mundane moments of our day because we have to think about things a little more intentionally.”
• Positive Bonding: The increased attention required has strengthened Mike’s relationship with Molly, providing more quality time (e.g., breakfast together).
  • [43:12]: “I do think it kind of strengthens the connection that a parent can have with their kid.”
• Flexibility and Growth: Mike acknowledges that adolescence will bring new challenges, requiring ongoing flexibility in parenting style and diabetes management.

7. Impact on the Marriage

• Shared Responsibility & Stress: Early on, managing sleepless nights and alarm fatigue was shared, but overall, Mike doesn’t feel T1D has significantly changed the marriage, other than making some logistical aspects of life more complicated (e.g., only family, not teenagers, babysit).
• Social Life: After the initial post-diagnosis pause, the family has resumed social outings—relying on extended family and well-educated friends for sleepovers and care.
  • [48:57]: “Her friend can sleep over here... but now we’ve got about two or three of her school friends [she can stay with]. The parents have learned the devices and want to help.”

8. Community—Both Virtual and Flesh-and-Blood

• Importance of Support: The hosts repeatedly emphasize the life-changing value of both virtual communities (Facebook, Instagram) and the devotion of local friends and extended family.
  • [51:07]: “Community boils down to: Wow, here's a friend of ours... ‘What do I need to learn? I don't want you to have to call me at 2am; I want to know what does this beep mean?’ That’s the kind of friend you want.”

9. Personal Growth and Motivation

• Mike’s “Big Why”:
  • [45:44]: “I have... an 11-year-old daughter, she's a type 1 diabetic, who... wants to be a dance instructor. And as far as I know, [they] don’t carry... great health insurance. So for the rest of my life, I need to make sure... I can prepare myself to say, ‘Yeah, 30 grand a year is going to make sure she can afford her insulin.’”
• Rachel’s Evolving Anxiety: Over time, Rachel’s initial intense worries have lessened, though she admits she finds “new things to worry about.”
  • [21:46]: “It’s not as much. I’ve definitely in the past year or two... found new things to worry about, so don’t worry.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On community:
  • Mike [04:07]: “I would get 95 answers in 15 minutes from across the globe. It was kind of wild.”
• Empathy from Molly:
  • Mike [12:03]: “She says to us how lucky she feels that we have this hospital in our backyard ... she feels bad not everybody has this.”
• Rachel on her worries:
  • Rachel [18:06]: “I’m the least medical person and you’re gonna throw me into this diabetes thing. Like, what are we gonna do?”
• On family adaptation:
  • Mike [43:12]: “It kind of strengthens the connection that a parent can have with their kid.”
• On adjusting management as Molly grows:
  • Mike [35:07]: “You cannot ever need to feel ashamed... if you have to pull your phone out and give yourself more insulin... I don’t want to be having this conversation with you in the emergency room one day.”
• On the impact on Mike’s mindset:
  • Mike [45:44]: “For the rest of my life, I need to make sure... I can prepare myself to say, ‘Yeah, 30 grand a year is going to make sure she can afford her insulin.’”
• On the value of honest storytelling in podcasts:
  • Mike [63:18]: “So many people tune into your podcast because you’re so open with your own personal story, good, bad, and ugly. That’s what draws people.”
• Molly’s strength:
  • Mike [39:55]: “She is the definition of a T1D warrior... it is mind-boggling to me the degree to which she has grown up and handled it with grace.”

Key Timestamps

• 03:09 — Introduction to Molly’s diagnosis
• 04:07 — Discovery & joining the Facebook group
• 07:09 — Early symptoms & family diagnosis moment
• 12:03 — Molly’s empathy during diagnosis
• 18:06 — Parenting differences: emotions vs. science
• 32:55 — Mike’s collaboration with care team
• 35:07 — Talking to Molly about missed boluses
• 43:12 — Positive bonding as a result of diabetes routines
• 45:44 — Mike’s “big why” and long-term motivation
• 51:07 — Community importance and trusted friends
• 53:19 — Reaffirming Molly’s resilience and adaptability
• 63:18 — Power of authentic storytelling in the diabetes community

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, candid, and often humorous. Scott, the host, keeps the tone relaxed and supportive, directly addressing listeners’ likely worries and frustrations. Both Rachel and Mike are open and relatable, conveying both their vulnerabilities and strengths—making their family’s experience accessible and encouraging for listeners facing similar journeys.

Takeaways for Families

• You’re not alone: Community (virtual and in-person) plays a massive role in navigating T1D.
• Emotional and technical skills are equally important: Parents can split roles and support each other.
• Kids can be incredibly resilient and empathetic: Give them a chance and trust in their ability.
• Therapy and mental health: Worth considering for everyone after diagnosis—even if, sometimes, the parents need it more than the child!
• Stay flexible and expect your approach to evolve: Diabetes management is a moving target as kids age and circumstances change.

For more, listeners are encouraged to connect via the Juicebox Podcast community groups and explore resources mentioned at JuiceboxPodcast.com.