Juicebox Podcast #1713: “Mexican Sasquatch”

Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Erin, mother of a 7-year-old daughter with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), wife to a husband diagnosed with T1D in adulthood

Overview – Main Theme

This episode shares the lived experience of Erin, a mom managing type 1 diabetes in both her young daughter and her husband. The conversation explores layered family dynamics, cross-border healthcare, embracing boldness with insulin, and maintaining normalcy after a child’s diagnosis—all against the unique backdrop of relocating to Mexico. The aim is to offer practical strategies and reassurance about living well with diabetes regardless of where you are, replacing fear with confidence and adaptability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Family Background and Diagnosis Stories

• Family Structure

  • Erin, age 44, has four daughters: two older girls from previous marriages (ages 25 and her husband’s stepdaughter), and two younger daughters (ages 11 and 7).
  • Both Erin’s husband and youngest daughter have type 1 diabetes.

• Husband's Diagnosis

  • Diagnosed in his late 20s/early 30s, initially misdiagnosed as type 2, later corrected to type 1 after a slow onset (possible LADA/type 1.5).
  • “He had the typical kind of story where he was diagnosed as type 2… and finally was diagnosed with type one.” (B, 06:18)
  • Manages diabetes with less effort and has "better outcomes," partially due to GLP-1 medication.

• Daughter’s Diagnosis

  • Youngest daughter (diagnosed at age 6), about a year and a half before the recording.
  • Symptoms noticed by Erin: excessive thirst, bedwetting, and a poignant moment of doubt before diagnosis.
  • Erin’s medical background as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and school district nurse gave her insight, but emotional denial delayed immediate action:
    • “I really doubted myself and thought I was overthinking things.” (B, 24:31)
  • Diagnosis confirmed after six days and managed to avoid hospitalization for DKA due to Erin's experience and assertiveness.

Moving to Mexico – Logistics and Adaptation

• Relocation Context

  • Moved for family construction and fishing business opportunities.
  • Relocated soon after daughter’s diagnosis, facing significant logistical and emotional hurdles.
  • "We moved July 1st, which is... the hottest, most humid time that you can move." (B, 34:10)

• Healthcare Access

  • Importing diabetes supplies (Dexcom, Omnipod 5) from the U.S. due to lack of availability in Mexico; utilizes visiting family/friends as “supply mules.”
  • Continues to see U.S. doctors periodically, with a local pediatrician for emergencies.

• School Experience

  • Children attend a private dual-immersion (English/Spanish) school; youngest daughter builds independence in diabetes management.
  • Initial year: School nurse nervously communicated 25 times/day; now, with Omnipod 5 automation and supportive friends, daughter handles her dosing. “She’s become like a new kid.” (B, 33:06)

• Cultural and Emotional Shifts

  • Both Erin and her daughter struggled initially but flourished once a sense of friendship and acceptance developed.
  • “We made some really good friends… they kind of know what to do… and I don’t know, she’s just really blossomed.” (B, 33:06)
  • Erin acknowledges the adventure of moving abroad pushed her far from her comfort zone, ultimately leading to personal growth and reduced anxiety.

Practical Diabetes Management Strategies

• Technology Reliance

  • Dexcom G7 CGM for daughter; Omnipod 5 for automated insulin delivery.
  • Daughter manages much of her dosing at school using customized carb information and feels low/high glucose herself, displaying growing self-sufficiency.

• Caregiver Dynamics

  • Erin and her husband have distinct management styles due to different onsets, ages, and devices.
  • Husband manages easily (“better outcome with less effort”) and maintains A1C in the 5.5–6% range, whereas their daughter holds steady around 7–7.3%.
  • “His management… seems like he has a better outcome with less effort.” (B, 07:28)

• GLP-1 Medications

  • Husband takes tirzepatide; significant weight loss and better control.
  • “He was 280 pounds, started and now he’s 240, 235 maybe.” (B, 48:20)
  • GLP-1 also influenced dietary freedom for both dad and daughter.

• Reducing Fear and Building Boldness

  • Erin pushes past initial fears—both logistical (“how do I get supplies to Mexico?”) and philosophical (“should we change all plans now?”)—by breaking down plans into logistics and using community support.

Notable Parenting and Family Reflections

• Parenting at Different Ages

  • Contrast between raising her oldest at 19 and her youngest at 37; notes greater naivete and less anxiety as a teen mom, versus more knowledge and thus more worry as an older parent.

• Mixed Family and Step-Parenting

  • Conversations about stepchildren, genetic risks, and hindsight about inherited autoimmune conditions—handled with thoughtfulness and humor.

• Mental Health and Personal Growth

  • Erin candidly discusses her past with severe anxiety and agoraphobia, and how her growth through those experiences helped prepare her to manage her family's move and her daughter's diagnosis.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Diagnosis Denial:

  • “I really doubted myself and thought I was overthinking things.” (B, 24:31)

• On Breaking Down Barriers:

  • “I had to really think out all the logistics and see if it was something we could do. And it is. We’ve figured it out.” (B, 35:12)
  • “Don’t let diabetes or any other diagnosis really... especially this diagnosis, it’s really manageable no matter where you go.” (B, 64:41)

• On Daughter's Independence:

  • “She’s become like a new kid… she made really good friends, and I think it really just boosted her confidence.” (B, 33:06)
  • “She’s able to just dose herself… she doesn’t have to go to the nurse anymore. It’s great.” (B, 38:02)

• Finding Community Support:

  • “Listening to people’s stories kind of helped me. So hopefully this story can help someone or realize you, you can live the life that you had planned even though you got this little bump in the road.” (B, 55:33)

• Comic Relief—On Tall Husbands:

  • “He’s six foot six… I’m five-three and a half.” (B, 48:20)
  • “This giant man is stealing me. Are your kids tall? They are, yeah, so far.” (A/B, ~48:36–48:47)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [02:33] Erin introduces her family: daughter & husband both have T1D
• [05:53] Timeline and diagnosis—daughter diagnosed at age 6
• [09:50] Erin’s medical background as a nurse, segue to moving to Mexico
• [18:29] Reflections on parenting as a teen mother
• [23:18] Daughter’s diagnosis story and emotional impact
• [32:52] How diabetes changes mother-daughter relationship, boosts attachment
• [34:10] Moving to Mexico, concerns about heat, supplies, and health
• [38:02] Daughter becomes independent in self-management at school
• [42:00] Husband’s dietary struggles and changes post-diagnosis
• [43:25] Erin finds the Juicebox Podcast for support and reassurance
• [46:22] Daughter’s emergency appendectomy in Mexico—accessing healthcare abroad
• [48:20] Impact of GLP-1 and weight on husband’s health
• [55:33] Erin shares motivation to be on the podcast and “give back”
• [60:11] Strategies for improving daughter’s glycemic outcomes—diet and estimation
• [64:41] Takeaway: “Just don’t let diabetes… stop you from living your plans.”

Tone & Language

• The episode blends humor with reassurance, candid storytelling, and practical advice.
• Scott’s warmth and comedic timing make Erin comfortable enough to share vulnerabilities and laugh at life’s unpredictability.
• There’s no sugar-coating, but rather a shared focus on perseverance, adaptability, and building a bold, fulfilling life with type 1 diabetes.

Final Takeaways

• Diabetes doesn’t define or restrict a family’s possibilities: Erin’s story is a testament to flexibility, creative problem-solving, and the importance of community—whether virtual or in-person.
• Automation and technology can empower even young children to self-manage when given tools and emotional support.
• Facing big changes—like moving countries after diagnosis—is daunting, but not insurmountable with planning and courage.
• Personal growth often accompanies adversity, and what once seemed impossible becomes routine over time.

Episode Highlights in Erin’s Own Words

“Just don’t let diabetes… stop you from living your plans.” (B, 64:41)

“Listening to people’s stories kind of helped me. So hopefully this story can help someone or realize you, you can live the life that you had planned even though you got this little bump in the road.” (B, 55:33)

For more lived experiences, strategies, and genuine community, visit JuiceboxPodcast.com or join their Facebook group for further support.