Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1718: Knowing All Your Tools – Part 2
December 24, 2025
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Sarah

Episode Overview

This episode continues the "Knowing All Your Tools" conversation, focusing on practical, real-world strategies for living well with Type 1 diabetes. Scott and Sarah delve into experimenting boldly and thoughtfully with treatments—both mainstream and unconventional—for diabetes management and related health challenges. The tone is open-minded, curious, and supportive, encouraging listeners to explore beyond the conventional with critical thinking and self-advocacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Real-life Experience with GLP-1 Agonists and Blood Sugar Control

• Sprite Cravings and Insulin Response

  • Sarah describes how her use of Mounjaro (a GLP-1 agonist) transformed her ability to bolus for sugar-laden foods, specifically Sprite.

  • Prior to Mounjaro, drinking regular soda would result in extremely high blood sugars ("the 350s"). With Mounjaro, she can dose insulin successfully without dramatic spikes.

    Quote:

    "When I started Mounjaro... all I wanted was Sprite and I was able to dose for it and not go into the 350s—which that's never happened to me in my life. And... something is totally different. Like I can manage this with insulin and it's not going to put me over the edge, which to me is like, mind blowing."
    — Sarah [02:18]

2. The Rapid Expansion of GLP-1 Therapies

• Ongoing and Future Trials

  • Scott details the broad array of GLP-1 trials happening beyond diabetes and weight loss: heart failure, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular risks, sleep apnea, liver diseases (MASH/NASH, NAFLD), Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, PCOS, knee osteoarthritis, anemia, dermatology (potential for eczema), and even long Covid recovery.

    Quote:

    "They're looking into it for... anemia... dermatology—it's starting to talk about it as a possible eczema treatment... There's strong evidence for joint pain, osteoarthritis... and there are active trials right now about long Covid recovery."
    — Scott [03:03-03:54]

  • Scott emphasizes the importance of always exploring the full range of available tools, even if some ideas sound "crazy" at first.

3. Anecdotal Medicine: Nicotine Patches for Long Covid

• Personal Story: Experimenting at Home

  • Scott shares an anecdote about suggesting nicotine patches to his wife, Kelly, during a severe, weeks-long flare of long Covid, motivated by online testimonials—even though the research is preliminary.

  • Initially met with skepticism, Kelly later tried the patches after Scott interviewed a guest who had similar recovery success. Kelly's condition significantly improved over two weeks.

    Quote:

    "I said, Kelly, listen... Why don't you try a 7 milligram nicotine patch daily and see if it will help with your long Covid?... My wife looks at me. She's like, you're an idiot. Blah, blah, blah... Maybe a week later, I'm interviewing somebody, and she says, 'I have long Covid, but it's getting a lot better.' I said, 'Oh, no kidding. What are you doing for it?' She said, 'Oh, I've been wearing nicotine patches.'"
    — Scott [03:57–05:47]

    Quote:

    "And it's been two weeks, and you should see how much better she is."
    — Scott [05:48–06:06]

4. The Spirit of Experimentation and Advocacy

• Critical Thinking & Safe Experimentation

  • Scott underlines the importance of curiosity and safe trial:

    • Always do your own research.
    • Don't take any anecdotal advice as medical gospel.
    • The "toolbox" is bigger and stranger than you may assume—consider all options, but proceed thoughtfully.

    Quote:

    "That's what you need. You need people to say, 'Here's the whole toolbox. I wonder what this would do.' Not just randomly. I don't want you hitting a nail..."
    — Scott [06:07–06:26]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sarah on dosing success with Sprite and Mounjaro:
  "I can manage this with insulin and it's not going to put me over the edge, which to me is like, mind blowing." [02:35]

• Scott on GLP-1 trial diversity:
  "...they are looking into it for... anemia... for eczema treatment, joint pain, osteoarthritis... and there are active trials right now about long Covid recovery." [03:45]

• Scott’s anecdote about nicotine patches and Kelly’s long Covid:
  "I said, 'Kelly, listen...just try a 7 milligram nicotine patch daily and see if it will help with your long Covid.'...It's been two weeks, and you should see how much better she is." [04:00–06:06]

• On the value of curiosity:
  "That's what you need...people to say, 'here's the whole toolbox'...Not just randomly." [06:07]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:18] — Sarah’s experience with Sprite, insulin, and Mounjaro
• [03:03–03:54] — Scott lists the exploding landscape of GLP-1 clinical trials
• [03:57–06:06] — Story of using nicotine patches for long covid
• [06:07] — The importance of being aware of all your "tools"

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is conversational, candid, and deeply practical—urging listeners to remain fearless, resourceful, and scientifically curious in their approach to diabetes and related health challenges. Both Scott and Sarah stress the need to be “bold with insulin” and to keep an open mind, while always remaining grounded and consulting vetted medical advice before trying new interventions.