Podcast Summary: Juicebox Podcast — Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1735: "To The Moon And Back – Part 2"
Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Laurel

Episode Overview

This episode is the continuation of an in-depth conversation with Laurel, whose 14-year-old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a year and a half ago. The discussion weaves together the practical and emotional aspects of managing type 1 diabetes within a family, the influence of traumatic past experiences (including growing up in a high-control religious cult), and the search for balance between support, autonomy, and self-care. The episode also briefly addresses broader issues around cults, community, and trust.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Diabetes Diagnosis and Management

• Family Health Background

  • Laurel shares there’s some autoimmune history (grandmother with Sjogren’s).
  • No gestational diabetes or celiac disease in immediate family ([02:17]–[03:02]).
  • Son is of mixed Japanese and white heritage; some type 2 diabetes in the Japanese side of the family.

• Onset of Her Son’s Diabetes & Initial Signs

  • Laurel describes her son’s initial symptoms: lethargy, sleeping excessively, headaches, weight loss, and looking pale ([06:28]).
  • Diagnosis was made after a pediatrician’s finger stick: blood sugar in the high 700s, DKA, PICU admission ([07:56]–[08:45]).

• Adjustment & Technology Adoption

  • Post-diagnosis: MDI (multiple daily injections) for three months, then transitioning to Omnipod 5 and Dexcom.
  • Son manages most of his diabetes care himself, though Laurel, as a more present parent, oversees and assists.
  • Husband is supportive but less involved due to work commitments ([11:23]–[11:49]).

• Balancing Autonomy and Oversight

  • Laurel wants her son to have as much autonomy as possible, shaped by her upbringing in a controlling environment.
  • Struggles with how much to intervene: “Sometimes I’m like, am I… should I be pushing more? Because I have this thing for myself… These are the things I talk to my therapist about.” ([12:28]–[12:44])

• Glycemic Control & Growth Issues

  • Last reported A1C was 6.5%, but Laurel is concerned about variability.
  • Her son recently started growth hormones for a newly diagnosed growth deficiency.
  • Triggered a conversation about thyroid testing and cautions about trusting “normal” TSH ranges ([13:06]–[16:30]).

• Navigating Information and Anxiety

  • Laurel describes falling into “information spirals” and feeling overwhelmed: “I want to know what the truth is… and so it’s very easy for me to go down rabbit holes and then sort of get overwhelmed with all of the information that’s out there.” ([41:24]–[42:17])

The Impact of Cult Upbringing

• Laurel’s Childhood in the Unification Church (“Moonies”)

  • Laurel shares candidly about the cult’s racial and social hierarchies, purity culture, and founder Sun Myung Moon’s secretive and hypocritical personal life ([03:33]–[05:28]).
  • She recalls the psychological burdens placed on members—including children: “We were told that everything that you do affects the entire world… and dead people too.” ([20:20]–[21:03])

• Trauma and Parenting

  • Laurel relates her hypervigilance as a diabetes parent to leftover trauma (“…feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and I have to get this right... those feelings from childhood and growing up in their environment…”) ([20:17]).

• Leaving and Healing

  • Laurel reflects on choosing not to force her parents (now in their 70s) to confront the depth of their involvement and the emotional cost of leaving: “I don’t know if it’s worth it… I don’t want them to have to go through that process of really reckoning with that.” ([32:52]–[33:17])

Cults, Community & Coercive Control

• Defining Cults

  • Discussion of what constitutes a cult and the spectrum of “coercive control” (referencing the BITE model by Steven Hassan, Janja Lalich, Robert Lifton and more).
  • The importance of analyzing group behaviors rather than labels ([29:48]–[31:46]).

• Comparisons and Humor

  • Scott jokes about the Juicebox Podcast’s dedicated fandom, drawing playful parallels to cult-like devotion (but with better rules): “I’m not asking you for money. You can have sex with whoever you want. Look at that. As long as it’s legal and everybody’s on board with it. You got my blessing.” ([25:51]–[26:06])
  • Laurel admits to being initially “triggered” by the podcast’s popularity:
    • “I swear to God, I was like, I don’t know about this. This is a cult.”
    • “The way that these people are, like, defending the podcast is, like, a little much.” ([26:35]–[26:53])

• The Pull Between Advocacy and Self-Preservation

  • Laurel discusses the pressure to “save others” versus the need to move on with life (“We do that to the detriment of actually taking care of ourselves and saying like, no, it’s fine. You can actually just, like, have a normal, peaceful life.”) ([23:04])

Memorable Quotes

• On Early Symptoms & Diagnosis:

  • “He was just tired all the time. …He was like skin and bones…I let him stay home from school, and he slept the entire day, which was very weird for him. …I thought there’s something wrong here.”
    – Laurel ([06:28])

• On Managing as a Newly Diagnosed Family:

  • “From the very beginning, he’s a great kid…he manages really well. …I think in the beginning, he was just so relieved to feel better.”
    – Laurel ([10:52])

• On Trauma After Diagnosis:

  • “Those first three months when he was diagnosed… it’s traumatic on its own. …Then it also kicked up all of my own, you know, residual trauma.”
    – Laurel ([20:02])

• On Cult Upbringing & Guilt:

  • “We were told that everything that you do affects the entire world. And also, by the way, dead people, too.”
    – Laurel ([20:56])
  • “I’m a dirty, terrible person and I’m damning myself…everyone I’ve loved who’s gone…if only I could control myself.”
    – Scott ([21:31])

• On Autonomy and Parenting:

  • “I do feel like I lean on the side of wanting him to have his autonomy—because you grew up in a culture…”
    – Laurel ([12:28]–[12:33])

• On Information Overload and Trust:

  • “I want to know what the truth is. I want to know what the science is. …It’s very easy for me to go down rabbit holes and then sort of get overwhelmed… That’s definitely something that happened to me in those first three months.”
    – Laurel ([41:24]–[42:17])

Notable Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---------|-------|-----------| | Family/Autoimmune history | [02:17]–[03:02] | | Diagnosis story | [06:28]–[08:45] | | ICU & hospital learning | [08:16]–[09:10] | | Tech adoption (Dexcom, Omnipod) | [10:52]–[11:49] | | Parenting, autonomy, and trauma | [12:28]–[12:44]; [20:02] | | Growth hormone, thyroid concerns | [13:06]–[16:30] | | Cult background, family hierarchy | [03:33]–[05:28]; [20:56]–[21:06] | | Community vs. cult discussion | [25:51]–[27:15]; [29:48]–[31:46] | | BITE model of coercive control | [29:48]–[31:46] | | Process of leaving and healing | [32:52]–[33:17]; [39:08]–[39:48] | | Coping with adult family in cult | [32:40]–[33:17] | | Information overload, trust | [41:24]–[42:17] |

Episode Tone and Takeaways

• Tone:
  The episode balances warmth, candor, and humor to navigate emotionally complex territory. Scott’s light, at times irreverent, style puts Laurel at ease, encouraging open sharing about trauma, parenting, and diabetes care.

• Key Takeaways:

  • Managing type 1 diabetes as a parent is challenging, especially with added trauma history.
  • Modern diabetes technology (CGMs, automated insulin pumps) is a game-changer but requires continued parental support and oversight.
  • Cult-like environments can leave lasting impacts on trust, information processing, and emotional regulation.
  • Healing is ongoing but possible; community support (even if virtual) is vital.
  • There’s a nuanced line between helpful community and coercive group dynamics; recognizing real support versus destructive control is crucial.

Final Notes

• Laurel voices hope for others who are trying to leave difficult environments: “It’s not easy, but it’s possible… there’s a community… you’re not alone.” ([39:08]–[39:48])
• The episode ends with mutual appreciation and a nod to ongoing self-care, both through therapy and maintaining a sense of humor.

For more personal stories and practical diabetes management discussions, visit juiceboxpodcast.com.
If you want to explore cult recovery resources, consider works by Steven Hassan, Janja Lalich, or Robert Lifton.