Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1737: Gesundheit
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Erin
Date: January 14, 2026

Overview

In this candid, wide-ranging episode, Scott Benner interviews Erin, a 50-year-old woman diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 45. The conversation centers on Erin’s journey through a remarkable number of autoimmune and health challenges, her struggles and mistakes in the healthcare system, her approaches to self-advocacy, and how the Juicebox Podcast community and resources have helped her gain control over her diabetes and overall well-being. Blending humor, warmth, and some blunt honesty, this episode throws out fear in favor of actionable strategies, while also giving space to the emotional and psychological toll of chronic illness.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Erin’s Backstory and Family Life

(Timestamp: 02:31–08:00)

• Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 45, now 50.
• Married with two teenage children and a dog who recently needed expensive surgery due to swallowing rawhide, leading to humor around parental and pet-induced chaos.
• Erin’s candid, self-deprecating humor sets the tone:

  "It's my fault. So I can't blame my husband or my kids. … There would be hell to pay. Yes. Yep." — Erin [04:39]

2. First Autoimmune Diagnosis: ITP

(Timestamp: 12:12–17:34)

• At 12, she nearly died from Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disorder causing very low platelets.
• Recalls poor experience with medical professionals as a child (distrust started early).
• Ultimately underwent splenectomy after treatments failed.

  "You got your first autoimmune disorder when you were 12. It tried to kill you through your lady bits, but you fought back." — Scott [13:22]
  "They took the spleen out because … if you remove it, your platelets don't get filtered out. That's the simple way the doctor explained it." — Erin [16:36]

3. Medical Trauma and Recurrent Issues with Providers

(Timestamp: 18:09–21:00; 19:22—24:09)

• Erin describes a childhood incident where a doctor acted inappropriately while she was hospitalized, only realizing the gravity years later.
• Consistent pattern: healthcare providers missing/discounting her symptoms, leading to mistrust.
• Diagnosis of diabetes was delayed by months due to finger-pointing among providers and dismissive attitude (“Welcome to your 40s”).
• She often had to self-diagnose or push for correct testing.

  "I told the endocrinologist I think I have diabetes. … He sent me for bloodwork and said come back in four months." — Erin [22:29]
  "You have three stories and nobody stood up in any of these stories and done the right thing." — Scott [24:09]

4. Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis & Management

(Timestamp: 24:26–50:00)

• Official diagnosis came only after a dangerously high A1C (14.0) and hospitalized for stabilization.
• Describes how lack of in-clinic blood sugar testing and slow provider response contributed to health crisis.
• Since diagnosis, uses Omnipod 5 and Dexcom G6, preparing to try the Twist pump.
• Shared frustrations: Automated pumps not aggressive enough; desire for more proactive algorithms.
• Ozempic facilitated 80 lbs weight loss over 18 months, though it complicated insulin sensitivity and blood pressure management.
• Discovered importance of iron/ferritin in fatigue through podcast anecdotes, leading to insistence on proper testing/infusions.

  "I love when you have the experts on… but the regular conversations that you're having with regular people, too, they're just fascinating. Just love it." — Erin [63:33]

5. Other Major Health Conditions

• Multiple autoimmune diagnoses:
  • ITP (childhood)
  • Graves' disease (college, also in her father)
  • Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissections (“SCADs”/heart attacks) at 44 and 47, likely triggered by stress and autoimmune factors.
  • Chronic migraines managed with Botox injections.
  • Low ferritin/iron -> severe fatigue, multiple infusions needed.
• Family history: No type 1, but autoimmune illnesses (Graves) run on father's side.
• Erin’s dog also developed and died from a canine version of ITP, intensifying her sense of “autoimmune bad luck.”

  "How many years later killed your dog?" — Scott
  "It was in 2022. … I was so grief stricken … I had another spontaneous coronary artery dissection a few days after we had to put him to sleep." — Erin [29:49, 30:57]

6. Emotional/Psychological Health and Therapy

(Timestamp: 51:00–52:42)

• Discusses the difficulty of finding support that "gets" type 1 diabetes. Previous therapists misunderstood her struggles.
• Finds powerful community, understanding, and practical insight from the podcast and Facebook group.
• Podcast fills essential gap:

  "Your talking to you is like the pinnacle of having a conversation with someone about type one who really gets it … That need to have understanding, to have community, just to talk to anyone, someone please understand." — Erin [51:24]

• Advocates for self-advocacy and changing providers if not heard.

7. Practical Insights and Takeaways from the Podcast

• Learning basics (e.g., correcting highs, pre-bolusing) sometimes missed by providers.
• Making tangible changes (tweaking insulin ratios, increasing advocacy) after hearing peer stories.
• Stays more engaged and diligent with diabetes when regularly listening; breaks from the podcast correlate with higher A1Cs.

  "Listening to your podcast is sort of the same as setting a lower target from my Dexcom … It just keeps me more cognizant of what I'm doing. … When I take breaks from the podcast… my A1C goes up." — Erin [61:28]

• Finds value in both "expert" and "regular person" interviews.

8. Advocacy & Confronting Poor Care

(Timestamp: 69:53–72:18)

• Erin describes her “Arya Stark List approach” to holding doctors accountable:

  "I am making a list, and I am going around. … I told them exactly what they did that wronged me. … And each of them had their reaction, and now I have a new PCP, a new endocrinologist, a new eye doctor." — Erin [69:53–70:58]

• Emphasis on not accepting subpar care — seek new providers when necessary.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It's the best of circumstances. It's my fault." — Erin, on her dog’s expensive mistake [04:32]
• "You have three stories, and nobody… done the right thing." — Scott [24:09]
• "I felt like you described, with super fatigue…my ferritin was one. … Those brought my iron up to six or something." — Erin [36:00–36:56]
• "I just feel like I'm contagious, almost, with autoimmunity." — Erin [28:14]
• "That's not an easy question. … I get so much out of the podcast, I can't even tell you how much I get out of it." — Erin [50:13]
• "You don't have to continue going back to someone who makes you feel stupid or unheard or unseen … There are nice people out there, too, who are practitioners." — Erin [72:18]
• "You know, I heard you say something recently about blood pressure, low blood pressure, and how it could be connected to the thyroid. So…I did get the doctor to write me a script for a higher dose of levothyroxine." — Erin [38:39]
• "I've been tired since 2009. Like, I have children, so tired." — Erin [37:56]
• "Your talking to you is like the pinnacle…someone please understand…that is such a strong sense that I have." — Erin [51:24]
• "It somehow keeps her connected to her health without making it feel front of mind…She doesn't feel like she's always thinking about diabetes, but yet somehow she is, and she's doing better for herself, almost not on purpose or unknowingly. And that is what you just said, too." — Scott [62:49]

Important Timestamps

• 02:31 – Erin introduces herself and her family.
• 12:12 – Recounting her ITP diagnosis and early experiences with doctors.
• 19:22 – Experiences of being ignored or dismissed by doctors as an adult.
• 22:29 – The process leading up to her type 1 diagnosis.
• 24:26 – Official type 1 diagnosis & hospitalization.
• 29:49 – Her dog’s autoimmune illness mirroring her own.
• 31:27–34:52 – Heart attacks, SCAD, and the complexity of her medical history.
• 36:00–37:56 – Iron deficiency discovery via podcast and practical treatment outcomes.
• 51:24 – The quest for understanding and supportive community.
• 61:28 – The effect of the podcast on engagement, management, and motivation.
• 69:53–71:22 – “Arya’s List”: Advocating and holding providers accountable.

Tone & Style

• Conversational, humorous, and honest: Erin and Scott employ lots of dry humor and relatable banter about the absurdities of chronic illness and the failings of the healthcare system.
• Empowering, not self-pitying: Erin’s story is about perseverance, self-advocacy, and finding community—not giving in to feelings of helplessness or resentment.
• Blunt but caring: Scott acknowledges Erin’s misfortunes directly, often turning the conversation into actionable reflection for listeners.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Persistently advocate for yourself: If you feel unheard by providers, seek others; it’s your right and your health.
• Community support matters: Connecting with people who understand (via podcasts, online groups) can make a profound, positive difference.
• Learn from shared experiences: Small, actionable changes often start from hearing someone else’s breakthrough.
• Don’t stop with “the first answer”: Recurrent or “weird” symptoms (e.g., profound fatigue, fluctuating blood pressure) deserve persistent follow-up.
• Managing diabetes is ongoing: Tools like pre-bolusing, adjusting ratios, and staying informed are part of the work—podcasts can help keep you engaged.

Final Words

The episode balances laugh-out-loud moments with hard-earned lessons about the complexity of living with multiple autoimmune diseases, the shortcomings of health systems, and the necessity of community for both information and emotional resilience. Erin’s willingness to share both her struggles and strategies offers hope and camaraderie to every listener navigating diabetes or chronic illness.

For more:

• Join the private Juicebox Facebook Group
• Explore curated takeaways via the “Small Sip” series at JuiceboxPodcast.com
• Consider practical technologies and patient-driven advocacy to improve your own care