Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1743 Penny Drop – Part 2 (January 21, 2026)

Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Jenny Smith, diabetes educator with 35+ years of personal experience

OVERVIEW

In Part 2 of “Penny Drop,” Scott Benner and Jenny Smith take a deep dive into the psychological and practical challenges of living with type 1 diabetes. They dissect the role of technology, the power (and the limits) of diabetes education, the “DAFNE” course approach in the UK, and the profound impact of support—both emotional and practical. Throughout, their candid, compassionate conversation surfaces actionable strategies, memorable analogies, and some “penny drop” (lightbulb) moments that help listeners live “bold with insulin.”

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. The Hidden Burden & Magic of Technology

• Automated Insulin Delivery as a Game-Changer
  Scott reflects on how his daughter’s automated insulin delivery system (“algorithm”) has transformed her life, removing much of the daily stress of diabetes.

  • Quote: “She boluses for her food and then goes off and does something … because an algorithm is making changes … she doesn’t really pay that close attention … it lifts from you that you can’t really quantify and you won’t know until it happens.” (Scott, 01:23)

• But Tech Alone Isn’t Enough
  Jenny reminds listeners that tech reduces the load but doesn’t make diabetes effortless: “You’ve still got that wet towel draped around your shoulders.” (Jenny, 04:54)
  They emphasize the necessity of foundational knowledge—knowing how to manage variables like glycemic load and making smart settings adjustments.

• 'Wet Towel' Burden

  • Quote: “The tech is great ... but you’ve still got that wet towel draped around your shoulders.” (Jenny, 04:54)

2. Education Multiplies the Value of Technology

• Combining Tech & Education: DAFNE Case Study
  Jenny shares data from the DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) courses:
  • Even with modern technology (CGMs and pumps), participants experience greater improvements in A1C, DKA, and hypo rates after education—matching or exceeding results seen before technology was ubiquitous.
  • Quote: "You give them the tech and the education and it’s boundless what they could achieve... it can double what they can achieve if they're given the opportunity." (Jenny, 05:33)
• Education Isn’t Just for Patients
  • DAFNE now trains doctors as well (Jenny, 27:29), transforming patient-provider relationships and encouraging more empathetic, person-centered care.

3. Mastering the Fundamentals

• Hallmarks of Successful Management
  • Understanding food impacts (carbs, fat, protein)
  • Insulin timing and dosing
  • Setting adjustments, autonomy, and not fearing “insulin stacking”
  • Quote: “If you threw me off a cliff and told me, help people with diabetes before you hit the bottom, I would yell back up: it’s all timing and amount.” (Scott, 16:08)
• Analogy:
  • Not everyone needs to understand the full science—just the “where to put your hands and feet,” like driving a car (Jenny, 08:46).

4. The Individuality of Diabetes Solutions

• No One-Size-Fits-All

  • Experiences differ: some people are unaffected by dietary fat, others are highly sensitive, etc.
  • DAFNE and the podcast focus on giving people all relevant information so they can adapt what fits (Scott, 14:22, 15:05).

• Reducing Psychological Burden

  • DAFNE asks participants to rate feelings of overwhelm, loneliness, and failure. These scores plummet after the course—and, importantly, stay low a year later (Jenny, 40:54).

5. Emotional Truths and Family Dynamics

• The Unspoken Emotional Load
  • Scott and Jenny discuss the subtle, persistent anxieties felt by people with diabetes and their families, such as dining out and waiting to know if someone has bolused.
    • Quote: “It’s the wet towel … cold and wet and just lay on top of you, a little shitty, you know, like. And you can’t make it go away.” (Scott, 39:47)
• Candid Reflections on Guilt, Grief, and Care
  • Jenny shares her own irrational guilt when a young family member was diagnosed: “Thank God I’m not a cancer specialist nurse, because then she might have got cancer.” (Jenny, 37:42)

6. The Importance of Empathy and Support

• Empathetic Healthcare Jenny on changing the doctor-patient dynamic: “They become more familiar with me as Liesl, not someone in a uniform … Suddenly they meet human beings who are healthcare professionals.” (Jenny, 22:55)
• The Power of Peer Support Both stress how group education and mutual understanding reduce feelings of failure and isolation.

7. The Evolution of Patient Resources and Community

• Podcasting as Medical Support
  • Scott describes how podcasting offers “peer support,” noting that survey data found listeners valued the podcast’s information above that of most clinical encounters (Scott, 43:38).
• AI and the Future
  • They discuss emerging use of AI for personal diabetes problem-solving, expressing a hopeful (but cautious) interest in how tech could further ease the burden (Scott, 35:21; Jenny, 36:00).

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• On Technology’s Hidden Value:
  “I think if you go on an algorithm, you’ll be able to sleep better. And I think you won’t know how much that’s gonna change your life until you’ve had it for a month.” (Scott, 00:54)

• The “Wet Towel” Analogy:
  “The tech is great. And as we've said, it takes Some of the burden away, but you've still got that wet towel draped around your shoulders.” (Jenny, 04:54)

• Hallmark Advice:
  “There’s some basic fundamental foundational stuff. And once you give it to them in a way that they understand … they have a lot of success after that.” (Scott, 07:52)

• On Individualization:
  “Everybody’s diabetes is different, because insulin would never have been discovered, we never would have finger pricking, we never would have CGMs, we never would have the tech that we have ... it’s the loss of that carefree living that I was mourning.” (Jenny, 12:12)

• Perfecting the Basics:
  “It’s about insulin timing and the amount of insulin. It’s about how much insulin you use and when you use it … that’s your entire fight. It’s timing and amount.” (Scott, 16:23)

• On Empathy in Healthcare:
  “We just want them to live the best life they possibly can. And that's why we work in diabetes.” (Jenny, 24:34)

• The Ripple Effect of Education:
  “Doctors who do DAFNE ask differently, listen differently, speak differently. For the people they see, that changes everything over decades.” (Paraphrased from Jenny, 27:29)

• On Reducing Psychological Burden:
  “At the end of five days, they're scoring a one or a two … they've maintained that psychological benefit. … Behind the data is a real person with a family who's living a different life because that emotional burden has got less.” (Jenny, 41:16)

• Hope for the Future:
  “Maybe the technical side of their life will become so unencumbered that they can spend more time on the community side.” (Scott, 36:39)

• Vivid Family Moment:
  “All you want to say is, hey, you bolused, right? But you don’t want to put that on her … yet everyone at the table knows that everyone else is thinking about it.” (Scott, 38:55)

TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• [01:23] – The real-life lift that automation brings for families
• [04:32] – The tech reduces, but doesn’t eliminate, the burden
• [05:33] – DAFNE data: Tech + education vs. tech alone
• [07:52–10:35] – Scott on the fundamental hallmarks of diabetes management
• [12:12] – Jenny reflecting on the loss of carefree childhood for kids with type 1
• [15:05] – The value of sharing all information; individualizing care
• [16:08–16:23] – “It’s all timing and amount.”
• [22:55] – How DAFNE education changes the patient-provider relationship
• [27:29] – DAFNE courses for physicians; changing clinical care from within
• [30:20] – Jenny: “I’m a fixer…” (On the urge to always help, even when what’s needed is support)
• [37:42] – Guilt and irrational reactions when loved ones are diagnosed
• [40:54–41:16] – Measuring the psychological impact of group education
• [43:37] – Survey: The podcast helps listeners more than most traditional resources

HOW TO ACCESS DAFNE (UK LISTENERS)

• Website: daphne.nhs.uk
  Check for local DAFNE centers or ask your diabetes team or GP about referral.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Scott and Jenny conclude that while technology is a powerful ally in managing type 1 diabetes, education, empathy, and honest peer support are what empower people to truly live well—and to “be bold with insulin.” The “penny drop” moments come from understanding fundamentals, from reassurance, and from the persistent, evolving community of support.

For more practical tips and peer support, visit JuiceboxPodcast.com or scout Pro Tip episodes (#1000–1025) in your player.