Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes
Episode #1749: "Half Nelson to Full Health"
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Connor – Police officer, college wrestler, type 1 diabetes veteran
Episode Overview
This episode features a candid and engaging conversation between Scott Benner and Connor—an identical twin, college wrestler, police officer, and person living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for 18 years. Scott and Connor explore the ups and downs of managing T1D through teenage years, athletics, college, career, and family, culminating in recent strategies Connor used to substantially improve his health and quality of life. The episode is filled with personal stories, practical tips, and humor, aiming to empower listeners to be "bold with insulin" and take charge of their diabetes management.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Connor’s Diagnosis Story and Early Family Life (00:00–18:00)
- Diagnosis: Diagnosed at 15 during a family spring break at a lake cottage. Classic symptoms included blurred vision, constant urination, intense thirst, and unexplained weight loss.
- Family Wrestling Culture: Grew up in a tight-knit, wrestling-obsessed family; has an identical twin and another brother.
- Entry to Hospital/Healthcare System: Initially experienced subpar outpatient advice (confusion about "sugar" vs. "carbs"), leading to a week of unmanaged high blood sugars before being admitted to a children's hospital for proper education.
- Notable Quote:
"Finally I got so tired of it that I just... slept in bed with a milk jug so I didn't have to get up and go pee all the time." – Connor [04:00]
2. Navigating Adolescence & Sports with T1D (18:00–34:30)
- Transition to MDI and Pump: Started with multiple daily injections, then moved to a pump within the first year, despite initial resistance due to stigma and visibility concerns. The pump made wrestling management easier.
- High School Wrestling Challenges:
- Missed weight at freshman sectional tournament after over-treating a low.
- Blood sugars closely monitored by parents.
- Humorous moment:
"She like pricked my finger and I started like trying to wrestle her or something when we were in bed." – Connor, about his mom's nighttime blood sugar checks [25:00]
- Resilience in Sports: Despite setbacks, went on to wrestle in college, adjusting strategies for diabetes.
3. College Years: Diet, Motivation, and Brotherhood (34:30–47:00)
- Eating Habits: First three years featured poor dietary choices covered by insulin, keeping A1C under 7 but not optimally healthy.
- Turning Point:
- Younger brother won a national championship, prompting Connor to overhaul his approach.
- Switched to a highly structured, repetitive diet focused on consistency and control, leading to peak athletic performance.
- Quote:
"I ate 18 eggs a day and like three humongous bowls of oatmeal... eating the same thing for every meal, I learned how my body was going to react to it." – Connor [28:10]
- Social Growth: Attended an all-male college; met his wife on Tinder with some encouragement from friends.
4. Early Adulthood: Relationships, Career, and Struggles (47:00–56:00)
- Disclosure of Diabetes: Was open about T1D early in his relationship, with his now-wife, who integrated the knowledge into their household routines.
- Becoming a Police Officer:
- Despite stereotypes, found diabetes did not bar entry into law enforcement.
- Managed diabetes amidst shift work and job stress.
- Weight Gain & Poor Habits: Post-college, gained significant weight (up to 225 lbs) due to lifestyle and dietary changes, particularly working nights and eating impulsively.
5. Tech Transitions: CGMs, Pumps, and Data (56:00–73:00)
- CGM Reluctance and Adoption:
- Initially disliked early Medtronic CGMs due to size and alarms; stuck with fingersticks for years.
- Later, peer encouragement led to using a Libre CGM (borrowed from a diabetic dog!), then switching to Dexcom G7 for integration with the Tandem Mobi pump.
- Pump Choices:
- Chose Tandem Mobi for discretion, phone control, and ease of use with police gear.
- Loves the algorithm—runs sleep mode 24/7 for great control.
- Handling Activity:
- Customizes profiles for early morning Peloton workouts by suspending basal beforehand, then fine-tuning boluses with food and activity—resulting in stable daily numbers.
- Current Results:
- A1C of 4.9 with minimal hypoglycemia and standard deviation around 28.
6. Major Lifestyle Overhaul (73:00–83:00)
- Weight Loss Journey:
- Realized need for change after physical exhaustion during police training.
- Used calorie tracking (MyFitnessPal), meal prepping, and learned portion control.
- Lost and maintained a 65-pound reduction (from 225 to 160 lbs) over a year.
- Quote:
“I remember telling my wife, ‘I think I’m fat.’ And she’s like, ‘Oh, you’re not fat.’ I was like, ‘I think I am.’” – Connor [66:12]
- Metabolic Improvements:
- Significant improvements not just in blood sugar, but in acid reflux, blood pressure, and overall well-being.
- Family Involvement: Daughter tested negative for T1D antibodies via TrialNet; twin brother remains unaffected.
7. Attitude, Advocacy, & Advice (83:00–88:00)
- Self-Education:
- Emphasizes learning about settings, ratios, and changes oneself rather than relying solely on clinicians.
- Engages in research through podcasts, YouTube, and community resources.
- Quotes:
“Don’t rely on your doctors... I do all this research on my own so I can help better myself.” – Connor [77:23]
“I feel like that’s what people need to do, to take control of their diabetes and do the best they can.” [77:55]
- Wrestling, Routine, and Resilience:
- It’s possible to live fully and even healthier with diabetes via proactive management and routine changes.
- Encourages reaching out for peer support and not waiting for doctors to make every adjustment.
8. Tech Wishlist & Future Hopes (88:00–end)
- Desire to try new tech:
- Interested in Afrezza inhalable insulin for hyper-corrections and activity-based flexibility.
- Intrigued by implantable CGMs like the Eversense 365 for durability and less hassle—hopes for future integration with Tandem pumps.
- Final Reflections:
- Open to helping others with T1D, especially athletes or those with high activity.
- Celebrates achieving major health gains while balancing career, fatherhood, and diabetes.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You can have the same quality of life... or even healthier because I, I think if I didn’t have diabetes I wouldn’t be as healthy.” – Connor [75:57]
- Host Scott: "We should call this episode four score and fifty pounds ago." [70:00]
- On Tinder success:
“How did you trick this girl into marrying you? Seriously, man, I gotta click off this. It’s freaking me out. Well done.” – Scott, about Connor and his wife [75:31]
- Practical philosophy:
"If you see you’re going high, up your basal; if you’re going low, lower it... all these different things." – Connor [78:14]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [04:00] – Diagnosis story & lake house adventures
- [20:00] – High school wrestling, missed weight due to lows
- [27:00] – College dietary habits and the turning point
- [36:00] – Tinder stories and meeting his wife
- [51:00] – Weight gain after wrestling, police career
- [56:00] – CGM, pump choices, and management strategies
- [63:00] – Detailed daily routine and diabetes strategy
- [66:00] – Weight loss motivation and family health
- [77:00] – Advocacy for self-management over clinician-driven changes
- [82:00] – Hopes for new diabetes technology and future integration
Tone & Style
The episode retains Scott’s trademark blend of humor, empathy, and practical curiosity. Connor matches it with humility, openness, and a matter-of-fact approach to his challenges and achievements. The episode mixes personal anecdotes, actionable insight, and lively banter, making the diabetes journey relatable rather than daunting.
Final Thoughts
Connor’s story is an inspiring account of how education, adaptation, and self-advocacy can yield remarkable results in diabetes management. From struggling teen to national wrestling champion and into adult life as a police officer and father, he models persistent self-improvement and health ownership.
For listeners who want more of Connor's police stories, Scott notes that these will be in the bonus episode (#1750).
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“You can have the same quality of life... or even healthier because I, I think if I didn’t have diabetes I wouldn’t be as healthy.” – Connor [75:57]