#1756 Tandem Kids: Connor

Summary

Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1756 — Tandem Kids: Connor

Host: Scott Benner
Release Date: February 1, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of Juicebox Podcast, hosted by Scott Benner, features a candid conversation with Connor, a 13-year-old living with type 1 diabetes since age three. Recorded at the Friends for Life conference in July 2025, the episode is part of a special series highlighting young people who use the Tandem insulin pump. The discussion centers on Connor's personal experiences, strategies for diabetes management, life with the Tandem pump, involvement in sports, peer support, and perspectives on growing up with diabetes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Diagnosis and Memory of Onset

• Connor’s Diagnosis Story (01:16–01:52)
  • Diagnosed at age three while on vacation in Daytona.
  • Vivid memories: needing frequent bathroom trips, vomiting, and passing out after eating ice cream.
  • Parental anxiety remembered: “Yeah, definitely a little bit scared.” (02:01)

Family & Support System

• Connor is the oldest of three siblings; no other immediate family with type 1, but an uncle (by marriage) has diabetes and uses shots, not a pump.
• Discusses open family conversations about diabetes management.

Diabetes Technology & Tandem Experience

• Tandem Pump & Control IQ (02:30–02:54, 11:09–11:22)
  • Has used Tandem pump with Control IQ since upgrade; appreciates the improved time in range:
    “I just stay in range a little bit.” (02:43)
  • Enjoys using the phone app: “I can go on my phone and I can go through the app on my phone.” (11:17)
• Switch from Previous Pumps (15:22–18:13)
  • Initially used shots, then Omnipod, which led to two severe lows and seizures.
  • Describes switching to Tandem as greatly improving control:
    “Switching the Tandem, I’ve been amazing. Like, my control has been so much better.” (18:13)

Managing Lows and Snacks

• Preferred Low Snacks (02:58–03:16)
  • Favors cheese crackers or a strawberry wafer bar.
  • Smart approach: opts for lower-carb snacks to avoid rebound highs:
    “I don't go for, like, super high carbs, so I don't rise a lot.” (03:26)

Sports, Activity, and Blood Sugar Management

• Active Lifestyle (03:44–05:23)

  • Plays baseball (catcher/third base), football (center/defensive end), basketball, and enjoys fishing.
  • Adjusts insulin use for sports, keeps pump on during activity:
    “Usually when I'm like, super active... the adrenaline gets to me. So I go a little bit high.” (04:37)
  • Manages different needs for each sport (e.g., more lows in football due to running).

• Prepping for Sports (05:23–06:13, 19:31–20:17)

  • Eats protein bars or Subway before games; drinks water post-game to avoid dehydration.
  • Brings a fanny pack with juice boxes and snacks for lows:
    “I pack, like two juice boxes and then, like, some fruit snacks in it just in case I go low.” (20:10)

Daily Mentality and Coping

• Routine Acceptance (06:11–06:13)
  • “It's kind of part of my life now.”
• Handling and Overcoming Setbacks (17:41–18:22)
  • Candid about the fear and lessons from past severe lows: “It definitely scares me, like, from now going to like the rest of my life.”

Peer Support & School

• Helping Friends with Diabetes (07:13–08:46)
  • Assisted two friends newly diagnosed with T1D; shares supplies, provides advice.
  • Finds fulfillment in supporting others:
    “Something that I'm really proud of is... helping my buddies out who have diabetes.” (08:37)
• Supportive Social Network (07:47–08:14)
  • Friends check in, offer to help during sports.
  • Appreciates their concern: “I think it's kind of nice having supportive friends and caring friends.” (08:09)

Routine, Discipline, and Family Dynamics

• Pre-bolusing & Parental Reminders (09:01–09:29)
  • Remembers to pre-bolus most meals, often due to his mom’s reminders.
  • Family is highly supportive:
    “They're with me 100% of the time, supporting me, guiding me through everything I need to do.” (11:25)
• Listens to the podcast with his mom for tips and encouragement.

Role Models & Aspirations

• Favorite Athlete with Diabetes (09:55–10:15)

  • Inspired by Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens):
    “He inspires me to... not have diabetes stop me from what I like to do.” (10:01)

• Dreams for the Future (06:16–06:29)

  • Hopes to play golf or basketball professionally; wishes to grow tall enough for basketball.

• Outlook on College & Independence (13:25–13:28)

  • Plans to attend Purdue; joking reference to his mom’s continued, caring oversight.

Handling Self-Advocacy and Independence

• Texting with Parents (13:05–13:19)
  • Exchanges reassuring “I’m fine/I got it” messages with his mom, reflecting typical growing independence.

Emotional Health & Community

• Value of Diabetes Community (11:43–12:28)

  • Feels comfortable and not alone at Friends for Life conference, especially compared with feeling stared at in public pools/water parks:
    “It definitely makes me feel safer being around people who is going through the same thing as me...” (11:43)
  • On community and comfort: “Well, comfort is safety.” (12:00)

• Personal Philosophies (14:24–14:34)

  • On being kind: “Treat others how you want to be treated. Really means something to me.”

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Memorable Quotes

• On Smart Low Treatments:
  “I don't go for, like, super high carbs, so I don't rise a lot.” (03:26, Connor)
• On Helping Others with T1D:
  “Something that I'm really proud of is what I was talking about, like, helping my buddies out who have diabetes, like, telling them what they need to do.” (08:37, Connor)
• On the Value of Support:
  “I think it's kind of nice having supportive friends and caring friends.” (08:09, Connor)
• Describing Life with Diabetes:
  “It's kind of part of my life now.” (06:11, Connor)
• On Family Support:
  “They're with me 100% of the time, supporting me, guiding me through everything I need to do.” (11:25, Connor)
• Feeling at Friends for Life:
  “It definitely makes me feel safer being around people who is going through the same thing as me...” (11:43, Connor)
• Personal Motto:
  “Treat others how you want to be treated. Really means something to me.” (14:32, Connor)
• Message to His Mom:
  “She’s holding you back. No, I never really try and blame my parents for anything.” (06:46, Connor)
• On Mark Andrews:
  “He inspires me to, like, keep pushing, keep doing what I’m doing to not have diabetes, stop me from what I like to do...” (10:01, Connor)

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Noteworthy Timestamps

• Introduction & Diagnosis: 01:08–02:01
• Family Support & Diabetes Tech: 02:09–02:54, 11:09–11:22, 17:41–18:22
• Low Snack Choices: 02:58–03:16
• Sports & In-Game Management: 03:44–06:13, 19:31–20:17
• Peer Support at School: 07:13–08:46
• Pre-bolusing and Parental Reminders: 09:01–09:29
• Diabetes Role Models: 09:55–10:15
• Community Comfort: 11:43–12:28
• Family Values: 14:24–14:34
• Severe Hypoglycemia Experiences: 15:22–18:13

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Tone & Takeaways

Connor’s story is shared in a conversational, encouraging, and relatable tone, typical of Juicebox Podcast’s style. The episode emphasizes capability, community, and a proactive attitude. Connor’s experiences showcase not only the technical and practical aspects of life with T1D, but also the deeply human side — resilience, peer support, and optimism—making this episode valuable for children, parents, and anyone impacted by type 1 diabetes.

Transcript

[A]

I attended my first ever Friends for Life conference in July of 2025. And while I was there, I interviewed eight children of various ages, all who wear a tandem pump. I want to thank Tandem Diabetes for sponsoring this short episode of the Juice Box podcast. Check them [e-mail] juicebox nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. Always consult a physician before making any changes to your healthcare plan. The episode you're about to listen to is sponsored by TandemMobi. The impressively small insulin pump. Tandem Mobi features Tandem's newest algorithm, Control IQ Technology. It's designed for greater discretion, more freedom, and improved time and range. Learn more and get started [e-mail] Chandra Juice Box.

[B]

Are we relaxed now? We're good?

[C]

Yeah, I'm good.

[B]

What's your name?

[C]

Connor.

[B]

Connor, how old are you?

[C]

Thirteen.

[B]

Thirteen. How long have you had type one?

[C]

Since I was three. For ten years.

[B]

Three. Wow. The last person I talked to had it since they were two and they were 13. You got him. He's got you by a little bit. You don't remember anything about being diagnosed, I imagine.

[C]

I know a little bit. So we were actually in Daytona for a vacation and we were getting ice cream, so we did that. And once we were done, we went to the car and I remember I had to go to the bathroom a lot.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And then I also remember throwing up a lot and then I just passed out.

[B]

Really? You recall that at 3? From being 3, that's something. How does your. When your parents retell that story, do they sound scared when they talk about it?

[C]

Yeah, definitely a little bit scared.

[B]

Yeah. Are you the oldest of your. How many siblings?

[C]

Three.

[B]

Three. Are you the oldest? You are. Anybody else have type one?

[C]

No.

[B]

No. How about in your extended family? Aunts, uncles, cousins?

[C]

My aunt's husband has diabetes.

[B]

Okay. Do you guys ever talk about it?

[C]

Yeah, we talk about it all the time.

[B]

Do you? Yeah. Does he use a pump?

[C]

No, he just does the insulin shots.

[B]

He does shots. But you do. What pump do you have?

[C]

Tandem.

[B]

Do you use Control iq?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Did you update it recently to the new software?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

You like it? Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

What does it do? Something that. That helps you?

[C]

I just stay in range a little bit.

[B]

It. So the new update helps you stay in range? Even better. It's awesome. Was it doing well before that?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Just a little bit of an upgrade.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Take that. Right. What's your favorite low snack? When you get low, what do you like to.

[C]

Probably cheese Crackers or a strawberry wafer bar?

[B]

Strawberry. Oh, so the. Like the vanilla wafers with the strawberry cream in between? Yeah, I prefer the vanilla, but I'm. I'm with you on that. And they help you. How many do you have to eat to, like, stop a low?

[C]

Usually I just do one.

[B]

Really? It's a unique answer. Most people are like. You know what most people say, right? Like fruit Roll ups. Gummy bears.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Like smarty stuff like that. Skittles people say all the time.

[C]

I just. I don't go for, like, super high carbs, so I don't rise a lot.

[B]

So you're trying to stop the low without causing a rebound. Yeah. So smart. You had diabetes long enough, you know you don't want to start the fight over again, right? Yeah. So you're wearing a hat today. What's the hat from?

[C]

My dad's baseball league.

[B]

Oh, no kidding. Do you play? Uhhuh.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. You play at school or you play like.

[C]

So our middle school doesn't do really any baseball, but our town does a huge baseball league.

[B]

Yeah. Where are you from?

[C]

Little Indiana.

[B]

Indiana. Nice. You where you play? First base?

[C]

No. Catcher in third.

[B]

Catcher in third? I played third when I was younger. Yeah. The ball comes at you so incredibly fast at third base. Right. It's insane, isn't it? Yeah. I'll tell you later about it. My son played all the way through college. It was a lot of fun. I'll tell you about how I cried after his last game. For a while, I was very upset. Do you love it? Do you love baseball?

[C]

Yes, I love baseball.

[B]

You play anything else?

[C]

Football and basketball.

[B]

Oh, no kidding.

[C]

And I like to fish.

[B]

Is any special stuff you have to do while you're playing sports or doing any of your activities?

[C]

So for football and baseball, I usually just keep my pump on because usually when I'm like, super active and stuff, the adrenaline gets to me. So I go a little bit high.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So I just keep that on just in case I go.

[B]

Are you very competitive?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

You want to win?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And it drives your blood sugar up, right? Yeah. So the pumps with you all the time fixing it. Do you get low while you're playing?

[C]

Usually for football, I get a little bit low. Baseball, I don't really get that low. I'm usually 120 to 140.

[B]

Yeah. But in football, there's more running. Where do you play?

[C]

On the field, center and D end.

[B]

Oh, so you're either exploding or fighting?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Right. And those are both. Take a lot out of You. So do you prep? Like, I. I interviewed Noah Gray recently, and he told me how he preps for games. Do you have, like, a thing you eat before you usually?

[C]

I just get, like, a few protein bars, some Subways.

[B]

Yeah. Stuff that kind of stays with you for a little bit. And after football you got to eat right away?

[C]

No, I usually just drink a lot of water because usually around after the games, I'm super dehydrated.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So I drink water. Probably just check my numbers, see how I'm doing. If I'm low, I just do a quick snack or juice, and then if I'm high, just wait a little bit.

[B]

Yeah. Do you find it bothersome or is it just kind of part of your life? You don't think about it?

[C]

It's kind of part of my life now.

[B]

Yeah. What do you hope to do when you grow up?

[C]

I. Me, personally, I want to golf or play basketball.

[B]

Yeah. How tall are you hoping to be?

[C]

Hopefully, like six foot three, six, four.

[B]

All right, so wait, how tall are you now?

[C]

Five, eight, I think.

[B]

Do you have your dad or mom, like, super tall?

[C]

My. My mom's not really that tall.

[B]

No.

[C]

But my dad's up there a little bit.

[B]

So you think it's going to be your mom's fault if you can't play professional basketball one day?

[C]

She's holding you back. No, I never really try and blame my parents for anything.

[B]

How nice you are.

[C]

Probably genetic genetics from the family tree.

[B]

Yeah, I hear you. I. My son blames me for not being able to play baseball longer. I can tell you that much. I know he does, actually. Do you think about diabetes at school? Are there other kids, you know, who have type one? Do you guys talk about it or do you not know other people?

[C]

So, actually, two of my friends got diabetes at different times in first grade. Uh, one of my buddies got diabetes, and, like, they were their family and their him were just super confused on, like, how to control it.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So, like, we just give them supplies and, like, try and just help them.

[B]

Yeah. Be supportive.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Do you share with your friends about your diabetes?

[C]

Yeah, they're all pretty supportive about me. They always check up on me to make sure I'm doing okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And, yeah, they just check on me.

[B]

Would they know what to do if you got low and you couldn't help yourself?

[C]

Yeah, they always come up to me during sports, like, Connor, Connor, do you need a juice? Do you need this? Are you okay?

[B]

Yeah. To get annoying after a while, or are you happy for it?

[C]

I think it's kind of nice having supportive friends and caring friends.

[B]

Yeah, me too. That's awesome. How did you meet. How did you make good friends like that?

[C]

Really? Just like sports and just mostly being communicative about things.

[B]

I agree. You've ever. Have you ever done anything with your diabetes that you were, like, proud of? Like, you're like, wow, I got that on my own. Like, is there a great bolus that you remember that you were just like, this really worked well.

[C]

Something that I'm really proud of is what I was talking about, like, helping my buddies out who have diabetes, like, telling them what they need to do.

[B]

Yeah. That's awesome. Do you think, like, do you know what your A1C is?

[C]

My average is probably about, like, 7.0.

[B]

Good for you. That's awesome. Good for you. It's a lot of hard work.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, no kidding. Do you remember to pre bolus your meals?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Do you. Does your mom bug you about it all the time?

[C]

Yes, a lot.

[B]

Does she listen to my podcast?

[C]

Yeah, on the way here. We actually listen to most of them.

[B]

Oh, awesome. That's cool. I'm glad because I know that I think pre bolusing not just for kids, by the way. Like, my daughter's 21, she's had diabetes since she was 2. But at the same time, I've interviewed people literally every age up to, like, I think the oldest person with type one I ever interviewed was 80. And everyone will say the same thing. It's really hard to remember to pre bolus my meals. And so I don't think it's a thing that's going to get easier, but if you're getting that accomplished, that's really awesome. Also, like, you said, like, you're five, eight already. I mean, you're 13, right? So you're probably eating a lot during the day. It's a. It's a great accomplishment to do what you're doing. Yeah, I'm. I'm proud of you. That's awesome. No, I know. I know how hard the work is. Do you have any diabetes heroes? Anybody? Like sports figures, people out in the world?

[C]

Yes. Mark Andrews.

[B]

Oh, from the Ravens.

[C]

Yep. Yeah, he's really cool. I really like him.

[B]

Nice.

[C]

He inspires me to, like, keep pushing, keep doing what I'm doing to not have diabetes, stop me from what I like to do and my hobbies and to keep my pump on during, like, my games.

[B]

Yeah. What's your favorite sport of the ones you play?

[C]

Basketball. 100%.

[B]

You think that's the way you're best at.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It's not just because you're obviously so much taller than other 13 year olds right now.

[A]

No.

[B]

Because you are. Right.

[C]

Well, I. I would hope.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. You ever just go like move and then, you know, I mean.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Box out and make your move. That's.

[C]

Yeah. I just put like 75 of my time into basketball. I love that.

[B]

That's what you love the most, is it? All that time is about shooting. Like, he's just out there shooting all the time.

[C]

That's what I like.

[B]

That's.

[C]

That's what I'm better at.

[B]

Right.

[C]

But I. I need to work on defense.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I'm slow.

[B]

Tandem pump. Right. Use it with a Dexcom. Yeah. Okay. Tell me what you like about it the most. If you were going to tell another person with diabetes, I. I think you should try this pump. Why?

[C]

Mostly because of control iq. I also like the. The feature on, like I can go on my phone and I can go through the app on my phone.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I can just check on there.

[B]

Do you find your parents to be supportive and helpful?

[C]

Absolutely. 100. Yeah. They're with me 100 of the time, supporting me, guiding me through everything I need to do.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I think that's really.

[B]

You feel lucky.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. How do you find being here with so many people who have type one at Friends for Life?

[C]

It definitely makes me feel safer being around people who is going through the same thing as me and definitely is nice.

[B]

Safer is an interesting word. How does it make you feel safer?

[C]

Not really like safer, but like comfortable.

[B]

Yeah. Well, comfort is safety. Yeah. So you, so you are like being here. Just what does it do? Does it take off? Like, I mean, is there like a level of anxiety or like, what, what?

[A]

Something's lifted.

[B]

Right? Yeah.

[C]

Like, usually when I'm at like a water park. Not here, like around my house and people look at me weird for having like my sensors on and stuff. So yeah, it's different.

[B]

And then no one's gonna look at you like that here. Yeah. That's pretty awesome. Does your mom like track you all the time?

[C]

She's got the Follow app too, so.

[B]

Yeah, she.

[C]

She's definitely on me about it a lot. Like, especially at sleepovers. Did you give yourself insulin? Did you check your number every day? 30 minutes.

[B]

And you feel. But that feels supportive to you?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

All right, listen, do something for me as you get older. Hold on to that feeling. Okay. Because you're gonna get older and think, ah, like eventually it's gonna feel like I can do It. Do you ever. Do you ever text back, I'm fine or I got it? Have you ever said, I'm fine or I got it in a text?

[C]

Yeah, most of the time it's okay, or, yeah, I got it. All right.

[B]

If I open my text up with my daughter right now, it just says, I'm fine. I got it. I know. Like, it's one of those three.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. It's nice that you know that. It's because she cares and everything.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It's going to help you long term, too, you know, you'll probably get older. You go. You think you'll go to college?

[C]

Yeah, I'm planning on going to Purdue.

[B]

Okay, well, that's awesome. And your mom's gonna be texting you. Then you'll be, like, 20 years old in a little, like, little room. She's gonna be like, did you take a gummy bear? It's gonna be lovely when she does it, too. Do you have any questions for me?

[C]

How long has your daughter have had diabetes?

[B]

Okay. She's going to be 21 in a couple of weeks, and she was diagnosed just after her second birthday, so I think that's 19 years, right?

[C]

Wow, that's a long time.

[B]

Yeah, it's a really long time. She's doing awesome. Yeah. So she does everything everybody else does. She's in college right now. You have such a great attitude about this.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

Seriously, you're awesome to talk to.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

Why are you awesome? Your parents, like, are they, like, seriously, why are you so nice? You have a really good way about you. Is it like, did they teach you to be that way? Are you under duress right now? Is she, like. She's off on the side? Are you scared that if you say something crazy, you're gonna get in trouble?

[C]

No, no. They just taught me the right way. I always live by. Treat others how you want to be treated.

[B]

Right on, man.

[C]

Really means something to me.

[B]

Wow. This is awesome. Hey, listen, you have problems with them, I'll adopt you, all right? Because you seem like you'd be easy to handle. You know what I mean? Like, I don't think I'd have too much trouble with you. You say, are your brothers and sisters a problem?

[A]

Is it just you?

[B]

That's great. Like, what's going on?

[C]

No, my brothers are all the same way. They love to be. Nice job, Mom.

[A]

Was it the dad, too, or you took care of yourself?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, I got you. Yeah. Your dad just goes on, right? That's pretty much it.

[C]

He's a big Talker. He loves to talk. He loves to talk, yes.

[B]

You ever get going and you're like, yeah, we heard this story already.

[C]

Yeah. He could, like, say one thing to someone, and that conversation can go on for, like, 45 minutes.

[B]

Your dad and I might get along. You know, I can. I can go for a while myself. So before. Before you were using tandem, what were you doing?

[C]

So originally we were on shots, like, for the first couple years, and then we moved to Omnipod, which really didn't work out well because I had two seizures. For. With Omnipod, you got too low or. No, it wasn't too. Actually, one of them were. The first one was severe, like, a pretty bad seizure.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

The second one was actually on the way here to friends for life. And obviously it wasn't that bad.

[B]

Previous. Previous year or this year?

[C]

The first year.

[B]

The first year you came here, and so you. You got. You got very low. You. You actually had, like, a seizure.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you know how they handled it? Did you use glucagon or did you use gel or food? How did you manage it?

[C]

So we used. It was some short sort of shot.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And for the first one, because we didn't really have anything for the second one, because we were in Georgia at a hotel.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So we kind of just ate breakfast at the hotel. They were giving me stuff.

[B]

What do. Do you remember anything about it?

[C]

The first one was just like. Both of them were like. It was like if I was in a dream or something, it. Like, I didn't know what was going on. I wasn't myself.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I was scared. I didn't really know what was going on.

[B]

This has happened to my daughter. This has happened to my daughter. And she described that it felt. It felt like she was jumping. So she's like. So she's like. I felt like I was on one side of the room, and then the next thing I Knew, I was 10ft ahead.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And then, like, so, like, she. Like in and out of, like, consciousness kind of thing. But she. She. She described it specific as, like, it felt like I was jumping through time. Did you have that experience?

[C]

Yeah. So it was kind of when, like, we were walking out of the hotel room, and next thing I know, we're in, like, the elevator.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And it was weird.

[B]

Really weird. Did you actually seize? Were you, like. Like, convulsing, shaking, or you just read your blood sugar? Just super, super low for the first.

[C]

One, I think I was. I was, like, really low, and I was, like, unconscious, too, for a little.

[B]

Bit after that happens. Is it. Is it scary to do the normal things that you're supposed to do? Like, how long does it take for you to get past the memory of that?

[C]

It definitely, definitely scares me, like, from now going to, like, the rest of my life.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But I think it's kind of my fault because I get my. I probably didn't carb count correct.

[B]

And gave yourself too much insulin. Yeah, yeah. And now you're better with that?

[C]

Yeah, definitely more, like, comfortable. And switching the tandem, I've been amazing. Like, my control has been so much better.

[B]

I usually tell people when I speak to them that you can kind of tell when people are going to be successful. And I find the two indicators for being successful is being interested and paying attention. Like, just like every day, putting a little bit of effort into it and actually caring how it goes. Like, you know, I mean, they almost seem like the same idea, but they're not quite. And so, like, if you're interested, you're paying attention, you want this to go well. Generally speaking, it can. You know, you have great technology. You've got, you know, if you got your tandem pump, you got your cgm, you got good people around you, you're interested in doing it, you're going to be really successful that way, I think.

[C]

Yep, that's.

[B]

That's the plan.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

So you weren't having a lot of luck with Omnipod and you wanted to switch to another pump. What made you choose tandem?

[C]

It wasn't really my idea. It was my mom. She just wanted to try a new pump and see how it went.

[B]

Sounds like your mom talked to a lot of people with diabetes, got a consensus and came back to you and told you you're getting a tandem pump. Is that what happened? Yeah. And you were like, thank you, Mom. And you've liked it so far, right?

[C]

Yeah, it's been great.

[B]

It's awesome. And you. And you wear it through all your sports. You told me earlier. But you don't disconnect for, like, you wear playing basketball?

[C]

Not really.

[B]

Not for basketball, no. Do you bolus a little bit extra before you play, or do you take. Do you just check and, like, do you clip back? How do you handle it?

[C]

Yeah, I usually bolus before a game, and then when I, like during a timeout or like, we come off the court for a minute, I go and check my pump and see how I'm doing. Yeah, if I'm high, just do a small little bolus and then just get back on the court.

[B]

So you just clip in Give yourself some insulin, take it off again and go back and play again, and then feel smooth. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. And then when I'm low, every single sport, I do this. I bring this little, like, small fanny pack.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I pack, like two juice boxes and then, like, some fruit snacks in it just in case I go low.

[B]

Every kid that I see that has carrying a bag, I'm like, oh, they have diabetes. Like, you know, I saw this one kid moving in, he had these little boxes he was carrying to his room, and I was like, those are definitely his supplies in that box. You got a box like that drawer at home or something? Yeah. Yeah, man. Thanks, man.

[C]

That was awesome. Thank you so much.

[A]

The podcast you just enjoyed was sponsored by Tandem Diabetes Care. Learn more about Tandem's newest automated insulin delivery system, Tandem Moby with control IQ/[e-mail] Juicebox There are links in the show notes and [e-mail] if you'd like to hear about diabetes management in easy to take in bits, check out the Small Sips. That's the series on the Juice Box podcast that listeners are talking about like it's a cheat code. These are perfect little bursts of clarity. One person said, I finally understood things I've heard a hundred times. Short, simple, and somehow exactly what I needed. People say small sips feels like someone pulling up a chair, sliding a cup across the table and giving you one clean idea at a time. Nothing overwhelming, no fire hose of information, just steady, helpful nudges that actually stick. People listen in their car, on walks, or while they're actually bolusing anytime that they need a quick shot of perspective. And the reviews, they all say the same thing. Small sips makes diabetes make sense. Search for the Juicebox podcast Small Sips wherever you get audio.