Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1766: Scrappy
Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Danielle (mother of four, nurse practitioner, parent of a newly diagnosed Type 1 child)

Overview

This episode centers on Danielle’s experience as a mother of four daughters, one recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just weeks after the birth of her youngest child. Scott and Danielle discuss the emotional, logistic, and mental health journeys of sudden diagnosis, how Danielle’s healthcare background impacted her reaction, her approach to mental health and therapy, and practical tips for other parents managing diabetes in young children. The conversation offers humor, warmth, vulnerability, and actionable advice for families navigating similar paths.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sudden Diabetes Diagnosis During Postpartum (03:06–08:00)

• Danielle’s Story:
  After giving birth to her youngest in January 2025, Danielle’s 6-year-old, Eloise, was diagnosed with diabetes only three weeks later.
• Discovery:
  The diagnosis was prompted by a perceptive teacher who noticed frequent urination at school, leading Danielle (a nurse practitioner) to take her daughter to the pediatrician.
• Reaction:
  Despite her medical background, Danielle was stunned:

  “Being a nurse practitioner and knowing just enough, I feel like time just froze.” — Danielle (06:13)

• Hospital Experience:
  Juggling a newborn and a sick child, Danielle describes the experience as “life-altering” and compounded by postpartum anxiety/depression.

2. Guilt, Mental Health, and Parental Feelings (08:01–20:40)

• Guilt as a Healthcare Worker:
  Danielle felt guilt for not catching her daughter’s symptoms earlier, despite her healthcare background.
  Scott reassures:

  “You were a little busy, so…” — Scott (09:05)

• Mental Health Resources:
  Danielle, aware she’s prone to postpartum depression, already had mental health support in place, which she credits for not languishing too long in a “low place.”
• Therapy and Psychiatric Support:
  Regular therapy and “an unbiased opinion” were invaluable for coping:

  “If we as parents, if we're not okay, our kids certainly aren't going to be okay.” — Danielle (19:14)

3. ADHD & Impact on Diabetes Management (20:41–24:38)

• Adult Diagnosis of ADHD:
  Danielle was diagnosed after her experiences of restlessness and difficulty focusing intensified with more children and diabetes management.
• Medication:
  She began methylphenidate (generic Concerta) two months before the interview, calling it “life changing”:

  “For me, the first time I took it, I fell asleep. Everything got calm, everything slowed down.” — Danielle (24:07)

• Real-World Impact:
  The medication improved her patience and ability to remember critical diabetes-related tasks, e.g., timing insulin and meals.

4. Family, Community, and Support Structure (08:10, 11:41–12:16, 13:14–13:37)

• Community Matters:
  Danielle highlights the critical support from her daughter’s teacher and school nurse (who both “rock”), mentioning group texts and constant communication.
• Rural Life:
  Describing her rural, Midwestern life, she recommends it for the peace and space, noting effective internet for remote working/connecting.
• Family Background:
  Danielle’s husband is a veterinarian, her children all girls, and the family has limited history of autoimmune disease except Graves disease for Danielle herself.

5. Navigating Insulin, Technology, and Diabetes Education (30:27–41:35, 46:14–46:47)

• Initial Learning Curve:
  Eloise received a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) thanks to a kind nurse, bucking the trend of delayed access due to bureaucracy.
• Adopting Technology:
  Danielle and her husband moved Eloise to a Tandem Mobi pump within two months of diagnosis.
• Learning From The Podcast:
  The family implemented ideas from the Juicebox Podcast, like prebolusing and adjusting insulin for complex foods.
• Changing Insulin Types:
  They found Novolog required less insulin and less prebolus than Humalog.
• Peer Influence:
  Listening to other T1D parents’ wins was “proof” that tighter A1Cs and better outcomes were possible.

6. Prioritizing Parental Mental Health (64:22–67:41)

• Advocacy for Self-Care:
  Danielle strongly urges T1D parents to care for themselves, not just their children:

  “I just wanted to give other type 1 parents permission to prioritize themselves a little more…we prioritize the health and safety of our kids well, but we don't do the same for ourselves.” — Danielle (65:29)

• Relationship Dynamics:
  Chronic caregiver stress can cause resentment or strain in marriages/partnerships. Therapy, breaks, and medication can help manage this load.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Diagnosis Overload:

  “Those two days [in the hospital] I'm sitting there, you know, feeding and nursing my newborn baby while also having to relearn how to feed and care for my six-year-old. It was really jarring.” — Danielle (07:06)

• On Social Media as a Support System:

  “Like many people, I lurk on [the Facebook group]. I don't personally have Facebook...My husband does. And so I had him get in on the groups and stuff. And then you go in through his account.” — Danielle (39:14)

• On Medical Guilt:

  “If anybody was going to catch it, why wouldn't it have been me or her father?” — Danielle (09:56)

• On Family Planning:

  “I have never been one to handle birth control very well. I've tried multiple different types, and they've all made me cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. And so it is on my husband to make this permanent.” — Danielle (69:15)

• On Therapy and Growth:

  “They have been able to get to know me on a visceral level and help me establish tools to appreciate the feelings that I have and acknowledge them and then also let them go.” — Danielle (19:35)

• On Accepting Imperfection:

  “Her A1C was 10.8 on diagnosis, and her first follow up A1C was 6.1...She doesn't have to be perfect to see better results.” — Danielle (46:15)

• Humorous Aside on Pretzels:

  “There ought to be a table that says, do you know what you're doing? If so, look behind the curtain. And behind the curtain is a pretzel, right?” — Scott (42:42)

• On Protecting Joy in Sports:

  “I didn't play in college just to be an—Oh, really? You could have...I could have played in college. Not D1, but D2, D3. And I purposely didn't.” — Danielle (56:11)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Danielle introduces herself & shares diagnosis story: 02:42–07:34
• Feelings of guilt, parental and professional stress: 08:57–10:09
• School nurse/teacher’s impact on early detection: 08:01–08:57
• Effect of mental health support and therapy: 17:14–20:40
• ADHD diagnosis, treatment, impact on T1D management: 20:41–24:38
• Family/autoimmune history: 25:35–27:55
• Initial use of CGM & pump, adapting to bold approaches: 30:27–41:35
• Facebook group, community support, and "lurking": 39:05–40:29
• Celebrating progress & letting go of perfection: 46:02–47:23
• Message to other parents: mental health matters: 64:22–65:50

Tone & Style

• The episode features Scott’s signature warm, direct, sometimes irreverent humor, balanced by Danielle’s open-hearted, pragmatic storytelling. Both avoid sugarcoating, focusing on realistic, actionable, and occasionally raw details. Scott checks in supportively but keeps the tone light even when covering heavy subjects.

Summary Takeaways

• Early diagnosis is hard, even for healthcare professionals. Community, school staff, and access to tech make a big difference.
• Prioritizing parental wellbeing, especially mental health, is essential for the whole family’s success—therapy, medication, and outside help are not shameful, but empowering.
• Adapting quickly to new diabetes management, including bold insulin strategies and technology, can be intimidating but leads to good results—especially when parents learn from and support each other.
• Perfection is not required to strive for stability—just progress.

Final Thoughts

Danielle’s candid share will resonate with parents facing the chaos of a new diagnosis, especially those juggling multiple responsibilities and complex emotions. The conversation showcases the intertwined nature of medical management and mental health, and the value of both accepting help and becoming bold, scrappy advocates for your family.

For Further Resources

• Juicebox Podcast website
• [Facebook Group: Juice Box Podcast Type 1 Diabetes]
• [Dexcom & Omnipod info via podcast affiliate links]

End of summary