Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1770 – Pivot to Health
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Sonya Young (Board Chair, Diabetes Canada)
Date: February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on practical, real-life strategies for living boldly and fearlessly with diabetes. Host Scott Benner welcomes Sonya Young, Board Chair of Diabetes Canada, for a wide-ranging conversation about her later-in-life diagnosis, handling misdiagnosis, diabetes stigma, technology, relationships, and advocacy work. The discussion is infused with humor, candor, and a shared commitment to supporting others in the diabetes community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sonya’s Diagnosis Story: Late Onset & Misdiagnosis

• Diagnosis at 50, not 15:
  Sonya shares her unique journey, being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 50 after first being misdiagnosed with Type 2, a common error for adults.

  "I am the board chair of Diabetes Canada. That came about because I wanted to join the board after I was diagnosed at the age of 50. That's 5-0, not 15, with type 1 diabetes. And that was after being misdiagnosed with type 2." (02:14)

• Misdiagnosis Experience:
  Her symptoms (blurry vision, exhaustion) were initially attributed to age, ethnicity, stress, and work lifestyle; the correct Type 1 diagnosis came only after treatment for Type 2 failed.

  "It was the... knee jerk reaction of 'you're Asian, late 40s, early 50s, you must have type 2.' She prescribed metformin, told me to get a blood glucose meter... but it wasn't working." (17:55)

• Impact of the Correct Diagnosis:
  Sonya felt immense relief upon finally getting the correct diagnosis, noting the sense of blame placed on people with Type 2.

  "The first thing I felt was a sense of relief that it wasn't type two, because that meant it wasn't my fault." (20:14)

The Mental Load of Diabetes: Decisions, Exhaustion, & Daily Realities

• Daily Decision Fatigue:
  Both Scott and Sonya discuss the constant stream of decisions and mental effort required for T1D, from tech malfunctions to travel prep and everyday logistics.

  Scott: "When I hear that line about people with diabetes make... 186, 304 different decisions every day. There is part of me that feels like that's just social media. And I have to remind myself... That number might be right. It might be low." (07:00)

• Tech Trouble on the Road:
  Sonya describes a travel mishap leading to severe DKA after tech failures and insulin delivery issues.

  "My sensor kept cropping out. I accidentally pulled off my pod. We had to put a new one on in the parking lot. [...] All that to say I ended up in severe DKA that night and ended up in the ER." (08:16)

• Resourcefulness & Humor:
  Sonya shares how she uses her diagnosis to her advantage when possible, e.g., jumping restaurant lines when running low.

  "I wave at the hostess, and it's in the red. It's like, lady, I need a table now... So, you know, make it work for you if you can." (13:04)

Living With Diabetes: Relationships, Advocacy, and Stigma

• Adapting Relationships:
  Sonya talks about how she and her husband navigated her diagnosis and, more recently, his own T2 diagnosis—blending support and independence, even having friendly competitions about A1C and tech preferences.

  "I'm fairly independent, so this was mine. I am managing it. He doesn't even follow me... His first things out of his mouth is, do you need juice? And I'll go, no, that's the microwave." (24:28)

• Stigma and Guilt:
  Both discuss widespread diabetes stigma and misconceptions—especially the false blame placed on people with T2.

  "I didn't realize how stigmatizing diabetes actually was. I think because I'm at the age where I don't really care what people think about me anymore." (41:45)

• Work & Identity:
  Sonya credits her diagnosis with helping her break away from an all-consuming legal career and find meaning in advocacy.

  "Being diagnosed with diabetes probably saved my life because if I hadn't... I'd have kept working at the law firm and probably keeled over at my desk at some point... This really forced me to take stock of, well, what do you really want to do?" (45:42)

Advocacy, Community, and Diabetes Canada

• Sonya’s Role:
  As Board Chair, Sonya stays deeply involved in policy, research, and support initiatives. She emphasizes the value of peer communities, research, and keeping guidelines up to date.

• Keeping Up With Science:
  She notes the inherent lag between patient experience/DYI solutions and guideline adoption, due to the need for empirical evidence.

  "They're always going to necessarily, I think for safety reasons, if nothing else, be a step behind." (36:14)

Technology: DIY Looping, Automation, and Sleep

• Building Her Own Loop:
  Despite no tech background, Sonya successfully builds and uses a DIY looping system—highlighting the empowerment and improved sleep that technology delivers.

  "The one thing it did is it let me sleep through the night. Oh my God. The first time I got through like the solid eight hours... If nothing else." (56:06)

• The Work of Balance:
  Both acknowledge the tension between striving for great time-in-range and not letting diabetes dominate life.

  "I want to be 95% time in range. And my endo looks at me and goes, yeah, or you could actually have a life, right." (58:59)
  Scott responds: "I think you can have your 95% range and have a life, too. You just have to put the work up front..." (59:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Late Diagnosis & Stigma

• “The first thing I felt was a sense of relief that it wasn't type two, because that meant it wasn't my fault.” – Sonya (20:14)

On the Mental Load

• "It's the whole exhaustion from dealing with the extra 186 decisions a day when I'm fighting with the loop and when the sensors are crashing out." – Sonya (02:58)
• "I saw the area, looked around, found food, looked at the line—how long would it take me to get it started?" – Scott (07:40)

On Hospitalization & Advocacy

• “I had packed everything on that trip except my ketone meter, so that will never happen again.” – Sonya (15:55)

On Career Change

• “It took a little bit of something kicking me out the door.” – Sonya (47:41)

On Perfectionism & Diabetes

• “Giving yourself permission to slide a little is a pretty dangerous slippery slope...” – Sonya (60:26)

On Diabetes Community Power

• "People helping people. Kind of all in it together." – Sonya (67:04)

On Making Meaning from Challenge

• “Being diagnosed with diabetes... forced me to take stock of, well, what do you really want to do? What can you do that's going to allow you to manage this disease so you can actually live?” – Sonya (45:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Diagnosis Story & Misdiagnosis: 02:14 – 21:01
• Travel & DKA Incident: 08:16 – 10:57
• Impact on Work & Life Balance: 41:45 – 54:24
• DIY Loop, Sleep, & Technology: 55:38 – 56:15
• Discussion of Stigma, Advocacy, and Community: 41:45 – 66:45
• Diabetes Care System & Guidelines: 35:23 – 40:32
• Diet, Food, & Family Support: 25:19 – 27:05
• Final Reflections & Recommendations: 65:20 – 67:06

The Episode’s Tone and Takeaways

The episode maintains a conversational, honest, and warm tone—balancing humor and gravity. Both Scott and Sonya are frank about the daily grind and emotional burden of diabetes, but they keep the focus on actionable hope, collaboration, and resilience. Sonya’s story offers relatability, inspiration, and practical insight for anyone touched by life with diabetes.

Essential Takeaway:
Embrace community, leverage technology, and never underestimate your capacity to pivot—whether that means adapting your career, attitude, or approach to care. Be bold with your insulin, and don’t let stigma or exhaustion dull your commitment to living well.

For more resources and community:
Visit JuiceboxPodcast.com to find calculators, guides, and support groups, and consider joining Sonya and the hosts in supporting, advocating, and boldly living with diabetes.