Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1773 Tandem Kids: Eli

Air Date: February 15, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Eli (age 8)

Episode Overview

This episode features Scott Benner interviewing Eli, an 8-year-old living with type 1 diabetes, at the 2025 Friends for Life conference. Eli shares his diagnosis story, day-to-day management strategies, his preference for the Tandem Mobi insulin pump, and how connecting with other kids who have diabetes creates a sense of community and support. The conversation is candid, insightful, and offers a real-world look at diabetes from a child’s perspective.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eli's Diagnosis Journey

• Early Symptoms and Diagnosis

  • Eli started experiencing frequent urination at night, prompting his mom to take him to the doctor. At the doctor's office, his blood sugar was “high” and at the hospital, it read 750 mg/dL ([01:41–01:56]).
  • He recalls feeling "nervous because I didn’t know what was going on." ([01:31])

• Initial Treatment

  • Eli had a Dexcom (CGM) placed immediately and started insulin shots using pens when he got home. He reports shots “didn’t hurt, but I don’t want to do it repeatedly.” ([02:20–03:12])

2. Using the Tandem Mobi Pump

• Transitioning to the Pump

  • Currently, Eli uses the Tandem Mobi on his arm and prefers it over injections for its automation and convenience ([02:47–03:09]).
  • “When I was high, instead of always giving me a shot, like, it’ll adjust it for me, which I like a lot.” – Eli ([03:01])
  • The automation is a big perk: “It just dosed for me. Even though I would know I was high, probably. Okay, then instead of having to dose, like, every minute or 10 minutes instead, it'll just do it for me.” ([04:08–04:23])

• Pump Placement Preferences

  • Eli usually wears the pump on his arm, sometimes tries the leg, and once tried the "butt" but didn't like it due to tubing ([08:15–08:55]).
  • He values the option to switch between short and long tubing depending on where he wears the pump ([09:09–09:22], [11:27–11:31]).

• Learning and Mastering Pump Care

  • Eli is now able to change his own sites with occasional supervision from his mother, describing the process in detail ([09:56–10:36]).

3. Support Systems and Community

• Family and Friends

  • Eli’s main support is his mom: “Yeah, I do not trust my dad putting on… mostly because my mom has done most of it.” ([10:41–10:52])
  • There's a family history of type 1 diabetes—his uncle and grandfather also have T1D ([12:01–12:18]).

• Friendship and Peer Support

  • Having other friends with type 1 makes Eli feel less alone:
    • “I don’t like being the only one. I know being diabetic.” ([05:35])
    • He enjoys discussing blood sugars and sharing low snacks (usually Starburst) with friends ([06:02–06:12]).
  • He recommends kids try to find peer connections for support and shared understanding.

• Diabetes Community Conferences

  • Eli is attending his first Friends for Life conference and appreciates being “in the diabetic community.” He enjoys meeting others who understand what he’s experiencing:
    • “I like being in the diabetic community… Because it’s nice knowing people that you know what they’re going through and they know what you’re going through.” ([16:30–16:44])

4. Life as a Kid with Diabetes

• Diabetes at School

  • Eli manages his diabetes at school by visiting the nurse's office, sometimes texting his mom if needed ([13:49–14:06]).
  • At lunch, he sometimes splits his insulin: “In school we did half before, half after… because you didn’t want to get low during lunch.” ([13:31–13:43])

• Active Lifestyle & Sports

  • Eli plays baseball (“third base—definitely”) and keeps his pump on during games ([06:58–07:12], [08:15]).
  • He reports rarely going low during sports and usually runs high when playing ([07:57–08:00]).
  • His approach is to have fun, not just focus on winning ([08:04–08:05]).

5. Insights on Diabetes Management

• Favorite Features of the Mobi Pump

  • Ability to adjust between long and short tubing, and to wear pump in different places ([11:27–11:47]).
  • Simplicity of bolusing from his phone’s dashboard ([15:44–16:11]):
    • “There’s a dashboard, and on the bottom you can hit bolus… then enter your carbs… You just push a button. It’s done.” ([15:44–16:05])

• Handling Highs, Lows, and Pre-Bolusing

  • Eli says correcting highs turned out to be less difficult than he expected ([12:55]).
  • He aims for his blood sugar to stay below 200 mg/dL after eating ([13:08]).
  • For corrections and meals, he often pre-boluses or splits doses and waits for insulin to kick in ([13:26–13:39]).

• Advice for Other Kids

  • “If you don’t like the shots, I’d actually recommend like a pump or a Moby or something like that… Makes everything easier.” ([12:30–12:45])
  • Focus on what works for you and don’t be afraid to try new technology.

6. Memorable & Light-Hearted Moments

• Eli’s “Starburst hack”: Instead of trying half-and-half flavors, he just puts two in his mouth at once ([06:34–06:39]).
• When asked about dad helping with diabetes care:
  • “My dad is mostly just watching baseball.” ([10:53–10:57])
• On growing up: “Yeah. I’m almost taller than my mom.” ([07:29–07:31])

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “I was nervous because I didn’t know what was going on.” – Eli ([01:31])
• “When I was high, instead of always giving me a shot, like, it’ll adjust it for me, which I like a lot.” – Eli ([03:01])
• “I don’t like being the only one. I know being diabetic.” – Eli ([05:35])
• “If you don’t like the shots, I’d actually recommend like a pump or a Moby or something like that… Makes everything easier.” – Eli ([12:30–12:45])
• “I like being in the diabetic community… Because it’s nice knowing people that you know what they’re going through and they know what you’re going through.” – Eli ([16:30–16:44])
• “My dad is mostly just watching baseball.” – Eli ([10:53–10:57])
• “There’s a dashboard, and on the bottom you can hit bolus… You just push a button. It’s done.” – Eli ([15:44–16:05])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction, Diagnosis Story: [01:06–02:20]
• Transition to Pump Therapy and First Impressions: [02:43–04:23]
• Comparing Pumps and Peer Influence: [04:23–05:06]
• Finding Community & Friendship: [05:06–06:34]
• Low Blood Sugar Snacks & Starburst Talk: [06:07–06:39]
• Sports and Diabetes Management: [06:55–08:24]
• Pump Placement Preferences, Tubing: [08:47–09:22], [11:27–11:47]
• Learning Self-Care Skills (changing sites): [09:55–10:36]
• Diabetes at Home, Family, and School: [10:41–14:06]
• Favorite Tech Features, Pump Use How-To: [15:44–16:11]
• Reflections on the Conference & Community: [16:15–17:00]

Conclusion

This episode is an insightful window into a child's real-world experience managing type 1 diabetes. Eli’s open, honest perspective highlights the value of supportive technology like the Tandem Mobi, the importance of community—both peer and family—and the small, everyday victories that build confidence. His advice for other young people considering pumps, his willingness to learn new skills, and his ability to find camaraderie and fun, even at a diabetes conference, all serve to encourage listeners to be “bold with insulin” and seek out the support, tools, and strategies that work best for them.