Jen (3:19)

Well, hey, everybody. I'm Jen and I'm a type one. I was diagnosed when I was 29 and I'm now 52. And so I'm pretty sure that was 23 years ago if I'm doing my math right. Yes. So it sounds right to me because

Scott (3:34)

if I get 29, I add 10, I get 39, then I add 10 more, I get 49, then I start counting by ones. So I got 20, then I go 50, 51, 52. That's three. I add the 20 and the three together, I get 23.

Jen (3:46)

Yay. Okay.

Scott (3:47)

It's that easy. People might have thought because of your Southern accent you couldn't add, but that would just be a rude, rude misconception.

Jen (3:54)

Wouldn't that be so rude? I know, I know. I am worried about the accent, but you tell me if you don't understand something I'm saying.

Scott (4:00)

You think I'm not going to understand something you're saying?

Jen (4:03)

Well, it may be something. Well, I wanted to say this to you. You know, when you say very, like very, you use a U. You're like very. And I just think it's really cute. I just wanted you to know that.

Scott (4:15)

Well, thank you. I don't.

Jen (4:16)

You're very welcome.

Scott (4:17)

I have no idea what I'm doing.

Jen (4:19)

I do. You always say vurry like V u r y instead of very.

Scott (4:24)

You sound like I'm checking into a hotel on my way to visit somebody in the South.

Jen (4:29)

Exactly.

Scott (4:30)

I want you to tell me that there's a warm cookie in my room right now. For sure. Born and raised there. You?

Jen (4:39)

Yeah. I mean, yeah. I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. And so I was. I grew up in a small town outside of Charlotte.

Scott (4:45)

So you were born there?

Jen (4:47)

Yes.

Scott (4:48)

Are you guys tired of our people coming and overtaking your state?

Jen (4:51)

Very tired of it. It's ridiculous. Yes. I'm so tired of it.

Scott (4:55)

Can I tell you? No kidding. People I've known like my whole, like, adult life, like, their kids played softball with my daughter and baseball with my son. And they're just fantastic people. And one day a for sale sign goes up in the yard, and I stop by and I go, what, What. What's happening? You know, I'm like, if you leave, what does that mean? I gotta go, you know? And there's a note where their last kid. They have four kids. Their last one is playing softball in North Carolina. And they're like, we're just gonna move there and go to softball games for a couple of years until she graduates. Cause she's been down there for a little while already. And then we think we're gon stay.

Jen (5:35)

Wow.

Scott (5:36)

And I said, it seems kind of quick. They said, not just quick. We have to move into an apartment. We don't have a place to live.

Jen (5:44)

That's funny.

Scott (5:45)

I go, where are you going to move to? Like, you know, you must. You know the area, obviously. No, no. We have a friend that moved there, said this one area is pretty nice. We're just going to go there, rent an apartment, then we'll look around and find a house later.

Jen (5:55)

Wow.

Scott (5:55)

And I was like, the people of North Carolina must hate you.

Jen (5:59)

Yeah, well, it's. It's like Charlotte doesn't look the same at all. Like 10 years. And just in the last 10 years has changed so much, so I wouldn't imagine. Yeah, well.

Scott (6:09)

Okay. Well, I don't know what to do. I can't. I mean, I can command everyone to come back, but I don't think they're going to listen.

Jen (6:15)

I don't think so either. It's okay. It's okay.

Scott (6:17)

In fairness, I was looking at a house in Tennessee the other day. So what? Yeah. It's a very reasonable tax situation in Tennessee. I don't know if you're under.

Jen (6:26)

It is better, but it's definitely humid here. I know. I don't like humidity.

Scott (6:29)

I know. But I got to decide, what do I like better, humidity or money? Know.

Jen (6:34)

Or snow? Yeah.

Scott (6:36)

Anyway, I'm seriously considering it. There's no. There's no income tax in Tennessee.

Jen (6:42)

Oh, I didn't know that.

Scott (6:43)

Uhhuh. Think about how much money you make and then think about how much money you pay an income tax to the state and then decide what would that be like if it was yours?

Jen (6:51)

Yeah. So when you're sitting in the humidity in July, you go, I'm saving money.

Scott (6:54)

I'm gonna take that money and. And turn the air conditioner on with it. That's what I was gonna do anyway. All right. I love it. So 29's not, you know, is an interesting age. You would think you felt probably pretty settled. Had you had other health issues leading up to that, or was it just like a bell rang and you had diabetes?

Jen (7:14)

Yeah, I had really no issues before then. I had seasonal allergies. Started about age 18. So what? 11 years of that. That's really it. And so I remember when, like, the weekend before I was diagnosed, I was. I felt sick, but I didn't have a fever. You know, I was like, I'm not sick, but I'm sick. And it was Memorial weekend. I remember. And I remember I had a chance to go out on a boat, and I didn't feel like going on a boat. I'm like, something's wrong with me. And I was like, no, I just don't have the energy. And back in the day, in 2002, we still had Blockbuster. So I thought, you know what? I'm gonna go to Blockbuster. I'm gonna rent some movies, you know, and. Cause I'm so old, you know? And I remember driving, and all of a sudden I couldn't see. I couldn't read the street sign. Like it was blurry. And I went, oh, my God, this is weird. And I also, like, on that little excursion, I remember I went to Target just to grab a couple things. And I've always been really healthy, never drank, so does anything like that. And I look in the aisle, and there's a Mountain Dew, code red. And I went, oh, my God, I've got to have this thing. And I never had anything like that before. So I'm like, in the car, in the parking lot, I'm down in this Mountain Dew. And that weekend, I had a whole gallon of milk by myself. I had a whole thing of orange juice by myself. I lived with my sister at the time, so it was just me and her. And so, I mean, I'm drinking all this, you know, just the normal stuff. And I remember about three weeks prior to this, I was losing weight. I'm like, dang, I'm starting to look good. Like, you know, like, I can see my muscles. You know, all this stuff. And I just started playing tennis in May. April. May. And I thought, wow, tennis. Where has it been my whole life? This is what I should have been doing this whole time.

Scott (9:05)

Missing ingredient.

Jen (9:06)

Missing ingredient is tennis.

Scott (9:07)

Tennis and Mountain Dew.

Jen (9:11)

And so, anyway, so I remember, you know, I lost the weight. I'm eating really, you know, a lot. I'm like, this is great. Tennis. You know, again, tennis is the thing. And. And so Then I'm back to the weekend, I'm drinking all this, you know, using the bathroom all the time, the whole thing. And then, I don't know, I had this suspicion when I put it all together, I didn't know anyone with diabetes. And I thought, do I have diabetes? And I'm like, why would I think that? And then I remembered I have a friend who grew up with a type one. And I remember her talking about her years ago. And I thought, huh. So I call my friend and she. I talked to her about it and she goes, it does sound very interesting. You know, I think you need to talk to my friend Gina, who lived in Charlotte, where I live. And so I was like, okay. So the next morning I went to this stranger's house and, you know, I don't know, 10 minutes down the road, and she had texted me and said, don't eat anything, don't drink. You know, like, just come over to my house. It was like 8:30 in the morning. I'm like, okay, so go over to her house. It was a Monday morning, and she checks my blood sugar. And I think it was like upper three hundreds, four hundred, I don't know. And it was. I was fasting. And she looked at me, and I still remember she looked at me. She looked down and she looked at me. She said, I'm sorry to say, but you've got type 1 diabetes. And I went, what? And you know, I didn't even know what it meant, obviously. And she said, and I'm going to want you to leave your car here at my house, and I'm going to take you to the er. And I'm with the er. And she goes. And she said, I can smell your. I don't. I know you don't understand this, but your breath is fruity. And so that's telling me you need to go to the hospital, right? I'm like, what? And I mean, I was on my way. I was a server. I was a waitress at the time. I'm like, I'm on my way to work. I got a shift to work, I got a lunch to work. And she's like, no, no, no, you're not going into work. So that's how it started, how I ended up in the hospital, in the er. And I remember, you know, in the er, the doctors, I'm sure they were residents, this a teaching hospital, but they came in and they. I remember them saying, you're too skinny to be a type two. I mean, type. Yeah, type two, but you're too Old to be type one. And I'm like, okay, cool. You know, and then finally I. They, you know, they finally said, I don't know what they did to test it. Obviously, I didn't understand anything back then. But they did finally decide I was a type 1, had to spend the night, the whole thing. And so part of the reason I want to come on this podcast one, because I love this podcast. And when I signed up months ago, you were, like, looking for people. And that's, you know, that's really. I was like, oh, well, I have a story. I can tell it. But I feel like being an adult single. I'm old enough to kind of, you know, be on my own. But I was clueless. There was hardly any support for me. I was in the hospital. I was in for a day. I remember they came in with the orange and the syringe and made sure I could do that. And the doctor, I think the endo, came in and talked to me and said, these are the pins you're going to take home. And all I remember is, you know, I just remember going, I don't know what to eat. You know, like, I was so afraid to go home.

Scott (12:29)

Yeah.

Jen (12:29)

But I did. I went home, obviously, and like I said, I was waiting tables. No insurance. It was not good. But that's how it started out. So it was very, very scary to try to manage.

Scott (12:44)

Did that stranger stay with you in the hospital or did they go, okay, well, goodbye?

Jen (12:48)

Oh, yeah, that's a good point. She did stay with me.

Scott (12:50)

Very nice.

Jen (12:51)

Yeah. Until your sister. My family got there. Yeah. I've got three sisters. They showed up. My mom, my dad, they all showed up. You know, everybody showed up in the er and they were very supportive and were with Nate. And then Gina, the lady who helped me, she obviously left because, you know, she's like, I think you're good now.

Scott (13:10)

You know, I was just testing your blood sugar for a friend. I didn't.

Jen (13:14)

I wasn't really planning on being in the ER all day.

Scott (13:17)

I wasn't looking for all this. But I am going to go to. I am going to head over to the Red Lobster and pick up a shift. So I hear they're looking for people. Wow, that's. And that. Does that feel like it just happened, or does it feel like a million years ago?

Jen (13:31)

Both. It feels like a different lifetime, you know, like, I don't know. It just feels almost like a dream back then. But I can remember every second of it at the same time. I remember. I remember being in the Hospital and my, you know, it's sort of like our pattern. My sisters and I, we laugh a lot, which is a great thing, obviously. And I remember the doctors coming in going, y' all were like the happiest people. Like, you're the happiest type one I've ever met, you know, like, because we were just laughing and, you know, just. They were trying to keep me upbeat and I think I was in shock. And of course my blood sugars are high, so I'm not thinking clearly.

Scott (14:06)

Yeah.

Jen (14:07)

And I didn't really know what anything meant, but I do remember that, you know, there was just a lot of laughter, a lot of support, you know, oh, dear. How are we going to handle this? There was support, but I think that's all they knew to do, which was great.

Scott (14:20)

What is both your parents, are they together at that point?

Jen (14:23)

No, they divorced when I was 13, 14.

Scott (14:27)

So which one comes to the hospital?

Jen (14:29)

They both came. Yeah.

Scott (14:31)

It must have been fun.

Jen (14:32)

Yeah. Well, they actually get along fine, you know, they. Yep. They're. They're very civil. We still do holidays together, believe it or not. But yeah, so they were fine. Yep. And everything.

Scott (14:44)

Do you ever have any conversations with them? Like, either of them, honestly? Like, you're 29. You're, you know, pretty, you know, like you said, it's interesting. Like, you're grown, but in your mind you're like, I'm, I'm not that grown. I don't know a lot still.

Jen (14:57)

Right.

Scott (14:58)

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Jen (17:29)

They did not. They. I love my parents. They're young parents. They're only 20 years older than me, so. And I'm the oldest, so I've always been very responsible. So they kind of like, oh, good. It's. Jen got diabetes, you know, the other three, you know, she'll be fine.

Scott (17:43)

Thank God it wasn't that one. Oh, my God.

Jen (17:48)

Yeah. So I had been my own parents since I was like, 12 or 10 or whatever. So. No, they. So they love me, but they still. Even 23 years later. That's part of what I wanted to mention on this, too. I don't want to bounce around too

Scott (18:02)

much, but you're fine.

Jen (18:03)

Part of My, the hard part of this is feeling even though I have this community and I'm on the Facebook group and the whole thing, I still feel very alone within my family, you know, and like one sister's gluten free and has been for about the same amount of time as me, you know, the 20 years or whatever. And they're all, they're knocking over the door to make her a gluten free, you know, meal or dessert or whatever. And for me, they're not doing anything. Even when I was new into this, you know, not knowing what I was doing or how to use insulin.

Scott (18:35)

Yeah.

Jen (18:36)

You know, so that hurts a little bit. I'm like, her stomach just hurts. I could die, you know.

Scott (18:40)

So do you think, are they, they just feel like you have the sugars. Is it like oversimplified?

Jen (18:47)

They're not that ignorant. No, they know. But I think it's just unfortunately I've always been so responsible and I will admit I, you know, I like, I mean, I like people thinking I'm responsible. So that's part of it. I don't ask for help a lot and it's hard for me to admit when I need help. And so I'm part of the problem. And I do admit that and I know that about my personality.

Scott (19:12)

It's partially that they think, oh, Jen's got this, she's always got it. But it's also because they probably learned to be okay with that because you kept them at arm's length at times.

Jen (19:23)

Yes.

Scott (19:23)

Okay, for sure.

Jen (19:25)

Yeah, yeah, for sure. And I didn't want to burden anybody, you know. Cause it's like being type one, it's sort of like your whole life, but you don't want to make it your whole life, you know, because it's not. It is and it's not. And so it's, it's like, I know in the beginning and still I don't want to over talk about it, but sometimes I do want to talk about it because it's a, you know, I go through stuff and then when I try to talk about it or like the other day over the holiday I had to change. I wear the Omnipod dash and I use the trio system and so I, my sugars were going up and I'm like, oh shoot, this is about the end of this pod. I probably need to go ahead and change it. So we're all sitting around playing games and I just pull out my pod and my insulin and the whole thing. And my 9 year old nephew is looking and you Know, wondering kind of what I'm doing. And I've shown him before, but I was trying to explain it to him. This is my insulin pump and the insulin and blah, blah, blah. And he was listening a little bit. But the rest of the family, I don't know, they just sort of go, whatever, it's no big deal. And I had some family members that aren't my immediate family were there, and I said, yeah, guys, if I don't have this insulin, I could die in a day or two. I was just trying to be. And they were just like, huh, Fascinating. They just kept going. And I'm like, seriously? And I just had the big, the next day I just cried and cried and cried to my wife, and I was like, I know I sound like a big baby, but it just hurts sometimes when something is, I don't know, so important and yet it's also in the background. And I don't know. I have this weird relationship with diabetes and my family, and so I, well,

Scott (21:11)

let's pick, let's pick through it a second. So you have a weird relationship with diabetes, which means you don't want it to be anything people think about, but it would be nice if somebody thought about it once in a while.

Jen (21:22)

Exactly. Ridiculous, right?

Scott (21:24)

No, no, I, I, I understand what you're saying. You don't want to be begging for it, but it would be nice if once in a while they looked over you. So I'll share. Right. The other day, I don't know, Jen, listen, I don't get high. I don't drink, I don't cheat, I don't hit people. Like, all the stuff that happened. I hear people's lives every day. Like, I get up, I do the thing I'm supposed to do. I save money, I plan for the future. I put people before me. I'm in the middle of doing something. Arden says to me, hey, can you come here? I drop what I'm doing, I go with her. My son says to me, last night, I got to go to the airport for my job. I said, when do you got to leave? He said, 5:30am no problem. Went to bed early, got up at 5, was there waiting for him at 5:30, got in the car, drove him an hour to the airport, drove an hour back. I'm going to go back and pick him up again tomorrow night. I don't think twice about it.

Jen (22:20)

Wow.

Scott (22:21)

I don't expect them to say thank you. I don't want them to say thank you. I believe that I am being myself in this situation. However, I look at the rest of the world once in a while, and I think you're all pretty lucky. This is who I am. I don't need you to tell me. I don't even want you to tell me. But goddamn, no one ever says it. Is that how you feel? Is that how you feel?

Jen (22:42)

Yes. Yes, it's exactly how I feel. And, you know, your kids are so lucky. They're so lucky. Yeah, goddamn right.

Scott (22:51)

I hope they're listening.

Jen (22:52)

I do, too. Shame on them for not listening.

Scott (22:55)

Yeah, I need the downloads. What's our problem?

Jen (22:57)

Seriously, dudes, Come on. But, yeah, so, like, when I first started listening, my friend Kelly, she was on your podcast, talked about Afrezza about a year ago. But anyway, she told me about you about two years ago. I never even once thought about listening to a diabetes podcast. I don't know why, but I didn't. Now I'm obsessed. But I started. She said, do the pro series a thousand to 1025 or whatever. I'm like, okay. And so I did it. But at the time, when I listened to. I was on a freza. And, you know, you don't. You're not big on a freza. And so I'm like, well, this has nothing to do with me. He's talking about pre bolacine and having to worry about insulin being in your system when you exercise. And that's not how it is with Afrezza.

Scott (23:36)

Right?

Jen (23:36)

And so I'm like, well. And I tried, but I just. I couldn't get a whole lot out of it. And. And so I was a little bit resentful that there was nothing else besides normal insulin. And then I heard how good you. What a good parent you are. And I'm like, dang it. Like, because we're, like, the same age. You're, like, a year older than me. And I'm like, I want him to. I don't want you to be my dad, but I want you to have a dad like you, you know? And I'm like, wow, those kids have no idea what this man does for him, for them.

Scott (24:06)

Jen, my point is, is that I. And I mean this genuinely. I'm not looking for anybody to say thank you.

Jen (24:11)

I know you're not. I know you're not. I understand that. I know that's not why you do it, but every once in a while.

Scott (24:17)

Right.

Jen (24:18)

Thank you, dad. Thanks.

Scott (24:19)

And I'm not gonna say it doesn't every. Like, I wasn't. Where was I with Cole recently. And he. Cole said something that made Me realize he's. He didn't say it. Say it. But what he was saying was, man, I recognize that making that podcast as bigot as it is is pretty extraordinary. Like, he kind of gave me that for a half, as. He didn't use all the words, but he gave. Like, he gave it to me. And I was like, oh, he's proud of me. And that's nice. You know what I mean? Like, or he recognizes what hard work does, or being diligent, you know, whatever. But, yeah, I don't know. I don't know. Like, so my point is this, is that I think I feel like I understand what you're saying, which is, I do my thing. I take care of my diabetes. I don't want it to be my whole life. I'm not even looking for you to mention it. But, man, there are moments when. How come you can't see how much I need you to say, you're doing a great job? Or, wow, that is really something, Jen. We're all over here yucking it up, playing Yahtzee, and you're strapping your man made, you know, pancreas on. So my question to you is, have you ever said that to anybody? Like, how would they know if you're projecting strength all the time? And I got it, I got it, I got it. Why would they think you needed, like, that A boy?

Jen (25:36)

Yeah, I knew you were going to ask that. But, well, okay, so indirectly, because, you know, I'm Southern, we're indirect. I, you know, I have the supplies out, and so it's sort of like, to me, I'm like, hey, I'm showing it to you. I'm not in a bathroom. You know what I mean? Like, I'm not over here, like, hiding this. And so I feel like that is a perfect time for just. Just for them to ask, to have some curiosity. That's all I'm asking, you know, like, to ask about it.

Scott (26:05)

What's Southern passive aggressiveness called? Does it have a name?

Jen (26:09)

I don't know.

Scott (26:11)

What is it called when you guys go, oh, bless your heart?

Jen (26:14)

Bless their heart?

Scott (26:15)

Yeah. What is that? That's.

Jen (26:17)

That's just us being very sarcastic. Like, we're saying, bless your. I don't really say that, but bless your heart. And we're really judging you at the same. You know, we're really judging you, but we're saying, well, bless them.

Scott (26:27)

Yeah, look at this idiot. Is that what that means?

Jen (26:29)

Yeah, it means, oh, my God, they are so ridiculous. Yes, yes. So I understand, I guess. Okay, this is what I have done.

Scott (26:38)

Okay, go ahead.

Jen (26:39)

Okay. Okay. One sister who's two years younger than me, I have asked her to follow me.

Scott (26:43)

Okay.

Jen (26:44)

Like, she and my wife follow me.

Scott (26:45)

Okay.

Jen (26:46)

And she started doing that because my wife used to, you know, leave for two weeks for work, and I'd be by myself, and they were worried about me. And so my sister Jill would. Would follow me, and, you know, and so every once in a while, she'll text me and say, hey, you're heading straight down. Are you good? You know, and so I do like that. I really do appreciate that. She's probably the one family member that's really made some sort of effort about it. But if I really start not complaining but talking about the hard parts of it, she will. Will shut me down. Like, oh, my God, you're complaining. Or, you know, I don't know how to explain it, but it's. It's like they want me to be responsible. They want me to be okay, and when I'm not okay, they prefer if

Scott (27:34)

you shut up and kept it to yourself.

Jen (27:36)

Yes, yes. They don't know how to handle that because this is the dynamic. Jen's okay all the time.

Scott (27:41)

Does she have any health issues?

Jen (27:43)

She's the one that has the gluten intolerance, but that's it.

Scott (27:47)

Do you ever. Do you let her talk about that with you? Like, if she starts complaining about that, do you go, oh, come on, your stomach just hurts. Or do you.

Jen (27:53)

Of course I listen to her. Yes. I listen. I give what I want to receive. So, yes. And I listen to her recipes that she bakes and all the things, and I try her stuff. It's like, wow, I can't even tell it's gluten free. Yes. Very, very, very supportive. And I'll talk to her about, wow, it must be hard when you travel if it's just salads or, you know, like, I try to. I do. I try to do that. And you're right. I could literally just say to my family, hey, guys, every once in a while, if you want to ask about my diabetes, that would be great with me. You know, I guess I could say that I feel like that is so vulnerable for me to do, but I feel like I could. And see, I think I'm so afraid to do it.

Scott (28:34)

What do you think could go wrong?

Jen (28:37)

Well, they could just be the same and just go.

Scott (28:40)

Just go. I'm not interested. I won't be asking you.

Jen (28:44)

Yeah, I'm just not gonna ask you. Then I'm really gonna know for sure. They don't care. So right now I can still pretend that they. I know they care. I don't know how to explain it, but I. I just like when you. Like when I hear the parents talk about staying up all night and checking their kids blood sugar and looking at their sugars all day, I'm like, if I had someone doing that for me, omg, that would be amazing.

Scott (29:07)

Well, and if that was happening for you from the beginning, you wouldn't know. And then you would just take it for granted.

Jen (29:12)

I know. I know I would. But I'm just saying, it just. I've had it. One time I played pickleball, and I was in a pickleball tournament, and my wife said, I'm going to. Give me your phone. I'm going to handle your diabetes. And I went, oh, my God, that would be amazing. And it was the most amazing thing. She'd come over, take two sips of this or, hey, you need this much insulin. And I was. I was like, this is so wonderful.

Scott (29:34)

You're like a fighter. Every. Every couple of minutes you head into the corner and somebody just wets you down and squirts something in your mouth and like, go, go and go do it again.

Jen (29:42)

I was like, yeah, I got this. Yeah. So totally. I felt like Rocky. I'm like, yeah, let's go. But yeah, it was so nice to have that.

Scott (29:49)

I bet.

Jen (29:50)

So anyway, I'm not trying complain about it. I'm just saying I think as adults who get diagnosed are Sometimes they're forgotten ones by the medical community, because we are adults.

Scott (30:02)

But maybe by everybody else too.

Jen (30:05)

Yeah, by everybody for me.

Scott (30:07)

Yeah.

Jen (30:07)

So anyway, that's interesting.

Scott (30:09)

It really is. And I mean, you've. And you've. Listen, you're talking about this. It's not like it happened to you yesterday. You're 23 years removed from being diagnosed and it's still. It's still impactful for you. I know. Do you think that you could let it go if something happened? Like, what if I snuck over to your mom and I was like, yo, call Jen and ask her about her diabetes? And like, and. And she did it. Do you think you'd just be like, okay, well, that part's over now, and you'd move on? Are you stuck in a spot? Like, can you give it away even though they're not helping you take it away? Does that make sense?

Jen (30:43)

I'm gonna have to let it go? If that is answering your question, I know that I can't.

Scott (30:47)

Yeah.

Jen (30:48)

Convince them or make them do something. That they don't want to do. And I know that they love me even though they don't ask about it. You know, like, it's that weird dynamic. I know. And I guess I just wanted to share that when I have a bad day emotionally, it has a lot to do with that. You know, just this having to deal with something non stop and people not ever asking about it. Sometimes it's just hard.

Scott (31:16)

How long have you been married?

Jen (31:18)

We've been married for 11 years.

Scott (31:20)

Okay. So do you get any of that from her on the diabetes?

Jen (31:24)

I do, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. She's definitely more supportive. But what's funny, and she told me not to tell you, but I'm gonna tell you anyway, is when we met, she. She's still a physician assistant. She's still a pa. She worked in the ER when I met her. And so I assume she knew everything about Typhoon. And I'm showing her my medtronic whatever I had, you know, and, and, and she was clueless. She had. She knew nothing. And now I know they don't know a whole lot about it, but she was so clueless. And I had. I felt a little resentful. Like, I'm having to teach you, like, carbs and fats and proteins and all the things and she didn't know. And. And so now, I mean, almost once a week she'll say, I wish I could take this from you, you know, And I'm like, no, you're adhd. This would be worse if you had this. But I'm like, don't take it from me. But, you know, it's. Yeah, she definitely is very supportive, but like we were saying before we started recording, she. She just started. I've always wanted her to listen to this podcast and just have a little bit of better understanding because every once in a while she'll give a. Like, hey, babe, do you need to. Da, da, da. I'm like, no, you know that's not what I need, right? Oh, my God. So I get frustrated with her. And so she knew I was going to be on this today speaking with you, and so she's been listening to the podcast. You know, she's like, tell him. I'm not a podcaster, but I've been listening for like, the last week. I was like, okay, I'll tell him.

Scott (32:50)

Well, because of that. Because she's trying. I won't ask if you met at softball.

Jen (32:54)

We did not, you little booger. We did. Listen, we both played softball in high school, but.

Scott (32:59)

No, I know you did, but that's not my point. Of course.

Jen (33:02)

Right. I love to generalize, too. No, we met in choir, and that's where we met. Isn't that cute? Yeah, it was a lovely community choir, and that's where we met, so.

Scott (33:12)

Oh, that's really lovely. You're just out trying to meet people and have a good time and you met each other.

Jen (33:16)

Totally. I was. Yeah, I was. I'm not really a great singer, but I grew up in choir, so I was like, yeah, I'll go join a choir. I need to get out. And she's actually really good. She was, like, a voice major in college and before she switched to medicine. And so I told the director, because I was overwhelmed. I said, I need to sit beside a strong alto. Do you have anybody? And he went, I do. And her name's Jen as well, so that's funny. She's like. He's like, yeah, Jen. And I'm like, okay. And. And so we sat. I mean, like, the next day or whatever, next week, she sat beside me, and we. I was like, oh, my gosh, she can sing. And if I. If you can sing beside me, I can match it. You know, I can't really read the music, but I can hear it and match it, and we had so much fun. I'm like, oh, my God, this is so cool. That's awesome. And that's kind of how it started.

Scott (34:02)

That's nice. Do you think that person was setting you up, or do you think they actually thought that they could cover your voice for you?

Jen (34:07)

I think it was a little bit of both, because he kind of raised his eyebrows like, oh, you could sit beside Jen like that. I'm thinking, whoa's, Jen, you know?

Scott (34:14)

But anyway, yeah, people love matchmaking. They love it.

Jen (34:19)

I know I do. I know they do.

Scott (34:21)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jen (34:23)

But, you know, you haven't asked me, and I have written it down about. Does anybody have autoimmune in your family?

Scott (34:29)

I mean, I'm waiting for it, but I also want to ask about the Afrezza, but let's do that thing first.

Jen (34:34)

Okay. There's a lot to talk about, Scott. You know, my goal is to have a part one and part two. Just so you know, I told Kelly, if I get a part two, I've made it.

Scott (34:42)

Rob right now is like, listen, it's the beginning of the year. Just stop talking around an hour. Would you please?

Jen (34:49)

Don't make me work more. I'm kidding. Yeah, I'll.

Scott (34:51)

Well, no, I mean, you said your sister had celiac, so I was Gonna get around to, like, asking what else was going on?

Jen (34:57)

Yes. Well, yes, you're gonna talk about that, and then we'll do a freza. So. So I didn't know any of this when I was diagnosed. Obviously, I was clueless about type 1 or diabetes or autoimmune, but listen to your podcast and learning about that, I'm like, oh, yeah, So I did ask my mom, and she's like, oh, yeah, we had. We. I have or had two great aunts who had Ms. And then another great aunt who had type one, but she got it late in life. Like, she was, like, 50 or 60 when she got that. And then on my dad's side, Ra. My dad has rheumatoid arthritis. His mom had it, and his sister has it. And then I have three second cousins, once removed, who have type 1 diabetes, all on my dad's side, and they're all female, and they're all firstborn.

Scott (35:48)

Wait, wait, there's type one on your mom and your dad's side?

Jen (35:51)

Yeah. Isn't that crazy?

Scott (35:53)

Yeah, it's crazy that only you got it.

Jen (35:55)

It's crazy. I know. I keep. I know a really bad part of me. It's such a bad part of me wishes my. One of my sisters would get it. Like, just for. No, listen, listen.

Scott (36:06)

Just for a week.

Jen (36:06)

No, listen. Just for a week. Just for a week. And then they'd have some empathy, and then they take it away again. That is a really horrible part of me, but just to have some empathy.

Scott (36:16)

But.

Jen (36:16)

Well, they're not. They're fine. But I did want to ask you.

Scott (36:19)

Hold on. Give me one second. Give me one second. Hold that thought.

Jen (36:23)

Okay.

Scott (36:24)

What if instead of wishing that they could have diabetes for a week, what if you did Day of diabetes with them? What if you said to them, I really wish you understood this more. I know that sometimes you feel like I might be complaining, and that breaks my heart because I just. I need somebody to talk to about. I don't have. Anybody Understands. I was wondering if you could spend 24 hours understanding better what diabetes is. Like, what if I texted you every time I had to think about diabetes for one day?

Jen (36:54)

Oh, my gosh. Okay. Yeah, I could do that.

Scott (36:57)

And I explained to you, like, hey, right now I'm, you know, counting carbs up for a meal that I'm gonna eat 20 minutes from now. Or I just changed my pod. It took 15 minutes. You know, I had to. Like, here's what I did. I stopped what I was doing. I was in the middle of Working. I stopped what I was doing. I went to the refrigerator, I got my insulin, I got the pump out. I opened up the pump, I put the needle together. The needle, you know, drew out the insulin. I tapped the bubbles out of it, filled the pod, primed the pod, you know, put it on, inserted it. I looked to see that. Oh, gosh, you know, my blood Sugar is already 130. The new pod, it's probably going to go up. Do I need to bolus right now how much? I don't want to get low. I have to go back to work. Like, what if you. Like, what if they had that information and, like, just for. Maybe you'd even write it down. Not and. And share that with them later instead of the, you know, texting it to them, but just so you could just say to them, like, I would love for you to understand what it's like. I don't want you to feel bad. I'm not looking for sympathy. I can't really explain it to you, but there are times that I feel strong and that I don't want anybody to worry about me. But there are other times I wish someone understood what I was going through. Don't you know what it's like to wish somebody understood what you were going through? And then please tell me what's in your life that I don't understand that I could understand better? Like, it might be a. It might be a nice bonding thing for your sisters, you know, I know

Jen (38:21)

that sounds really nice.

Scott (38:22)

Don't do your mom.

Jen (38:23)

Put it that way.

Scott (38:23)

She little.

Jen (38:24)

Oh, definitely not doing my mom.

Scott (38:25)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That. That's.

Jen (38:26)

That's.

Scott (38:27)

That's different. Just. Yeah, yeah, she gets the coast to the end now.

Jen (38:32)

Exactly. We'll give her a pass.

Scott (38:34)

Yeah, I remember the. I looked at my mom and I said to my brother, I was like, it's time to stop teaching mom things. Let's just let her go. Whatever she thinks is good enough. Like, let her be. But I don't know, like, does that sound crazy?

Jen (38:48)

No, it does not sound crazy.

Scott (38:49)

Interesting. I wonder if you'll do.

Jen (38:50)

It's really helpful. I knew you'd help me with this. I was like, he's gonna help me.

Scott (38:54)

I mean, I'm pretty thoughtful.

Jen (38:55)

You're very thoughtful. You could have been a therapist for sure.

Scott (38:58)

Did you hear that cutting edge breakdown of. Did you meet in softball? It's amazing.

Jen (39:04)

I love it.

Scott (39:07)

So, okay, so I'm sorry I cut you off. What were you gonna say?

Jen (39:10)

I don't remember.

Scott (39:11)

I. Do you have A.D.H.D.

Jen (39:12)

i don't.

Scott (39:13)

Dude, no, you jump around a little bit. So I stopped you to see if you'd remember what you were gonna say.

Jen (39:19)

You're a booger. No, I don't have adhd.

Scott (39:22)

Okay.

Jen (39:23)

I don't. I just have a long story. I've lived a long life.

Scott (39:27)

Did you think I was disagreeing with you when I said okay? You're like, I don't.

Jen (39:33)

Yeah, like a Philadelphia.

Scott (39:34)

Offended. It's fine.

Jen (39:35)

Okay.

Scott (39:38)

Your spouse does. Your wife does.

Jen (39:40)

Yes, she does.

Scott (39:41)

Is that a diagnosed thing or just the thing she says?

Jen (39:45)

No, it's for sure diagnosed and treated.

Scott (39:47)

Because. Because the whole world's running around saying they have adhd. I don't know if you notice, too, people like to say they're autistic now, too.

Jen (39:53)

I know. Yeah, they're on the spectrum.

Scott (39:55)

I don't think you are. I, I. And I think people with autism would be offended if they heard you right, for sure.

Jen (40:02)

But no, no, she definitely has all the symptoms, signs, unfortunate parts of adhd. Okay, so, yeah, yeah.

Scott (40:12)

What are the unfortunate parts?

Jen (40:14)

Oh, well, she is very, very hard on herself. She always has no time, so she's always behind. She is, like, hard for her to finish things. So, like, just some, like, a fun example, we get Amazon packages, and she'll open the package, but do you think she puts the package, you know, like, there's the boxes there, and I, I, you know, I cut it up and I put it in the recycling, you know, like, she. Those little things. It's not a big deal, but that'll happen. But her biggest thing is, like, like I said, she's a PA and she's really good with her patients. She's so good and empathetic and really good provider. But that's not what the medical industry wants, Right? They want you to be quick and hurry. So she gets kind of penalized for

Scott (41:02)

being slow stopping and talking to people and.

Jen (41:05)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I do. Again, I've already said this. I know my part. I'm responsible. I've always been that way. And so I have to be really careful to not manage her, to not mother her. You know, like, it's that dynamic that can happen in that relationship because. But there'll be times where I'll be like, babe, okay? Because she'll be like, hey, you know, I think we should paint the garage. And then we're gonna, you know, clean it out, and then we're gonna, da, da, da, da. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, no. You know, we're Gonna do this one

Scott (41:36)

thing, go throw the box away. Let's see you throw a box away before I paint something.

Jen (41:39)

Let's see the box away before we clean out the whole garage. And so I'm there to help, kind of help to prioritize and to put things in a certain, you know, the first step is this and now this and that, because she will start spiraling is what they call it. And she's spiraling very emotional, very reactive. And so like, if I'm like, if I'm low, you know, and I'm like, ah, I gotta have, you know, ah. And she'll kind of pick up on my crazy frantic energy. If it's a bad low, like I'm dropping quick and she's there to help me. But I'm like, I need you to be calm, you know what I mean? Like, I don't need you to get up, you know, emotional with me. That doesn't make me feel better. So, yeah, that's kind of what. So there's a lot of good about adhd, but in her profession it's hard to be ADHD in the medical field, from what I've seen. Yeah.

Scott (42:31)

So I'm looking at your notes for the first time.

Jen (42:34)

Oh yeah.

Scott (42:34)

Do you think coming out help. Wait, I don't understand what you're saying here.

Jen (42:39)

Okay, okay, okay. So when I was first diagnosed, you know, they always said they would say, did you have the flu, did you have mom, were you sick?

Scott (42:46)

Anything stressful prior?

Jen (42:47)

And I wasn't. And the only thing I had was, yeah, the only thing I had was the seasonal allergies. Right. I'm like, well, I have allergies, but that's it. It's the only thing I go to the doctor for. And so as within that first year of diagnosis, I was doing a lot of self reflection because a part of me is like, did I cause this before I understood diabetes, you know, and type one and, and I was, I was like, because stress, well. Oh, I know what I was stressed about. Yeah, I was, I didn't, honestly didn't know I was attracted to women in my late 20s. And I remember in that, you know, the year before diagnosis I had a so called best friend. And two of us, we're just best friends, platonic, no big deal. But between you and me and a lot of people, I, you know, I had, I was like, I really, really like her, you know, like, it's like I just like to be around her. I like to, you know, I just want to talk to her all the time, that was it. Nothing physical. It was just more like this emotional thing. And then she so called broke up with me and we stopped being friends. And it was like a real breakup. And I'm like, what is wrong with me? Why does this feel like a real breakup? Because at the time I was dating men, I've been engaged to men, you know, the whole thing. And so it was such a stressful event that I have no idea if that is what triggered me to finally turn this gene on and, you know, get type one. But there was nothing else really going on in my life. You know what I mean?

Scott (44:15)

How long? My gosh. So you. So you dated men for the first. Like, maybe you still do. I have no idea what you do, but, like, no, I don't.

Jen (44:24)

I don't, I don't. But, yeah, so I. Yeah, so, like, I remember, I mean, in high school, I was, you know, I was athletic, I played sports, I'd make good grades. I was a good kid kind of thing. And I was like, well, I should be interested in boys, so I have something to talk to my girlfriends about, you know, like. Like that's what they do. So I guess I should like boys, too. But I didn't know that that was weird or different now, you know, I was like, I guess I should like boys. And they kind of got on my nerves. But I'm athletic, so we'd pass softball or football and, you know, we'd play sports. And I liked that part of it, but I didn't like the other part of. Of dating. And so. But I didn't think much about it. And. Yeah, I mean, if you guys want to know how to get a ring on your finger, I can definitely teach you how to get a ring on your finger. It's basically, don't care about the guy, don't want to see him for a week or two, don't have sex with him, and he wants to marry you,

Scott (45:19)

treat boys poorly and they chase you around.

Jen (45:22)

And I didn't mean. I'm not trying to sound horrible, but I just wasn't that interested in them, you know, And I didn't understand that I wasn't. And I remember when I came out, finally, my sister Jill, she said, oh, my God, I'm so glad you're gay, because I thought there was something wrong with me that I like boys so much.

Scott (45:41)

So anyway, did you. Did you. Did you do that? Have you done the deed with the boys? This episode was too good to cut anything out of, but too long to make just one episode. So this is part one. Make sure you go find part two right now. It's going to be the next episode in your feed. US Med sponsored this episode of the Juicebox Podcast. Check them out@usmed.com juicebox or by calling 888-721514, get your free benefits check and get started today with US Med. The podcast is also sponsored today by Omnipod5. Omnipod5 is a tube free automated insulin delivery system that's been shown to significantly improve A1C and time and range for people with type 1 diabetes when they've switched from daily injections. Learn more and get started today@ omnipod.com juicebox at my link. You can get a free free starter kit right now. Terms and conditions apply. Eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions can be found@ omnipod.com juicebox thank you so much for listening. I'll be back very soon with another episode of the Juicebox Podcast. If you're not already subscribed or following the podcast in your favorite audio app like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please do that now. Seriously, it just a hit record. Follow or subscribe will really help the show. If you go a little further in Apple Podcasts and set it up so that it downloads all new episodes, I'll be your best friend. And if you leave a five star review, oh, I'll probably send you a Christmas card. Would you like a Christmas card? If you're looking for community around type 1 diabetes, check out the Juice Box Podcast. Private Facebook Group juice box podcast type 1 diabetes but everybody is welcome. Type 1 type 2 gestational loved ones it doesn't matter to me. If you're impacted by diabetes and you're looking for support, comfort or community, check out juicebox podcast type 1 diabetes on Facebook. 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 rather 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 juice box Podcast Small Sips wherever you get audio. If you have a podcast and you need a fantastic editor, you want Rob from Wrong Way Recording. Listen, truth be told, I'm, like, 20% smarter. When Rob edits me, he takes out all the, like, gaps of time. And when I go and stuff like that, and it just. I don't know, man. Like, I listen back and I'm like, why do I sound smarter? And then I remember because I did one smart thing. I hired Rob at wrongwayrecording. Com.