Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes
Episode #1782: Charlotte Must Hate You – Part 1
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Jen
Overview
This episode features Jen, a woman diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 29, now living in Charlotte, NC. Scott and Jen dig deep into her diagnosis story, experiences managing diabetes as an adult, family dynamics, and the feelings of isolation and resilience that come with long-term, adult-onset type 1. The discussion is candid and often humorous, focusing on strategies to live “bold with insulin,” the social sides of diabetes, and what support (or lack thereof) can look like in adulthood. The tone is lively, warm, and honest, mixing Southern charm and vulnerability with practical diabetes talk.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Jen’s Diagnosis Story
[07:14-12:44]
- Jen was diagnosed at 29 after a sudden onset of symptoms: fatigue, excessive thirst, blurry vision, unexplained weight loss, and increased urination.
- Memorial weekend of her diagnosis, she chose not to go boating due to malaise, ended up bingeing Mountain Dew and a gallon of OJ and milk, and lost significant weight she first attributed to exercise.
- She suspected diabetes after linking her symptoms to a childhood friend’s experience, consulted a friend of a friend, Gina, who checked her (non-fasting) blood sugar—it was in the upper 300s/400s.
- Taken straight to the ER by Gina after a “fruity” breath was noticed (a DKA warning).
- In the ER: “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.” (11:45, Jen).
- Hospital stay lasted a day, after which she was left to figure out diabetes management largely alone—“It was very, very scary to try to manage.” (12:41, Jen).
2. Family & Community Support After Diagnosis
[12:44-18:35]
- Jen received immediate emotional support—sisters, parents, and Gina were physically present for her in the hospital.
- Her parents, although divorced, were civil and supportive during her crisis.
- While her sisters and parents were there physically, ongoing understanding and practical support were minimal:
“Even 23 years later...I still feel very alone within my family.” (18:02, Jen) - She contrasts this with the support her gluten-intolerant sister receives (“they’re knocking over the door to make her a gluten free meal...For me, they’re not doing anything”).
3. The Emotional Weight of Being ‘the Responsible One’
[18:35-26:34]
- Jen reflects on always being “the responsible one,” which she admits may contribute to her family’s assumption that she’s “got 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...I like people thinking I’m responsible.” (18:47, Jen)
- She shares moments of pain about her family’s lack of curiosity or acknowledgment about her diabetes, describing a holiday moment when her insulin pod change was met with indifference.
- Scott relates, confessing that self-reliance often goes unacknowledged:
“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 even want you to tell me. But goddamn, no one ever says it. Is that how you feel?” (22:21, Scott)
4. Seeking (and Not Seeking) Validation
[26:34-28:34]
- Jen expresses a desire for family to “have some curiosity.”
“Just for them to ask, to have some curiosity. That’s all I’m asking, you know, like, to ask about it.” (26:05, Jen) - The challenge: projecting strength means people don’t realize you need support.
“If you're projecting strength all the time…why would they think you needed [affirmation]?” (25:36, Scott) - Jen recounts how she is much more empathetic and supportive when her sister discusses gluten intolerance, wishing for reciprocation.
5. Southern Family Dynamics & Humor
Throughout
- The hosts riff lightheartedly on Jen’s accent, the influx of new residents to Charlotte, and Southern sayings.
“What is it called when you guys go, ‘oh, bless your heart’?” (26:09, Scott)
“We’re really judging you, but we're saying, ‘Well, bless them.’” (26:17, Jen) - There’s a recurring mix of warmth and sarcasm, with Jen and Scott teasing each other about stereotypes and family roles.
6. Strategies for Family Empathy
[36:16-38:32]
- Scott suggests “Day of Diabetes” as an exercise—text or document for family every time she has to think about diabetes in a day, to build awareness.
“Don’t you know what it’s like to wish somebody understood what you were going through?” (37:07, Scott)
7. Marriage, Support, and Living Boldly
[31:16-42:12]
- Jen’s wife is supportive, now learning more about type 1 via the podcast; she’s a PA, but entered the relationship knowing little about diabetes.
- “Almost once a week she'll say, I wish I could take this from you.” (32:24, Jen)
- Jen helps her wife cope with ADHD—emphasizing the need for calm during diabetes lows, and helping her prioritize when her wife’s brain “spirals.”
8. Autoimmune Family History & Guilt/Connection
[34:23-36:06]
- Jen has a strong family history of autoimmunity: great-aunts with MS and type 1, dad and grandmother and aunt with rheumatoid arthritis, three second cousins with type 1.
- “It’s crazy that only you got it.” (35:53, Scott)
- Jen (with humor): “A really bad part of me...wishes my...one of my sisters would get it. Like, just for...a week. And then they’d have some empathy...” (35:55, Jen)
9. Sexuality, Stress, and Diagnosis
[42:34-45:41]
- Jen shares that her late-20s self-discovery about her sexuality may have been a key stressor before her T1D onset.
- She describes an emotionally intense ‘friend breakup’ that left her wondering if stress had “turned the gene on.”
- “It was such a stressful event that I have no idea if that is what triggered me to finally turn this gene on...” (44:15, Jen)
- Humor amid candor: “If you guys want to know how to get a ring on your finger, I can definitely teach you…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.” (44:24, Jen)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On diagnosis misperceptions:
“You’re too skinny to be a type two...but you’re too Old to be type one.” (11:45, Jen) - On lacking support:
“Her stomach just hurts. I could die, you know.” (18:36, Jen) - On revealed wishes:
“If I had someone doing that for me, omg, that would be amazing.” (29:07, Jen) - Scott’s wisdom:
“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.” (21:11, Scott) - Family dynamic in a nutshell:
“I don’t want you to be my dad, but I want you to have a dad like you.” (23:36, Jen) - Day of Diabetes suggestion:
“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?” (36:54, Scott) - Humor and honesty about empathy:
“A really bad part of me...wishes my...one of my sisters would get it...just for a week. And then they’d have some empathy...That is a really horrible part of me, but just to have some empathy.” (35:55, Jen)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [03:19] Jen’s intro and basic background
- [07:14] Start of diagnosis story, symptoms, and Blockbuster anecdote
- [12:44] ER experience & family showing up
- [18:02] Feelings of isolation in family support
- [21:11] Emotional labor of being the “responsible one”
- [26:05] On wanting family curiosity
- [29:07] Experience of support from spouse during pickleball
- [31:16] Marriage & wife’s support
- [34:23] Autoimmune family history
- [36:16] Scott’s 'Day of Diabetes' suggestion
- [42:34] Coming out, stress, and diagnosis connection
Tone & Style
The conversation is lively, heartfelt, and often tongue-in-cheek, combining peer-to-peer empathy with the direct, practical language of those who have lived with chronic illness. There’s plenty of laughter—for example, about Southern stereotypes and dating—tempered with moments of genuine vulnerability and insight about what living well and “bold” with diabetes looks like.
End of Part 1. The conversation continues in Part 2, where Jen and Scott will delve further into diabetes management, Afrezza, and more personal stories.