Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1784 – "Someone Peed in My Bed"
Release Date: February 26, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Brittany – Mom of 8-year-old Henry, newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on the newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes journey from a caregiver’s perspective. Brittany, a nurse and Vermont mom, shares how her family's life was upended by her son Henry’s diagnosis in late 2024, the confusion and grief that came with it, strategies for becoming “bold with insulin,” and how a flexible, open-minded approach has made all the difference. Scott and Brittany weave humor, candor, and practical wisdom into a rich conversation about diagnosis, learning curves, family dynamics, and the invaluable power of peer-to-peer support for families living with diabetes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diagnosis Story: The Mystery of Pee on the Carpet

• Early Signs & Misinterpretation
  • Brittany’s husband blamed their cat for urine stains in Henry’s room, only to discover “the cat was innocent” — it was Henry, unknowingly urinating due to undiagnosed diabetes ([09:45–11:05]).
  • Memorable: Henry comes down one night and declares: “Somebody peed on my bed while I was sleeping.” ([11:05], Brittany)
  • The family considered stress, overactive bladder, UTI, but “definitely not diabetes,” despite classic symptoms (excessive thirst/urination) ([11:25–12:52]).
• The Diagnosis Moment
  • As a nurse, Brittany feels guilt for missing the signs.
  • At the pediatrician, Henry’s blood sugar is 538 mg/dL. The doctor says: “There is no differential. He has Type 1 diabetes.” ([13:06], Brittany)

2. Navigating Guilt and Family Dynamics

• Brittany’s husband questions if Henry’s (and Brittany’s) sweet tooth caused diabetes; Brittany pushes back: “This is not my fault. It's not his fault. It's nobody's fault. Maybe it's all the autoimmune on your family side, but whatever.” ([14:15], Brittany)
• Brittany reflects on their family’s robust autoimmune history (celiac, MS, myasthenia gravis, thyroid issues) ([07:01–08:00]).

3. The Emotional Rollercoaster of Diagnosis

• The Grief of 'Forever'
  • Henry, age 8, struggles with understanding the permanence of diabetes. Early on, he thinks, “so I have to do a few shots, and then it's going to go away,” which was “really hard, for both of us” ([20:06–22:31], Brittany).
  • Brittany shares how Henry segmented life into “before and after” diabetes, and how acceptance grows over time ([22:37]).

4. Managing Diabetes – Becoming “Bold With Insulin”

• Transition to CGM and Devices
  • After diagnosis, quick move from fingersticks to Dexcom G7 CGM and later, Omnipod Dash. Henry adapts well: “He does awesome with it.” ([28:09–28:28], Brittany)
• Honeymoon Phase
  • Brief honeymoon, then much higher insulin needs after the flu in February 2025 ([28:49]).
• Practical, Flexible Management
  • Core Strategy: Flexibility and experimentation trump rigid protocol.
  • Example: When ice cream put Henry at 500 mg/dL, “I’m of the mindset, okay, one time we went to 500. Clearly, we need to do more insulin and time it better — and we’ll try again” ([31:59], Brittany).
• Challenging Conservative Medical Advice
  • During illness, Brittany was told to increase insulin by just 10% per week.
    • “The feedback I got was like, ‘Okay, we can increase by 10% every week.’ And if I had listened to that, he would have been in DKA.” She decided instead to “meet the need” right away (i.e., adjust dosing based on results, not just slow increments) ([33:33], Brittany).
    • Scott reflects: “It took one piece of advice from them that didn’t make sense to you, and you trusted yourself more.” ([34:09])
• Peer/Lived Experience is Invaluable
  • Brittany credits the podcast and Facebook groups for real-world approaches and the confidence to be proactive and flexible.
  • “Why would you not ask people with real world experience, like, lived experience?” ([36:19], Brittany)

5. Celiac Testing and Dual Diagnoses

• Ongoing process to confirm if Henry also has celiac (elevated antibodies, upcoming endoscopy). Henry is nervous — the possibility of another “forever” dietary restriction is stressful ([23:05–24:09]).

6. Emotional Isolation and Online Community

• Brittany describes isolation in her small Vermont town; few local T1D connections. Social conversations often fraught, fear of overwhelming people, or son being excluded due to safety worries ([37:26–41:05]).
• She finds “her people” in online diabetes communities and Facebook groups.
• Notable Moment: “I just want another parent to have fruit snacks on them. That would make my day.” ([41:05], Brittany)

7. Personal Growth, Confidence, and Finding Purpose

• Brittany is working on “making myself less small” — becoming more outspoken and confident ([30:10], Brittany).
• Considers a career pivot into diabetes care/education.
• Enjoys helping others in DIY Looping/Trio online communities while balancing the security and flexibility of her current remote job ([48:15–48:40]).

8. Tools, Calculators, and Diabetes “Math”

• Scott previews a new calculator designed to estimate starting insulin settings (TDD, basal, carb ratio, sensitivity) based on weight and sensitivity ([58:00+]).
• Scott and Brittany demonstrate how these tools could be valuable for parents and adults, especially when starting/re-evaluating pump or MDI therapy ([62:43–66:54]).
• Broader point: “If you had your settings somewhere close to right and you understood... at the minimum, the small sip series from the podcast, I think you’d be off on a good way.” ([61:33], Scott)
• Need for better dissemination of these actionable, self-advocacy tools, especially beyond endocrinology offices ([74:33], Brittany).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Diagnosis, Humor, and Family Life

• “‘Somebody peed on my bed while I was sleeping.’...I think that maybe it’s you.” ([11:05], Brittany)
• “Turns out [my husband] has a lot of autoimmune in his family, and I didn’t really think much of that until recently.” ([07:01], Brittany)

Emotions, Flexibility, and Confidence

• “I was willing to keep trying... I wasn’t afraid of insulin. And I learned to use insulin well.” ([49:45], Brittany)
• “It’s not stacking if you need it.” ([52:08], Scott)
• “I think one of my big skills is I’m good at figuring things out, so I’m like, I can figure this out. And I also had the podcast.” ([34:15], Brittany)
• “I don’t know what happened to you in the past that didn’t allow you to trust yourself as much as I trust myself, but I’m sorry for you.” ([77:31], Scott)

On Community and Support

• “Why would you not ask people with real world experience, like, lived experience... Why wouldn’t you use that?” ([36:19], Brittany)
• “It doesn’t matter where they come from. As long as you find the interaction that you need and people you can with, you know, some certainty, trust.” ([38:57], Scott)
• “I just want another parent to have fruit snacks on them. That would make my day.” ([41:05], Brittany)

Humor & Self-Awareness

• “If I decided to start a cult, I’d be having sex with your wives, and you’d be sending money to my account every day.” ([81:23], Scott)
• “You’d be an incredible cult leader.” ([81:24], Brittany)
• “As long as there’s air conditioning. That’s all I’m saying.” ([82:57], Scott, on whether they could be friends)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Diagnosis Journey: The “Cat Pee” Mystery
  [09:45–13:15]
• Dealing with Family Comments & Guilt
  [13:15–14:36]
• First Hospital Stay and Getting Started
  [14:41–20:06]
• Navigating Emotions – Henry & Grief
  [20:06–23:05]
• Celiac & Double Diagnosis Concerns
  [23:05–24:54]
• Device Acceptance & Sport Life
  [28:09–29:14]
• Flexible Management / Challenging Medical Dogma
  [31:59–36:29]
• Isolation & Online Community
  [37:26–44:13]
• Career Reflection – Diabetes Advocacy
  [46:01–48:40]
• Tools, Calculators, & Self-Reliance
  [58:00–66:54]
• Summing Up Bold Approaches – Timing & Amount
  [54:00–56:00]
• Episode Title Selection - “Someone Peed in My Bed”
  [81:54–82:51]

Episode Takeaways

• Diagnosis can be missed even by medical professionals in their own families; classic symptoms can be rationalized away.
• Relying strictly on slow medical increments doesn’t always meet day-to-day needs. Being “bold with insulin”—proactively adjusting based on real glucose data—can improve outcomes.
• Grief and acceptance run in parallel for children and caregivers; leaning into supportive, like-experienced communities provides invaluable comfort.
• Self-advocacy, experimentation, and flexibility are vital for success in diabetes management.
• New tools (calculators for basal/carb ratios) and bold educational resources can empower families–but dissemination beyond specialists remains a barrier.
• Peer learning and sharing, including about non-diabetes life skills (like not putting out bird feeders until the bears hibernate!), are as crucial as clinical advice.
• Humor, candor, and a willingness to grow—personally and as a community—are central to the show’s spirit and to Brittany’s story.

Episode in a Quote

“I think that I’ve been successful in diabetes because I’m flexible, and I think that’s a little bit groundbreaking for people to hear. Maybe.”
— Brittany [31:49]

Listeners come away with practical wisdom, validation for their emotions, and a sense that real-life success with Type 1 diabetes is all about persistent curiosity, support from those who “get it,” and the courage to be bold—with insulin and beyond.

For resources, support, and calculators, visit juiceboxpodcast.com.