Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode 1789: Born to Run - Part 2
Date: March 4, 2026
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Zach (Pharmacist, Educator, Researcher, Endurance Runner, Foster Parent, newly diagnosed with LADA/type 1)

Episode Overview

This episode is the second part of Scott’s conversation with Zach, a pharmacist and endurance runner navigating life after his recent Type 1/LADA diabetes diagnosis. The discussion explores the intersections of parenthood, fostering, exercise, diabetes technology, food habits, and the evolving landscape of obesity and diabetes management. With characteristic warmth and humor, Scott and Zach share practical advice and honest assessments of both the emotional and scientific aspects of living—and thriving—with diabetes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Fostering, Family, and the Many Faces of Love

• Fostering Journey: Zach and his wife fostered a newborn, adding unique dimensions to their family just months after his diabetes diagnosis.
• Resources and Costs:
  • The state and county provide resources, so fostering isn’t a financial burden but requires significant time and energy.

    "There is no money that we could put on the time and energy piece of it." (Zach, 04:01)

• Bonding and Types of Love:
  • Zach notes that fostering generates a unique kind of love, similar yet distinct from the love for biological children (“agape love”: sacrificial, unconditional).

    "It's knowing that you're giving something to this human, this child that they needed so desperately. They can't give you anything in return... that's kind of the best way I know how to describe it." (Zach, 06:52)

2. Managing Diabetes as an Active Parent

• Routine and Exercise:
  • Zach runs early—often at 5 a.m.—to fit in exercise while managing glucose spikes due to dawn phenomenon.

    "I get up at 5... I don't have to worry about taking any carbs beforehand or any insulin. And also everyone's asleep still, so I can do it and not feel like I'm not missing anything." (Zach, 11:50)

• Balancing Diabetes & Family:
  • Scott reflects on the emotional challenges of leaving the house while managing a child’s diabetes.

    "I don't resent Arden, but I resent diabetes... I just stopped doing stuff like that because of this." (Scott, 14:00)

3. Technology and Patient Choice

• Pumps and CGMs:
  • Zach values choosing a pump system that fits his active lifestyle, emphasizing that most pumps offer similar clinical outcomes.

    "They all are going to work essentially equally effectively... It's more about picking one that kind of fits your lifestyle." (Zach, 19:50)

• Shout-out to Providers:
  • Zach appreciates his endocrinologist encouraging independent research and choice.

    "He said, look, here are a few options, but I want you to go home and do your own research... I'm grateful for him for letting me do that." (Zach, 23:02)

4. Parenting and Food: Moderation & Societal Habits

• Serving Sizes & Moderation:
  • Zach’s family uses a food scale for treats to teach moderation and healthy relationships with indulgence.

    "[We] let the kids get it themselves... we tell them they have to get a serving size." (Zach, 30:40)

• Purchasing Power:
  • Both hosts discuss the power of not buying tempting foods (chips, soda) and how portion control—or price tags—help curb consumption.

5. GLP-1s, Obesity, and the Medication Debate

• GLP-1 Use Stories:
  • Scott shares stories of families sharing GLP-1 medications off-label when insurance or doctors won’t prescribe for a youth.
• Medical Ethics and Frustrations:
  • Zach reacts as a pharmacist, wrestling with the safety implications and the broader question of access and the role of behavior versus pharmacological intervention.

    "This... gives me the heebie jeebies." (Zach, 34:47)

• Broader Implications:
  • Discussion of WHO’s classification of obesity as an epidemic and the need for interventions like sugar taxes, labeling, and primary care integration.

6. Behavioral vs Medical Change

• Moderator’s Dilemma:
  • Both Scott and Zach reflect on whether medication or behavioral change is more impactful, acknowledging the societal, economic, and cultural barriers to wellness.

    "Behavior change is hard... but I hope that it also gets the kind of headlines that it deserves." (Zach, 40:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On foster love:

  "The type of love that I'm referring to is more of an agape type of love. The unconditional jump in front of a bullet for you type of love. Very sacrificial." (Zach, 07:36)

• On patient empowerment:

  "I really bought into the system that I chose, and I think that's helped with satisfaction and enjoying the product overall." (Zach, 23:47)

• On technology’s emotional impact:

  "CGMs make it easier and everything, but we didn't have those in the beginning..." (Scott, 14:00)

• Diabetes in daily life with kids:

  "My kids have had a small degree of psychological stress about my diabetes... if they hear my CGM alarm go off, they're like, 'Dad, are you low?'" (Zach, 25:01)

• Classic Juicebox humor:

  "That's going on a thing called juice Box to talk about eating nerds ropes or something. I think he's got a whole private life we don't know about. Also, don't listen to him anymore because he's not letting us have any juice boxes." (Scott, 27:33)

• GLP-1 complexities:

  "This family's trying as hard as they can to make this case. And so the kid's gonna run out of the medication at some point and not be able to do it. Now what do you do when the £25 comes right back again?" (Scott, 34:49)

Highlighted Timestamps

• 04:01 – Costs and emotional value of fostering
• 05:56 – Variations in the types of parental love
• 11:50 – Zach’s morning running routine & diabetes strategies
• 14:00 – Scott’s emotional experience as a parent of a T1D child
• 19:50 – Zach’s technology selection and advice for others
• 23:02 – Commentary on patient choice and physician support
• 30:40 – Teaching kids moderation with food
• 33:16 – Diabetes as a deterrent to overindulgence
• 34:49 – Challenges of accessing GLP-1 for weight loss in minors
• 40:27 – WHO's stance on obesity, environment, and behavioral change

Tone, Language, & Style

• Warm, honest, often humorous (classic Scott Benner style)
• Empathetic and educational tone—validates struggles, highlights practical wisdom
• Conversational, accessible, but science-informed
• Genuine sharing of personal and professional experience, real-world parenting and chronic illness challenge

Additional Resources Mentioned

• Juicebox Podcast Facebook Community
• Touched by Type 1
• Bold Beginnings
• Tandem Diabetes Technology
• Eversense 365 CGM

Takeaway Messages

• Managing diabetes is a multifaceted, deeply personal journey, affected by family dynamics, technology choices, and broader societal issues.
• Empowerment through choice—of both technology and behavior—makes long-term adherence and satisfaction possible.
• Behavior change and community support are invaluable, but medications and interventions have their role—especially in a world where not everyone has the same access, education, or resources.
• Navigating modern health—whether as a runner, parent, or patient—means balancing science, compassion, and humor.

For more stories and support, check out the Juicebox Podcast collection and join the thriving Facebook community discussed in the episode.