Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1797: Pressure
Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Britt
Release Date: March 13, 2026

Episode Overview

This gripping episode centers on Britt, a nurse and mother of three, whose middle son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 8—just as a rare brain cyst landed him in a medical emergency. Britt shares the harrowing journey of simultaneous crises: recognizing her son's diabetes amid an acute neurological event, navigating trauma, and gradually finding footing in daily diabetes management. The conversation blends storytelling, clinical detail, insight into family dynamics, and practical strategies for moving forward—while also wrestling with the limits of medical knowledge and the pressure caregivers carry.

1. Family Background and Context

[03:50 - 06:18]

• Introduction of Britt: Mother of three boys (11, 10, and 7 years old).
• Diagnosis: Middle child (now 10) diagnosed with T1D in May 2024.
• Family Dynamics: Both parents formerly in demanding roles—nurse and police officer.
  • "We made it through with the first two switching off... but then with the third, it was like, this is near impossible." – Britt [04:46]

2. The Lead-Up: Subtle Signs and Escalation

[06:19 - 13:59]

• Initial Symptoms: Unusual thirst, frequent bathroom trips, paleness, headaches, and occasional vomiting.
  • Britt’s nurse instincts initially downplayed the symptoms, considering viruses or allergies.
  • "If you're not dying, you're fine kind of nurse." – Britt [06:24]
• Alarm Bells:
  • Headaches grew severe, interfering with school and daily life.
  • "For a young kid to have headaches this bad, where he's not wanting to participate in gym... that was kind of what started the alarm bells." – Britt [08:34]
• Behavior’s Role: Unusual nocturnal urination, bedwetting, and confusion about their seriousness.
  • "He got up in the middle of the night and peed in the bathtub... looking back now, it's kind of a marker in the story." – Britt [12:30]

3. Medical Crisis: The Day Everything Changed

[16:30 - 22:20]

• The Collapse:
  • On a Friday, after severe headaches and vomiting, Britt’s son loses consciousness and has neurological symptoms.
  • "He's just screaming about his head pain... and he loses consciousness." – Britt [17:38]
• Paramedics and ER:
  • Blood sugar measured at 313 mg/dL—but atypical for DKA given his condition.
  • ER scans reveal enlarged brain ventricles indicating hydrocephalus caused by growth of a pineal cyst.
• Decision-Making Under Pressure:
  • Neurologic emergency took precedence over diabetes; urgent transfer to children’s hospital.
  • "They just told us that Friday night, if we don't fix this, it's fatal." – Britt [25:05]

4. Double Diagnosis: Brain Surgery and Diabetes

[22:21 - 34:03]

• Intervention:
  • Surgery: Minimally invasive, shrank the cyst and created a new drainage pathway.
  • "I couldn't believe... four stitches in the top of his head. They go in with like, a little scope." – Britt [24:13]
• T1D Confirmation:
  • Endocrinologists deliver the diagnosis; Britt is initially unconvinced.
  • "We think he has type 1 diabetes. Brit's like, not now he doesn't." – Scott [32:10]
• Proof: Hours later, labs show A1C "greater than 15," confirming chronic hyperglycemia.
  • "Okay, okay, I accept it now... there's no way this cyst caused problems for three months." – Britt [32:58]

5. Recovery and Emotional Processing

[34:04 - 39:23]

• Post-Hospital Challenges:
  • Britt’s son recovers well post-surgery but with a lingering shaky hand due to neurological damage.
    • "The shaky hand is activated, Mom... I can't open this thing." – Britt [26:52]
  • Ongoing monitoring: MRI scans every 6 months for the cyst.
• Emotional Aftershocks:
  • Initially, brain surgery overshadowed diabetes.
  • Britt and her husband processed the emotional toll later:
    • "Our kid almost died... it hits you as time goes on." – Britt [33:44]
  • Son’s adaptation: Took time to process the diabetes due to the trauma of brain surgery.

6. Learning to Manage T1D: Daily Life, Technology, and Independence

[39:24 - 51:55]

• Transition to Diabetes Care:
  • Early days: Managed by parents, with gradual shift toward more involvement from Britt’s son.
  • Pump therapy: Transitioned from MDI (multiple daily injections) to Tandem Mobi pump with Dexcom G7 CGM [36:04].
• Site Rotation Challenges:
  • Son only uses arm sites; other locations are uncomfortable or have led to occlusions or site failures.
• Division of Labor:
  • Mom (Britt): Day-to-day management, dose calculations, troubleshooting patterns.
  • Dad: Device setup and pump site changes (“device guy”).
• Building Independence:
  • "He hasn't ever changed a pump site... I think it will be once he realizes the ways it holds him back." – Britt [38:41]
  • Discussions about strategies to foster self-management skills for future independence (e.g., summer camp).

7. Medical Team and Education

[39:34 - 41:49]

• Education at Hospital:
  • Due to complexity (on neuro unit), Britt often taught the staff about diabetes tasks; received a condensed diabetes education.
  • "I just bluntly said... talk to me like I don’t know what I’m talking [about] about CGMs." – Britt [40:37]
• Adaptation:
  • Felt confident but sometimes wished for more support with pump algorithms or advanced device setup.

8. Technology and Trusting the Algorithm

[41:55 - 54:17]

• Algorithm vs. Manual Management:
  • Struggled to trust the Tandem Mobi’s sleep mode and automation; would intervene with manual boluses at first.
  • "It was really hard for me to trust the algorithm... I think maybe it just had to learn him for a little bit." – Britt [44:32]
• Travel and Glycemic Variability:
  • Realized travel and adrenaline complicate blood glucose management, regardless of technology.
• Metrics:
  • Latest A1C: 6.5%—achieved with minimal lows [52:16].
  • "On the pump, he really is not having a lot of lows... it's pretty fair." – Britt [52:29]

9. Family Medical History and Autoimmunity

[55:46 - 57:18]

• Autoimmune Tendencies:
  • Husband has vitiligo, Britt has gluten sensitivity potentially linked to migraines; son has thyroid antibodies.
• Search for Connections and Closure:
  • Britt wonders about links between brain cyst, autoimmune disease, and T1D, but doctors offer little insight.
  • "I don't love that conclusion... But I guess we just watch it." – Britt [29:33]
  • Considering further functional medicine workup for her son.

10. Mental Health, Community, and Moving Forward

[57:18 - End]

• Therapy:
  • "We love therapy. We're all in it—me, my husband, my son. It's really great." – Britt [57:25]
• Community and Resources:
  • Britt finds value in the podcast community for connection, validation, and hearing others’ stories.
  • "There's something about hearing people's stories... especially with the type one aspect. It's like, not alone." – Britt [63:00]
• Parenting Approach:
  • Britt balances gradual transfer of self-management responsibility with desire to avoid overwhelming her son.
  • No fixed timeline; prefers following cues from her child’s readiness and daily realities.

11. Notable Quotes & Impactful Moments

• On pressure and humility as a caregiver:
  • "It's a balance of trying to get him to even with shots... let's wait till it's his idea." – Britt [39:20]
• On medical uncertainty:
  • "Nobody knows anything... they're not magic people, is what I'm saying." – Scott [29:28]
• On letting go and trusting:
  • "Once I've learned to just let [the algorithm] do its thing, it's been really good... it relieves that pressure." – Britt [54:17]
• On trauma and normalization:
  • "My kid almost died, left in an ambulance. I don't know if this was interesting enough." – Britt [68:44]
  • "You're plenty interesting. Stop worrying about it." – Scott [70:10]

12. Humor & Authenticity

• Football Rivalry Banter:
  • Fun exchange about Packers/Bears fans and playoff missteps, adding levity and authenticity to the podcast’s tone [65:49 onwards].
• Meta-reflection:
  • Scott reassures Britt about the power and worthiness of her story:
  • "Just take that in and believe it next time... You just need the needle to go on the other side a little bit." – Scott [70:32]

13. Key Takeaways and Strategies

• Comorbid medical crises (neuro and metabolic) compound trauma and adaptation, making some families’ stories especially complex.
• Even medical professionals can overlook or rationalize symptoms in their own children.
• Achieving a sense of normalcy and independent living with T1D is a gradual, adaptive, and highly individual process.
• Community storytelling and open conversations (like those in this podcast) provide vital solidarity and emotional support.
• Humility, humor, and openness to uncertainty are crucial tools for both caregivers and patients.

Suggested Timestamps for Listeners

• [10:34] Recognizing the signs & maternal intuition
• [17:38] Acute collapse and 911 call—“the moment everything changed”
• [22:36] Surgery explained—hydrocephalus and cyst intervention
• [32:58] Receiving the T1D diagnosis—acceptance and lab confirmation
• [39:24] Transitioning to management, technology choices, challenges
• [44:32] Trusting the algorithm, adjusting to tech-based management
• [52:16] Current A1C & stability
• [57:25] Mental health and family therapy
• [63:00] Value of story-sharing and community

Closing Reflection

Britt’s story is a powerful example of parental intuition, resilience under immense pressure, and the lifelong learning curve of life with type 1 diabetes—made more intense by her son’s rare, simultaneous health emergencies. Both the practical advice and emotional resonance will offer valuable comfort and validation to other families navigating T1D, especially when the journey is anything but straightforward.

For more stories and resources:
Visit JuiceboxPodcast.com
Check out the private Facebook group: "Juicebox Podcast Type 1 Diabetes"
Explore episode archives for more family journeys and pro tips.