Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1801 – Super Diabetic, Part 2

Host: Scott Benner
Guest: Katerina
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid follow-up episode, Scott Benner welcomes back Katerina to continue her story of living well—and boldly—with type 1 diabetes through pregnancy, parenthood, and the daily challenges of disease management. With humor and warmth, they explore mental health, shifting perspectives, the realities of diabetes technology, motherhood, and traumatic birthing experiences, all while embracing gratitude and resilience. Listeners are reminded to pursue strategies that foster confidence and to find support in community and medical advancements.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Exploring Trauma, ACEs, and Mental Health in Diabetes

• Past Trauma Reflection (03:13 – 07:11)
  • Katerina admits occasionally wondering about hidden trauma and mental health, prompting Scott to joke about “Caucasian lady TikTok” and TikTok home décor trends.
  • Scott explains the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scale—a tool gauging childhood trauma's future impact on well-being—and questions what the “opposite” of ACEs might be (what sets people up for happiness and resilience).
  • Scott (06:53): “You score that ACEs list and a higher score correlates with ready heart disease, autoimmune disease, depression and anxiety, addiction, and early mortality.”
  • Discussion briefly touches on the importance of parental influence and the curiosity about what leads to healthier outcomes.

Katerina’s Diagnosis and Early Diabetes Management

• Receiving the Diagnosis (07:47 – 11:36)
  • Katerina recounts her diagnosis with type 1 and initial use of multiple daily injections (MDI), plus trialing both the Dexcom G6 and Libre Freestyle CGMs.
  • She felt both relief and heartbreak—finally knowing what was wrong but facing the lifelong implications of living with T1D.
    • Katerina (09:06): “In that moment, it felt so large… wow, this is like who I am now.”
  • Switching insurance with new jobs introduces new frustrations about medication coverage.
  • Expresses gratitude for the medical support and technology available for type 1 compared to other autoimmune diseases with more restrictive lifestyles.

Tech: Pumps, Tubing, and Finding the Right Fit

• Pump Transitions & Pregnancy (11:43 – 14:11)
  • Initially used a tubed pump during pregnancy, which she disliked—especially while pregnant and dressing in certain outfits.
  • Switched back to injections after her first baby; during second pregnancy, she adopted Omnipod (tubeless)—which she loves and continues to use.
    • Katerina (13:08): “I would wake up all the time just like, caught in tubes…”
    • Katerina (13:43): “And then my second pregnancy, I went to a tubeless pod and—amazing. And I’ve been on it ever since.”
  • Reports an A1C of 6.8 in October, likely improved since, as she is now pregnant again.

Family Life, Humor, and Minivans

• Parenting, Growing Family, and Minivan Tales (14:11 – 22:59)
  • Katerina, soon to have three boys, jokes about giving in to the inevitable “mom minivan” and considers wraps and florals before being reminded of college funds.
  • Scott teases about her “Caucasian” lifestyle choices and the financial logistics of a growing family.
  • Discussion turns to her husband’s biotech job at BD and financial practicality.
  • Scott (20:22): “So you’re not paying off your student loans. That schmuck that you snookered into getting you pregnant is paying them off, right?”
  • Both enjoy banter about children’s athletics, the future smell of the minivan, and family chaos with three boys.

Pregnancy and Diabetes: Challenges & Birth Stories

• Navigating Diabetes Through Pregnancy (23:31 – 26:52)

  • Katerina details her pregnancies: maintaining good A1C during pregnancy, managing larger insulin needs, and facing unique emotional and physical demands.
  • First baby was 11 pounds despite well-controlled blood sugar.
  • Describes emotional impact and social comments about her size during pregnancy.

• Traumatic Childbirth: Induction and Recovery (26:52 – 37:38)

  • Her first birth was long and traumatic: 54-hour induced labor, attempted to go natural, accepted an epidural after 32 hours—which only worked on half her body.
    • Katerina (29:38): “They put me on my side… so that the med[ication] would, like, seep down into the other half.”
  • Scott skeptically looks up her claim but finds validation that gravity can affect epidural distribution.
    • Scott (31:39): “Lying flat versus slightly upright can change how high the numbness can creep up… I take it back. I’m so sorry. Side lying can make one side feel more numb than the other.”
  • Long pushing phase (over 4 hours), shoulder dystocia, baby born blue and lifeless, rushed to NICU but recovered.
    • Katerina’s mix of humor (“he had swallowed his own poop—a little snack!”) and honesty about the trauma.

Diabetes Tech Tips & Management Adjustments During Pregnancy

• Fine-tuning Diabetes Management (38:37 – 43:28)
  • Katerina aims to lower her A1C further, working towards the 5s.
  • Struggles with pre-bolusing due to unpredictability and care demands for her toddlers.
  • Discusses pros and cons of automated pump modes during pregnancy. Sometimes switches back to manual for more precise control.
    • Scott (42:31): “That algorithm is not going to be aggressive enough for the pregnancy…”
    • Offers advice about reviewing and adjusting pump settings, especially when pregnancy or postpartum changes insulin needs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ACEs and Health:
  Scott (06:53): “A higher score correlates with heart disease, autoimmune disease, depression and anxiety, addiction, and early mortality.”
• On Receiving a T1D Diagnosis:
  Katerina (09:06): “It felt so large … just, wow, this is who I am now.”
• On Diabetes Gratefulness:
  Katerina (11:00): “I can still have ice cream—if I bolus correctly, if I go on a little walk afterwards, totally fine… makes me feel grateful.”
• On Diabetes Tech:
  Katerina (13:08): “I would wake up all the time just like, caught in tubes…” Katerina (13:43): “I went to a tubeless pod and—amazing.”
• On Motherhood and Finances:
  Scott (20:22): “So you’re not paying off your student loans. That schmuck… is paying them off, right?”
• On Epidurals and Gravity:
  Scott (31:39): “I take it back. I’m so sorry… Side lying can make one side feel more numb than the other.”
• On NICU Experience:
  Katerina (35:19): “Like, he wasn’t breathing… totally blue. It was so awful”
  Scott (38:12): “Like, I'm so hungry I'd eat my own poop.”
• Parenting Humor:
  Scott (43:34): “Three and a half and one and a half? Oh my God… Especially the one out there beating everything to death…”

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 03:13 | Mental health, ACEs, trauma discussion | | 07:47 | Katerina’s diagnosis, early technology experiences | | 11:43 | Transition to pump therapy and pregnancy management | | 13:43 | Switching to Omnipod, current A1C | | 14:11 | Family growth, minivan humor | | 23:31 | Managing diabetes through pregnancy, birth size and comments | | 26:52 | Traumatic induction and labor story | | 29:38 | Epidural discussion and technical clarification | | 35:18 | NICU experience and emotional impact | | 38:37 | Diabetes management goals in pregnancy (A1C and pre-bolusing) | | 42:31 | Manual vs. automated pump modes, tech talk for pregnancy |

Tone & Style

The conversation is relaxed, humorous, and filled with both warmth and candor. Scott’s teasing banter keeps the mood light even when delving into challenging or emotional topics, while Katerina’s vulnerability and resilience shine throughout. Advice is practical, validating the complex realities of diabetes management amid the demands of motherhood.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Perspective matters: Finding gratitude for what’s possible—thanks to modern diabetes management—even when life feels overwhelming.
• Technology isn’t perfect: There’s no one-size-fits-all; finding the right diabetes tools can take trial, error, and personal comfort.
• Pregnancy and diabetes: Requires fine-tuned management, flexibility, and self-forgiveness.
• Emotional honesty: Vulnerability about trauma, birth, and personal struggles fosters community support and connection.
• Humor is medicine: The best way to face the messiness and unpredictability of life as a “super diabetic”—and parent.