Juicebox Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes

Episode #1805: "Keep It Cute"

Host: Scott Benner
Guests: Sarah (junior in high school with Type 1 Diabetes), Matilda Fiddler (her mother)
Date: March 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on practical, positive strategies for living well with Type 1 diabetes as a teen and parent. Scott converses with Sarah, a confident high school junior living with Type 1 diabetes, and her mother Matilda. The discussion offers a rare look at a largely supportive diagnosis and adjustment experience, focusing on education, self-advocacy, mental health, and fostering independence and normalcy in daily life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diagnosis Story and Early Experience

Timestamps: 04:09 – 13:30

• Diagnosis Details

  • Sarah was diagnosed at age 13, during a routine pediatric visit, with no symptoms except slightly high blood sugar (240 mg/dL).
  • Immediate referral to the ER led to swift, accurate diagnosis and prompt fitting with a Dexcom CGM—“life-changing technology” (16:56, Matilda).

• Parental Emotions & Support

  • Matilda shares the emotional impact of diagnosis but emphasizes their unusually positive experience: “I wanted to come on today to tell you what a fabulous experience we had...they explained everything, we had support immediately.” (07:27, Matilda)
  • Sarah, while initially confused and upset—“why me?” and worried about stigma—credits her mother’s strong support for her adjustment (08:31–09:49).

2. Education, Technology, & Learning Curve

Timestamps: 11:02 – 20:53

• Initial and Ongoing Education

  • Hospital and outpatient education included therapy and nutritionist support from the start.
  • Fast, clear diagnosis and immediate access to CGM and insulin technology stood out as key positives.

• Seek Your Own Information

  • Matilda quickly realized she needed more information and found invaluable community through Scott’s podcast and local T1D parents:

    “It’s a very steep learning curve...you, Scott, are a blessing in my life...that’s how I learned.” (17:07, Matilda)

• Importance of Community

  • Both mother and daughter found comfort and vital information from connecting to others:

    “It was nice to see that other people were going through the same thing I was, so that was really helpful.” (20:09, Sarah)

3. Insulin Management & Therapy Choices

Timestamps: 21:01 – 25:01, 22:05 – 25:01, 54:41 – 56:44

• Multiple Daily Injections

  • Sarah uses Dexcom G7, Fiasp and Tresiba for MDI (“I don’t like having multiple devices on my body”—21:28, Sarah). Has not switched to a pump due to device burden and skin irritation, as well as a desire to keep her management discreet.

• Customizing Approaches

  • Occasionally uses Novolin R at night for slow carb or late meals (24:13 – 24:50).
  • Matilda praises the flexibility found via specialists (Gary Scheiner, Integrated Diabetes):

    “If she wanted to leave her house...I wanted just for her to have the tools.” (50:57, Matilda)

• Highlight on Self-Advocacy

  • Sarah and Matilda both stress that education, flexibility, and adapting recommendations are critical:

    “You can't always listen to your doctor...you have to do what's best for you as well.” (31:55, Sarah)

4. Living Boldly & Maintaining Normalcy

Timestamps: 26:01 – 58:11

• School Strategies and Independence

  • Sarah self-manages at school, using texting with her mom for support, and declines routine nurse visits to avoid missing instruction and preserve privacy.

    “You taught me what to do when you send your kid to school—don't take away class time.” (34:12, Matilda)

  • Sarah describes the fear of being “babied” or losing privacy if forced into strict nursing routines; she prefers self-management, supported by accommodations (504 plan, extended test time) (35:14–36:00, Matilda & Sarah).

• Educating Peers and Combating Stigma

  • Sarah proactively dispels misconceptions:

    “People ask ‘does that mean you can’t eat sugar?’...I take a moment to educate people.” (09:55–10:13, Sarah)

  • Sarah says friends are trained on using her rescue pen, helping her feel safe and supported socially (40:36–41:10).

• Handling Social Events & Daily Life

  • Carries a discreet but well-stocked “black pouch” for supplies; adapts insulin regimen for late-night social meals when needed (25:53–26:27).
  • Adjusts pre-bolus strategies at school to better control spikes:

    “Honestly, that might not be a bad idea.” (26:53, Sarah, on splitting boluses for unpredictable meals)

• Body Image, Privacy, and Device Choices

  • Avoids pump primarily for reasons of comfort, skin irritation, and a desire not to have additional devices visible:

    “It's about real estate for you and not hanging more stuff.” (21:30, Scott & Sarah) “Those things irritate the body...and here you're, you know, they're in the bikini and the, and the small clothes.” (55:02, Matilda)

5. Psychological Adjustment and Grief

Timestamps: 30:26 – 32:36

• Parental and Personal Grief
  • Both acknowledge a period of grief but focus on “keeping it moving, keeping it cute” (31:27, Matilda).
  • Sarah says time and connection helped her move forward:

    “A big part of this disease is trial and error...you can’t always listen to your doctor, you have to do what’s best for you.” (31:55, Sarah)

6. Faith, Attitude, and Looking Ahead

Timestamps: 52:02 – 53:01, 58:10 – 58:49

• Faith & Acceptance

  • Sarah reflects on the “why me” of her diagnosis but comes to a place of resilience:

    “Even on the hard days, I still feel that way sometimes...but hard to accept at first, but now I know it was meant to happen to me, and I think it’s made me stronger.” (52:18–53:01, Sarah)

• Future Goals

  • Sarah discusses dreams for college—wanting to explore beyond Miami—and possible career paths in journalism or law (43:08, Sarah).
  • Considers future issues like pregnancy with T1D and the logistics of adult diabetes management, but not letting it limit ambition.

• Parental Advocacy

  • Matilda’s parting words to parents:

    “As a parent, you’re the one that has to advocate for your kid...you’ve got to figure that stuff out on your own, and that’s where your podcast is.” (56:44, Matilda)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Diagnosis & Early Support

• “She was introduced to me...the Dexcom is life changing technology immediately on her body. Plus I had the insulin. That’s a great start.”
  —Matilda (16:56–18:36)

On Living with Diabetes at School

• “Mommy, I cannot be like this one girl that goes to my school that has a nurse walking behind her carrying her book bag and giving her snacks...I beg you.”
  —Sarah via Matilda (33:57)

Independence & Attitude

• “You can still be perfectly normal and have this annoying disease, but still live your day to day life and enjoy life...as you’re learning, you can keep going.”
  —Sarah (38:34–38:48)

Handling Stigma

• “Whenever something like [a misconception] occurs, I take a moment to educate people.”
  —Sarah (10:13)

Self-Advocacy

• “You can't always listen to your doctor...you have to do what's best for you as well. If that means giving some extra insulin, you're gonna have to do it.”
  —Sarah (31:55)

Parenting Philosophy

• “I keep it moving and I keep it cute.”
  —Matilda (31:27)
• “You see what your mom's doing? It's genius. She's not holding on tight. So you don't feel restricted, and therefore you don't feel like you have to push back.”
  —Scott (48:32)

Grief, Religion & Resilience

• “This is just the issue I have to carry with me for the rest of my life...now I know it was meant to happen to me, and I think it’s made me into a stronger person.”
  —Sarah (52:18–53:01)

Important Timestamps for Reference

• 04:09 – Sarah’s diagnosis story
• 08:31 – Sarah credits her mom’s help and partnership
• 16:56 – Immediate access to technology, diagnosis clarity
• 20:09 – Role of community, meeting other T1Ds
• 21:28 – Why Sarah uses injections vs. a pump
• 24:13 – Use of Novolin for sticky highs/late nights
• 34:12–38:00 – School independence, strategies to avoid disruptive nursing routines
• 38:34 – Sarah’s message for other kids/parents
• 48:32 – Parenting strategy of fostering independence
• 52:18 – Acceptance and personal growth through faith
• 56:44 – The necessity of parental advocacy

Episode Summary

This episode delivers a refreshing, practical, and heartening account of living well with Type 1 diabetes as a teen and parent. Sarah and Matilda’s openness about their learning process, the challenges of diagnosis, advocacy in school, device choices, and emotional journey result in an episode filled with empathy, actionable wisdom, and hope. Their focus on “keeping it moving, keeping it cute,” and boldly maintaining normalcy, offers a compelling blueprint for others managing the day-to-day of diabetes—“the train doesn’t stop for diabetes.”