#1801 Super Diabetic - Part 2
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Katarina shares pregnancy with type 1, a 54-hour labor, shoulder dystocia, and a terrifying NICU moment—plus pumps, pre-bolusing struggles, and raising three boys along the way.
Key Takeaways
- Start with the Basics: For those newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, the Bold Beginnings series serves as a straightforward and practical foundational guide.
- Mental Health Matters: The ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) list is a crucial psychological tool indicating that early trauma can correlate with future physical issues, including autoimmune diseases.
- Finding the Right Tech: Managing diabetes is highly personal; finding the right device, such as switching from multiple daily injections to a tubeless pump, can drastically improve your day-to-day comfort and control.
- Pregnancy and Insulin Resistance: Insulin needs and insulin resistance change dynamically during pregnancy, often requiring adjustments to pre-bolus timing, basal rates, and correction factors.
- Leveraging Pump Modes: Utilizing both automated and manual modes on an insulin pump can be beneficial, especially during pregnancy when an algorithm may not be aggressive enough for specific meals or periods of insulin resistance.
Resources Mentioned
- Dexcom G7: dexcom.com/juicebox
- Omnipod 5: omnipod.com/juicebox
- Cozy Earth: cozyearth.com (Offer code: juicebox for 20% off)
- Juice Cruise 2026: juiceboxpodcast.com/juicecruise
- Podcast Audio Editing: wrongwayrecording.com
- Juice Box Podcast Facebook Group: Juice Box Podcast: Type 1 Diabetes on Facebook
Welcome & The Bold Beginnings Series
Scott Benner Welcome back, friends, to another episode of the Juice Box podcast.
Katarina Hey. My name is Kataria, and I am a type one diabetic.
Scott Benner This is part two of a two part episode. Go look at the title. If you don't recognize it, you haven't heard part one yet. It's probably the episode right before this in your podcast player. If you're new to type one diabetes, begin with the bold beginnings series from the podcast.
Scott Benner Don't take my word for it. Listen to what reviewers have said. Full beginnings is the best first step. I learned more in those episodes than anywhere else. This is when everything finally clicked.
Scott Benner People say it takes the stress out of the early days and replaces it with clarity. They tell me this should come with the diagnosis packet that I got at the hospital. And after they listen, they recommend it to everyone who's struggling. It's straightforward, practical, and easy to listen to. Bold Beginnings gives you the basics in a way that actually makes sense.
Scott Benner While you're listening, please remember that nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan or becoming bold with insulin. This episode of the Juice Box podcast is sponsored by the Dexcom g seven, the same CGM that my daughter wears. Check it out now at dexcom.com/juicebox. Today's episode is also sponsored by Omnipod.
Scott Benner Did you know that the majority of Omnipod five users pay less than $30 per month at the pharmacy? That's less than $1 a day for tube free automated insulin delivery. And a third of Omnipod five users pay $0 per month. You heard that right. 0.
Scott Benner That's less than your daily coffee for all of the benefits of tubeless, waterproof, automated insulin delivery. My daughter has been wearing an Omnipod every day since she was four years old, and she's about to be 21. My family relies on Omnipod, and I think you'll love it. And you can try it for free right now by requesting your free starter kit today at my link, omnipod.com/juicebox. Omnipod has been an advertiser for a decade.
Scott Benner But even if they weren't, I would tell you proudly, my daughter wears an Omnipod. Omnipod.com/juicebox. Terms and conditions apply. Eligibility may vary. Why don't you get yourself that free starter kit?
Scott Benner Full terms and conditions can be found at omnipod.com/juicebox. The podcast is also sponsored today by Cozy Earth. You can use my offer code juice box at checkout to save 20% off of your entire order at cozyearth.com. Everything from the joggers that I'm actually wearing right now to the sheets I sleep on, the towels I use to dry myself with, and whatever else is available at cozy earth dot com. Just use the offer code juice box at checkout.
Trauma, Mental Health, and the ACEs List
Scott Benner You're not sure if you've got trauma?
Katarina Well, I sometimes I get in my head and, like, that's the crazy part of me where I'm like, maybe there's something that I have pushed down so far that I have completely erased from my history, and there was, like, something super traumatic that happened to me.
Scott Benner I think that's called Caucasian lady TikTok is what you're talking about right now. Okay. I think you're I think you're fine. So, Ross.
Katarina Ouch. Ouch. So true, Scott. So true.
Scott Benner I don't know. I'm trying to decide between this mauve and this brown for my wall. 'm gonna start a TikTok account that will eventually have 300,000 followers while I try to decide what color of tan to paint my house. No. Listen. I mean
Katarina Life is hard. You don't understand that the walls need to be a certain color. It needs to give a certain aesthetic.
Scott Benner Why did BMW move the buttons from there to there? I can't reach them now. And, like, it's so but no. Sir seriously, like, I would imagine that if you had something that traumatic, you'd be at least have an inkling about it.
Katarina Yeah. I think I'm pretty good. So
Scott Benner Do you know the Yeah. Do you listen to anything that I do with Erica, by any chance? Like, that mental health stuff, or are you just so healthy you don't need that? Okay.
Katarina Good. I would I would like to say it's because I'm so mentally healthy. But, no, I I have not listened to anything with Erica.
Scott Benner Okay. So that's fine. So she and I are getting ready to do we just finished up a series of about body grief, which is gonna be very interesting if you find it. I I think you should try to give it a whirl. But we're gonna start something up that we're calling let me see if I can find the word because I'm I made it up.
Scott Benner So people are like, awesome. Mental health that you made up. I said to her, you know, there's that that ACEs list that we do you know the ACEs list? It's a group of indicators about past trauma that indicate future problems.
Katarina Okay.
Scott Benner Okay. And so it is a very, very well established tool in psychology, right, in therapy. So there the 10 aces are this, abuse. So if you as a child experienced emotional abuse, a parent or an adult regularly swore at you, insulted you, humiliated you, or made you feel afraid that you'd be physically hurt. If you there was actual physical abuse, a parent or an adult in the home hit, kicked, beat, or physically harmed you, sexual abuse.
Scott Benner If you had if you experienced emotional neglect, physical neglect, if your mother was treated violently, if there's substance abuse in the house, mental illness in the house, if your parents are separated or divorced, or if you have a family member who's incarcerated. These 10 things are an indicator of future issues that you'll have. Right? Okay. And it's a fairly a fairly reasonable measuring stick.
Scott Benner Works pretty good is what I'm saying. And I started thinking, what's the opposite of that? What happens to people that lead them to having happy unencumbered lives? And I said to Eric, I'm like, I wanna go over that. Like, I'm like, let's try to figure out what it is that happens to healthy people that leads them to not have problems in the future.
Scott Benner Because by the way, the Yeah.
Katarina Like, how how to be set up for success.
Scott Benner Yeah. And as a parent, that might be interesting to list too. Also,
Katarina like Absolutely.
Scott Benner So you score that ACEs list and a higher score correlates with ready? Heart heart disease, autoimmune disease, depression and anxiety, addiction, and early mortality.
Katarina Oh, jeez.
Scott Benner Isn't that crazy?
Katarina Wow. Yeah. That's so sad.
Scott Benner Yeah. Of well, actuary tables, also can figure out exactly when you wanna die. So you could figure that out now, by the way. If you went to an actuary, they could probably tell you within, like, two years how long you're gonna live. Isn't that crazy?
Scott Benner Jerry is like, please do not I don't wanna I don't wanna know that at all. Like, they don't know if you're gonna get hit by a meteor three weeks from now or something like that, but, like, know, that kind of thing. Anyway, I feel like this is going off the rails. So let's get back.
Life After a Type 1 Diagnosis
Scott Benner You've got diabetes now, type one. It's been diagnosed. You get a pump. Do you get a pen? Do you get what how do you start?
Katarina I was doing, like, multiple daily injections, and I think they gave me a trial with the Dexcom. Oh, yeah. They gave me both, the Dexcom g six and the Libre Freestyle.
Scott Benner Okay.
Katarina I think the Freestyle had, like, just come out when I was diagnosed as type one. And so that, like, just getting on insulin I was pretty heartbroken again, like, see just, okay. This is this is the rest of my life. Like, it it gay it how would I say this? Like, in some ways, it was, like, reassuring.
Katarina Like, yes. This makes a lot of sense. And then in other ways, it was, like, just as heartbreaking. Okay. I am dependent on this medication for the rest of my life.
Scott Benner So you got your answer, but it was not the answer you were looking for.
Katarina Yeah.
Scott Benner Yeah. Yeah. And it's not comforting. Oh, you have you know what I mean? Like, oh, we know what's wrong with you. You have type one diabetes. Awesome. You know, like, I have an answer, and functionally, know how to make myself feel better, but this is not something I wanted for myself. That kind of feeling? Okay.
Katarina Yeah. I and in that moment, it felt so large. Oh, excuse me. It felt so large. Just like, wow.
Katarina This this is, like, who I am now, and this just like it just like
Scott Benner Take your time. I'm interested in what you get to. Seriously, don't feel don't feel pressure. I'm not kidding.
Katarina I I had a lot just like, how did this even happen? And it was very much like, okay. This is the rest of my life. Mhmm. Like, I'm gonna be on these medications for the rest of my life.
Katarina And I I still kinda, like, struggle with that, especially since every time you switch jobs that you switch insurance, and then coverage is different with medications. But I will say out of so many of the autoimmune diseases, like, I am very like, type one has been so thoroughly researched, and there is so much medication and devices out there, which is amazing.
Scott Benner Mhmm.
Katarina And so it is like, okay. There is so much support medically for type one as an autoimmune disease because they're I I've met some people who have an autoimmune disease, and they're just like, yeah. I can only eat I can eat red meat and a little bit of lettuce, and that's it for the rest of my life.
Scott Benner And How does that make you feel when you talk to people who have that situation?
Katarina I'm like, wow. It makes me so grateful. Like, oh, I can still have ice cream. I shouldn't all the time, but I can still have ice cream and be just fine. Like, if I bowl this correctly, if I go on a little walk afterwards, like, totally fine.
Scott Benner Yeah.
Katarina But, yeah, some people who have to just, like, give up all dietary things, change their lifestyle dramatically just to try and stay alive.
Scott Benner Makes you feel grateful when that's not your situation?
Katarina Yes. Yes.
Scott Benner Okay. And, well, I mean so you're gaining perspective as this goes on?
Katarina Yes. Yeah. Very much.
Scott Benner Are you still MDI now?
Katarina No. I am now on a pump. When I during my first pregnancy, my doctors and I have a wonderful, wonderful care team. I like being pregnant because they are so attentive Mhmm. To my diabetes.
Scott Benner Mhmm.
Katarina And they asked and kind like, they heavily suggested I go on a pump.
Scott Benner Heavily suggested?
Katarina They're like, it's easier to control your diabetes, and it's a lot more important when you have a, like, a living being you're trying to keep alive inside of you.
Scott Benner Okay. So they heavily suggested you went with it. Yes. You said okay. Alright.
Scott Benner And what you're finding? How how has that changed things for you?
Katarina So I have some thoughts. I had a very negative experience with the first pump I used. It was so miserable, but it did keep my sugar levels in a very good balance.
Scott Benner Okay.
Katarina I just hated like, it was corded. Is that the right term?
Scott Benner Tubed?
Katarina Tubed. Yes. Tubed. That was like, oh my goodness. Like, I like wearing dresses.
Katarina Where am I gonna put this? And I'm, like, so pregnant. There is no good wear good way to, like
Scott Benner You didn't you did not enjoy the idea of tubing?
Katarina No. No. No. And it I would wake up all the time just, like, cotton tubes. Like, how how is this even happening?
Katarina And then so I went back to daily injections pretty much instantly after giving birth
Scott Benner Mhmm.
Katarina With my first pregnancy. And then my second pregnancy, I went to a tubeless pod and amazing. And I've been on it ever since. So that was back in 2024, I guess, 2023.
Scott Benner You had done pod at that point?
Katarina Uh-huh.
Scott Benner Okay. And Yeah. And you've been doing well since. What's your a one c today?
Katarina I haven't gotten a recent one since October. In October, it was 6.8. So
Scott Benner Awesome. Good for you. It's not what?
Katarina It's okay.
Scott Benner It's okay.
Katarina Like, trying to get better. But I I think it's gone down since then because oh, I'm also pregnant again.
Growing the Family and Minivan Life
Scott Benner Wait. You're you're pregnant right now?
Katarina Yeah.
Scott Benner And you have two kids? Yeah. Oh my god. This is a this is a I mean, you did you get a minivan? Are you all set with that?
Katarina Yeah. Oh, Scott, please.
Scott Benner Why'd you do that?
Katarina Salt in the wound.
Scott Benner Why'd you give up? Why'd you give up?
Katarina No. Okay. Remember how we were talking about my beautiful husband who is so responsible and forward thinking?
Scott Benner Yeah. Except for getting your pregnant three times in the last five years. Okay.
Katarina No. That's the that was me. That's the crazy part. But I had this beautiful RAV four 2004 RAV four that I loved with all my heart.
Scott Benner Right.
Katarina And it was it was fun for, like, a single person and had to be in the shop, like, twice a year. You know? And my husband was like, yeah. We're getting a van.
Scott Benner It's too small. Oh, so you're driving a man a van around. Did you get maroon? What horrible color is it?
Katarina Oh, it's it's gray. I I would have loved a maroon van. I was like, we're gonna wrap it. Do some, like, floral pattern.
Scott Benner We're no. You're not. You're gonna put that money in a bank to send one of those kids to college with. Don't you worry?
Katarina Literally. Yeah. After look I looked into it too, and I got some quotes, and it was just like
Scott Benner You are awesome. Yeah. You you really are. You're I swear to god. I thought I I can't tell when the most Caucasian thing you're gonna say is gonna stop.
Scott Benner Oh, no. But I looked into getting my minivan wrapped. It's pretty high on my list right now. Fantastic. Oh my gosh.
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Scott Benner It looks comfy as can be, and it's gonna go so well with the sheets that we already have from Cozy Earth. Now, yeah, I'm a bit of a a Cozy Earth convert, I guess. I'm sitting here in my joggers. I used my towels coming out of the shower this morning. I slept on my sheets last night.
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Scott Benner The g seven is a simple CGM system that delivers real time glucose numbers to your smartphone or smartwatch. The g seven is made for all types of diabetes, type one and type two, but also people experiencing gestational diabetes. The Dexcom g seven can help you spend more time in range, which is proven to lower a one c. The more time you spend in range, the better and healthier you feel. And with the Dexcom Clarity app, you can track your glucose trends, and the app will also provide you with a projected a one c in as little as two weeks.
Scott Benner If you're looking for clarity around your diabetes, you're looking for Dexcom. Dexcom.com/juicebox. When you use my link, you're supporting the podcast. Dexcom.com/juicebox. Head over there now.
Scott Benner You must have him working twenty four hours a day. What what kind of job does he have? What is what kind of work does he do?
Katarina He so we were both working in biotech when we got married, and now he's still working for a biotech company. He works for BD.
Scott Benner Yeah.
Katarina I don't know if you're familiar with that, but it's, like, basically on every, syringe.
Scott Benner Yeah. They make the syringes.
Katarina Yeah. Yep. He's on, like, tech support now.
Scott Benner Okay.
Katarina So, yeah, he he recently made a career shift, but he's he's doing great. So yeah.
Scott Benner You got him out there hustling. He's hustling for the family?
Katarina He is hustling. He is hustling for the family. I am thankful.
Scott Benner How many of these, babies do you think you're gonna end up with?
Katarina I think three is a good number.
Scott Benner Mhmm. Yeah. And
Katarina and But I also think four or five is a great number too. No. Oh my god. Five is too many. Five is too many for me, but there is, like, a crazy part of me that's like, but four.
Katarina Why?
Scott Benner Is like a two year period?
Katarina I'm like, I I'm not even done having this one. Stop thinking.
Scott Benner I'm still cooking this one. What are the first two? Are they, boys, girls? What do you got?
Katarina Boys. And I'm pregnant with my third boy.
Scott Benner Oh, my goodness. Yeah. Alright.
Katarina I'm so excited. Are you? So excited.
Scott Benner You're not worried about, like, oh my god. I'm gonna try for a girl one day?
Katarina Yeah. I
Scott Benner mean, don't do it. Let me just say that right now. Four is too many. I don't know how you're you better hope AI takes over the world. Nobody needs a job because you're not sending four kids to college.
Scott Benner That's terrible. What did you go
Katarina need college by the time they're that age.
Scott Benner You better you better hope not. I would assume you're voting for universal basic income right now is the way you're the way you're hoping. But seriously, like, it's did you go to a private college?
Katarina Yeah. I did.
Scott Benner Mhmm. Do you remember what it cost?
Katarina Oh, I'm so I'm a stay at home mom. Mhmm. And I am still paying off my student loans.
Scott Benner Yeah. Without a job.
Katarina Without a job.
Scott Benner Yeah. So you're not paying off your student loans. That schmuck that you you you snook her in to get you're pregnant is paying them off. Right? With your with your cute laugh and, like and he was like, alright.
Scott Benner I'll pay for your student loans. That's what happened. Am I wrong? I'm I'm not wrong. Please.
Scott Benner And
Katarina he has no student loans, no debt to his name. He's yeah. He's totally job without all that,
Scott Benner or did the did his parents cover it for him?
Katarina He his parents definitely helped him out.
Scott Benner Oh my gosh. This is awesome. Yeah. Seriously, you guys are blessed. It's going really well.
Scott Benner But but, seriously, please don't have more children. Like, there's so many children. Like, how are you like, do you have enough space for them? Where are gonna put them?
Katarina I you know, you don't need space. You could just, like, stack them on top of each other. Right?
Scott Benner Well, when they get older, they're gonna want their own space.
Katarina We'll deal with it when it comes.
Scott Benner No. You won't. They're gonna beat the hell out of each other trying to get away from each other. It's not how it works. This is trust me.
Scott Benner It's not how it works. They're gonna they're gonna want a place to to retreat to. They're gonna want their own space. That's fair. That's fair.
Scott Benner They're gonna ask you for things. Every one of those oh my god. You're athletic. Right? Are those kids gonna be athletic?
Katarina They are already showing some signs. It's pretty cute. But they are, yeah, very tough. Like, oldest just likes fighting other kids. Like
Scott Benner So he's gonna do UFC?
Katarina We we as parents call it wrestling, and he's like, I don't know what wrestling is, but I really like fighting that boy.
Scott Benner Like so so you're gonna that kid's gonna be in some UFC training camp that you're gonna have to pay for. And oh my god. You're and that minivan is gonna smell like holy wait. Do you wait. Do you see what that minivan smells like when those three sweaty boys get in that car?
Scott Benner Oh, it's gonna smell like, you know what it's gonna smell like, don't you?
Katarina I, played roller hockey throughout high school.
Scott Benner Okay.
Katarina And because Southern California, playing ice hockey is way too expensive.
Scott Benner I thought you were gonna say because I was wrestling with my sexuality, but go ahead.
Katarina Everyone in high school would also agree with you.
Scott Benner Okay.
Katarina And, oh my goodness, the odors were awful.
Scott Benner It's horrible.
Katarina So so bad. And that was even me smelling my own self.
Scott Benner Like Your van's gonna smell like testicles. That's what it's gonna smell like. Yeah. Sweaty, hot, dirty testicles. That's what your van's gonna smell like.
Katarina Can't wait.
Scott Benner God bless you. You're gonna have a great time. And and each one of those little sports is gonna cost a a small fortune.
Katarina Yeah. Yeah? We already are kinda running into that. Like, what the heck?
Scott Benner Yeah. No. It's insane. Don't fall for it. Seriously.
Scott Benner Just tell send them out in the backyard, tell them to beat up the dog, and that's it. You know what mean? But because he likes to fight. By the way, please don't hurt your animals. Okay.
Scott Benner Alright. Please. So how did you find the process of making the babies with the diabetes? Because it was kinda new to you still, and you're Right.
Katarina Right. Yeah. And that has definitely been a journey in itself. I feel like with this third pregnancy, I am chasing after two boys, and I don't really even recognize that I'm pregnant half the time. So my first baby was eleven pounds.
Scott Benner Oh, was your blood sugar high during the pregnancy?
Katarina No. I was like, I think my a one c was 5.8. I I I was, like, kept it in pretty good check. Very yeah. I was I was trying to be, like, pretty controlled, but just a very large baby.
Katarina And that was like, the pregnancy was great. I felt amazing while being pregnant. And then, like, in the third trimester, I had pretty much everyone that saw me in public came up to me and was like, is it twins? And I I was like, oh gosh. Am I gonna get this comment every other five seconds?
Scott Benner We're so far away from when I had those abs. This is crazy. Yeah. Did you keep that, like, athletic build? Like, you know, some ladies are, like, athletic and pregnant still, or did it today's episode is brought to you by Omnipod.
Scott Benner Did you know that the majority of Omnipod five users pay less than $30 per month at the pharmacy? That's less than $1 a day for tube free automated insulin delivery. And a third of Omnipod five users pay $0 per month. You heard that right. 0.
Scott Benner That's less than your daily coffee for all of the benefits of tubeless, waterproof, automated insulin delivery. My daughter has been wearing an Omnipod every day since she was four years old, and she's about to be 21. My family relies on Omnipod, and I think you'll love it. And you can try it for free right now by requesting your free starter kit today at my link, omnipod.com/juicebox. Omnipod has been an advertiser for a decade.
Scott Benner But even if they weren't, I would tell you proudly, my daughter wears an Omnipod. Omnipod.com/juicebox. Terms and conditions apply. Eligibility may vary. Why don't you get yourself that free starter kit?
Scott Benner Full terms and conditions can be found at omnipod dot com slash juice box.
Katarina I was trying to, but it was like I I don't know. I and I could, like, hyperanalyze myself. I think the average person who saw me would say I was still athletic while pregnant.
Scott Benner Mhmm. You
Katarina didn't You
Scott Benner know? Didn't feel that way.
Katarina I I saw changes in my body that were like, oh, wow. Where like, why am I squishy right here?
Scott Benner Mhmm.
Katarina And so that was, like, you know, dealing with that, but it's fine.
Scott Benner Did you have trouble getting back into the shape you wanted to be when you were, finished with the pregnancy?
Katarina Yeah. There there were these, like, pesky, like, five to 10 pounds that are just still hanging on.
Scott Benner Mhmm.
Katarina And so that's but then again, like, I pretty much got pregnant with my second a year postpartum.
A Traumatic Birth Story
Scott Benner On purpose? So
Katarina that one was, very much surprised.
Scott Benner No is fine if you just wanna say no. So
Katarina my first was, like, a very traumatic birth. The pregnancy was amazing. The birth itself was horrendous. How? So I had to be induced.
Katarina And, like, I am kind of crunchy. Like, you you were like, what's the whitest thing this girl is gonna say? I'm I'm bad. Did you
Scott Benner have doula?
Katarina No. I didn't.
Scott Benner Okay. Alright. It's okay.
Katarina And
Scott Benner Maybe next time.
Katarina Yeah. That's I I didn't wanna pay the money. That that was just me.
Scott Benner So you won a doula. You just didn't wanna pay for it.
Katarina Yeah. Now insurances cover doulas. How cool is that?
Scott Benner You try to have one of these babies in your living room in a baby pool?
Katarina So you it cannot do that, as a diabetic.
Scott Benner It's Yeah. They won't like you. I know.
Katarina But, yes, I would have loved to be one of those moms for sure.
Scott Benner I would've
Katarina okay. I got induced. I was in labor. Like, so they did all the things. I'm not gonna get into too much detail, but I was in labor for fifty four hours.
Katarina So went in on a Monday afternoon, and my baby was born Thursday morning.
Scott Benner What in the hell? Are you serious?
Katarina Yeah. Oh,
Scott Benner jeez. I would have given up in the middle. I would have been like, that's enough. We're good.
Katarina And, oh my goodness, I was, like, trying to do it natural, like, no epidural. And if if there's anyone who is listening who's pregnant, if you get induced, just don't
Scott Benner Don't fight.
Katarina Don't put your body through that because, yeah, it's it's almost impossible to do it, like, without an epidural.
Scott Benner Wow. Yeah. So you try so okay. Alright. So you're it was long and painful.
Katarina Yeah. And so, like, about thirty two hours in that I finally was like, okay. I'm not progressing. Let's get the epidural. And they gave me the epidural things, and it only worked in half my body too, which is so fun.
Scott Benner So
Katarina I'm like, they're just giving me twice the amount of epidurals and, like, turning me on my side so that it'll, like, seep down into the other half of my body.
Scott Benner There's no reason to use so much technical terms. Okay? It's Oh, I seeped out into your body. Is that what they said to you?
Katarina What the they put me on my side, and they because it was just, like, only working for half of my body. So half my body was numb. The other half was still feel feeling pain.
Scott Benner Oh my gosh. I I love you. I think you're awesome.
Katarina A little crazy.
Scott Benner Don't think you know what the hell you're talking about, but I think you're awesome. I love you. I think Just Hey, Bruce. You're starting
Katarina to realize the laughter is now out of delirium Yeah. Than anything else.
Scott Benner You're like, they turned me on my side to get the medication to go the other way. I am a 100% sure that is not how it works.
Katarina That is literally what they said.
Scott Benner Well, they gotta get out of the hospital if that's what they said. You gotta get out of there. That's the wrong place to be. Oh my god. Were you with doctor Jekyll?
Scott Benner Is what was happening exactly? Doctor Frankenstein, did any of this happen come up when you were talking? We're just gonna spin you over so it moves to the other side of you. There's oh my god. Are you gonna make me look this up?
Katarina Do it. Do it. Are you That is literally what happened, though. They were like, oh, okay. Yeah.
Katarina We'll put you on your side. And so that the this is now I'm, like, questioning it because that does sound a little funky, but that's literally what was happening. Because they you put the epidural into the spine, and then if it's, like, a little bit on the side, it'll only get I now I'm like now I'm questioning how it how that works.
Scott Benner Oh my god. Hold on a sec. Wait. Wait a sec. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Okay. I think I've got a question set up here that asks the that gets to the point.
Scott Benner Oh my god. Hold on a second. Oh, I so I said, can a pregnant woman's epidural be made to impact other parts of the body by turning the body? That seems like what you said to me. Right?
Scott Benner Says it says, the short answer is yes to a degree, but within limits.
Katarina Yeah.
Scott Benner Okay. An epidural delivers anesthetic into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. The medication doesn't stay perfectly fixed. It can spread up and down the spine and slightly side to side, so gravity can matter. Larger doses, continuous infusions, or partial or uneven blocks.
Scott Benner Does turning the body change where it works? Positive position can influence spread, especially early on. I take it back. I'm so sorry. Side lying can make one side feel more numb than the other.
Scott Benner Lying flat versus slightly upright can change how high numbers how high the numbness can creep up, and tilting is sometimes used to reduce one size blocks preventing okay. God bless you. I was wrong. We've all learned something. I'm sorry I laughed at you.
Scott Benner I wasn't just laughing at you. I was snickering, and I apologize. Okay? I jumped to conclusions.
Katarina No offense taken.
Scott Benner I don't know everything. I should've looked.
Katarina Saying it. I'm like, that does sound a little weird.
Scott Benner Sounds stupid is why. Okay. Alright. Okay. Fair enough.
Katarina Yeah. And so I'm, like, on my side. And then finally, I they're like, oh, you're dilated enough to start pushing. So I go into active labor. And, normally, like, your average active labor is, like, one hour.
Katarina And in hospital settings, they don't want you to go beyond four hours. Mhmm. So it's, like, probably gonna get a C section if the baby hasn't come out after four hours. And I was, like, very, very against the C section for my first baby, and I'm pushing, pushing, pushing. And they're like, you're doing a great job.
Katarina Like, we could see his head. And, like, the four hour mark goes by, and then, like, four and a half hours. And, finally, like, I push this baby out. Well, his shoulder had gotten stuck, which is called shoulder dysplasia. So there was, like, a nurse that hopped onto my bed and was shoving my stomach to try and get this baby out of me.
Scott Benner Jesus. And you got pregnant again? I would've been like, listen. That ain't happening twice. Wait.
Scott Benner You from I can see the head till the baby was out was over four hours?
Katarina It it will once I started pushing, so you couldn't quite see the head then, But it was, like, around the four hour mark pushing that you could see the head.
Scott Benner The crowning, and then it happened after that. Okay. Alright. I was like, my god. The kid was just, like, down there hanging out all
Katarina the Like, in that those moments, his heart rate dropped and all of a sudden I stopped having contractions. So he was just stuck.
Scott Benner Oh my gosh.
Katarina Like, squeezed, couldn't couldn't get out, and there was, like, no contraction to push him out.
Scott Benner Yeah. I'm being big baby, but are you a petite person or no?
Katarina I am five foot seven, a hundred and forty pounds.
Scott Benner Yeah. You're not petite. Okay. Alright. So that kid should have come out of there is what you're saying.
Scott Benner Yeah. Yeah.
Katarina And he, like so, yeah, he gets stuck. His heart rate has dropped in, like, super low, and they finally push him out. And just like this blue lifeless baby is born.
Scott Benner Oh my god.
Katarina And both my husband and I, like, ugh, even thinking about it, like, now, I get so emotional because it was like, to me, those first moments, like, I gave birth to a dead baby.
Scott Benner That's how it felt.
Katarina Like, he wasn't breathing. He was like, I can't tell you when I say lifeless, like, he just flopped. Like, there was no muscle movement at all, and he was totally blue. It was it was so awful seeing that, and they, like, whisked him straight over. There was, like, a NICU doctor there who immediately intubated him and was, like, trying to get him to cough or cry for and it felt like an eternity.
Katarina I think it was it wouldn't wasn't more than five minutes, but we were just like, oh
Scott Benner Oh gosh.
Katarina My goodness.
Scott Benner Like Wow. That's something.
Katarina Yeah. It was it was awful, and there was a lot of components to that as well, like super long birth. His blood sugars were, like, 30 when he was born. Mhmm. So really, really low.
Katarina His heart rate had dropped. He had swallowed his he had swallowed his own poop, which sometimes babies do if they're I
Scott Benner do that sometimes.
Katarina Yeah. You know, just a little snack. My gosh. Mom's not feeding me enough. I'm hungry.
Katarina Yeah. And so, like, he basically, there was just, like, a bunch of gunk in his lungs. And, yeah, I didn't even get to see, like, my living child before he was whisked to the NICU. So I'm just, like, sitting there. Like, I have no idea, like, how much my baby weighs, like, anything.
Katarina They're sewing me up, and I'm just like, is he alive? Like, what happened?
Scott Benner Really? How long did that go on for you? You weren't sure about his how how he was?
Katarina So they took him down to the NICU, and I it's like, those first moments of being, like, freshly postpartum, like, those first few minutes, I it could have been hours, and it could have just been five minutes. I cannot give you a solid answer.
Scott Benner Okay.
Katarina It just felt, like, so so long. It just felt like a whole lifetime had passed by.
Scott Benner Yeah. I can't imagine. But he was okay.
Katarina He and yeah. So likes to hit things? Yes.
Scott Benner Did you name him Elvis because he was blue and blue Hawaii?
Katarina Oh, that's so mean.
Scott Benner Because you should have.
Katarina And So so we he he's in the NICU, and it's kind of funny because the, like, doctor and all the nursing staff is just like, he is so big. Nothing fits him. Like, his neighbor, his little NICU neighbor was one and a half pounds. And then our gigantic son of eleven pounds Yeah. Like
Scott Benner So hungry. He's really
Katarina 10 times the size of baby next door.
Scott Benner Like, I'm so hungry. I'd eat my own poop. Oh my god. Chattering, this is awesome. Yeah.
Navigating Diabetes During Pregnancy
Scott Benner You you, you, you and I, we've had a good time today. Is this pregnancy going differently? Is your I mean, what where do you want your a one c during this one? What are you shooting for?
Katarina I I am aiming for it to be a little bit lower. So I I think my most recent, like, from my Dexcom, you know, how they give you,
Scott Benner like Clarity.
Katarina Every yes. Yes. Every fourteen days. I think it's about six point four, and I I would like to get down into, like, the five
Scott Benner What's stopping you from pushing it down more?
Katarina I'm no. I'm working on it. But, like, literally myself is stopping me.
Scott Benner Yeah. I don't mean, like, what's, like, physically I I imagine you're trying. But, like, I'm saying, like, functionally, are you not prebolising enough? Are you not using enough insulin? Do you not have your settings up high enough? Like, that kind of thing.
Katarina I am prebolising is probably the biggest thing that I'm doing wrong.
Scott Benner Okay.
Katarina And it's just it is hard, like, to gauge when to do that.
Scott Benner Well, start with sooner.
Katarina Yeah.
Scott Benner Yeah. And then keep working until it works out the way you want it to. Because, I mean, is the doctor telling you they'd like to have your a one c at a five. Right?
Katarina No. That's just me. My my doctor is, like, pretty pretty pleased with how my levels are. I'm just like, I wanna get as, like, a much healthier a one c personally.
Scott Benner How far along in the, in the this knocked up are you?
Katarina I have just entered my third trimester.
Scott Benner Oh, you're almost done. Yeah. Oh, okay. So you're past the you're gonna this is the cruising trimester a little bit. Right?
Scott Benner As far as blood sugars go, it gets a little easier here. Has that been your experience in
Katarina the past? It actually gets
Scott Benner harder for you.
Katarina Harder. Okay. Like, just thinking about eating a piece of toast and my blood sugars will spike.
Scott Benner Mhmm. So why don't you like, I mean, listen. It's all about the insulin. So you just have to reevaluate your basal, your carb ratio, and your correction factor and just make them stronger so that they they combat the situation. Is that I mean, are you trying to, like you know what I mean?
Scott Benner Like, your insulin needs are greater, so more insulin.
Katarina Yeah.
Scott Benner Yeah. And what are you not doing that?
Katarina I am Are
Scott Benner you afraid to get low?
Katarina I think, like, in terms of pre bolusing for specifically for that, it's just like sometimes I will pre bolus, and then I'm like, oh, okay. Actually, like, can't eat right now, and I won't be able to eat for another, like, forty five minutes because of those other kids. Middle of something. Yeah.
Scott Benner Yeah. Have you thought of putting them in a closet? And then you can just do whatever you need to do.
Katarina I know.
Scott Benner Yeah. No. I I mean, I hear what you're saying. I'm not you you
Katarina The weird thing with the pump being in automated mode, it's like you I want it to be aggressive, but then it'll auto correct. Like, it'll it'll be like, oh, you're going too low. And so
Scott Benner Have you tried putting it in manual to see if it's better for you like that?
Katarina It yeah. It actually does. It is nice going into manual. It's, like, weird. There's, like, pros and cons to both, and I I do like switching to manual every now and then because it's, like, in some ways, I like controlling it more because if I'm I know I'm gonna be, like, out and about not able to eat for a while
Scott Benner You prefer to be in
Katarina a in manual mode. I'll I'll just, like, dial it back a little bit, like, my my settings. Like, you can
Scott Benner Right.
Katarina Take it down a few like, by a percentage.
Scott Benner Yeah. I mean, listen. It's you know, the that algorithm is not gonna be probably aggressive enough for the pregnancy, like, to to be where you want it to be. But I understand I understand wanting to have, you know, wanting to have the the comfort that it's looking out for you on the other side too. I don't know.
Scott Benner I might get up in the morning and put it in manual and then, you know, and then put it back into auto later in the evening before I go to bed, give it time to get things straight for overnight. Who knows?
Katarina I like that.
Scott Benner Yeah. I mean, just because you just need more insulin and doing what it's doing and targeting, etcetera. I'm assuming you have the lowest target set. It's targeted at one
Katarina ten. Yes.
Scott Benner Right. So, I mean, yeah, I would try that. Just remember this. When you flip it into manual, that's your old settings. That has nothing to do with your current needs.
Katarina Mhmm.
Scott Benner So you might have to look at those settings and and dial them in. And at the same time, be aware that when the pregnancy is over, that manual is gonna be way too aggressive for you.
Katarina Yes.
Scott Benner You know? Oh my gosh. It's a lot to think about, especially with little how how old are your kids right now?
Katarina Three and a half and one and a half.
Scott Benner Oh my god. That's enough. I would take care of them without diabetes would be too much, especially the ones out there beating everything to death or whatever he's doing. We're not worried he's gonna, like
Katarina I like fighting, mom.
Scott Benner He's not gonna start snapping the heads off of small animals or anything like that. Right?
Katarina No. No. No. Okay. Oh, he he is my gentle soul, but it's just when he sees another boy who's about his size, which is usually, like, a five or a six year old, like, somebody twice his age. He's yeah.
Katarina He's just, like, down to clown, and I'm like, okay.
Scott Benner I can kick this kid. Let's try it.
Katarina Yeah. My my goal my ask of my family is that I'm the first person this year to go to the hospital to give birth. Like, no one else should be going hospital for any reason, please.
Scott Benner For bruises and bumps. I have you seen those I'm gonna leave you with this. Have you seen those TikToks where the mom comes into the room or the dad comes to the room with cameras on and they go, hey. I got into a fight with a dad down the street and he wants to he wants he said he's gonna beat me up, but he's got a kid your age, and and I need you to come fight the kid. And then No.
Scott Benner Oh, they're great because some kids so first of all, you're all terrible parents. I just wanna say that upfront. But but some of the kids are like, I'm not looking to be in a fight. Thank you. Right.
Scott Benner Right. But some kids are like, yo. Well, let me get my shoes. I'm just like, oh my god. Yeah.
Scott Benner Like, seriously, like, little kids are like, let me get my shoes and let's get at this. And I'm like, what what kind of lives are you people living? And I must be so boring to most of you. I swear to you. Most of you must listen and be like, that guy is so freaking boring.
Scott Benner I I prefer to think of it as solid and predictable. Yeah.
Katarina But You know?
Scott Benner Yeah.
Katarina Yeah. Think that's good.
Scott Benner Kinda awesome. Alright. Listen. You were terrific. I don't you know, when you're pregnant the sixth time, call me back.
Episode Wrap-Up & Sponsor Details
Scott Benner We'll do it again.
Katarina Thanks.
Scott Benner Yeah. I mean, once you've gotten rid of this guy and brought in a a guy making more money to to float this whole this whole endeavor you got going here. What do you got? What do you got? Like, money coming?
Scott Benner Your parents leave you something? What is it you're counting on exactly? Something's going on back there. You don't have to tell me. I got it all worked out.
Scott Benner I got it all worked out. I wouldn't marry you on a bet, by the way. I know we'd be broke and there'd be 17 kids, and I'd be like, what the hell happened? Like, Jesus Christ. Alright.
Scott Benner Alright. Let's just keep doing what you're doing. You're doing a good job.
Katarina Thank you.
Scott Benner You're very welcome. Hold on a second for me. This episode of the Juice Box podcast is sponsored by the Omnipod five. And at my link, omnipod.com/juicebox, you can get yourself a free, what I just say, a free Omnipod five starter kit. Free?
Scott Benner Get out of here. Go click on that link. Omnipod.com/juicebox. Check it out. Terms and conditions apply.
Scott Benner Eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions can be found at omnipod.com/juicebox. Links in the show notes. Links at juiceboxpodcast.com. A huge thank you to Cozy Earth, a longtime sponsor.
Scott Benner Cozyearth.com. Use the offer code juice box at checkout. You will save 20% off of your entire order when you use that code. Don't let me down kids. Head over there now.
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Scott Benner Use the offer code juice box at checkout. Dexcom sponsored this episode of the juice box podcast. Learn more about the Dexcom g seven at my link, dexcom.com/juicebox. Thank you so much for listening. I'll be back very soon with another episode of the Juice Box podcast.
Scott Benner If you're not already subscribed or following the podcast in your favorite audio app, like Spotify or Apple podcasts, please do that now. Seriously, just to hit follow or subscribe will really help the show. If you go a little further in Apple Podcasts and set it up so that it downloads all new episodes, I'll be your best friend. And if you leave a five star review, oh, I'll probably send you a Christmas card. Hey, kids.
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