#1925 Blue Shoes
Blue Shoes
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Diagnosed in Mexico at 18 2:32
I'm senior Robertson. I've been living with type one diabetes for the last twenty one years. I was diagnosed in 2006. And, yeah, I was diagnosed in Mexico, so I guess the story could be interesting.
Awesome. How old were you at diagnosis?
I was 18 years old.
Okay. Wait. Did you say 21 years? Yep. So you're 39?
On the forties right now.
No. You're 39. Right?
Yes.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's how you say it. I'm 39.
Are you married or kids, anything like that?
Yeah. I'm married. I have twins. They are 15 years old, and I have been testing them with the trial net. Thankfully, they've been negative.
No, no marks on
their Okay. No auto any they're not showing any antibodies or anything?
Yeah. No.
Well, that's good news. That's good news. Do you do you have any other autoimmune issues, or do your kids or anybody in your family have, Hashimoto's or celiac or anything like that?
Yeah. Well, my grandma, my mom's mom, she used to have the, skin patches. The name is, like, Vitiligo. I don't know the name
of Yeah. Vitiligo. Yep.
Yep. That's what she had. And, well, when I when I knew this was an autoimmune disease, I understood better where it came from.
Yeah. You start figuring it out. Right? I mean so no but no type one diabetes in your life other than you?
No. Just me. And I hope I'm the only black sheep.
Well, that doesn't make you the black sheep, does it? No. Not really. Of course not. No.
But I hear what you're saying. You don't want anybody else going through this if they don't have to. Right?
Right.
Nosebleeds, weight loss, and a missed cold 4:26
Yeah. Right. What, what precipitated your diagnosis? What what did you notice? You know, how did you handle it?
How do I handle it right now?
No. No. No. Back when you were diagnosed, how what what was the first thing that made you think, like, oh, I'm something's wrong?
So I was losing a lot of weight. You know? All the DKA symptoms, I was actually in DKA when they they diagnosed me. I was feeling so bad. I had my heart rate was super fast, and I had, like, hypothermia.
And my mom took me to the hospital. Well, she first took me with my uncle. So my uncle, he's a doctor, just like a family doctor. Mhmm. And he tried he tried taking my blood pressure, and he couldn't.
Like, the the he had this electric, blood pressure thing machine, and it didn't work. So he thought it was the battery, and he changed the battery, and it was not working at all.
Is it because was your pressure so low it was having trouble reading it?
Yes.
Oh, wow.
Yeah. And I was throwing up that day so bad. I couldn't stop. I couldn't eat anything. Yeah.
Like I say, my heart rate was super high. Like, it was pumping so fast. I feel that I couldn't breathe. Mhmm. And then I had the hypothermia.
I was so so cold. Really? Yeah. I was in front of the of the heater, and I could not get hot. Like, my body was not warm.
How long had you
I was literally dying.
Yeah. Yeah. No. No. I was gonna say, you know what it's like to try to die.
So what's the, how long was that going on for? Like, when you look back, how long do you think you were not making your own insulin at that?
So losing weight, that was for a couple of months. But that was I kinda had, like, a cold before. Mhmm. And I did my mom took me to the doctor, and I told him that I was having, like my nose was bleeding for a couple of days. So he was like, okay.
We're gonna send you some lab work, and we'll see. You probably are you probably are losing weight because you, you know, when you hit puberty, you right now, you're in, you know, the teenage years, and some people get fat, some people, you know, lose weight. And I was like, oh, okay.
You're like, what about the my nose has been bleeding for four days. What about that? Yeah.
So he send the the the blood work, but they didn't take the the the blood that day.
Okay.
So I had to schedule that. And that was that was going to be, like, a week after. And before that came up, I ended up in the hospital
Yeah.
With the PA. So I had all those symptoms. My mom took me with my uncle. My my uncle was like, you know what? This is not good.
He told my mom to rush me to the ER. We went there. So in Mexico, have private insurance or you have kinda like the universal or public insurance Mhmm. From the government, which at that time I didn't have private insurance. So they took me there.
And it the hospital was, like, full. The emergency room was full. The doctor who was assigned to me kinda told my mom, like, has she been going out? Like, has she been with her friends and drinking and stuff like that? And my mom was like, no.
She's not been going out. She's been sick for the last couple of weeks. Yeah. And he was like, kinda, like, telling my mom, like, if I was using rocks.
Oh, she's probably hungover or That's what that's Yeah. Okay.
Exactly. So my mom was like, no. I don't think so. Anyways, he connect me and they gave me, oxygen. They put some oxygen.
Mhmm. And then
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The doctor who smelled DKA 10:31
He put an IV, which, you know, the regular IV has glucose. And I don't remember the rest of the that day. Everything that I'm gonna say is the story that my mom told me.
Wow. Everything after the IV is retold to you because you have no recollection of it at all? Mhmm. Wow. That's great.
I wanna hear. What what did your mom say happened?
So they sent me back home. She was like, she will she will be fine. Take her home. They took me back home. I went to sleep.
I peed my pants. I was I I was in the closet, so I have my, you know, the walk in closet in my room. Yeah. And I was trying to go to the bathroom, but I was making noises. Like like, I was like, not feeling good.
So my mom heard that she went to to look for me, and she found me in the closet peeing my pants.
Your mom was probably like, this kid is she's probably like, this kid is on drugs. Yeah. She she loves you.
Like, this is not good at all. She was like, why are you doing? And I was like, mom, close the door. I'm in the bathroom. Oh.
I say.
My gosh.
So she was like, no. This is this is bad. This is not good. So she called my uncle again, and she was like, hey. This is going on.
They sent her back. He was like, come come pick me up. I'll go with you guys.
So Can I ask you a question real quick? Can yeah. How do you say how do you say in the closet in Spanish? I guarantee that's what she said to your uncle. Yeah.
Guarantee it. Yeah. Yeah. She's peeing her pants in the closet. She's like, listen.
She doesn't know what is going on.
Shit's upside down over here. Okay? My god. I'm sorry.
What did you And I do not remember.
Well, thank god thank god you don't remember, honestly. Okay. You don't who needs to carry that with him? So Right. Nobody.
Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. So your uncle go ahead.
Yeah. He was like, pick me up. We will go there together. So we went back there. All the ER beds were full.
My uncle took someone from the bed and put me there because I could not walk at that at that point.
I could not walk. Okay.
“Call the family — she may not make it” 12:47
So, thankfully, it was kinda like the shift change for for the doctors. So there was a new doctor getting in the ER. So this was a young doctor. He only what he did was he smelled me. Yeah.
And he asked my mom, is she diabetic? And my mom was like, what? Yeah. Is she diabetic? And she say, how is that?
She's diabetic. And he was like, yeah. Is she being diagnosed as a diabetic? And my mom was like, no. No.
No. She's she's not diabetic. And he was like, well, she is. And I turned and they put the IVs and everything. They were I do remember they were I don't know.
How can I say it? They were, like, ripping off my clothes with scissors.
Mhmm.
And I was so worried because I was wearing one of my best friend's hoodies. And I was like, no. In my mind. Right? I was like saying to myself, oh my gosh.
She gonna get mad. This is not mine.
You can't you couldn't speak out loud. That you remember that. You remember that from this I remember. Yeah.
I do remember looking on my arm and the scissors. They were couldn't ripping off my hoodie, and I was like, this is not mine.
Not my top. It's not my top.
But I yeah. I I could not say anything. Sure. You know?
Well, yeah, you were trying really hard to die, it sounds like. What was your blood sugar? What was your blood sugar?
I I never knew. No. I never knew. I don't even know if they did peptide like, the c peptide test. So I don't know.
I really don't know. So when they last came back, they told my mom she's diabetic for sure. And they started using insulin, and the insulin they started using was NPH insulin
Mhmm.
At that time. So I spent three days there. The first night, they told my mom that, she should call all my friends and family because they they were thinking that I was not going to make it.
No kidding. Yeah. Tell me again, you were 18, 19?
18.
18. And your mom's got a call around the family, say, come see Cindy. She she might die.
Yes. Wow. Yeah. It was my second semester, in college. So I didn't go, for, like, a month.
Some of the teachers were really nice and understood what was going on, but some others didn't care and just had to take that class again, you know, the test
Yeah.
As a second chance. And
yeah. Wow.
Anyways, yeah, I spent three days there in the ICU. And then
When did you kinda become in those three days, were you with it again, or did it take you how much time did it take you to kinda get your faculties and and your wits about you?
Well, I, like, I don't I really don't know.
So I
I do remember I think it it was the next day or on the second day that my best friend went to see me, and she told me it was a shock because they were, you know, they were pricking my fingers, the nurses, to check on my blood sugar, but they leave me like, my finger was still bleeding a little bit. So I was scratching my face, and my best friend say that when she got inside of the room, she saw, like, blood on my face because it was from my fingers, but I was just scratching my face with my fingers.
Yeah. Let's say that you weren't you weren't with it by then, let's say. Yes. Exactly. Okay.
And and so she was like, it was a shock. I was she would just say she was scared. But
Young girls do. You know? I mean, think about that. Really, put yourself in that position. You're going to the hospital to visit your friend who might be dying, and there's blood all over their face, and she's incoherent.
Right. Because my mom had to tell them, like, hey. I need you to come see her because we don't know if she gonna make it.
Boy, is that something else? That's scary. How'd your mom, how did that impact your mom?
I'm gonna be very honest. She never she never I never saw her crying.
Okay.
She was always so strong.
Did it make her extra protective of you, do you think, after that?
A little bit. Not in a bad way. I mean, they were always, like, very protective family with me and my my siblings, but I do remember. And this is a funny story. We went to Las Vegas two years after my diagnosis.
And, you know, the stratosphere, they have these roller coaster stuff. And my mom was like, no. Don't do it. Don't do it because your blood sugar is gonna go high and stuff. And I'm like, calm down.
I'm gonna be fine. So I did it. And just for her peace of mind, I checked my blood sugar after. And I was like, I'm 120. I'm fine.
I can do it again.
I can do it again.
She was like the the those were the kind of things she was worried about. You know? Like
Hey. You said Yeah. When they gave when you were diagnosed, they gave you NPH. How long did you use, like, NPH and regular for? Where did you where did you use NPH and baby?
Thirteen years on NPH 18:22
I'm sorry. What was your faster acting insulin? Do you remember?
Did not have one until until they sent me to a specialist.
Oh, wait a minute. Are you gonna tell me they thought you were a type two?
I think so because they also gave me a, like, a eating plan that was based on 2,000 calorie.
Oh, I oh oh, okay.
Told me we were using insulin to cover carbs. Okay?
How long did that go on
that was, like, two months.
Okay.
And then they sent me to the specialist, and I was like, okay. This is not enough. I was running in the four hundreds.
And For two months?
Yeah. Not not not all day. You know?
I'm 300,
300, 200, 300. You know? So they say they sent me to the specialist, and then she was like, well, you need to use fast acting insulin. And she gave me at that time was a Humalog Lispro.
Yeah.
And she was like, and you can even combine the NPH with the with the to mix it. I could mix the NPH with the Humalog in the morning and at night when I was taking dinner.
That's what you
were doing. But nobody told me about pre prevolous, you know, like, nobody told me about it.
I mean, that that's a weird that's a kind of a weird setup. How long did you do that for, the the Humalog and the Miles per hour?
Until 2019.
Wait. Did you say 2019?
Correct.
Wait. Hold on a second. It's 2026 now. That's seven years ago.
Right.
Uh-huh.
It took so long. I mean, I was just doing good with it. I I always stay under you know, my a one c was around six, seven. Six, seven.
Were you low much?
At night. Yes. I actually kinda, like, had a period of time, and that was when I went to another specialist because I was like, okay. This insulin is not is not good for me. Like Mhmm.
I knew at 3AM I was awake until 3AM because I knew I was going to have a load.
Oh, gosh. Every every night every night you'd sit up, Zenia?
Every night. Yeah. For and that lasted, like, a complete year.
Oh my god. Like
yeah. So I went with the new specialist, and he was like, yeah. We need to change you. I don't know why you are taking this insulin. Like, this is the oldest thing in Earth.
And he changed me to Lantus, and that was awesome. That started working great. Obviously, I could not mix it anymore.
Yeah. But you did that for how many years did you do that? How many years did you do that for?
The NPH and the Humalog was for thirteen years.
Oh my god. How does no one mention are you in Mexico the whole time?
Yes.
Okay. Nobody ever says to you, hey. We have a more modern insulin. It's called Lantus. Would you like to try it?
I knew about it, but you know what? I was like, yeah. What I mean, this is working. And I was still going to the public health system, hospitals and doctors and stuff. And they were like, oh, you're doing really good.
Because I was really I was doing good. Thankfully, I I can say right now that I don't have any other complication. Yeah. Knock on wood. No.
But I'll knock on it for you. There you go. So so it was working, and somebody did mention Lantus, but you thought, well, this is working. It's I'm not gonna change.
Yeah. Okay. Until I was like, okay. This this is not I need I need to, you know, do something else.
What pushed
also start using the because I was, you know, MDI, and I was not using any sensor
until 2019. I gotta be honest with you. If you were on Miles per hour, but you had a a CGM, I would have been like, I I don't know how that happened. So so you're without us how how many times a day do you think you tested for that time?
Oh, I was testing, like, every every time I cool. I was spending a lot on test strips. Like,
yeah. You think you were testing 10 times a day?
Easy. Yeah. Even more.
Yeah. Yeah. Wow. My gosh. So but when you changed, were you in Mexico still when they said Lantus and CGMs, or had you moved by then?
Okay. So in Mexico, they released the the freestyle in Mhmm. I think 02/2019, and that's when I switched to it. Okay. It was the fourteen days, and it was not it was like the flash one where you had to
Hold the
scan it with your phone.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. To scan it.
Yeah. Mhmm.
Yeah. That was fun. Well, I guess it was better than nothing. You were probably thrilled you could stop testing your blood sugar all that time.
Oh, it was fantastic.
Yeah. No kidding.
I was like, I don't need to be pricking my fingers anymore.
Right. Like, what a what an upgrade for you. Right?
Yes.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Well, I mean, thank god it you don't have any, you know, long term complications and you and you get modernized, you're moving along.
Is there a big change for you of a serious, I don't know, upgrade having moved to the Lantus? And, I am assuming your Lantus and Humalog and then a CGM, or is it just like, oh, I still do a good job, but it's easier? Like, what's the what's the viewpoint? No? No.
Modernizing: Freestyle, Omnipod 5, Dexcom 24:04
No. Definitely, it's been a huge change. You know, I stay well, right now, I'm using the Omnipod and the Dexcom seven.
Okay.
But, yeah, it definitely improved improved when I started using the the the Freestyle and then when I moved to the pens and then I moved to the Omnipod. So it's been great.
A one c go down or just the amount of times you have to touch diabetes got better?
Both. Both. My time on range and also my a one c went down a lot.
What's your time in range? Do you know?
Right now, it's 85, 86%.
That's awesome. What what range are you measuring?
I go from 75 to one sixty.
75 to one sixty, 85% of the time? Yeah. Good for you. And that's Omnipod five or Dash?
The five.
Five. Wow. Awesome. Did you get the, the update for the new 100 target?
Oh, yes. I did, and I immediately changed it.
Good for you. I people are are enjoying it a lot. I hope it I hope it shows something. I mean, I guess maybe you're a good person to ask, but you've had it for a few days, a week.
Yeah. It's been a couple of days. What I'm having trouble right now is with my DexCom seven is the fifteen days, and it was crazy. Like, last week last weekend? Yeah.
I think it was last weekend, like a week like a week ago.
Okay.
We went out, and we went to eat sushi, and I was feeling fine. And we went to a bar next to the restaurant, and I was like, okay. I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna prepare for it. Because I knew I was a little a little high. Mhmm.
But I was like, okay. I'm gonna take a couple of of units, and I'll wait for my drink because I know my drink was going to have a little bit of sugar. Mhmm. And I was like, you know, it doesn't match what it's saying. So my sensor said I was hitting the three hundreds, and I was like, no.
No. No. No. No. Thankfully, I have my my glucose meter with me, and I check on my finger, and I was actually two hundred and ten.
And you had taken a lot of insulin?
Yes. And I was like, oh. So my friend went to the to the bar, and she was like, hi. Can you give me a doctor Pepper? Was like, doctor Pepper?
Yes. I like that one.
I'll take that one. You didn't get low, though. You you're able to figure it out. But you're saying that your sensor was saying 300 when you were more like two ten.
Yeah. Which is, huge.
Is that a thing you didn't experience with the g seven ten day?
No. No. Okay. Neither with the g six when I was using the g six. So
Okay. Arden is using her Arden's using her first fifteen day right now. So, I mean, so far so far so good. It's been it's been okay. I think we're, like, four or five days into it maybe.
But we didn't mean to switch. We had some of the other g sevens still, but I think she sent her boyfriend to the drawer to get something, and he grabbed one of the new ones by mistake, and she just popped it on. So, I guess we're, I I guess we're gonna ride it out and see and then probably go back to the others, use them up, and then switch over for the rest of the way.
Right.
Yeah.
Time to try it.
Yeah. What made you move to, The US, and where'd you move about where'd you move to?
Nebraska, football, and a stadium low 27:37
Yeah. Well, I moved here in two thousand twenty one because I got married, and my husband is from here. So, yeah, I'm I'm now here, and and it was a a fun experience, actually, the first time I came here to visit his family and meet them all. Because here in Nebraska, you know, it's a big thing, the college football. And
You're in Nebraska. Wait. You're in Nebraska now? That's hilarious. I'm in Nebraska.
Kinda hilarious, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. So he was so excited. He was like, okay. For my birthday, we're gonna have the tailgate, and it's gonna be the kickoff from today.
City. Gotta tell you.
And I was like, oh
You're you're you're kinda fair complected. You must you must confuse the hell out of those people.
I know.
Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry, guys.
But it is what it is, and I'm here now.
They must they must hear your accent and be like, I don't know what's happening.
Yeah. They are like, what?
I'm sorry. What what about the I I I confused. What about the college football? What were you saying?
So the first time I came to you is my husband when we were still in our relationship. Mhmm. He was so excited. It was his birthday, the kickoff of the college football, and we had tickets for that game. Mhmm.
And so it was going to be a long day. I had everything with me. I had, you know, a couple of juices and snacks and everything if I have a low. But at that time, I was still MDI and using my finger Yeah. To check my blood sugar.
So we went there. We were tailgating. And, obviously, I mean, we were drinking. Not a whole lot. I was always very, you know, like, to not be not be, like, over drinking because it scares me.
It actually gives me a little bit of anxiety that that point where you are fine and where you are not and then you don't have control of yourself, and I don't know if I'm gonna go low. So that's I I try I try not to cross that point because of that. And it was time to go to the stadium. So we start walking, and I was like, I'm having a terrible low. I told my husband, I can't keep walking anymore.
I can't. I'm gonna die right now. I I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die here. He was like, no.
No. No. I'm gonna get you something. He runs to get me something. You know, it was so packed.
All the people was walking to get into the stadium. Mhmm. And he had to call 911 and the ambulance. And so the ambulance got there. And I don't know this lady.
If she's listened to to this podcast, thank you so much for giving me your Pepsi. I think it was a Pepsi or a Coke. I don't know her. I just drink it.
Yeah.
And I start throwing up. I when I go low very fast, I throw up. So I don't know if there's more people who have that and happen to them the same way it happens to me, but it's just something that I
You if you drop if you drop
when I'm having trouble.
So you're telling me if you drop quickly, you vomit? Yes. Do you get nauseous?
Yeah. Yes.
Yeah. Okay. Alright. And that so you know if you start having that
recognize blows.
Yeah. You start having that feeling. You think, oh, I'm getting low.
Yes.
Okay. Okay. So he's got a call, but are you just dating at that point?
Yes. It was the first time I came to Nebraska.
You're like, he's gonna take me back to Mexico and leave me there. Yeah. Yeah. Well,
he was so worried. Like, the next day after everything this happened, he was like, oh my gosh. I was so scared, but I was going to tell your parents. And, like, yeah. Your your daughter came to visit me, and now, you know, she's dead.
You know? Like, he was so worried. Sorry. I killed your daughter at the at the Nebraska game. Yeah.
Yeah. Exactly. Well, the good thing is that, there was a storm, so the Nebraska game never happened. So it was fine. We didn't, you know
Wait a minute. No. I I know this is apropos of nothing, but there was a storm so strong it ended a it made a college football game get postponed?
Yes. That's crazy. The first the first game of the season and the first game for Scott Frost. Frost is his last name.
Okay.
He was the head coach. Yeah. Yeah.
And and they can't they they rescheduled a college football. Football doesn't get rescheduled for weather very often.
That's Well, it did that day.
That day. Mel, that's good. Did you get to go to the game then? Yeah. Yeah.
See, it all worked out. Maybe they post standard for you there. Like, you know, Zinni is out there. She's throwing up and dizzy and everything. Doing very well.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Let's make sure she sees her first game. Well, what did did they treat you on the scene and then leave you there?
You did did you go to the hospital?
No. I I went to the hospital, and they put some IV and everything, and I was fine. Actually, they treat me on the ambulance. They gave me a couple of, you know, those gel packages Mhmm. With glucose.
Yeah. And when I got to the hospital, I was fine, but they still wanted to make sure that I was okay. So yeah.
They got you on the hook now for the bill. They they wanna they wanna finish up, get you they wanna get all the money. Yeah. Yeah. I hear what you're saying.
Well, does this stuff happen to you often, the passing out?
No. No. No. Like I say, it was totally an accident because we ate very early, and I just I didn't have in my mind how much of walking it was. Yeah.
And, you know, I was just sitting there talking with people. Everybody was so happy to meet me. You know? Like, oh, this girl, my best friend's girlfriend from Mexico.
Yeah. Right. No. It's exciting.
We were talking and talking. I sat down. I start feeling bad. And then my my now husband, he was like, hey. We need to go to the to the stadium.
And I was like, okay. I start walking, and I was like, I can I can keep walking? Like, I'm I'm dropping so fast. And, yeah, that's what happened.
How long ago how long ago was
that? That was 2018.
2018. Right before you get a pump?
Yeah. Well, I I think I got my pump. The first time I used it was in 2022.
Oh, wow. Okay. Mhmm. Wow. Jeez.
Why she came on — for the teenagers 34:22
You've had a whole little life here around this. Made you what made you wanna come on the podcast? Like, what what got you to reach out? Because it's the big deal. People don't like you said before we started recording, I've never done this before.
I'm a little nervous. Like, what makes you follow through and actually do it?
I think just sharing the experience, you know, especially when you are like, I think I would like more teenagers to listen to this because it was hard for me being diagnosed when I was a teenager in Mexico. You know, the diabetes education there is I hope it is better now, but at the time was very different. And I never met someone with diabetes in Mexico.
Never?
No. I do remember one of my friends told me, like, hey. My neighbor has that thing that you have, and he wears a pump. And I was like, well, that's very far from what I can get right now. And I think he was getting a pump in The United States or I don't know where.
Like, he has to travel to get it or something like that.
Had it worked out somehow.
I was like, oh, okay.
So not a person you even met, just a person down the street that somebody knows about, and that's it. And so so Yes. If a teen heard this, what would you hope that they took from your story?
Well, you know, you will get there. You will learn about life. And I know they get so worried about especially women because one of the things they told me is like, oh, you're probably not gonna be able to have kids. Oh. Well, guess what?
I have I have twins, actually.
Made them both at the same time. What do think of that?
Yeah.
So So do you think girls get told maybe you won't be able to have a baby, and it's scary, that kind of stuff?
Yeah. That's scary. You know? Like, they tell you all the complications complications about about being pregnant and having diabetes. Mhmm.
And and then they tell you about, you know, you wanted to start your life. You started becoming an adult, and you want to start drinking or just enjoying a drink, you know, like, or traveling. You know? It was so scary for me. Like, how am I gonna travel with all this?
What if I don't have enough supplies?
Well, where'd you find the
You'll get there. You can do it.
How how do you how do you think you do.
This is scary.
How do you think you gained all that knowledge to do those things? Because you traveled out of the country. You dated a guy, you know, not from where you're from. You had babies. Like, you got married.
Like, where do you think the is it just practice, or how do you how do you wrap your head around Yeah. How you were able to get this done?
Definitely practice, but also I like to read. I like to read. I like to investigate. You know, like, figure it figure things out. Like, if this is not working, well, what else?
You know? Like, I need to figure Mhmm.
And
find, you know, problem solving. Yeah. So I think and, you know, when you just feel comfortable, comfortable, you you need need to to get get out out of of that that zone. Zone.
Okay. Okay. Yeah.
Just be other things that are better.
Have experiences
happened to me.
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, I I guess whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That kind of an idea. But, also, you don't wanna be in terrible situations.
The blue shoes nobody explained 37:32
Do you wish that you would've changed insulin sooner? Do you wish that you would've had access to technology sooner, or are you happy for how your path was?
No. Absolutely. I would have liked switch sooner.
What do you think having been a person who somebody, you know, said Lantus to you, but then you didn't change, like, what is it you should have been more open to hearing when somebody was making suggestions?
I would have liked to hear more like, hey. This will act this way. This is not like, oh, there's another insulin in this one. But how it works. You know?
And maybe I should have done more questions Mhmm. I think.
So you are you telling me that, you know I don't know. You somebody gave you a a red pair of shoes, and then they said, there's blue shoes too. And you said, no. Thanks. I like my red shoes, but they forgot to tell you that the blue shoes make you fly, and they come with a thousand dollar check.
And, like so nobody told you what the benefits were of the thing they were offering you. They just said, would you like blue shoes? And you said, no. I'm good with my red ones.
Exactly.
Like that. Okay. Alright. So Mhmm. Don't just turn to if you're a doctor, don't just turn to somebody and say, hey.
Do you wanna try this? Tell them why maybe they would want to give them some background so they can understand.
Exactly.
Have you have you found the care in America any different than in Mexico?
Yes. It is different. Like I say, I never went to the I I did I did go to, some private appointments, but I never stick to it, you know, like, keep going with those doctors. Maybe because I was just doing good. But here, my endocrinologist, she's also type one.
So I love that because she really understand, you know, how I can feel and all the ups and downs, not only, like, what the book space.
So having a doctor who understands better is helpful, but at the same time, you need to take a little responsibility too and ask more questions if if the information is not being offered?
Exactly.
Yeah. That's one of the things you've learned over time. How do you think that's gonna change you moving forward? I mean, obviously, you have Omnipod five now, but if, you know, Omnipod five comes out with another version or another company says something that you're like, oh, that's interesting. How are you staying, Are you maybe, maybe you're not?
But how are you staying up on what's going on and making decisions about whether or not where you are is good or if you need to change?
Well, definitely following, you know, the the page in Facebook helps to keep updated because sometimes I don't even open my emails. Mhmm. Like, I just get so many emails. We work, and then I have the teen the the the boys are are teenagers right now. So life is busy.
Right? But, you know, following people who can bring more information. I think now with the social media, you can get that information right away.
Kinda keep up a little better.
So being being open to try new things as well. You know? And if it doesn't work, you you can just go back to what what it was working Mhmm. For you. So, yeah, definitely, if if if Omnipod comes with something new, I will definitely try it.
I also I've been looking on other prompts, like, I willing to try something with you know, that is not too blessed or yeah. Right now, I'm good. I also the other thing is, like, insurance. You know, that part of the insurance. Like, if I switch, how will we if it's if I switch, am I gonna do it?
Do I wanna do it? Do I want to spend that money on that, you know, if I'm if I'm doing good right now? It's like you know, there there's a lot of factors that you have to take on
Yep.
Take that decision.
Hope for the Eledon trial 41:30
Is there something that you're hopeful about? Like, things you've heard about that you think, well, I can't wait for that to actually happen?
Yeah. I'm very excited about the Elodon trial that they are doing right now. It seems promising. Mhmm. And, yeah, I wish they they could, you know, work on that isolate, act faster, and get it set, more people can get the the trial.
And See where it goes. What would
it I see it very, very, very close. You know? They say five years, and he's been 21. So Yeah. Me, at least.
I know there's people waiting for longer.
Yeah. Yeah. I don't usually ask questions like this, but what would it mean to you if that I don't know. Let's say that procedure just becomes the way things are done. You get type one diabetes.
You go see somebody. They put some islet cells in your liver and give you a anti rejection medication that doesn't cause cancer, hopefully, and then you aren't using insulin anymore. Like, what what do you think that how do you think that fundamentally changes your life?
Well, I think that the first thing will impact is the time. You know? This is time consuming. But I don't know. I mean, just
Time's a pretty good answer.
Taking decisions.
Yeah. Not thinking about it all the time.
Many decisions. Exactly. Yeah. It's like my kids also ask me things like, hey, mom. When is my driver's license appointment?
And I'm like, I cannot keep all of that in my mind. I have enough, but I do have the calendar so you can check-in there.
When is my driver's license appointment? I have diabetes. Leave me alone.
Don't leave me alone. No. I'm I'm pretty good about it, but there's some times that I forget about things too, and I'm like, I don't know. It's just go to your calendar. I have enough things.
You know?
And No. No. I hear you.
Being a mom with twins 43:22
Yeah.
How does it impact being a mom other than that, or does it not? And how much of this do you share with your kids? Like, how aware are they of your health and and how it is and what you do?
Well, they are they are amazing. Like, sometimes I'm like, hey. I know you would like to take some of my Sour Patch, but I'm not gonna share with you
because
I'm far from home. And if I need them, you don't want me to die because you are the only one here with me. You gotta figure it out. He's like, no, mommy. It's fine.
The lady
with me.
You're the lady turning Sour Patch Kids into medicine. That's no fun.
Yeah. So Do they No. They're doing good. If I ask them, like, hey. Can you bring me a juice from the fridge?
They would do it.
Right? Know why.
They understand.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah. Could they help you if you had a seizure?
Yes. I know they will be able to help me. Actually they just got the American Red Cross CPR certification and all of that. They are lifeguards. That as well.
Oh, they're they're lifeguards?
They don't freak out.
There's a all I heard all I heard was there's a pool in Nebraska. That I didn't expect at all. But
That that that is is here.
They're life are they identical or fraternal twins?
Identical.
No kidding. What what what's the one thing that helps you tell them apart when you see I mean, I imagine at this point you just know them, but what's the thing about them that is obvious to you?
Well, right now, one of them is using braces and has short hair. That will be the fastest.
That's helpful. Do they have any like, are there any like, what do you see, though, as your as their mom? Is it their eyes? Where do you see it when you look at them? How do you know it's them?
Definitely, their eyes and their voice is different.
Their voice is different. Okay.
Like, if they call me, I know for sure who is it even if I don't see who's calling.
Mhmm. They look more like you or your husband?
Me. Yeah. They are totally my my dad Wow. That's so my brother.
That's so cool. Isn't that nice? How about your husband now? Does he have a lot of inner working knowledge about the diabetes?
Yes. Yeah. No. He's on top of it. He, when I was m I MDI, I I told him, like, you need to learn to put insulin.
So he was not as scared of the syringes and anything. He was I was like, okay. Do seven units, and I'll put it on my arm. And, yeah, I trained him. He's really good.
I actually I sent him a video of the glucagon, the Oximie.
Yeah.
Yeah. And he was like, oh, now I know how it is. And I was like, yeah. You need to know just in case. I have a couple on my counter.
Yeah.
Pay attention.
Pay attention. Yeah.
Did he ever talk to you about that incident when you were dating? Did it scare him? Make him think twice about dating someone with type one, anything like that?
Not at all. I actually told him. I was like, I can't believe you keep dating me. Like, he was like, no. I mean, I got scared for you.
But other than that, I was like, yeah. Whatever.
Didn't frighten him away.
He's not no. No. Not at all.
How about you? Did you have concerns? Like, did you think, oh, maybe I'm gonna be like, maybe that'll be the end of it for me here? Like, will he be embarrassed or worried or anything like that? Or did you have a relationship where that didn't come into your mind?
You know what? It didn't come to my mind.
Mhmm. How long had you been dating at that point?
Like, three months.
Are you serious? Well
Yeah.
Well, he likes you. That's for sure.
Definitely. Yeah. Yeah.
Is it a big Yeah.
I don't know about it.
Yeah. You mentioned that the kids did trial net more than once, it sounds like. Is that a big worry for you?
Yes. I think that's that's a that's the biggest my biggest worry. Like, now that they are 15 Mhmm. That kinda, like, decrease, it doesn't worry me that much anymore because, you know, they are becoming adults. So I know it will be easier if that happens than if they were a toddler.
So still, it will be super scary, whatever. I don't I you know, nobody wants their kids to be diagnosed with type one diabetes. But Right. I think it wouldn't be for me as bad as I thought or as vast as bad as it was when I was when they were younger.
You think that's because of technology or because you understand it?
Because I understand it. K. I mean, technology is great. I know it also helps a lot, but I know it is because I understand it better now.
Alright. Hold on a second. Sorry about that. I just something caught my eye. It it messed me up for a second.
The nurse who prayed for her 48:37
Anything that we, haven't talked about that we should have? Like, I wanna know if I'm missing anything in your in your story. Because you told me before we started, like, you're like, I have a lot of good stories, but, like, maybe I'm not getting to them as much as you would want. So is there, like, one in your head you're like, people need to hear this one?
Well, I think the big one was when I came visit my my husband the first time.
That's a good one. Yeah.
Yeah. That was totally a good one. Yeah.
What about when you how often do you get back to Mexico?
Well, we are planning on going probably during the winter. We don't go very often because we are not, like, too close from where I used to live in Mexico. Not too far, but not too close. So it's not like a it's not the place where we will go driving because it will take at least two days.
Right. Right.
Uh-huh. And so if we are going, you know, flights are not cheap right now. So
No. I know. I saw I had to fly somewhere recently. I was like, what do they this is I mean, I guess it's the cost of gasoline, I imagine. But but it was crazy.
What what how do you make a plan to to travel for a long like, because you if you go, you're gonna stay for a while. So you bring a ton of supplies, but is there any other thoughts you have around traveling? Any concerns that you have and ways that you figured out around them? You
know, the good thing for me is, like, I know how pharmacy and doctors and everything works in Mexico, so it's not very scary. Like, I know I will be able to figure. Like, okay. I forgot my insulin. I don't have insulin anymore.
I will just walk to the closest pharmacy and get the insulin.
So you don't need a prescription. You can walk in and just get it?
Yes. Oh, well, at least that was five years ago,
but I was
just still living there.
Gotcha.
So yeah. I don't think that have changed.
Right.
And if that's the case, like I say, my uncle is a doctor, and he pretty knows, like, that I am diabetic. So he will make a prescription for me for sure. I wouldn't have a problem about it.
Yeah. I was gonna I was gonna say, do you have still have family there? How about brothers and sisters? Do you have brothers and sisters?
Yeah. I have one sister. She's three years older than me, and I have a a brother. He's six years older than me.
Back back when you were diagnosed, so they were they still in the house at that point, or were they not living at home?
Yeah. My sister was there. She was actually she was very scared because she say that when they took me to the hospital and then they send me back home, before I peed my pants, I was sleeping. And we used to have kinda, like, not like the bunker bed, but the one that you pull out of the it's like a twin bed and you pull out one
Yeah. Under And there's one underneath of it. There's a name for that that it's escaping me at the moment. But yeah.
Yeah. I don't remember the name. So I I used to be on that one, that the one that you pull out and she was higher. So she could see me and she say that my eyes were were rolled back. Like, my eyes were completely white.
Mhmm. Like, she could not see my pupils. And she was super scared because it was hard for me to breathe because of the my heart rate. So I was like and she say that for a moment, I stopped breathing.
Yeah.
Just went quiet. And she was like, Xenia. She starts shaking me. Mhmm.
She
was like, are you okay? And when I woke woke up, that I didn't woke up, she say that my eyes were, you know, black. Not black, white, like, roll it back.
Oh, oh, yeah.
Yeah. And I look at her and I say, yeah. I'm fine. And she freaked it out.
I would imagine. Yeah. She freaked out. She's like, great. This one's possessed.
We gotta go. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah.
By the way, trund trundle bed. I can't believe that's such a simple word escaped me. But since my kids both had one, it made me feel silly. It's like I go when I couldn't think of trundle. So she thought you were possessed, obviously, then you went to the doctor, and, and they found out just diabetes.
All of them possessed by diabetes, really. If you think about it, it's in there now. You're not getting there. Right. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I guess we could pray over you, but I don't think that's gonna work. So I think it's I think it's gonna stay.
Let me tell you Let me tell you. Oh, this is part of the story. When I so when I was in the hospital for three days when diagnosed, they the last day I was in a room. I was not in the ICU username. Right?
Intensive care. Mhmm. So I was out of the intensive care, and they sent me to a room. So I was by myself. My mom was not there.
I think she went home to get clothes and change and whatever. And so someone knocked on the door, and she was like, can I come in? And I was like, yeah. But I didn't know this lady. So she entered the room and she asked me, but she couldn't, like, really speak.
She was, like, holding her mouth, like like, trying to hold her cheek. And she say, are you seeing me? And I started freaking out, you know, like, what the heck? And I say, yeah. That that's me.
Who are you? And she say, I am the ER nurse. And when you got here two days ago, I really wanted you to make it, and I was praying for you.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. That's scary when you realize that somebody saw you and really thought that this girl's not gonna live.
And she told me that she had her wisdom tooth surgery that morning, and that's why she had, you know, like, PTO, and and and she she did it at the same hospital. So she went to to make sure that I was there.
Oh, that's nice.
So she found my room. She asked for my room. She went to my room, and she told me that she was praying for me, and I really appreciate that.
Well, that's lovely. Well, I guess you never know what's going on around you, really. That's nice.
Yeah. I regret I didn't ask her name. I I don't know.
Well, I think maybe you were a bit out of it sounds like you might have been a bit out of it still. So
Oh, yeah. No. For sure. Yeah. Yeah.
Everything was so weird. Actually, when I got out of, you know, the hospital and, you know, I started doing better and then they added the Humalog, Vispro, I remember that I was not feeling very well and my hands start shaking, and I didn't know what was that. I don't know. Like, I couldn't relate the symptom to something, like, associated. Yeah.
Yeah. And so I checked my blood sugar, and I was one zero four, 104. And I was like, okay. That's how it feels when you are having a low. I have not been in the hundreds for so long that now being in 104.
It's like if I'm having, like, low blood sugar symptoms.
Okay. Yeah. Does that that doesn't still happen anymore, though. Right?
No. No. Not at all.
No. Very nice.
No. But
Surgeries, pregnancy, and a 4.9 A1c 55:48
Did you, I'm sorry. I, for the first time, looked at your notes. You had do you have some surgeries? Why did you wanna talk about those?
Oh, yeah. Well, surgeries, I had my wisdom took actually couple months after I was diagnosed. Mhmm. They have to do one side first and then the other one because they did one side and then I was, like, 120. And so the dentist was like, you know what?
I prefer you to come back so you don't, you know, be on a risk of a low because you cannot eat, obviously. So I was like, yeah. That's fine. So and then they scheduled the other side of my wisdom too
I see.
In another day. That was one. Then I had a c section when I had my boys. I recovery very fast. No problems about the the surgery.
Mhmm. Then I had my appendix. Also, no problems. I was still using not using any technology at that time. Okay?
Mhmm. Recently, I just did a hysterectomy, and the only thing I had to do was to put the activity mode on my Omnipod. Okay. And pretty much that was it. It worked perfect.
I had not problems with low or high blood sugar during the surgery.
Very nice.
It was easy peasy.
How about the I I I meant to ask you earlier, and then I got away from me. But pregnancy with the twins, like so is that a natural, or did you use IVF? And what was the pregnancy like with diabetes?
Yeah. No. It was natural. So my dad's mom, she had multiple pregnancies that were multiple. Mhmm.
She was the only child of, I don't know, if 16 siblings or 16 pregnancies. I obviously, I didn't know that runs in my family because my dad doesn't have siblings, and my mom doesn't have twin siblings in the family siblings in the family. So so I was like, yeah. I don't know what it is. And yeah.
No. But it was natural.
Yeah. Did you not get pregnant a second time because you thought I don't want four kids?
I did not. And then I started a couple of problems, like fibroids and stuff, and that's the reason why I did the hysterectomy.
But you know Yeah. My wife's going through that right now.
Yeah. It's not fun.
No. Are are are happy that you did the hysterectomy?
I am super happy. Best decision ever. I was having a mild anemia before because of those fibroids and
Mhmm.
And all, you know, the heavy heavy bleeding
Yeah. How about during the period. Was it painful too? Did you have pain?
Just a little bit, you know, the first couple of days, but not too bad.
Okay.
It was this was a laparoscopic robotic assisted.
Mhmm.
So
How long ago did you do this?
Not not very invasive. That was in January this year. Oh. So just a couple months ago.
Well, let me just, ask questions that are just for my wife and not for anybody else. How was the, recovery? Because they they make it sound like the recovery is pretty long.
Yes. So they usually give you six weeks. That's kinda like the Yeah. Like, the regular. I start feeling better after the second week.
Like, start feeling myself. Like, okay. I I'm I'm seeing you again. Obviously, the first week was horrible. Not horrible, like, bad bad, but you cannot do anything.
Yeah. Sleep, some pain medication, sleeping. Right?
Exactly.
Yeah.
So, yeah, after the second week, like I say, you start feeling yourself again. And then I went back to work, which I actually, I work remotely right now. I do go to work, like, to the office a couple of times during the month. But
Mhmm.
Like I say, it's just an office work, you know, like
Yeah.
Yeah. Sitting all the time. So the first days, I was actually using one of those seats for people with
Hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids. Yeah.
I don't know what they have.
The the the doughnut. You use the doughnut?
The doughnut. Yes. Yes. It I use it, like, two days, and I was like, okay. I'm fine.
Kinda like I push myself to get used to, you know, be sitting for longer hours because at the beginning, they felt it kinda, like, felt like, I cannot be sitting, you know, like, not even an hour. So I was taking breaks.
Yeah.
Breaks. And, yeah, everything worked out. I Good. If you ask me, do I recommend if you're having serious problems with weighted, yeah, do it.
It was it was worth it.
I can tell you it was worth it. Yeah.
Well, that's good to know. Thank you. But going back to your pregnancy, like, were there adjustments made for your diabetes? Did your care change? I mean, I'm I'm trying to do the math.
Were you using NPH still during your pregnancy?
Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I was using NPH and Lispro, and, yeah, there were changes. I had to increase my NPH.
Mhmm. And I did not increase, I think, the the Lispro. I think it was only the NPH, like longer like, higher doses
Okay.
Of NPH. I actually they had to use steroids by the end of my pregnancy to develop the lungs of my babies. And I can tell you that it did not affect my blood sugar, which is weird because I know that some that's that's the name. Right? That's how they call it.
Steroids?
You have to use steroids. Yeah.
Yep. And and what were what were the problems the babies had?
No problems.
No problems. No problems.
But they Okay. They they tried to use that before the end of the pregnancy because they don't they didn't know if they, if they could be in Spanish, it's which means that they will be big babies.
Did you have what was your a one c like through the pregnancy? Do you know?
Oh, I hit the fours.
Oh, you were that no kidding.
I was, like, 4.9. Yeah.
Oh, so big big big babies because they were worried about you because there's two in there, not because of your diabetes.
Yes. I gotcha. So they were checking in every month or every, like, three weeks. They run the a one c's every three weeks just to make sure that I was doing fine. But the thing is that if you're running high, like, with high blood glucose during your pregnancy is when you have the risk of having a big baby, like, heavy Mhmm.
Baby. Because I don't know. And and and and don't trust me about this. There's some doctor here that could say how it really works. But so it's like the baby is trying to send insulin for your high blood sugar.
Okay. Okay.
So I don't know how that can affect the baby and make it big.
But that was one of the concerns. Okay.
That was one of the concerns, which, thankfully, that didn't happen.
Didn't have a very
good a one c's during the pregnancy. Yeah.
Did your insulin needs change very quickly after you delivered?
I don't remember.
You're like, that was a while ago.
I don't remember. Yeah. I I
don't remember.
But I I I do remember I had to adjust, but I don't remember how fast it happened. Like, if it was right away or or not.
So your memory of this is really just you kinda followed along with what the doctor said and and things worked out well?
Yes. Yeah.
Cornhusker family, and Panic Room 1:04:04
Alright. That's nice. Are you still a are you a Cornhuskers fan? Do you still go to games, or was that a one time thing?
No. We are going to all the to every time we can, we go, and we watch them. Yes.
Nice. Nice.
It's a Cornhusker family.
I would imagine. And your kids do your kids play sports or anything like that?
They do. They do wrestling, football, and soccer.
Oh my gosh. So you're always somewhere on a court or in a on a field or something.
Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
Which do they like
tell you. Resin resin is the one that can affect my blood glucose the most.
Why? Because do you get upset or excited?
No. No. I I get excited. I get, like you know, every time they get on the mat, it's like, I'm like, gosh. I don't know what's gonna happen here.
I just don't wanna see, but I have to see.
You get nervous for them?
Yes. Do
you? Oh, that's nice. That's very nice. That they which one do you think they like the best of the sports?
Football.
Football? You don't do you mind them banging into other kids, or are you okay with that?
Oh, no. I'm okay. They've been doing that since long ago. Since they were born.
Yeah. I I
They tackle each other.
Oh, I was gonna say. Right? They're they're they're probably probably so interesting to raise twins. My neighbor had two sets of twins. And Oh my gosh.
Yeah. One was one set was boy and a girl. The other set was two girls. Okay. Yeah.
It's a lot because they all they all come due for college at the same time. You know?
Right. Yeah. That's that's the next the next journey here in a couple of years.
Yeah. Do you think they'll go?
Yeah. Yeah. We are planning on it.
Very nice. That's nice. Well, is there anything that I haven't asked you that I should have or anything that got missed?
I think we cover everything. Yeah.
Yeah? You feel good about this? Were you happy with how it went?
Yes. Awesome. Happy.
I'm glad.
Really, I wish I could say more about, you know, the teenage years. The, I say, if there's a new a new kiddo diagnosed, you know, when you're a teenager, you're gonna get there.
Yeah.
I wish I didn't worry as much as I did at that time. You know?
You were very worried as a child?
Yeah. Yeah. I used to cry of my when when I when I went to my nieces and nephews in Mexico, Pinata parties, I used to be like, I have You know? And and I was so worried about it.
But All worked out okay.
I was not. You know? Yeah. Yes.
Well, take care of yourself. Right? Keep up with trends. Do a good job, and go live your life. Right?
Exactly. Yeah. And they have it easier now with all the technology. So
Well, and that's you talking from experience. You you find it just easier to exist this way than it was previous.
Yes.
Yeah. Do you imagine there's even e like, aside of, like, you know, a cure, do you imagine that there's easier than this to be had, or is it hard for you to imagine anything being as good as what we have now?
Can you repeat that, Scott?
Do you think that technology will get better again, or do you think that it's about as good as it's gonna be for diabetes care?
Oh, no. I definitely think they will keep improving. Mhmm.
Yeah. Mhmm. I
I Every time they come up with something better, you know, so yeah. I mean
It's happening faster now.
Yeah. I mean, the idea will be like, hey. We don't need the technology anymore, you know, because they're secure.
Yeah. But until then
Yes. Yeah. And it is great that all the improvements, you know, being able to watch to use that a watch to look at your blood blood glucose is
Even that's amazing. Yeah. No. I agree with you. Okay.
Well, I appreciate you doing this.
That movie. Did you watch that movie where this little girl has a watch and she could see her her blood glucose on it.
No. I remember that movie. No. Is it recent?
No. It's a very old movie. I don't even remember who's in it and, like, in the name of it. I just remember that they kinda, like, they bought a house, and it had an elevator. And there were two people who was trying to get into the house.
And at the end, I do remember very
well Panic room.
She grabbed
Panic room with Jodie Foster?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And she grabbed a bunch of needles and start, like, put it on the this person trying to, you know, like, kill him or something.
Yeah. How did I remember that? That was awesome of me. From your by the way, from your description, no one should have been able to get that. I'm very proud of myself right now.
Description was like, you know, she had a watch with her blood sugar on it, and they people were trying to get in the house. And I'm like, oh, panic room with Jodie Foster. You know, I think the, the, the girl in that movie is the is the the vampire girl. Hold on a second. Panic room actress.
It's gonna tell me Jodi. But Kristen Stewart. I knew it. Look at me. I win again.
Yeah. Kristen Stewart was the little girl in that movie.
I never associate her with that movie.
Yeah.
I didn't know it was her.
2002. That's a long time ago. Wow. We're old. Jesus.
Yeah.
Yeah. I'm seeing a a How
old are you, Scott?
I'm 54, but I'm looking at a recent photo of Jodie Foster here in one of her in 2002, and I thought, uh-oh. My life's almost over. That's what I thought that's what I thought when I saw that. I remember her being a little girl in movies. This is a problem.
Anyway alright. I'm gonna let you go, and I I do really appreciate you doing this with me. Thank you. Can you hold on for just a second, though? Don't don't don't hang up.
Okay?
Yeah. Okay.
Today's show is sponsored by Tandem Diabetes Care, the Eversense three sixty five, and Touched by Type one, who you can learn more about on Facebook, Instagram, and at touchedbytype1.org. Head now to tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox and check out today's sponsor, Tandem Diabetes Care. I think you're gonna find exactly what you're looking for at that link, including a way to sign up and get started with the Tandem MOBI system. I'd like to thank the Eversense three sixty five for sponsoring this episode of the juice box podcast. And remind you, if you want the only sensor that gets inserted once a year and not every fourteen days, you want the Eversense CGM.
Eversensecgm.com/juicebox. One year, one c gm. Thank you so much for listening. If you're not already subscribed or following the podcast in your favorite audio app like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please do that now. Just hitting follow or subscribe really helps the show.
And if you'd like to go a little further and leave a review in Apple Podcasts, that would be fantastic. But most of all, sharing the Juice Box Podcast with someone you know or someone you think can be helped by it, that's the biggest thing you can do for the show. I'll be back very soon with the next episode, so don't forget to check your apps. If you or a loved one is newly diagnosed with type one diabetes and you're seeking a clear practical perspective, check out the bold beginnings series on the juice box podcast. It's hosted by myself and Jenny Smith, an experienced diabetes educator with over thirty five years of personal insight into type one.
Our series cuts through the medical jargon and delivers straightforward answers to your most pressing questions. You'll gain insight from real patients and caregivers and find practical advice to help you confidently navigate life with type one. You can start your journey informed and empowered with the juice box podcast. The bold beginning series and all of the collections in the juice box podcast are available in your audio app and at juiceboxpodcast.com up in the menu.
- A young doctor recognized it by smell. Sent home once from a full ER and told she was probably hungover, Tzinnia was in DKA and, her family was warned, might not survive the night. A shift-change doctor caught the ketones and started insulin.
- Thirteen years on NPH and regular. Diagnosed in 2006 in Mexico, she ran a roughly 6.7 A1c on old insulins — sitting up until 3 a.m. nightly for a year to catch lows — before switching to Lantus, then a Freestyle sensor in 2019, and eventually Omnipod 5 and Dexcom.
- “Nobody told me what the blue shoes did.” People mentioned newer insulin but never explained the benefit, so she stuck with what worked. Her takeaway for clinicians: don’t just offer an option, explain how it works — and for patients, ask more questions.
- Told she might never have kids — she has identical twins. A natural twin pregnancy she carried with a 4.9 A1c. She wants teenagers newly diagnosed to hear that the scary predictions about kids, travel, and drinking don’t have to define the life ahead.
- Today: 85% time in range, 75–160. Now in Nebraska, married, working, raising two 15-year-olds (both TrialNet-negative), Tzinnia credits understanding the condition more than any single device — and still calls the CGM the upgrade that changed everything.
- T1D Exchange Registry — US residents 18+ with type 1 can complete the survey and help move T1D research forward.
- TrialNet — Free risk screening for relatives of people with type 1 — the antibody testing Tzinnia uses for her twins.
- Bold Beginnings series — Scott and Jenny Smith's series for the newly diagnosed — straightforward answers that cut through the jargon.
