#1934 All In It Together
All In It Together
Hannah, 19 and pre-med, has had type 1 since age 15. She talks candidly about recovery from an eating disorder, working diabetes camp, her mom's later diagnosis, and finding the right support.
Jump to a moment
- Diabetes was always just there. Diagnosed at 15 — wait, she jokes, at “15 old” — Hannah has had type 1 long enough that she has no single “first memory” of it. She took over her own care young because she wanted to, the dutiful kind of independence, not the avoidant kind.
- She speaks openly about recovering from an eating disorder. Hannah shares that a difficult period through high school and early college included an eating disorder, a hospitalization, and a long stretch of work to recover. She's candid that recovery isn't linear and that getting the right kind of specialized support — a team that understood both the ED and her life as an athlete — made the difference. She frames it as her story, not a template, and there are no methods or numbers here.
- Diabetes camp gave her something to give back to. After Googling camps near her, Hannah became a counselor and found she loves being in a group where everyone just gets it — a sense of solidarity, as Scott eventually lands on. The kids get attached, the last day is emotional, and she describes a family built in a week.
- Her mom was later diagnosed too. About two years ago, in her late fifties, Hannah's mom was diagnosed — her own biological father had type 1. Scott gently points out that her mom is likely being brave for her, and encourages Hannah to check in and let her mom lean on her experience.
- A GLP has quieted the food noise. Hannah shares that, prompted partly by the podcast and her care team, she started a GLP in January; the change she noticed first was the quieting of constant food noise. She reports feeling good on it. This is her experience with her providers, not medical advice, and any medication decision belongs with a clinician.
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders — Free support, a clinician-staffed helpline, and treatment referrals for anyone affected by an eating disorder.
- Erika Forsyth, LMFT — mental wellness episodes — The Juicebox series on the emotional side of type 1, including diabetes distress and disordered eating.
- Diabetes camps — find one near you — Hannah found her camps by searching locally; the ADA lists accredited camps across the country.
Every word of the conversation
Cold open & sponsors0:00
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You'll find those links in the show notes of the podcast player you're listening in right now and at juiceboxpodcast.com. The next thing we hear is you introducing yourself any way you want to be known. I don't think you need your last name. I certainly wouldn't stop you if you wanted to use it.
Meet Hannah — pre-med at 192:17
Okay. Okay. Well
Go when you're ready.
Okay. Hi. My name is Hannah. And what do you need to know about me? I am I've been t one d since I was 15 old.
I am in college right now. I'll be a junior in the fall at University of Florida. And, yeah, I'm just here to talk about diabetes stuff.
15 old. You're trying to win some sort of an award or something for me?
Yeah. No. Jeez.
I spent a little time with somebody who was diagnosed when they were 16 old recently.
Yeah.
Yeah. He's an adult now. You are an adult too, though. Let's be honest.
Yeah. Kind of.
Kind of? How old are you?
I'm 19. I'll be 20 in in the fall.
Oh, I take it back. You're you're not really an
adult. No.
Yeah. Not really. You you're the kind of adult when you tell your parents you're an adult, but then when something comes up, you're like, I I don't know, Ed. Don't ask me. I'm only 19.
Yeah. Yeah. That's usually how it goes.
Yeah. Mom, leave me alone. I'm an adult. Mom, can you buy me a boba tea?
Yeah.
Mhmm. Just know your mom's in a room somewhere quietly banging her head against furniture when you do stuff like that. She's just like, why is why is this part happening? This maybe the this is the worst part. I mean, in fairness, my kids are only, like, you know, in their early to mid twenties.
So maybe there's the worst part coming, I'm just not aware of it.
No. Who knows?
What are you going to college for?
I am going to college for biology. That's my major right now. I'm thinking premed still.
Okay.
Yeah. I have a minor in nutrition. I I don't really exactly know what I wanna do with, like, premed yet. I'm thinking maybe endo. I definitely think pediatrics in some capacity
Okay.
Is in my future.
You know, it's funny. Normally, I ask people, were you thinking this before you were diagnosed, but you've been you don't really have it before. So unless you had unless you had some grand plans to be a horticulturist when you were 11 old. So Nah. Yeah.
So do you think that this this life path has been dictated a little bit about from your health and your experiences?
Yeah. Yeah. I definitely do. I wrote about that in all my college essays, and it was true. But that just be being in the doctor's office so often and, you know, I know every three, four months is, like I am very familiar with the patient side of the medical process, and so I think that I could be valuable on the other end.
Okay.
And that's kind of I know even if, ultimately, I don't end up premedical or medical in general, like, I wanna be in a profession where I'm helping people
Mhmm.
And I can interact with them. And I think health care is, like, the perfect way to do that.
Yeah. Yeah. How come you didn't go funny in those essays and just say, listen. I've developed a sincere addiction to bad music and lollipops, And, I didn't wanna have to pay for it myself, so I'm gonna become a doctor. When you keep saying if it goes that way, do you have a feeling like it might not?
Well, no. I just I have a lot of friends who started on premed and then have switched to, like, PA or PT or something else now now that we're, like, halfway through college. So
Mhmm.
I but, no, for myself, I haven't developed any other, really, interests. I still love learning about the human body and all things health care in general.
So Awesome. That's very
cool. Yeah.
Oh, that's awesome. Tell me a little bit about your first memories. How old do you think you were when you, like, when you look back now? You know what I mean? Like, what do you remember first about diabetes?
Growing up with diabetes always there6:18
About diabetes. That's weird. My first memories are not, like, diabetes related at all, but I would say it's mostly, like, during sports, probably, like, youth sports having to sit out
Mhmm.
For Lowe's. Either that or, like, middle of the night juice boxes. But to be completely honest, I don't I'm such a heavy sleeper. I, like, don't wake up to anything. So I don't know at what point my parents just stopped having to wake me up for juice boxes.
I just, like, drink them, you know, without waking up the
middle of the night. Arden can drink a juice box in her sleep. I've said this before. I wonder if people believe it. She can eat a banana in her sleep.
Oh, that's impressive.
Yeah. You just kinda, like, just sort of give it to her and say, alright. It's banana. And she takes a bite and chews it up, tells you when she's ready for the next one. Pretty pretty it's pretty functionally, like, you know, helpful, I have to be honest.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So when you think about your life, diabetes is just there. So asking you for your earliest memory of diabetes, you you don't really have one. You you just as you think about it, you think, oh, I got low while I was playing sports, but you don't have, like, a like, I remember burning myself on a sparkler on a on a birthday cake at a McDonald's for my party when and I remember my dad saying, don't touch that. And me thinking, oh, I'm gonna pull this sparkler out of the cake and hold it up. And then I burnt my fingers.
I have a very vivid memory of that. You don't have, like, one of those for diabetes. Right?
No. Not for diabetes. No. Not not really. I think my parents did a great job trying to make my life as, like, quote, unquote, nondiabetic as as possible
Okay.
As much as as they could. And I don't even remember, like, managing my own diabetes until I know I stopped going to the nurse quite as often in sixth grade. And before that, it was, you know, nurse's office at school, I guess. Maybe those are, like, earliest true memories of diabetes is, like, lunch checks and, you know, when we have a random M and M counting activity.
And you believe that McDonald's used to be so nice that people would make birthday parties there for their
kids? That's that's that's crazy.
That threw
you off. Impressive. Because you
think of McDonald's as a place where people fight and video it.
Yeah. Like, I don't ever see anybody inside anymore. It's just drive through.
Used to be a good burger. That's all I know. Alright. So sorry. I really burned my finger.
I can remember. Like and I remember how the I still remember how disappointed he was or mad. I don't know which one it was, but I remember feeling like I disappointed people while my finger was burning. And
No.
Yeah. What are you gonna do?
I don't know.
Not a lot. You know I'm saying?
My earliest memory memory, like, one that I truly know was me, was I was at a birthday party at Bounce U, which is
I know what it is.
Okay. You know what it is. Okay. Mhmm. And we were in, like, the party room, and someone was opening up presents.
And I was like, photograph this memory, Hannah. Remember it forever. You are five years old right now, and I actually didn't forget it, which is crazy.
Wow. You told yourself to remember it.
Yeah. I told myself to remember it, and I remember it. And Wait. Is there a
photo of
it? No. No. No. It's just
By the way, I know that Bounce U, the inference is supposed to be Bounce University, but it makes it makes me think of f you. I don't
Maybe that's why they went out of business.
Was that a Northeast thing? Do you live near me?
I'm in Ohio. So Okay. I don't I don't know. I just know the one near us, it was down to you. And then shortly after, it changed to, like, leap something, leapfrog something something,
and I taught. Save the company. What was you said you remember, like, switching to the nurse, like, not going to the nurse anymore at what age?
Taking it over young, on her own terms10:37
Like, sixth grade is kind of when I stopped going down for, like, lunches and all my boluses. I was able to do it on my own. And
You injecting? Do have a pump?
I had a pump. So I don't remember ever being on injections. I know my parents got me on a pump pretty early. I used to be on a Medtronic one when I was super young. Like, I have photos of me with the with the belt pouch thingamajig.
Mhmm. And then when it was available, I switched to Omnipod because I wanted tubeless so bad so I could do the monkey bars
Mhmm.
And not worry about that.
Do the monkey bars with Omnipod. Omnipod.com/juicebox. There we go.
There you go.
Yeah. I'll try to talk them into that one.
Mhmm.
Yeah. Okay. So you you knew about them. How do you know about an Omnipod when you're a kid growing up?
Oh, probably my parents.
Them showing you stuff?
Yeah. They were like, hey. We have this they or it was probably after an endo appointment. I truly don't know. I just remember sitting down one night and them being like, hey.
Do you wanna consider this other pump? It's tubeless, and it's gonna be different. But I was like, yeah.
Yeah.
Let's do it.
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No. No. Because that was I was still in elementary school. Somewhere between first and fifth grade is when that happened.
Okay. So so my point being sorry if I'm not if I'm being obtuse, is when did you, like or maybe you had always able to count your carbs, dose your insulin, all that stuff on your
own? That is a good question. Like, I would probably still say fifth, sixth grade is when I started doing it on my own. And then definitely by junior high, like, I barely ever went to the nurse. Couldn't even tell you
what Yeah.
She was like. Like, I don't even
You have siblings?
I do. I have one younger brother. He is he'll be a freshman in the fall. Mhmm. So he just turned 18, which is weird.
And, yeah, he's great, but he doesn't have any autoimmune conditions. We tested him. He's doesn't have antibodies right now. So
What a jerk. Yeah. I
know. Right? He does have bad vision. So
No. Sorry. Sorry. I was just wondering if your parents were busy, if they were the kind of parents who said to you, like, look. This is your thing.
You gotta learn it, or were they helping you a lot more?
I was probably the one who was like, I wanna do this.
Oh, okay.
Because I'm Miss Independent.
Well, when I hear that, that makes me think that the story's gonna take a turn where things didn't go well.
Yeah. You're not wrong.
Yeah. By the way, I I can tell, but it's it's always the ones that are, like, always the ones, by the way. And I'm sorry. I'm talking to you like like like, you're not here. You know how they can be, the ones.
No. I just mean that sometimes when kids are pushing to be on their own early, it's because they're, like, dutiful, and they wanna do it. And they're just like you know, they got, like, engineering minds. You know what I mean? And sometimes it's because they wanna ignore it, not have anybody looking.
Right. Which one were you? Right.
Not the second one. The first one.
You were the first one?
Oh, yeah.
You wanted to take care of it?
Yes.
When things got hard16:10
But why did things go wrong?
Things went wrong in seventh or eighth grade when I I got uncomfortable in my in my body.
Okay.
And I thought my legs were too big, and I kind of there was also at that point, was taking health class. And they had this assignment where we were, like, tracking our food, basically, for a day.
Yeah.
And I was like, This is a cool app. I can lose weight this way. So there's not a ton of explanation that has to go on after that, but I developed an eating disorder pretty starting starting in eighth grade, I guess. And it kind of continued on through, I would say, at least junior year of high school. Pretty restrictive.
I was hospitalized in eighth grade for a week or so
Okay.
Because my heart rate was low.
From not eating?
Yeah. I mean, I was still eating, but definitely not enough because at that point, I was playing tennis at a pretty competitive level and, you know, still doing other sports. And I was, like, the you know, one of those kids who did all the sports, so I was always active and just
Yeah. I have to tell you the trigger that you brought up. That was so specific and interesting.
It Yeah. Your legs
you you looked in a mirror and thought your legs looked too big?
Well, not in the mirror. It was actually, like, just sitting down in class and being, like like, sitting in a desk.
Oh.
Looking down and be like, I don't like how this looks. And then looking at the other girls and being like, no. Of course, I don't have their perspective because, you know, like, they're beside me.
You mean like
I'm in front of me.
I'm so sorry to say it. Do you mean like the spread of your thigh when you're sitting down?
Yep. Mhmm. Yep.
And you never thought to look over their shoulder to see what their thighs look like?
No. They
probably look the same, don't you think now?
Probably. Yeah.
And but that thought got in your head?
Yes. Wow.
Wow. How do you get through that?
Well, clearly, I didn't I didn't do it well.
You're like, I'll tell you I did it, Scott, an eating disorder and then later with therapy. Is that about what happened?
Yeah. Yeah. Sorta. I still there are still remnants of the eating disorder, so it's like
How does it how does it pop up for you?
So I'm gonna give you a synopsis, and then we can go deeper into it. But I through high school, it was still restrict it was like an orthorexia thing. So, like, I wanted to eat clean, eat healthy. You know?
Mhmm.
I very often use diabetes as a cover kind of. Like, hey. I'm not gonna eat that because I'm high, or I'm not gonna eat that because it's too difficult to deal with with my blood sugar or something like that. And then in senior year, when I started running, I also started bingeing. Not sure exactly what the trigger was there.
We think it I mean, I think it's probably just my body was, like, done. It was like, I'm gonna do anything to get the food that you need in you whether you like it or not. So I started bingeing. And then I did some well, then we weren't sure if I would be able to go to college at that point because that summer before I left for college was so bad that the doctors who I was working with in an eating disorder therapy program thought they they advised against it, actually. They were like, she should probably go into a program and wait it out a semester.
Getting real support20:02
Did they let you know, like, an in house program or something from home?
No. I was doing, EQIP, which is virtual. So I had a therapist, a dietitian, and a nurse practitioner.
Okay.
I met with them all at least once a week. And that's that's what I did for almost a year. So I did that. We we decided on that because we knew I could take it down to Florida with me. So I was doing that in the dorms for the first year, And it it definitely helped.
It helped with there was still a fear of carbs in the dining hall, so we worked on that a lot and kind of helped me get rid I would say get rid of, like, the last of the restrictive parts of my eating disorder. And then what was left was
Was the binging? Binging. There's Yeah. Was there purging after the binging or just the binging?
Only in the form of exercise. Never, like,
throw a
note or anything like that.
Eat a bunch and run nine years.
Yeah. Gotcha. Something like that.
Gotcha.
Yes. And then the other thing was after I binge, you know, I'm high for a while. Mhmm. I mean, even if I counted all my carbs, that's just I was eating, oh, you know, over a 100 carbs in a sitting if I was binging.
Okay.
You know? Kind of ice cream was, like, at least 80 already. And then so so I was either, like, I would go on a really, really long walk or, you know, elliptical for a while or something like that just to get my blood sugar below 400.
Were you bolusing?
Yes. I was bolusing, but the other issue is when I'm high, I get mad and frustrated and sad. And so there was an element of I don't even care anymore. I just wanna like, it'll it'll take care of itself eventually. You know?
Mhmm. Just not wanting to deal with it. Kind of like a a mini burnout session.
Your what's your level of understanding about what's happening to you while it's happening? Like, do you are you conscious that this is going on, or are you more like, does that make sense, or are you just, like, doing it and not thinking about it?
You mean, like
All of it.
If I binge?
Yeah. Just just the entirety of the whole thing. Like, are you do you are you consciously saying I have to do this because my legs are too big? And, like
Oh, like, in the beginning. Yeah. About the restrictive part, I was I was in denial for a long time. Like, when my I I remember right before I got hospitalized, my parents had brought me in. I thought it was, like, a regular endo visit, which I still don't know if it was or not, honestly.
But, you know, they do their, like, little medical check-in before you go see the doctor, and my heart rate was, like, at the forties. And they're like, yeah. That's not safe for you. You know, we with your recent weight loss and all that, we recommend that you are hospitalized. And so that's that's what happened.
Mhmm. And then me being an athlete, it, like, took ages for my heart rate to even go above, like, 45 during the nighttime. Jeez. Yeah. Really, really low.
It's still low. Like, my resting heart rate is still low fifties, sometimes high forties. But yeah. I that was definitely like, I was so much because I was playing basketball at that point. I was, like, fastest on the team.
I was, like, Energizer Bunny. Like, you know, there's it seemed to me like there was nothing wrong with me and that I was just eating healthy. And Okay. My diabetes was very well managed. I mean, a one c was consistently below six.
It was
Now describe that same person in hindsight.
Oh, well, in hindsight, I was way too focused on it. There was a lot of things I feel like I missed out on just food wise Mhmm. Because I was scared of eating it, of having to deal with the carbs. Not that I couldn't. I just I thought I was doing great.
I thought, wow. This like, I you know, I got compliments on, like, oh, your lunch is so healthy when it was, like, a salad and tofu. Yes. And then I had
I'm having a nut.
Right.
Yeah.
No. And then I had, like, cross country practice, for example, after school. And, like, I I don't know how I survived. And then looking back on it, there was a lot of times where I was actually, I think, unsafe because I thought it was just, you know, me as a high schooler getting, like, six hours of sleep a night, which was happening occasionally. But, also, my body was so tired from not getting enough calories that I was, like, falling asleep in almost every class.
Wow.
Like, driving. I should not have been driving. There were so many times where I was, like, almost falling asleep at the wheel. Like, not good at all.
About that.
And the funny thing was I didn't I don't drink coffee, and I didn't wanna drink energy drinks. So, yeah, that that was not
I'm a little sleepy this morning. Can I tell you what happened? Sure. I was awoken at 04:30 in the morning because I was having a bad dream that Arden and I were trapped in an abandoned mall, and I couldn't get her blood sugar up. And I couldn't locate any food.
And I had some stuff with me, and it was running out, and I couldn't get her blood sugar to come back up. And then and then that woke me up. Interesting. I've been up since.
Ugh.
I'm not happy about it, I have be honest. I did get a lot of work done this morning. There's a great article on the website today because of it. Yeah. Busy.
Busy. You know? Now when you when you move forward and you you do you're doing the I mean, my god. I I'm just trying to imagine, like, a a freshman in college in her dorm room doing, like, therapy. You must have been, like, awesome.
This is going great. I can't wait for someone else to find out about this. I mean, right can I have the room for an hour, please?
Freshman year, and telling someone27:08
Well, see, what's funny is I random roomated my freshman year because I was like, ugh. I'm chill. I'm a chill person. I can handle whatever. Bad idea.
Bad idea. Because the listen. The binging was still going on. Wow. And my roommate so I I got accommodations to have a fridge in my room.
So they put me in a suite style dorm with four beds and two bedrooms. So two girls in a bedroom. And then there was one of the rooms was an RA, so she had it to herself. I didn't see her a lot. And then the other room was me and this other girl, my roommate.
And she was Jewish, so she was eating kosher
Mhmm.
And had all these kosher foods and also other foods. A lot of snack foods, basically.
Oh.
She was not in the dorm a lot. And so I was I at one time, I did I binged on her food.
On the matzo?
No. Well, it was actually on a bag of granola.
A bag of
granola. Granola and some of her she had, like, cheese in the fridge. And I I tried to hide it from her for a while.
That you ate her cheese?
That yes. And then I went to Publix. Yeah. I went to Publix, and I bought a replacement for the cheese. And it was not kosher or something.
It was the wrong cheese,
basically. Did she die?
No. She didn't die.
I'm just kidding. That's happened.
Really freaking mad at me. And that was the worst night of my freshman year of college when I was sitting at the bottom of my dorm building, and I was just I was, like, sobbing to my parents. I was like, I can't I was so scared of anybody knowing about my
Of course.
Eating disorder. And so I was like, I can't tell her. Like, I cannot tell her. And, eventually, they got me to go up there and, like I was like, I have no other option. Or my parents were like, you have no other option.
You have to tell her.
Yeah. Why you made her unclean in the eyes of the lord. Yeah. Yeah. Well, did did that Not
that she ate my cheese, but, like, why I was eating her food because that's just so weird.
Did did did that unburden you to tell somebody?
It did. It went it was a lot you know, after I did it, it was a lot better than I obviously thought it was gonna be. Yeah. She was pretty understanding. But to be honest, we didn't really talk that much after that.
No. No. No. You were done. But at least she wasn't mad at you, like, that way.
No. Yeah.
I was like, hey. I'm in therapy. I'm working on it. It's and she's like, okay. As long as you're working on it
You're and then a freshman. Right?
Yeah.
You're a freshman. What she meant was, how did I get this luck? That's what she was thinking. She's like, oh, good. You know I mean?
Yeah. Yeah. And you were thinking the same thing. Like, great. I can't believe this is my situation.
Fine because we were completely different people. Like, I am the type of person who makes my bed every day, and her clothes were, like, never in her drawer all in pile in the corner of the room. And
Yeah. Let's highlight some
she did nights, I think.
Let's highlight some stuff she did wrong.
Well, we're not using her name, right, so I can't.
No. Of course, you can. Partying?
That's not well,
I don't think that's not
college, but student. It's just I I'm not
It's not for you.
I don't it's not for me. Yeah. No.
Okay. Well, listen. I probably got you a lot of quiet. She probably stayed on her side. You stayed on yours then.
Right?
Yes. Or most nights, honestly, she wasn't in the dorm. It was actually rare. I was I would, like, text my parents. I'm like, hey.
Miriam's in the dorm tonight. Like
Oh, now you used her name.
Oh, dang it. Someone says in the dorm tonight. You have to, like, you know, don't call me, a bunch tonight or something like that.
Yeah. I'm gonna make a note here, though, so I can take that out. I I wanna get you in trouble. I got it. Okay.
I got you. Don't worry. Okay. Alright. So then does that push things to a head?
Cycling, and finding the right help31:13
I mean, where are you at? That's not that long ago. Right?
No. Two years now. Two years ago.
Have things changed significantly since then, or are you still in the same fight? Where where are we at?
Yes. I'm not roommates with her.
No. I mean, with eating disorder.
With eating disorder. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
If you were still living with her, that would
be insane.
We don't like each other, but we were great roommates, Scott, so we just kept doing this.
No. No. So, yes, with the with the ED, I still so okay. So I got through freshman year. And at the end of freshman year, it was it was a shit show.
Like, my parents were calling me pretty much every day. We were on FaceTime trying to make sure I wasn't just, like, going to eat food because the food noise was so, so loud. Okay. And so I went home for the summer. Summer was fine kind of towards the part where I was supposed to move back in.
Sophomore year, it kind of the binging ramped up again. And then I went back. And now I've gone through a couple different virtual therapists at this point. One who did not specialize in eating disorders but did specialize in diabetes. And then another one from IDS, actually, nutritionist.
She was she was great. She was helpful, but not exactly a therapist.
Right.
And I also don't think she really understood that I was also an athlete at that point, so I wanted someone who was like, could understand that I wanted to be active as well. And she was like, yeah. Like, eat these homemade something something energy bars.
And still.
And, like, don't eat before your morning workout. I'm like, I need to eat. Like, I need to fuel my workouts. That's what got me here in the first place is not
Were you on a team in school?
No. No. I just I got into cycling towards the end of my senior year of high school, and so I that's kinda, like, my main sport now, I would say, is road cycling. Mhmm. So at that point, I I had done a couple centuries and a couple but it was pretty typical for, like, me and my friends do a long ride on the weekend of, like, over 50 miles.
And
Gosh. Okay.
Yeah.
Well, that's a lot of riding.
It is.
Oh, jeez. Sorry. That threw me off. The 50 miles thing threw me off. I like, where are you going?
You're leaving around town.
Leaving the state? What's happening? Or in The States. Yeah. When you said god.
You said you talked to somebody and blah blah blah. What was I gonna say? Damn it. It my head.
An IDS?
You said you went and talked to somebody. Oh my god. I just blanked. I I blame that dream about the mall.
Are you gonna talk about Jenny?
No. Well, it wasn't Jenny, was it?
No. It wasn't.
No. Because if it was Jenny, you would have said you had a good time and it worked out. Yeah. Oh my god. This is terrible.
Because you woke up at 04:30.
I really think that's why. I apologize to everybody for me losing my thought because I I'm sure I had a really fantastic follow-up question that would have been enlightening, and you would have really enjoyed it unless you're the person who left that review the other day. And then, obviously, I'm just obnoxious and never mind. How am I doing so far? Am I obnoxious, or am I doing okay with your story
so far? Obnoxious never came to my mind
Oh. At all. I'll try harder. Are you dating during this time?
No. No. I still have never had a boyfriend.
Because?
Because I'm shy.
You're shy. Yeah. Really? So there's boys out there. You have your eye on them.
They probably would say yes. But
Yeah. But I
But yeah.
I don't know how to say anything.
I don't know if there for a second. You're like, oh, you know, I don't know. They just they don't wanna say anything to me, and I don't know. You you you turn into, like, an Amish person from Wisconsin. Are you you're I don't do you you want to date?
Yes.
There's a boy that pops to mind when I say this?
Yeah. But listen listen. It doesn't work. It doesn't work because we're at different colleges. And
Well, that works perfectly.
Million miles away. No. It doesn't.
To each other. You can just have sex once in a while. What are you talking about? It doesn't work. It's perfect.
Stop it. It doesn't work. What are you what are you trying to buy a house? What's going on? You young people.
I don't understand you at all. How far away are these other colleges? Well,
listen. I'm in Florida.
Yeah. And Well, you can make it at least 50 miles on a bike.
All my friends are from Ohio. What?
You could make it at least 50 of those miles on a bike and then meet them somewhere.
Uh-huh.
You think a boy wouldn't fly to Florida to have sex? Do you not understand the power you hold? Well, I don't understand what's going on right now, Hannah.
I don't know.
I would rule the world if
I was
a girl. I I mean, I don't I don't think I would do it ethically, but I would rule the world. And so Yeah. Like, why do you, I don't understand. Is it do you have a bad self image?
Wants to go to a coffee shop and talk.
Okay. We'll do that.
Okay. But they're not gonna fly to Florida
for
that.
You don't understand. The boys who would wanna go to a coffee shop also feel the way you feel.
Okay.
And they still wanna do the thing too. You know what I mean? They dorky, these boys? Are they, like, a little dorky, or what do you like?
A little bit.
Okay.
A little bit.
Oh my god. They would easily they'd ride a bus to do it. Are you kidding me?
Oh my gosh.
I don't know why you're I don't know why you're doubting yourself. Is is this in, like, a it's is it a body image thing?
No. No. No. One of them, I don't know if they have a girlfriend or not. I'm confused.
You know how you'll find out? When you ask them to come for coffee. And you go,
you know That's so random.
And then you pause and go, you know, coffee. And then they'll come. That'll be it. What about the apps? Are there door are there hinge for doors?
Been on the apps. I don't
There's no hinge for doors? Work. What do they call that? Is. That's probably LinkedIn, isn't it?
Is that what
that Probably. Yeah.
Yeah. Oh my god. Are you guys having sex on LinkedIn? Is that what's happening? I feel like I might have just figured something out, Hannah.
Maybe. Just a bunch of engineers hooking up on LinkedIn. I don't understand. You're a young person. You seem lovely.
Thank you. I don't sometimes I don't understand either. But
There's gotta be a boy at that Florida school.
Yeah. Maybe. Don't know. The thing is
I don't know what you're saying.
Don't think I wanna stay in Florida because I have found out that I like Ohio by being in Florida. Perfect. Not that I don't like Florida.
But Well, then and then you have what they call a test boy. There's a couple you you run a couple of tests, you know, figure out what you want, what you don't want, then you take that knowledge home to Ohio, and you make some kid buy you a house. I don't this is not difficult. So I don't understand your whole generation. I really don't.
What are you guys thinking about all day? What
am I thinking about? I don't know.
You don't know?
I've been, like, a camp counselor the whole summer.
So Well, that's not oh, camp? Have you not learned anything from that movie with the pie? The pie? American Pie. Camp is that's where you have sex at the camp.
Watch that.
But Well, if you watched it, it would be a how to, and you would know what to do.
It's another thing to add to my watch list.
What kind of camp is it?
So the first one, I do a little day camp in my hometown.
Okay.
I've run that for four weeks in the summer. That one just wrapped up the end of last week. And then now I am at another a diabetes camp. So it's, like, a week long sleepaway camp. And then in two weeks, I have another diabetes camp.
Are there not counselors there your age?
There are.
Hannah, what we want for you is for you to one day be able to start a sentence one time at diabetes camp, and then a story goes in which you have no reference for, but old people listening are laughing their asses off right now, Hannah, just so you know. K. I hear you old people, but they've seen American Pie. You haven't. Oh, actually, now I'm thinking of the rest of that line in that movie.
That's fairly inappropriate. I'm sorry. I'm still calling your episode one time at diabetes camp, though. So you you you must go find people your own age and do social things together and kiss a boy, please, this summer. I demand
Okay. There's not much time left in the summer. You know that?
It doesn't take long to interest a boy. Do do you not know how to do it? You know what to do. Right? You just look at them.
We're incredibly easy. Just look at their general direction, smile, hold your gaze for a half a second, and that's it. You win.
You know what's funny about that is
Tell me.
I can't make eye contact. I mean, I can. But
Yeah. I how do I even fight with you? Me.
No. Because my dad tries to, like we talked about this about a month ago. And now whenever we're, like, having dinner or something, he'll just, like, stare at me and be like, Hannah, look at me. I'm like, I can't do it.
Alright. I'm gonna give you a trick. Eyes. I'm gonna give you a trick. I used to not be able to look people in the eyes.
Can I get a drink before I do the trick?
Yeah. Alright.
Hold on a second. Oh my gosh. You're making me upset. How old are you again? 19.
19. Thank god I'm here. You're gonna waste your whole life without me. Center of their forehead. Just look at the center of their forehead.
But that's not their eyes.
It doesn't matter. They can't tell.
Okay.
Just have a little distance. Look them in the forehead.
Alright.
Stare at their nose.
I'll try it.
Top lip. Just pick a place that's not their eyes around their eyes. K. And just hold that gaze. You'll feel silly for a minute, but just stop.
And then eventually, you'll get used to being face to face with somebody like that. Then you realize these other dorks, they're not comfortable either. They'll look away. You win. It brings you a whole bunch of confidence.
Alright? Now you're in charge. Alright? That's how you get dinner paid for. That's the first step because I don't want you I don't want you paying for dinner.
That's ridiculous. Okay? And I don't care what all you young people I I hear people, we split the check. You're out of your mind. Okay?
That's the only yeah. Like, I not a lot of my friends date, but I the one time I the few times I've heard about it, they're like, yeah. We
No. No. Haddock, your precious lady parts are not for free. Okay? They they they require a nice meal at the very least and and a ride, and I would like somebody to be polite.
Okay?
Mhmm.
You don't just you know, please. Did your parents not explain any of this to you? Again, thank god I'm here. Okay. So I want I want you to choose two boys in your head right now that are at diabetes camp.
No. Yes. And we're gonna take a swing at both of them.
No. God. No. I can't do that right no.
Why not?
First of all. First of all.
Go ahead.
The I the ones at this camp, I don't I don't
They're not like good? They're not the ones you want? No. Alright. Well, back in school then.
One of those Florida boys, they gotta be dumb as a rock, those kids. Right? Who's who's talking right now?
There's some the dietitian team is in this room
as well. Explain to them we're busy. Okay? Don't make me have
to go. Busy. They're trying to prep snacks for a
100 and meals. Are they a podcaster? Are they that kind of important? No. Okay?
Now listen. Listen. Alright. But back to those there's gotta be a dumb boy at school that's pretty. Right?
I You're not married
in bad attracted to
I know. You're not
gonna boys. I'm attracted to boys who are smart and funny.
Okay. So there's gotta be a couple of them. Mhmm. Okay. So picture two of them in your head, and then we decide that we're gonna we're gonna do something before Halloween.
How's that sound? Is that doable?
Okay. Alright. Sure.
I wanna kiss before Halloween with somebody.
Hey.
Have you done that? Hannah. No. Oh, Hannah. Hannah.
Hannah. I wish it was the seventies. I'd I'd I think I'd I'd I'd recommend corporal punishment. I'd I'd you can't do it anymore. You can't hit people anymore.
It's it's one of the shames of of, of the society moving forward. But Yeah. What yo. Oh, Hannah, please. You're lovely.
What are you doing? I
don't know.
Get in the game. Get in the game. Be respectful of yourself. Get in the game. You know what I mean?
Be careful. But, I mean, I don't want I don't want you getting roofied by one of these little dorks. I don't know what they meanwhile, just if they get if they get flighty, you just bring up, Minecraft. Okay? Calms them right down.
You just go you you play Minecraft. They go, you can see how dorky they are from that. That's your measurement stick right there. Okay? Those boys are as easy as could be.
They can't believe you're talking to them. Do you understand? Do you not feel like you're in the power position in this scenario?
I do. I just Well,
then what is happening? I don't
know. I don't I don't know. I'm scared. I don't know.
We're gonna go extinct. I hope you're all happy.
Yeah.
You and your whole silly generation. Who's gonna take care of me when I'm old? I'm not I listen. I'm not joking. If one of your kids doesn't grow up to be an asswiper, what am I gonna do when I'm 80?
Good question.
You gotta get on this, Hannah. For me, not for you. For me. Do understand? I need a quality person working at the at the at the gas station.
I need I need I need I need to meet a nice person when I'm buying insurance later. These are your children that are gonna do that.
Well, that's true. It's true.
Alright, Hannah. Let's move on to the next subject. But, honestly, I think we should stop talking, and then you should come back once you've had a a relationship you can tell me about a little bit.
Why she works diabetes camp46:31
Probably.
You're not you're not sexually confused. Right? It's definitely boys. No. Okay.
No. It's definitely guys.
Because sometimes that could slow it down. You know what I mean?
Yeah. Yeah.
That's not your thing?
No.
Why would you not use an app? I know why I wouldn't. Tell me why you wouldn't.
Because I don't trust that people are being truthful on an app.
And if they're being truthful on purpose.
That desperate, why like, I don't want somebody who's desperate. I want somebody who actually likes me.
Mhmm. And we can picture who those people are?
I don't know if they like me.
How would you find out? Stare at their lip, hold their attention, make them a little uncomfortable. Okay. And then that makes them they get, like, butterflies. You understand how it all works?
And then and then have you never seen an after school special? Just do what you see on television. It works fine. And then and then you then you say, hey. What are you doing later?
We should blah blah blah. And if they say no, that's because there's something wrong with them, not you. And then you move to the next one. You move to the next one like a frog hopping across stones. You ever see Frogger?
You never play that game? I don't
know what Frogger is.
You do know what Frogger is?
Yes.
Alright. That's you. You're the frog. It's
like Crossy Road.
Yeah. Yeah. Just me.
Road is the modern version.
Crossy Road? Who names this stuff? What is wrong with you people? What was wrong with
the played it.
It's called Crossy Road?
Yeah. And you you get, like, different avatars. And
Yeah. Across the road.
I was really good at it. Yes. But, well, roads and lakes and Yeah. Yeah.
Crazy. Prager. But, like, my my question is is, like, who would call it Crossy Road? Did they give it to a person with a head injury and say, what do you wanna call this?
Possibly.
Let's call it Crossy Road. Okay.
Thanks, Billy. It makes well, the issue is it's not all frogs, so it's like don't know.
I like how you're thinking it through. They can't call it frogger, Scott. It's not all frogs. This is the second fantastic conversation I've had with a 19 year old this month, really proving to me that I am not very mature. Okay.
So alright. I'm looking at your list about stuff you wanna talk about. What what tell me I I do wanna know about this. Did you go to diabetes camp as a kid?
The feeling of being all in it together49:04
No. No. I didn't. Why are you working
at one? How'd that come to be?
Because I actually don't know. So last year, that's
all this happening to you. Go go ahead.
I don't know life. So last summer, I was like, I kind of feel like volunteering more. So I Nice. Looked I just Googled for, like, diabetes camps in my area, and I found one near me, Corletts, which is run by the ADA. And I went for that week in the summer, and I absolutely loved it.
Mhmm. It was so much fun. My co counselor was amazing. Docs were amazing. I just had a blast even as a counselor.
And so now the next after that, I googled, like, other diabetes camps in my area. So I found another local one, which is where I'm at right now. Mhmm. Last summer, their applications were closed by the time I looked, but I got on it this summer, and, yeah, we're on day two of six, I think. Very nice.
You like helping the kids? You like being there for yourself? Is there value for you and for them? What do
you what
do you find?
Yes. Yeah. I love being in a group of all diabetics. I can't tell you why. It's just it's a nice feeling that I get Yeah.
Just knowing that everybody's blood sugar is and we're all here surviving it together. I don't know. It's true, though. It's like, I I can see everybody's numbers on my phone, and it's, like, all over the board. But they're all having a great time, so it's it's
fun. Freeing? Does it feel freeing?
Freeing? No. It it feels more like, I don't know how to describe it. Like Inclusive? No.
Like like
I have a thesaurus here if you want me to keep going. Like,
what's Saul?
Better Call Saul?
Same team. Wait. What?
No. What? No. What are you gonna say? Say something, Hannah.
Solitary is not the word, but it's it starts with an s. It's like Solidarity. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Is that the word? Yeah. I think so.
I have such a grave vocabulary for a moron. I'll tell you that right now. Like like, you're all in it together.
Yeah. Yeah.
Solidarity. A feeling of solidarity. Yeah. Thank god you're not an English major. That would be embarrassing.
I I know. Yeah.
Oh, that's nice. So I can tell you that while I do not have diabetes, I have had a number of experiences this summer and in the past watching people with type one all get together in the same place, and it is incredibly heartwarming.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Because you just went on the cruise. Right?
Juice Cruise. That's correct. Yeah. Up now for juicecruise2027 at juiceboxpodcast.com/juicecruise. Thank you, Hannah.
Well done.
Mhmm.
We're gonna be going out of the area down there near you. What is that? Port Canaveral in 2027. Oh. Yeah.
On a Norwegian line or five days. Feel free to come out.
Should.
It was a good time, honestly. And and we're gonna we're pushing to have a bigger group this year. So
Yeah. Is it just diabetics or, like, diabetics and family?
It's it's such an interesting mix. I think the youngest type one was eight. I think the oldest one was in their seventies this time. Okay. There were people there who had type one for over fifty years.
There were people who had type one for eight months. Wow. And their families, there were people in their no kidding, type ones, children, teens, people in their thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies. It was such an interesting mix of people. And Yeah.
Yeah. And everyone just got along just like rain. It was beautiful. You know how they say right as rain? I don't know what right as rain means, but that's how they got along.
Instant calm, instant sense of meshing that I saw didn't take didn't take them five minutes to get used to each other and to get comfortable. And then by the end of the week, people are hugging and just having the greatest time. Mhmm. Yeah. So you're getting that at camp.
Oh, yeah. Definitely. Like, we haven't made it to the end of this week, obviously, but I remember at the end of Corlette's last year, like, the last day is always so emotional. The kids become so attached to the counselors and just there's so much love. I mean, it is like a family that you build in, like, a week, and it's it's crazy.
Yeah. It is wonderful.
I can't tell you how touching it is to be around it and how, I'll be serious for a second
k.
And how grateful I feel to be there as basically the only one there that oddly doesn't belong there, but is the only reason it's happening. I I'm in a weird position. Do you know what I mean?
Yeah.
Yeah. I've I I'm, what they call the founder of the feast, and at the same time, I don't know how to cook. So, it's a it's an interesting, little is it a paradox? Why would I ask you? You couldn't think of solidarity.
You know what I mean?
I know what a paradox is. But
Oh, oh, fine. It is
well, it's interesting because you do know how to cook. Like, you are the author of the cookbook as well. So
Aw. Thank
you. It's I don't know. It is weird. Like, I think if you got diabetes right now, you'd be fine.
Me? Yeah. I mean, I'd either either I would end up being such a poser and just, like, fall apart, or I'd think I'd be exceptionally good at it, one or the other.
No. You'd be fine. Because another story I have that people might or may not wanna hear is my mom got diagnosed two a little over two years ago
Her mom's diagnosis, sixteen years later55:09
Mhmm.
In April, which I guess is probably not surprising to you because you've talked to so many people. But she got type one, I guess, lotta. I don't really know what her classification is.
But You talk to her?
Kinda weird. What?
You talk to your mom? Are you friendly?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. And so she's she's diagnosed type one how many years after you? I loved it when you
said two.
When you, like, stretch out the word two, I was like, oh, I can't
believe it. Was 17. Like
You mean, like, a year old?
17. Sixteen years after me?
Yeah. Mm-mm. How old is she now?
She is in her late fifties.
Any of her brothers or sisters have, like, Hashimoto's, celiac, stuff like that?
Nope. She has one brother. He and his family seem to be fine. Her dad, her biological father, had type one. Uh-oh.
There you go. So we just assumed it, like, skipped a generation and landed on me, but apparently not. It was just waiting to to happen in her.
Like Frogger. He's just jumping all over the place.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like that.
Awesome. I bet your brother's thrilled. He's probably like, uh-oh. Oh, yeah. Don't you think?
No. Well, that's why we got him tested after my mom got diagnosed. Or my endo was like, your whole family needs to get tested. Why has this not happened yet? And he did it.
They were fine. Actually, I don't think my dad got tested still, but my brother did. He's fine.
Yeah. Your dad's like, this isn't me. This is these suckers I I hitched my wagon to. This isn't Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Wow. How's your mom handling it?
As far as I know, wonderfully. I mean, she had, obviously, years of experience managing it, and I got a little emotional because I was sad for her. But other than that, it was a very brief blip in, you know, the spring. And she was like, hey. I just found out I have diabetes.
And I was like, you what?
Hannah, can I share a secret with you? Okay. Your mom is being brave for you.
Yeah. Yeah. I figured that one. Isn't that nice? It is nice.
Yeah. I think she does that a lot.
You should check on her. Yeah. Let her feel like she can you're you know, she doesn't have to hide. I'm full of great advice that you won't take any of it.
No. I will. I will try.
We'll see.
I'm going to try. Mhmm.
We'll see. I have I have two things you need to get done before this summer is over. Mhmm. And one of them is talk to your mom.
Yeah.
And the other one, don't want your mom to my mom. I don't want your mom around for. Do you understand?
Right.
Okay. Keep going. What about your mom?
But I my mom is both my parents are amazing. Like, they're always my biggest supporters. We're actually after this camp ends, my mom and I are going to a Benson Moon concert. I'm so excited about that.
Is that the backflip guy?
It is the backflip guy.
That's all I know about him. Mhmm. Oh, wait. Yeah. Hey.
Hey. I want you on that one. Right? I want you. I need you.
That one
That's supposed to be
He goes like things. Yeah. Yeah. That's it. Right?
You know it. I mean, I'm not I'm not musical, but, like, at all, obviously.
Clearly.
I know how to talk to a girl. Okay? So don't mock me. Alright? Yeah.
The flippy guy. He flips off of things. Mhmm. If he didn't flip off of something, I wouldn't know it was him. Also, he's hit that terrible
mustache. Good music. You should listen to him.
I I can't be bothered.
Yeah. I'm not a fan of that. I'm not a fan of mustaches in general.
Well, not that one. That's what they call a porn stache. You understand? Have you ever heard that phrase? No.
Really? Oh, you're so young. He looks like a he looks like a seventies porn star with that stupid mustache. You don't know the phrase porn stash? Don't Google that.
I don't know what happened.
Listen. I probably most of my friends do, but I do feel like that I am not always up on my generation's culture of
That's not your generation. That's barely my generation.
Okay. Well Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. At multiple summer camps, people will talk about things.
I'm like, what's that? What's that? What's that? Check on Instagram. I don't really like, I I just don't I don't know.
My Instagram is full of nutrition and running, and it's like, I need to get a new account because
you don't listen to me right now, you're gonna be 34 when you get married. Do you understand? I feel like you want a family.
Yeah.
I can tell about you. Am I right?
K. Yeah. Yeah. I do. I have thought about like, I don't know
I mean, you know how it happens. Right?
If if people yes.
Okay. Alright.
If but, like, do I want to bring a kid into the world who might have diabetes? I don't know.
Oh, I mean, you could bring a kid in the world who might get hit by a car. Or Yeah. Yeah.
That's true.
Or whatever.
It's less likely, though.
Might look down one day and go, my thighs look weird. I mean, there's a lot of things that might happen. You can't plan for that stuff.
That's true.
Yeah. You just gotta get in the game. Start swinging hands. See what happens.
Okay.
Yeah. It's not gonna go well. Can I be clear? Sorry. Excuse me.
That's you're not help you're not convincing me.
Every no. You're missing the point. It's not gonna go well compared to your idea that it should go perfectly. Yeah. But nothing goes perfectly.
Literally nothing
That's true.
For anyone ever, ever, ever, ever. Think of the most famous person you can think of. Who is it? Say their name out loud. God, do you even know famous people at your generation anymore?
It's not somebody on Instagram who's bouncing their ass like an actual famous person. Like, not me. I can't believe people think I'm famous. That's ridiculous.
I don't know. Well, I thought of Benson Boone because we just talked to people.
I know. Well, I figured you're gonna do that. Was trying to get you to stretch, though. Like, think of an actor that's actually famous.
Oh, I don't know actor names. I'm terrible at
that. What's your favorite movie?
TV show? Games.
Wait. War games?
Hunger Games.
I thought you said war games. I'm like, you're bringing up a Matthew Broderick film from the eighties? It's happening. Was it Matthew Broderick? Shall we play a game?
I don't wait. Was that Matthew Broderick? Do know who Matthew Broderick
is? Is.
Matthew Broderick's an old man who's married to the lady from Sex and the City.
I have also never seen that show.
Carrie if I say Carrie Bradshaw, you don't know what I'm talking about?
I've heard the name, but I don't know who.
No. Do you know Devil Wears Prada?
Yes. But I've never I haven't seen it. My friends have.
You have not seen the Devil Wears Prada? No. My watch list. Films ever?
Sorry.
What have you done with your life?
Listen. I did watch I did start watching and finish New Girl because you and Arden were talking about it on those End. End? I don't understand. I loved it.
I loved it. That was so funny.
So listen to me about the other stuff. I'll get your whole life set up in ten minutes. Okay. It was Matthew Broderick. Oh, Ali Sheedy was in that.
Oh, look at the eighties coming back. Okay. Hold on a second. Alright. Now forget word names.
You liked Hunger Games, you said?
Yeah. That was good.
Alright. And what's that girl's name in the Hunger Games? That that's Hall. The the the girl.
Know her face. I just don't know her.
Are fascinating. Oh my god. I love you. Hold on. We're
I'm sorry. Don't be sorry.
You we're talking about Jennifer Lawrence.
Yes.
And she seems like she has a good life. Right?
She does.
Except, you know, one time somebody hacked her iCloud account and released videos of her having sex with a guy?
That sucks.
Right. So nothing goes well is what I'm trying to explain to you. And see how I got there, and I just put it all together for you really quickly. Mhmm. So even for somebody like her who seems awesome and, and, like, she might be having a great life, something went wrong for her along the way.
Right?
Yeah.
Yeah. So it's gonna happen to everybody. You can't plan around perfection.
K.
Find a person who's nice to you, who you love, and that you like, and that you can tolerate, and then see if they feel the same way about you. Then do it again and again, and either it works or it doesn't work, you get to have sex while you're doing it. That's the fun part. They buy you dinner. Right?
Once in a while, you say, you know what? I'll pay for my dinner myself tonight. That's fine if you wanna be what they call a modern person. I don't care. I personally take the free meal.
Okay? And and then you you you troll them around a little bit. You decide. You you break up with them. You get a different one.
You do another time. You bang bang boom around. Then all of a sudden, the the the stuff inside you lines up. You go, oh god. I gotta have a baby.
And then then you just land on whichever one you're with at the time, and that's fine. And then you make a baby. Okay? And then you're broke, and then you try to buy a house. You put down a rug that you don't know how to do, and you do a whole bunch of stuff like that, and then you die.
Like, that's the whole thing. But you gotta get in there, or you're just gonna you just get you'll just die. Do you understand?
Okay.
No. What do you want to happen? What do you think is gonna everybody thinks you're gonna be an influencer. What do you think is gonna happen?
I don't wanna be an influencer. I want nothing to do with people knowing my Instagram account.
Yeah. I gotta tell you something.
Although, I do like my Instagram account. But
I don't wanna bad mouth anybody, so I'm probably not gonna say anything. But a lot of influencers around me the other day and wasn't comfortable. So and then somebody says to me, you're an influencer. And I said, I am not take that back.
You are.
That you know. That you know. You don't know
You are an influencer in the diabetes space.
You don't know one of them that before. You don't know one of the most popular actresses of the last fifteen years, but you you know, boom, like that. There was no pause. No, it starts with s. None of that happened.
On influence, and doing it for the right reason1:05:34
Nope. I don't know how to look anybody in the eye. You're completely direct about that. Why am I an influencer? Because
you have a presence in the diabetes community, a lot of people listen to you. I think that's the only requirement is that you are online and people listen to you.
I think the word has a negative connotation. You don't, do you?
I don't, personally. I could see how people could think it does.
Yeah. Pretty old. I saw war games in that theater.
So Yeah.
I don't know. Mhmm. Remember when Matthew Broject was just a guy that hit somebody with a car in Europe, allegedly. Sorry. Allegedly, from what I heard on the Internet.
Don't look that up or do. It's up to you. Now, I don't like that idea. I really think I because I don't I because it feels like the word influencer to me feels like somebody who's trying to create something out of nothing, and it's more about them than the thing they're doing. Or the thing they're
I would say you're right about the first part and sometimes the second part. But, like, what's the difference between a dietitian who's trying to share, like, good advice on the Internet versus a, quote, unquote, nutritionist influencer, if you wanna use the negative connotation of the word, who's just spreading like keto diet.
Because I think that person in the back of their head wants to get a certain amount of clicks and sell them to TikTok or Instagram or hopes that some company will come along and do a brand deal with them.
Right.
Yeah. I don't think like that.
It just works So what do you consider yourself?
Well, thank you for asking a probing question. Let me get a drink while I think. Hold on a second. Always talk about the first part. I never think about this far.
Hold on. Contextually, I'm a guy whose kid got diagnosed with type one diabetes, didn't know what he was doing, figured it out, and then thought I should tell other people about this Mhmm. In a time where none of the things that you're talking about now existed. I I wasn't doing it thinking that, like, I'd make money or that someone would offer me a free waffle maker to say that I like their waffle maker or anything like that. As a matter of fact, the extent of which that you could make money back then with a blog was that you could put what they called a Google AdSense ad on your on your blog, and that would might make you $5 a month.
Like, it was like, it was that. Right? Nobody would have come along and, like, there's no such thing as a brand deal. Like, there were some companies back then trying to give away insulin pumps to bloggers, but you had to already be using the pump. And I've already told a story recently about the fact that that happened to me, and I turned them down because I was like, we don't need that.
Like, that's silly. Mhmm. And then the because we had insurance. And then the whole thing kept growing, and it's ruining everything, Hannah. Is the everything this I'm actually May I?
Can I go on for a second?
Mhmm.
Don't tune out, everybody. I'm gonna explain the world to you. It's okay to laugh. It's fine. So when I was blogging, when I very first started to blog, there were not many people blogging about diabetes.
As a matter of fact, there were very few.
Mhmm.
And then by the time it got to its crescendo, there were over 4,000 people writing a diabetes blog. And I remember that when that happened, I thought, oh, that's gonna ruin this whole space because now there's too many voices, too many options. People are gonna feel overwhelmed, and instead of choosing, they're not gonna read anything. And by and by the way, that happened. Okay?
Then I started making this podcast because I had to stop blogging because people stopped reading. And then there was nobody else doing it, really. And then I my recollection is I got an ad, then some other people had the bright idea to start a diabetes podcast. And so a couple other people started them. And over the years, many, many hundreds of people have started a diabetes type one diabetes podcast.
Most of them have failed. Mhmm. There are a few left. Yep. I would I would argue with you that they don't download the same rate as me.
They're I'm they're lovely people, and I'm sure they're doing great for the people that are listening to them. I would tell you that I am I am mine is heard at a at a rate that is much greater than theirs. Oh, yeah. I'm guessing.
Do listen to any other diabetes podcasts?
I have never heard another diabetes podcast. Really? Yeah. Never once.
Don't care. So interesting. Yeah. You should.
No. Why?
Because they have interesting conversations. Do you listen back to all your conversations?
No. Some of them.
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
I don't know. They're just it's interesting. Like, that's why I listen to your podcast. It's just to hear other people's stories. It might be interesting for you once in a while just to hear another conversation that you're not a part of.
No. I don't think so. No? I I I don't want I I would there's a couple things. I would never want anybody to think that I heard a thing they said and then I said it.
I know.
I have a very specific idea of what entertaining is. I would probably just get irritated and annoyed very quickly. And even if it wasn't a diabetes podcast, the thing that happens to me often when I'm listening to somebody else interview somebody is the interviewee says something, and I think of a question to ask. And then the interviewer does not ask that question, and then I just get I just get irritated.
I see.
So, also, I don't care what other people think.
Okay. I figured you might say that one.
I hope that's clear enough. It is. Yeah. Yeah. And not because they're wrong or anything like that.
I just I'm No.
You just don't care.
I'm just really not interested.
I know. I listened to your whole spiel about oh, what episode was it where you were talking about, like it was with with the therapist, and it was it was a pretty short episode. Yeah. It was with Erica. And you're you're talking about, like, why you make the podcast, and then you got this some person saying you do it for just to get attention.
And you were like, I don't think that's why I do it. And then there was this whole
Yeah. I don't I don't care
about exploration. Yeah.
I I don't I don't care about I I care about one part of this. I care about, like, people doing better. Yeah. That's that's the really genuinely the part I care about. I could tell you that it, you know, it is a business, and it does make money, and that's awesome.
I assume that'll stop one day. I do love talking, and I don't know what the hell I would do if I wasn't making a podcast. I assume my wife would literally kill me. And so, I think she just one day, she'd go, he won't stop, and then I'd be dead. That that's, I assume, how it would end.
Yeah. And and so I I like it for an outlet for myself. I enjoy thinking out loud. I I I mean, it's nice that people are entertained by it, and it's but it's nicer that they're helped by it. Yes.
I get a lot of satisfaction of knowing that one day somebody will stop listening because they don't need it anymore, and they're doing okay. It makes me it makes me happy. Mhmm. I hope that, like, my inability to sound sincere sometimes doesn't stop me from being sincere from being taken as sincere here.
No. I don't think it does. Because there are I will tell you the other diabetes podcasts that I've listened to, I I find them lacking a sense of humor, and so they get boring a little bit a little bit.
Yeah. No. I have what you might call a personality. And you can you can like it or not like it. That's fine.
But, listen. I'll tell you the same thing I I told people back during the blogging times. I used to get fascinated that somebody would sit down and write a, like, a a blog, and it was very clearly coming from someone's living room. And then they'd get a little popular, and the first thing they would do is shine it up, and all of a sudden their blog looked like a, yeah, I don't know, like a a pharma website. And then they started using different language and only saying things they thought they were supposed to say because now people were listening, and I was I don't know.
That they they're listening because of the way you were speaking before. Like, why would you change that now? That's ridiculous. But there's a pressure that comes on you when you think people are looking. Mhmm.
I am not burdened with that pressure because I really don't care. Okay? So but back to my spiel, as you said. Would you pick that up when you were eating the girl's, kosher food? That's that's that's a joke literally for one person who will later text me and say that was awesome.
So Okay. So so there's too many blogs. It kills blogging. What it really does is it stops some people who were really putting valuable stuff in the world from putting valuable stuff in the world. I am super afraid that's gonna happen with social media too.
I like Okay? You don't think it already has?
Oh, no. It's real close. I might be one of the few people holding it together. I'm not even I don't even think I'm joking. Okay?
Like, I've I've created a giant ecosystem in the diabetes community Mhmm. Made up of hundreds of thousands of people, and it's run by an adult. Sure. I don't sound like an adult. I spent twenty minutes trying to talk a 19 year old into having sex or but that's not the point.
Mhmm. Okay? I'm an actual adult who who who is not out there just trying to get somebody to give me a free waffle maker. Do understand what I'm saying? Or, like, send me lashes that I'll put on and say that I I don't know.
Whatever people do. I don't care. Okay? I'm literally trying to create a place where people can go hear an entertaining conversation where they might take a few things about their diabetes out of it. One way or the other.
It doesn't matter how that happens to me. I think that I think this is an important voice in a space. And and and that means all of your voices who come on and and add to it. And I think that I've built a megaphone that's big enough that I can draw you all in and let you tell your stories. Mhmm.
If we all get focused on a bent leg and an arched back for a click or a like or a view, you're going to ruin this the way they ruin the blogs. And I might be too old to figure out how to do it again. So be careful or it's just gonna be a bunch of bedazzled videos that people watch the first six seconds of that you go back to your boss. Now I'm speaking directly to some people that you go back to your boss and say, look. We got 10,000 views on this one.
Because I'm gonna tell you there are 10,000 meaningless numbers on the bottom of a video. Mhmm. Mhmm. Does that all make sense, Yep. Go find a boy with that level of thought and smile at him a little bit.
It can't be me. I'm much too old, and I'm married. And there's a lot of other reasons. But, like, but, seriously, you gotta you gotta you gotta save this thing. It's helping people, and we're giving it away for views.
Yeah.
The then and it's it's not it's not good. And people the people in control of can they could stop it. They could stop giving people money to bend their knee and smile and arch their back. And if they'd stopped doing that, they might actually put some content out in the world that would help somebody.
Maybe.
All I have. I that's me being old and bitchy. Okay? But when it happens Hannah, let me tell you something. Three and a half years ago, I was talking about GLPs for type ones.
Ahead of the curve, and getting yelled at1:17:32
I got I got yelled at about it. Now now today, there's a study that's about to come out. I can't say where I know about that from, and it's gonna talk all about that. Finally. Okay.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's when I started my podcast in 2015, I was talking about how to use insulin. A whole diabetes community yelled at me.
You can't you can't tell people how you manage your daughter's diabetes. You're gonna hurt somebody. Nay. Turns out I helped hundreds of thousands of people. I'm ahead of this the I'm on the what they call the tip of the spear.
You ever heard that saying? I'm out on the edge of the surfboard. I'm a little ahead. I don't know why. Okay?
And it eventually catches up to me. When it catches up to me, you know who says thank you? Not a goddamn soul. That's fine, Hannah. Okay.
You know who I saw on the Mark Hayman podcast this morning? You know that glucose goddess girl?
No. But I should.
She talks about, like, eating in a certain order to change your digestion, how it helps regular people. But I had her on to talk about it because people with type one diabetes are also regular people. I had her on three and a half years ago. This morning, I saw her on one of the most popular medical podcasts in the world. Three and a half years later.
Okay? I ask yourself, what are you hearing Scott say right now that you disagree with that that three and a half years from now, you're gonna go, I agree with that totally, but forget to come and apologize to Scott. You wanna know what the answer is, Hannah? We already know what it is. Do you know?
Keep It's AI.
Doing it.
It's AI. Oh. That's the thing that three years from now, you're gonna love that you hate me for now. No. I don't
I don't hate you for now.
Not you.
I noticed that a lot of your emails you write are chat g p t.
I don't use the chat g p t.
Yes. You you did one time. You did.
I did one time?
Yeah. When you responded to me, was, like, a while ago.
I tried a whole bunch of different stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Like, at some point, like, I like, oh, you're talking about the emails. Oh.
Oh. Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I sometimes I have to answer, like, 400 emails at a time.
Yeah. Yeah. So at one point, I was like, I I I I can't do this. And so I tried that out. I don't think I've done it in a while, but No.
I would, and I don't have any trouble with it. Not for me. For you people, you should write, but I write other stuff.
I do.
This is not my point. My point is is that you are in the same situation right now personally, Hannah. Mhmm. You can either listen to me today or wait three years and realize I was right, but you'll be 23 by then. An old maid.
Do understand? It'll be too late. Your ovaries will give up. It happens very young nowadays because of the blue light from the phone. It's all very technical.
I can't explain it all to you.
Okay? ChatGPT can.
Yeah. Oh, please. Just ask the machine. Okay. What do we need to talk about about your diabetes before we give up on this?
I don't know. There's a lot of things we could talk about. I will say that I did, I am on Monroe because of your podcast mostly.
A GLP, food noise, and where she is now1:20:43
Good common sense too, Hannah. Tell people.
Mhmm. Yeah.
Tell them what it's doing.
I will. Well, you mean, like, right now?
Yeah. Do it.
Oh, well, okay. So two reasons. One was because of diabetes in general, and then the other one was because of the ED and to calm the food noise.
I was waiting for you to say that. I didn't wanna allude to it. When you said food noise, I thought she's gonna say she's on a GLP now, and it's helping. What are you gonna say? Say your thing.
Yeah. It is. That's that's the the the biggest thing. So I started on it in January. And immediate like, the first day after I took it, I was like, This is weird.
I don't wake up and immediately want to eat all of the almonds in my pantry. This is
cool. Awesome.
It's great. And that was on, like, the lowest dose, two point five,
I think. Two point five.
And then never got nauseous or anything. Like, I I've just I've had a great experience with it. Couple months later, I contacted the NP who prescribed it. I was like, hey. I it's kind of wearing off.
I'm getting used to it. You know?
Let's go to five.
And yeah. So that's that's kinda where I'm chilling at right now. It's been great. No complaints. I I do think it's helping.
I don't really know if it's helping with the diabetes. I think it probably is. My insulin needs haven't changed a ton, to be honest, because I've always been on a relatively low amount of insulin for
I would say that if you're not an insulin resistant person Yeah. Then you're not gonna see a big change in your insulin needs. Right. Right. You're probably seeing a slight change because your eating's probably changed.
Yes. Right. And your weight difference is like
Has your weight changed?
A little bit.
Okay.
It's gone down a little bit because at the end of sophomore year, I was technically in the overweight BMI category for what that's worth. And then now I'm around one forty or something, which I like
Okay.
With the amount of activity I'm doing. And
You feel like that's a good your body structure is good the way it is right now? Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. No.
That's well, my point was if you lost a little weight, it might change your insulin needs too.
That's true. Yeah. Haven't noticed that a lot, but it
Maybe this goes.
Either way. Yeah.
What else do you think it's helping you with? Is it just the I mean, not that that wouldn't be enough, but do you are you seeing any other benefits?
No. It's mainly those two, I would say. Those are the main things.
Age pains, inflammation, anything like that?
I never had
You're not more any of that.
Really? No.
I just saw a whole thing about a whole thing. I don't wanna be too technical when I'm speaking, Hannah. But I just saw a whole thing about people with RA who are saying that the GLP is helping them.
Mhmm. That's cool. Mhmm.
And they said the the the people I saw talking about it, I think it was a Facebook group, are talking about, like, they had to get to a certain dose, and then they're having a lot of alleviation of, like, the pain they're having.
That's awesome. Yeah.
So I love that you did that, and that's because of me?
Well, you kinda started sparked the idea. Mhmm. And then there was Ginger Viera. I'm sure you know who she is.
Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Been talking about it too?
She yes. She talks about it all the time. Awesome. After and also my therapist who you've actually had on the podcast before, doctor Beth Braun. I don't know if you remember talking to her or not.
I I just talked to her a few weeks ago.
Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I listened to her podcast too.
I like, oh, this is fun. I just found your podcast. She was like, oh, it's finally out. But, yeah, I she was also a supporter of the GLP ones, and so all of that combined. My parents reached out to the guy who does Ginger's GLP, Chris, and he was like, yeah.
Let's let's do it.
You're able to get it from somebody. Are you paying cash?
I it's mostly most of the time covered by insurance.
Oh, your parents you're still on your parents' insurance?
Yes.
Yeah. I'm used to young people having terrible insurance when they're on their own, but you're with your parents still. Yes. Yeah. My quick little checky check.
Rheumatoid arthritis appears to improve in some people taking GLP one drugs, and it may be more than just pressure on joints from weight loss. 2025 UCLA study followed people with RA and overweight or obesity. A hundred and seventy three patients who took the GLP one drug had greater improvements in RA disease activity, pain, CRP, ESR, weight, and cholesterol than forty two people who were prescribed one but never started it. Possible reasons may include reduced inflammatory signaling, including the NFKB pathway, less inflammatory activity from fat tissue, improved insulin resistance metabolic inflammation, and weight loss helped existing RA treatments work more effectively. Laboratory and animal research also suggests some anti inflammatory effects occur independently of weight loss.
It's important. But but yeah. See? One day, they'll just spray out airplanes on you. Mhmm.
Just like they do with the fields that keep the bugs off them.
Pesticides?
Yeah. I mean okay. Bad example. Bad example, Hannah. But you know what I'm saying.
I think it's gonna be more readily available one day for people for a number of different reasons. Also, they shouldn't have any trouble getting it through the FDA because Eli Lilly is now worth as much as 17 small countries. So Oh. I'm assuming they have the money to do the studies.
Yes.
Have you not seen this? No. Eli Lilly's value
bad at following news.
Yeah. Yeah. It's so their value is bigger than, like, a number of countries, GDPs. Yeah.
Okay. I'm not surprised, but that's cool.
Yeah. Well, I'm super happy it's helping you. That's awesome. Yeah. Really good for you.
Yeah. As soon as you said it a long time I didn't wanna lead you to it, but and I so I was like, oh, because I thought people would be like, he always says GLP. That's what I thought I was gonna say gonna happen, but instead you said it. Alright. Yeah.
You're awesome. Go back and and and and I know you said no boys at this camp, so it's fine. But think of think of this think of the ones think it's fine. It's fine. But, I mean, it's a long summer.
It's only July.
It's I know. But after after my second diabetes camp, it's like it's, like, couple weeks, and then they go back to Florida. I'm all over the place.
Are you in Ohio right now? I am. Where the boys at the camps
are in.
What are you doing? What do you why do you lie to me? Why do I I thought we had a better relationship while I felt like you misled me now just now. No. No.
No. No. No. What? Well, find the boy the Ohio boy.
But Brush up against him.
You just put your hand on his back. He'll melt.
Oh god. That's weird.
It's not weird. It'll melt. You just put your hand on him when you're talking to him. Look him in the face for five seconds and ask him what he's doing later. And the answer will be buying you a house, Hannah.
Okay? Like, just do it. You don't want a house? Is that the problem? When you want an apartment, ask him for an apartment then.
I'm telling you, he's gonna be within your spell at that point. Do you understand? Have you not seen a wait. I don't you haven't seen a movie.
That's probably a bad question to ask me.
Go watch 13 rom coms from the nineties, and then do one of the things they did in one of them. Okay? And then it'll be fine. You'll be you'll be all done.
K.
Your generation is going to make the planet bereft of human beings if you're not careful. Please listen to me. I was right about the diabetes blogging thing. Okay?
Okay.
Hannah, you're fantastic.
Thank you.
I paused so you could say something nice about me, but it didn't happen. That's fine. You
seem to have enough self confidence.
That's it, girl. Alright. Hold on a second. You're done, but you're coming back on the show one day. You promise?
Alright.
Alright.
When I have a boyfriend or something?
I don't wanna hear about that. That seems inappropriate. Wanna hear about that. No. No.
But I I when you have something, I don't know what. Okay. You should just come back one day.
Alright. Alright? I like your I definitely will then.
Alright. Hold on. I have to talk to you after make sure you're okay with all this.
K.
Alright. Hold on. Heck of an episode today, wouldn't you say? Let's thank Dexcom and the Omnipod five for sponsoring. That's right, my friends.
We were sponsored today by the Dexcom gseven. Dexcom.com/juicebox. Head over there right now. Look into that fifteen day Dexcom g seven. Fifteen days a long time.
It's like half a month. Don't check my math, but I'm pretty sure I'm right. And let's also thank the Omnipod five. My goodness gracious. Omnipod five tubeless.
That beautiful algorithm's updated now with that new 100 target. Get in there. Find out more about it. Omnipod.com/juicebox. You want some tubeless insulin pumping?
Yeah. You do. By any chance, have you tried the small sip series? It's curated takeaways from Juice Box podcast voted on by listeners as the most helpful insights for managing their diabetes. These bite sized pieces of wisdom cover essential topics like insulin timing, carb management, and balancing highs and lows, making it easier for you to incorporate real life strategies into your daily routine.
Take a deep dive, take a sip, and discover what our community finds most valuable on the journey to better diabetes management. For more information on small sips, go to juiceboxpodcast.com and then go oh, actually, we changed the website. Let me see. Go to juiceboxpodcast.com. And from there, there's these two little lines on the right side top.
That's the menu. Then click that, then click series, then there's pro there's small steps right there, pro tips at the top, bold beginnings, bold bolus four, asks that. There's a lot of them there. There's actually a little search there too. Could you just type small sips into the search?
Oh, wow. That search works great. Look at that. And then you could go right to, like, all results for small sips. Oh, and that takes you to the FAQ.
You should check out the FAQ page too. I think that's juiceboxpodcast.com/jbfaq. Seriously, that thing's amazing. Actually, the whole website is I mean, have you, like, seen it? You should you should go check out the website.
The website rocks. It is a potpourri, a never ending cornucopia of support for you and your diabetes journey. That's right. It really is. What else we got over here?
Oh, I don't like the way that works. I'm gonna fix that. Note to self. Change the change the masthead on the frequently asked questions page. Yeah.
I don't like that. Fix that. Oh, Claude. Oh, hell. I forgot to say thank you.
Thank you so much for listening. I'll be back again very, very soon. What is that noise? Stop it. Stop.
Can you hear that? It's my chameleon squeaking. Are you squeaking? What are you rubbing the branch against the? Don't tell people I have reptiles.
They'll think I'm weird. Thanks so much for listening. I'll be back very soon with another episode of the juice box podcast. Look at me. Get all deep in there with another episode of the juice box podcast.
You can hear it. What was that? Oh, I'm getting alarms and alerts on my phone. I was gonna get real deep and tell you about the juice box podcast.
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#1933 Blinded by the Light - Part 2
Blinded by the Light, Part 2
Ryan returns after the Juice Cruise: 38 years with type 1, a vision journey through retinopathy and cataract surgery, a harrowing overdose the night before surgery, and why he now advocates hard.
Jump to a moment
- Thirty-eight years, and a hard-won turnaround. Diagnosed at 16 in 1988 on regular and NPH, Ryan describes decades with little guidance. After a pump trainer named Jordan pointed him to the podcast in late 2023, he went from a 10.7 A1c to the mid-5s — and has held there. He and Scott both note that dropping an A1c that fast can carry its own risks and should happen with a care team.
- A vision journey most people never hear about. He walks through years of diabetic retinopathy, surgeries in both eyes, a cataract, and finally a YAG procedure that cleared his sight. Scott reads a plain-language summary of what a YAG capsulotomy is; it is background, not a recommendation, and any eye care belongs to an ophthalmologist.
- The night he dosed 20 units instead of 2. Fasting before cataract surgery, half-asleep, Ryan gave ten times his intended dose and dropped hard. He used two doses of nasal glucagon, stayed in contact with a group member online, and recovered. His own stated lesson: he should have woken his wife for a second set of hands. This is a story about severe-low response, not dosing guidance.
- Advocate for yourself — loudly. An urgent care that assumed he was drunk on New Year's Eve, a motorcycle crash where no one checked his blood sugar, an ER stay for his daughter Arden where her type 1 went unaddressed for 13 hours: the throughline is that patients and caregivers often have to insist on basic diabetes care. Say it plainly, and don't leave someone with type 1 alone if you can help it.
- The “I'm fine” trap. At 22, with an A1c of 13, Ryan would have told you he was doing “not bad.” Scott connects it to survivorship bias in who finds the show, and to his own father's pride at “beating” smoking — the false security of feeling okay while the numbers say otherwise. The tools exist now; using them is what changes the outcome.
- Juice Cruise 2027 — The third annual Juicebox community cruise, on sale now — the trip where this conversation was recorded.
- Ryan's first episode: Blinded by the Light (#1415) — Ryan's original story — diagnosis, vision loss, and the turnaround — for the full backstory.
- Diabetes Pro Tip series — The management foundation — basal, pre-bolusing, and the tug-of-war framing Ryan credits for the change.
Every word of the conversation
Cold open & sponsors0:00
Welcome back my friends to the diabetes show that never ends. It's never too early to prepare to have a good time. Juice Cruise 2027 is on sale right now. Juiceboxpodcast.com/juicecruise. This is gonna be the third annual juice cruise, and you're not gonna wanna miss it.
Remember this, 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. Don't forget to go to t one d exchange dot org slash juice box and complete the survey. Today's podcast is sponsored by US Med and Tandem Diabetes Care. What a pair.
I'm a poet and didn't even know it. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by the Tandem MOBI system, which is powered by Tandem's newest algorithm, Control IQ Plus technology. Tandem MOBI has a predictive algorithm that helps prevent highs and lows and is now available for ages two and up. Learn more and get started today at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. You can get your diabetes supplies from the same place that we do.
And I'm talking about all your favorites, Dexcom, Libre, Omnipod, Tandem, Ilet, much, much more. Go to usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. Get your supplies the same way we do from US Med. Ryan, welcome back. How are you?
Roommates on the Juice Cruise1:58
Doing fantastic, Scott. How are you?
Awesome. Thank you. I think we should just tell people right away that you and I just spent a week together.
Sounds good to me.
So they know. We were on the cruise, the juice cruise together, and we shared a room. So we got to we got to know each other much much differently than we would have if we certainly weren't sleeping next to each other in single beds, I just wanna say. Not that
In single beds, there was a six inch gap that they were able to put in between those beds.
It it there it wasn't much, was it?
It it really wasn't.
It wasn't much, was it? When we first got into the room, it was still a double bed. And Yeah.
Well yeah. And to be fair, we showed up, like, five hour four hours earlier than we were supposed to.
We snuck we snuck on the ship before it was our time.
Sure did.
Yeah. Yeah. And I I it's a it is, like, just a funny story because when we first got in the room, we were both, like, It's just set up for for for, like, a what is that? What do you call it? Like, a it's not a queen quite, is it?
It's a little smaller.
Yeah. I think I think it was close to a king because I think they were two, like, twin size
birds. You think it was bigger than that? Okay. Okay.
I think so.
Yeah. And so, like, we kinda both looked. It took us a minute to realize that we were supposed to get on the ship at two, and what do we walk on at, like, 10:30 or something like that?
It was, like, 10:30 or eleven. Like, it
was really early. Apparently, there's rules, but they're not that strict.
So Yeah. They don't care. Yeah.
Catching up: 38 years in, diagnosed at 163:20
Anyway, yeah, that was it. So we I you know, like I said, got to know each other better, but let's make sure people know who you are. You were on the podcast previously. Do you have any idea what episode you were on?
Episode fourteen fifteen, Blinded by the Light.
Fourteen fifteen. People should check it out. You have a really cool story. Let's just give them a little a little background. Maybe I should try to do it to prove that I was paying attention while we were talking.
You were diagnosed as a baby. Is that right? Yeah. Uh-huh. How old?
16.
Yeah. I knew that. That's a baby. That's really a baby. And you're how old today?
38. I'm 39. I'll be 40 in November.
Okay. So I was I
was given my I was given my diabetic years, not my not my age.
That's crazy, though. So you're close to 40 with type one?
Close to.
Wow. And other in your family? Anybody else have type one?
Nobody has type one. As far as I know, I don't I don't really know of either of any other autoimmunes either. Okay. I think I'm the only one.
Do you have other autoimmune?
I don't.
Yeah. I didn't see
At least not yet.
I didn't see you take a pill while we were there.
No.
Okay. Alright. So I I wanna give people a tiny bit of of background in case they have not heard fourteen fifteen. So just do the, like, the flyover. How how how did diabetes look growing up?
Where did it lead you to? How did you end up on the podcast? A quick jump through.
The flyover: pumps, no guidance, a Dexcom he quit4:49
Alright. So quick jump through. So, again, diagnosed in 1988 at 16 old on regular and Miles per hour. Lived doing that for the first, I don't know, eleven years or so. I think when I was 12 years old, got my first pump.
And terrible pump training led me into terrible lifestyle choices around not pre bolusing, just eating whatever I wanted, and not, like, even knowing how to really manage the the carbs at that point and the and the pump, the settings. There was no real guidance at
all. Mhmm.
Got a Dexcom because the enter the endo wanted to see what my blood sugar was doing, gave me no direction around that either. And I I threw I was like, I'm never using these again. Ever never gonna happen.
Retinopathy, and losing his vision5:41
How long ago do you think that was you got that Dexcom?
I think I got that Dexcom in, like, 2013.
Okay. And this was just, like, the doctor they were new back then. So the doctor's just looking for insight?
Doctor's looking for insight. The doc I was new to their practice. Mhmm. And they wanted to see why what my blood sugars were doing to try to help. I think they were wanting to help me, but they went about it the wrong way without giving me any insight of what they were doing.
Okay.
And and at least in my head. I I put the Dexcom on. My blood sugars back then were all over the place and very elevated all the time. So I would see my blood sugar go up, and now this is the first time I'm able to see all this, like, all the time because I wasn't really doing my I wasn't checking my blood sugar. I wasn't I wasn't doing what I was supposed to be doing.
So I'd see my blood sugar go up. So I said, okay. I'm gonna do insulin. And then I would die. I would free fall.
And then I would eat I would eat something to bring it up. And then I would it was just in this massive roller coaster for forever. And then I so I was just like, I'm done with this. I don't I don't wanna do this. That was in 2013, 2014.
I had my first bout of diabetic retinopathy. Popped up in my left eye first. Had the surgery for that in, like, November of thousand fourteen. It was right after my best friend's wedding in Mexico. And then, like, six months later, my right eye.
Six months later, my left eye again. And then went about eight years with vision going in and out of my left eye. My right eye stayed pretty good the whole time. Then in the end of twenty twenty three, my endo said, hey. I think let's I'd like you to try a new pump with the Dexcom again.
Explain to me, like, what was new about it, that it's better than the Guardian three sensor that Medtronic had that I had used that I also had used. Mhmm. And I said, okay. I go to the pump training. On the way to the pump training, I said to myself, this guy's gonna teach me how to put insulin in the pump, and that's it.
And I was very wrong and very happy to be wrong. Sat down. I met with Jordan. He he taught me how to use the tandem pump. He told me about the podcast.
He told me about the Facebook group. And in in my other episode, I I said that I went from a 10.7 a one c to a 5.5 in about four months.
A 10.7 to a 5.5 — maybe too fast8:08
Probably too fast, though.
Probably too fast because then it was only about nine months later or so. Woke up in the middle of the night blind in both eyes with diabetic retinopathy, hit me hit me in both eyes at the same time.
Wow. Jeez.
Now this can actually lead into like right away because when we recorded last time, I had finished both of my diabetic retinopathy surgeries.
Mhmm.
During the first one, the doctor noticed that I had a cataract that started in my right eye. So he said, you're gonna need to get that cataract fixed once you're healed from these surgeries. So our last recording happened we recorded a week before I went in for cataract surgery.
Mhmm.
So now we can do the follow-up of where
happened after that? Since then. Yeah. And and time wise, was I have always disliked ordering diabetes supplies, and I'm guessing you have as well. It hasn't been a problem for us though for the last few years because we began to use US Med back then, and you can too.
Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514 to get your free benefits check. US Med has served over one million people living with diabetes since 1996. They carry everything you need from CGMs to insulin pumps and diabetes testing supplies and even more than that. I'm talking about all the good ones, all your favorites, Libre three, Dexcom g seven, the pumps like Omnipod five, Tandem, and the Islet pump from Beta Bionics. They have even more than that.
You gotta go check them out because the stuff you're looking for, they have it at US Med. (888) 721-1514. Or go to usmed.com/juicebox to get started now. Use my Slink. Use my Slink.
Use my link to support the podcast. That's usmed.com/juicebox. Now let's talk about the Tandem Mobi insulin pump from today's sponsor, Tandem Diabetes Care. Their newest algorithm, Control IQ Plus technology, and the new Tandem Mobi pump offer you unique opportunities to have better control. It's the only system with auto bolus that helps with missed meals and preventing hyperglycemia.
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The Tandem Mobi system is available for people ages two and up who want an automated delivery system to help them sleep better, wake up in range, and address high blood sugars with Autobolus. Two years?
Twenty units instead of two11:04
That was
Not two years. Not even that far. Right?
It was almost two years ago.
Okay.
It was it was, like, November 2024 is when when all this was going on. So I think my appoint so my appointment was it was, like, November 24 or something in the morning. That night I went to bed. I was like, okay. I'm I'm gonna go in.
I'm gonna get this cataract surgery. I'm gonna be good. Like, I'm fine. Like, I'm gonna be done. Went to bed.
I was exhausted, fell asleep. High blood sugar beeps, wake me up in the middle of the night. I'm dead tired, and I dose my insulin. I wake up a couple hours later, and my blood sugar is 38, like, diag or, like, 40 diagonally or down or whatever it was. I get up and I check it, and then I realized that I did twenty units of insulin instead of two.
And
and you're fasting for your for your procedure the next day.
And I'm fasting for my procedure the next day.
Which you very much wanna go to.
Which I am not gonna miss. There's there's nothing like, I'm either gonna lie to these doctors and say that I haven't eaten, or even being low, I I I was able to sit back and take a minute and say, alright. At this moment, I'm still with it enough. What can I do differently? And my wife is sleeping.
I didn't wake her up, like, which we've had that conversation since then. I should have woken her
She she mentioned maybe it would have been a good idea to have another set of hands. Yeah.
A 100%.
Yeah.
A 100%. So I I said, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna I'm gonna just gonna use this glucagon. I'm gonna use my Baqsimi, shot it in my nose. I went and sat on the couch.
And I'm talking on the Internet with Cassandra, the group expert who's on the other side of the world, because she's awake at this time, and her and I are just talking. I'm telling her what's happening. And, you know, like, we're we're just having this conversation, and I I know I blacked out at some point, because I I don't remember much of much of anything for a good little bit.
Were you talking to her verbally? Just typing.
Just texting.
Just texting. Alright. Does she remember it as you disappearing for a point? Have you ever asked her?
I don't know. I don't know if I've ever asked her that.
Okay.
I wake up. My blood sugar I see my blood sugar's still very low. I looked at the chart. I had gone up and then started and then I was I was going back down again. So I said, okay.
I'm gonna use another glucagon. So I used the second a second Baqsimi, shot it. Right now, if if I had to guess, it's like four 03:30, 04:00 in the morning my time. Mhmm. And I had about an hour and a half before my kids start waking up, and I was like, I I gotta figure this out.
Like, I don't want them to see me like this. Like, I I know I was probably not gonna make sense if they're talking to me. So I I just sat there, and my blood sugar did start coming back up. And now I didn't like, I'm still I hadn't eaten anything. Like, I was like, I'm still having the surgery.
My older daughter wakes up, and she's I think she knew something was wrong. Like, I just wasn't acting like myself. Mhmm. And I, like, I still drove her to school. By the time it was time for her to go to school, I drove her to school.
I felt very confident at that point that I was okay.
Okay.
I was tired. I was, you know, I was but I was I was very okay. I would never put her I would never put my kids in jeopardy.
On
the way to school, my blood sugar, like, was a 165. It was starting to level out. I was like, okay. Like, I I made it through that. Let's get her to school.
Let's go get the baby to school, and let's go get this surgery. I did a little bit of insulin. By the time I got to the surgery, my blood sugar was, like, 98, and I rode perfect through the whole surgery. Got that done.
How long were you out for that, or were you in a twilight? What do they do for that?
I mean, it's it's a little less than a twilight. They numb you. They they they knock you out to numb your eye, and then you're awake through the whole surgery.
Okay. I was just thinking you didn't even get to rest during it. It would have been nice if it was
Not really.
If it was a ninety night thing. At least you coulda.
Yeah. No. And then I you know, like, by the by the time that by the time we go we're getting to the surgery, like, I've I've now looped, like, the rest of the group experts wake up. They see part of the probably a conversation that her and I that Cassandra and I are having, and they're, like, they're, well, as soon as you can, go eat something. Like, you need to eat to replenish your glucagon stores and your and your you know?
And I was, like, alright. Like, so, like, was I was hungry. I was ready. Got out of that surgery. That one was definitely easier than the than the retina surgeries, but it I mean, it was just
it was a couple
of days a couple of days healing. Was still a lot. It was a a long night. And once I was able to start seeing things, things weren't better. My my eye my vision wasn't better yet, which should have been.
I went to the doctor to the the cataract surgery for a follow-up, and they said that I had a mini hemorrhage still in my eye.
Okay.
So I went back to the retina doctor, and he's looking at it. My eye's a little swollen. There is a little hemorrhage in my eye. So now I'm on the shots. Then I had I had to start the shot procedure to to try to stop that from happening, get the swelling down.
That lasted for about a year. And in February of this year, I went for my or no. Was maybe December 2025. I went for a retina's follow-up. The doctor told me that my eye the swelling was down.
Okay. The bleeding was done. And now there's just a haze on the back of my lens that I just need to go back to the cataract surgeon. He'll clean it up, and then I'll be good to go. So by the time I I went I went made an appointment with the doctor.
They no longer took my insurance, so I had to find a new doctor. Went and found the new doctor. I think I was in the office for about fifteen minutes, and by the time I left, two days later, my vision is clear.
Getting his sight back16:53
Wow. It's I mean, you wear glasses. Right? But
Yeah.
But you're just you see just how would you describe it versus I I guess I guess I'd like to understand how it degrades. So, you know, go back ten years. How did you see? Go back five years. Go back before the surgery.
Like, what what's the what's it look like to you when you're looking into the world?
I mean, it I don't know. It just it just looks it looks normal. Like, for the longest time for after my first set of surgeries leading up until the second time Mhmm. It was really hard for me to focus on a computer screen because
I
had one guy one eye that was good and one eye that was not good.
Okay.
And so I would be trying to focus and and and it was very different.
Right.
And now, my prescription in my right eye after the cataract surgery is vastly different than my left eye. But the way that, I mean, the way that glasses are now and technology, like, I don't notice it. Like, I look at my screen and I can see everything. I think the different the biggest difference for me now is that when I don't have my glasses on, I can I can still see things across the room? Where before, my eyes were so bad, just my eyes were always bad, not even big just prescription wise
Mhmm.
My whole life. Where if somebody was 10 feet away from me, if I didn't know who they were, I I wasn't gonna be able to pick them out of a lineup.
Okay.
And so now I can. I can I can see things on the TV? I can see I can see my family across the room without my glasses on. But I think that's only out of my right eye because the the prescription got way way lessened with the with the new cataract.
What procedure just made your vision better in general?
It's called a YAG procedure.
Okay.
And I well, that was the last one. I think that I mean, like, the the vision getting better in my right eye was the cataract surgery because they replaced the lens that was damaged that caused your eyes to not be able to see anymore or, like, to need glasses. Mhmm. So once I get the new lens in, that that drastically changed, like, how far I can see out of my right eye.
Okay.
Eventually, I know I'll need one in my left eye because they said that the retina surgeries cause cataracts. So I'll need it there. And then once that happens, like, I'm gonna be able to see really well. And then the yag it's called a yag procedure where, like, a a cloudiness gets on the back of your lens, and they they literally they put numbing drops in my eye Mhmm. And shot a laser into my eye while I was wide awake and just cleaned up the back of my lens.
And it was, I mean, maybe forty five seconds, thirty to forty five seconds, and he was done.
And yeah. Because I'm looking here. It says, you sit in a machine like a regular eye exam. They usually dilate the eye and may use numbing drops. The doctor uses a laser to make an opening.
It's typically painless very fast. You go home the same day. Vision often improves quickly, though sometimes it takes a day or two. You may notice floaters for a while. The eye can have short term pressure spikes or inflammation, so some doctors check pressure afterwards and prescribe a drop.
Less common risks include swelling in the retina, lens movement, or retinal tear detachment, especially in high risk eyes. There is another procedure called yag laser erodotomy, which is different. That one makes a tiny hole in the iris to help fluid flow in people with narrow angles or risk of angle closure glaucoma. Man, they've really come a long way with all this.
It's and and when I go to the retina doctor
Yeah.
I'm the youngest guy in the room.
Yeah. I would imagine. Because this is more of a cataract thing. Right? Like, older people This one
is this one is a cataract thing. Yeah. But my point like, just to tie into what you said about, like, how far they've come. I like, I'm hearing all the other problems that people are having, and it's to me, it's just incredible that, like, we can fix this stuff.
Yeah. No kidding.
And and it's just yeah. I mean
A yag capsulotomy. Is that what you had?
I believe so.
Yeah. How about that? Done after cataract surgery if busy if vision gets cloudy again.
Yep. And that's I mean, that's that's what happened. So I
wonder if they could fix my vision. I I wanna be able to see so I it like, the two feet between me and, like, my hand, I wish someone would fix that. It's so frustrating. I know that's it's a it's a crazy thing for me to say to you, but but because my vision is really good other than that. But it but I'm just trying to point out that that's a very small imposition, and it's incredibly frustrating.
I can't
I'm I'm sure they can do something for you. Yeah.
Yeah. But I can't imagine, like, my wife says all the time, like, from across the room, I know it's you because we've been together for so long. Yeah. But if two people walked in here, I couldn't tell them apart. That's Yeah.
I I I would that would freak me out. I have to be honest with you. But I guess if you live with it, it's not it'd probably be different situation. Absolutely. So describe your vision now today.
Right now, my vision's great. I I I mean, I I don't I just I just had a doctor's appointment shortly before the cruise. Everything was fine. Everything is still good in my eyes. Mhmm.
No more shots. But as far as my vision goes, I don't have any issues. There's very rarely do I, like, think, like, oh, man. Like, anything's wrong. Like, if I'm tired and I wake up, like I'm not gonna lie.
There's probably a small part of me. Like, if I wake up tie if I wake up extra tired or something or, like, I work in I work with wood. And so, like, if I accidentally get something near my eye, maybe, like, it dries my eye out a little bit. My first thought is, like, oh, crap. And then I'm, like, oh, hold on a second.
Yeah. I'm good. I an eye drop, and it clears up, and then everything's good. And I'm, okay.
Like Different world.
Different world.
Where he'd be without meeting Jordan22:25
It's What do you think happens to your vision if you don't meet Jordan? So if the doctor doesn't put you on the on the pump, the pump doesn't send you a pump trainer. Dry Jordan's been on the podcast a number of times. But you don't meet Jordan and everything like, where do you think you are right now?
Well, let me tell you. I I think I know exactly where where I'd be at.
Okay.
I had a very bad doctor tell me right I mean, before before I met Jordan, before I got on the new pump, before I found the podcast, went to a doctor because I said, I I need to start taking care of my eyes. I wanna be able to see my kids grow up. And so I went to the doctor, and a doctor told me, it doesn't look like there's anything we can do for you.
Oh, gosh.
He said, I can't see into your eye. If it starts to hurt, we'll just take your eye out. And I said, well, that's not happening, doc.
My god. How long ago was this?
It was the beginning of twenty twenty three. Wow. It's Months months before I met Jordan.
Three years ago, someone said to you, hey. We might have to pop your eye out.
Yeah.
Okay.
Because he because he wasn't he it wasn't his area of expertise.
He had
no idea what he was doing. But that's but how do you just say that instead of recommending me to, like, a better doctor?
No. He would've a 100% taken out your eye.
He was ready to take I mean, he was ready to take it out that day. If if I would've said, hey, let's just do it now, why wait? He would've done it. But I think I I don't I I for sure don't think I would've ever went down that path. But I I for sure think that I would have still ended up in the same position that I was in Mhmm.
But probably I probably don't think I would have gotten my vision back Yeah. If I hadn't gotten my a one c's under control. If they did come back, it wasn't gonna last, and and I I would I would be constantly in the same position.
Okay.
The doctors have all said that since since then, since since I started listening to the podcast, my a one c has I I touched a six one time, and I've been I've been a 5.7, 5.8, 5.6, like, consistently.
So this don't make this about me. Okay? But, like, from the way you grew up, regular Miles per hour, not great control care, direction, etcetera. Three years ago, somebody says, try a pump. Well, by way, what do you you're on the Moby.
Right?
I'm on the t slim.
T slim. Excuse me. You're on the t slim. Right? So you're using the using the Control IQ plus Control IQ.
Yep. Tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. And you're, so you're on you're using that pump. Jordan just tells you, go listen to the podcast?
Yep. 100%.
He's just, like, give you the pro tip series or something like that?
Nope. He didn't he didn't say anything
other than
just listen to the just go listen to the podcast. It will change your life. And then said.
What he mined from the podcast25:10
What did you like, I think the important part is, like, what did you mine out of it that was able to overcome what you understood or didn't understand and and set you I mean, obviously, the motivation's there because of your eyesight, but still, like, that's a lot to change.
Yeah. I just I I think I touched on this a little bit before in my in my last episode is that when I'm given information and it's something that that I'd like obviously, like, diabetes is part of my life forever. And so, like, I've always been I always I always cared about it, but I didn't know the backstory to it. Once I start learning more about it on the technical side and how things actually work, I'm the kind of guy who I'm just gonna dive head first. I'm gonna figure everything out.
Mhmm.
And the the podcast was the tool was the was the research that allowed me to do it. It was the the information I needed to hear to for me to make the changes that I did. So when I started listening to the podcast, the way that you would talk to people, and if it was you and you and some random person or if it was you and Jenny, it made it make sense in a way that I just don't think that I probably would have listened to somebody else explaining it a different way.
Okay.
For me, it it just put everything into perspective of, oh, basil is really important. Because growing up, the doctor I didn't have an endo ever explain to me how important the basil is. Mhmm. So I started messing with my basil right away. And I would I would then listen to episodes about pre bolusing and, like and now I'm getting somebody who's explaining why pre bolusing is is needed.
Not just, like because the doctors told me, like, a couple times, like I was actually thinking about this the other day. The doctors told me, do your insulin fifteen minutes before you eat. And and I now that I'm able to look back on it, I really think that in my head, I thought they were telling me to do this because of that I wasn't a good patient. I didn't think or be I wasn't I don't I don't like saying it like that. I wasn't I wasn't doing everything I was supposed to be doing.
I think that in my head, I assume that everybody else didn't have to do this and they wanted me to do it Oh. Because of the way they said it.
Oh, so what you took from it wasn't that it was a piece of advice. You took you took from it, like, well, you're so terrible at this. Like, maybe this thing that no one else does will help you.
That's I like, I
It's how it felt.
That's how it felt. That's that's how it feels now that I'm able to look back on it.
I see. Back then, you just didn't do it when they said it one way or
the I just didn't do it.
Okay.
So now that I'm listening to the way that you and Jenny described it and talk about it all the time, I was like, oh, this is something that everybody should be doing. Mhmm. And now but here's why. And, I mean, the tug of war is the perfect example of what it is. When you describe that tug of war, then it made sense to me.
And I was able to then time it better because fifteen minutes doesn't isn't I mean, fifteen minutes is just a number that they threw out, but it's it's always different.
Yeah.
I've had I've had I've had forty five minute long pre boluses because my blood sugar was high. And and I'm like I'm like when I was when I was starting to learn and I was getting into it, I was not going to eat if I wasn't if my blood sugar wasn't prepared for what I was about to go into. It didn't matter that I would wait forty five minutes to eat and my family's already done. I was like, no. I'm I need to figure this out.
Mhmm. And and I'm at that point now where my blood sugars are no longer like sure. They they they get elevated. But I know how to fix it faster, and I can and I'm and I know that if my blood sugar is still a little elevated going into a meal, I can just add a little bit of extra insulin, look at how much I have on board, and then make it all work.
Yeah. And that just comes from listening to just people talk about it more colloquially in a way that, like, sticks to you eventually.
100%.
Stories, pictures, that kind of thing.
Yep.
Yeah. That's awesome. Well, I mean I mean, I can't say enough how happy I am for you. It's really it's a it's a fantastic story. It really is.
And, you know, there's nothing wrong with me getting to feel like once in a while the podcast is really helpful. I actually had the experience this morning. I I shared it online because I was embarrassed. Somebody took you you know the two, the the Knud Knicks that climbed to the top of the, what they climbed to in
The top of
the State Building? Yeah. Yeah. And then they they
Shout out to Andy Oliver.
Yeah. Andy.
He posted it today? Andy made I think it was last night.
He takes a photo of them that that I guess the Internet is just using, like, crazy now. Right? It's them up there with this big black flag, and people are dropping stuff onto the flag and, you know, making their own flags. Yeah. And he puts up it just says Juice Box podcast forever, and it's lovely and everything.
But the the point is is that when I saw it, I I I don't know what it is about, like, when I grew up or what the Internet was like as I was, like, experiencing it growing up, but I thought that's the closest I feel to famous, that somebody would, like, make a meme about a thing I did. You you know what I mean? I was like, oh, that's right. It I've never felt so good since people started getting juice box license plates. Like, that's the other the only other two the only two things that have made me feel like, oh, this thing really reaches a lot of people is is that kind of stuff.
Because now you got
the I got I some got something on my calf that probably should make you feel
Well, you have a a yeah. You have a Juice Box podcast tattoo, which is, again, like, one of those things where I look at it and I go, wow. This thing has transcended my initial, my initial desire for it, which is fantastic. But now you've had this experience, if you don't mind pivoting. I is there a reason you're on today?
Because I or can I just take this wherever I want to? Would you
You you take it wherever you want to. I definitely wanted to give, like, a I wanted to give a follow-up.
Yeah.
We just did the cruise together.
Sharing the hard stories on purpose31:00
Mhmm.
And there were a few stories about from the past.
Okay. You broke up you just broke up for just a second. There's a few
There's a few there's a few stories that I think that I would like to talk about in a in a way that it helps me, like I don't know how to word it. I've I've been thinking about how to word this is that, like, I don't want it to be like the here's what you shouldn't do kind of thing, but more of those things of like, this these are things that I did. And because of where we are at tech with technology today
Yeah.
That you you can overcome this kind of stuff and you can get you can get around it probably a lot easier than I was able to.
Alright. So you wanna spotlight a couple of, like, remembrances from your life these
days? Remembrances, things like that and just
Go ahead. Jump in. That's fine. We'll do
it. I mean, we don't have to we can
go That's a great idea. I'll I'll pepper in the thing I was gonna do too. So go ahead.
So, you know, I mean, just, like, a couple random things that throughout my life that have happened to me that, like, as I now can look back on it, I think if I, like, if I had a CGM back in the day, and it wouldn't have mattered if it was a 100% accurate Mhmm. It would have helped me a lot. I I went to a school field trip one time, and I I tested my blood sugar, and my blood sugar read, like, 17 on the meter. Where if I had the technology we have today, would've I been able to see it falling faster, would've been able to fix it. So, like, I you know, like, these are things that I, like at any moment, at that point, I could've just passed out on that bus.
Yeah.
So, like, to me, it's like when you know, like, I get that parents worry about their kids. I worry about my kids. They're not diabetic. But knowing that we have these things in place now to help, like, I just I want to, I guess, stress the point. I say it online all the time.
But we're at a point now where, like, we have all these tools that help us to to succeed when we didn't have them in the past and we still lived. And and there's just something to be said about that anything could happen. It's not gonna you can't stop a low blood sugar from happening. Mhmm. But what you can do is have is have the tools.
So even if it's not working out perfectly for you, I think it's, you know, it's I don't I don't wanna say, like, we'll figure it out, but just
You think it's the difference
between a different one.
Yeah. It's the difference from just being alive and thriving? Is that fair?
Percent.
Right. Like 100. You you because to your point, even though you I mean, listen. You were diagnosed at 16, and you said 88. Right?
Yeah.
So around the time my buddy was diagnosed when we were, like, 18 or 19. He's not even here anymore. So he got he got your standard of care, and he didn't meet Jordan. Or he was just ten years ahead of you and in age, and so it it maybe it caught up to him or maybe he's got different, you know, lifestyle or, like, genetic factors or whatnot. But, I mean, you know, I mean, I've I've said this a million times.
Mike's talking to his wife about what to have for dinner, stands up to go in the kitchen, falls over. Just like that.
Yeah. No. It's it's crazy.
Yeah. And and and I realized that he and you were put on the same path because of the time frame of when it happened. And you probably just had more time because you were younger. And then you get lucky and somebody says try a pump. The the technology comes around.
Somebody mentions it to you. You run into a thoughtful person who knew about the podcast. The podcast actually works well for you. It intersects well with how you think or how you listen or or whatever. You you know?
And then you take it really seriously, apply, apply, apply, and get and get very quickly to where you are right now. I mean, honestly, your turnaround in three years is astonishing.
Well, thank you. I mean, I appreciate it. And I I mean, like, I I've said it a 100 times. I know that you'd like, it is, like, it's because of you. It's because of Jordan, like, getting me to the the information and, like and being able to, like the way that you the way that you describe it to people to get people to understand is just incredible.
Thank you.
And I hear that and I hear it all the time online. I hear it, like I'll talk more about that in a minute. I wanted to say something else about something something different that ties into this, but, you know, there I guess another couple stories that I wanted to just just share with
The urgent care that thought he was drunk35:10
Please.
For people Yeah. Is about advocating for yourself for things that, like, have because of things that have happened to me. Again, before my before having a CGM, there was a a New Year's Eve where my wife and I and our daughter were just sitting around by the fire. I had maybe one drink, like a glass of wine, and we were just hanging out. And all of a sudden, like, we had bad shrimp cocktail or something.
All of us are getting sick. And my blood sugar is dropping, and I can't get it to stay up. I'm struggling to get my blood sugar to stay up. Every time I try to eat something, I throw up. Eat something, throw up.
I said, I need you to take me to the urgent care right down the street. It and so, like, so
that thought you were heading you you were in a bad way.
I was in a bad way. I I didn't think I didn't think I was gonna be able to to get out of this without help.
Okay.
So we get to the urgent care. This is during COVID. So my wife can't sit in the waiting room with me. I'm wearing a mask. I walk up to the counter to the to the lady at the reception.
Said, I I can't get my blood sugar up. I need help. And I keep throwing up. And, like, she's watching me like, watched me throw up when I walked like, right when I walked through the door.
Yeah.
So I she says, okay. She gives me the paperwork to fill out. She said, we'll get you we'll we'll get you back soon. I go sit down. It very quickly occurs to me, they think I'm drunk.
Oh. They don't think that I'm diabetic. I don't like Yeah. I in her head, she's like, it's New Year's Eve.
Yeah.
This idiot's just drunk.
Drunky over there thinks he knows something about blood sugar. Yeah. You're right. Yeah.
So I'm sitting here and I'm like, every couple like, I mean, probably five minutes later, I get up and I go, I I need help. And I'm I'm I'm, like, pleading to her at this point. Mhmm. I need help. And I quickly like, my blood sugar wasn't so low that I didn't know what was going on, but I just again, like, I I didn't think I was gonna come I I wasn't gonna be able to come away from it for too much longer.
Yeah.
So I started sending myself emails because I didn't know what else to do. This time, I asked for help. No no direction. No this. Like, they I kept emailing myself because I was like, if if I pass out and something happens
Do you think maybe somebody will see this?
Somebody will see it. Who knows what I mean, who knows? But at least, like, if I pass out, then they'll probably come and get me.
Okay.
But but I'll be able to show that, like, hey, like, you guys failed at your job. Finally, it I probably sat in that waiting room for thirty minutes, forty five minutes before anybody even came to bring me back into a room. When I got back into the room, I finally looked at the nurse and I said, I need help. My blood sugar is low. And he said, okay.
We'll be back in a minute. Fifteen minutes later, the doctor finally comes into the room. And he says, what's going on tonight? I said, I need help. I yelled at this guy.
Mhmm. My blood sugar is low. He looks at the nurse. He says, has anybody tested his blood sugar? And they all said, no.
The nurse got a quick yelling at. They tested my blood sugar. Five minutes go by. I'm my blood sugar's perfect. Like, it's it it took one guy to finally listen to me.
Yeah.
And so I just, like, stick up for yourselves. Do whatever you gotta do. Like, don't let them sit like, say no. Like, and I've I've taken this I've taken this in my life with just going to the doctor, telling them what I want a prescription written for or whatever it might be, helping my wife with different things, my kids. Like, this is you have to do this for yourselves.
Yeah. I don't tell you many times. When you're telling that story, thought I wouldn't have cared if it was COVID or not. I wouldn't have sent you in there by yourself. Like, I understand that everyone was scared and you follow the rules and whatnot, but, like, I would have been like, I don't care what any of you think.
He has type one diabetes. So that's the one thing you couldn't get out of your mouth. Right? Because it's so norm
it's so normable. Diabetic at
least the first time. Oh, jeez.
At least at least the first time. But, again, Lauren was also throwing up. Like
Yeah.
So, like, we're all we're all
sick too. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. Sick too. You know what I mean? So, like but but her blood sugar is not crashing at the same time.
Bad shrimp.
It was our our older daughter was at home, like, who was old enough to maybe stay at home, but not old enough to stay for a long time.
Right.
So, like, Lauren needed to get back to her. Like, there's a whole lot
of things guys are in trouble. Like, there's a lot yeah. There's a lot going wrong. There's a lot
going on. Yeah. Like, I I 100% think that if it wasn't for, like, some of that other stuff, she would've stayed with me.
Okay.
But you you would think you're going into a health care place. Should take care of
you. You might be alright once you get in there.
You might be alright when once you get through the door. Do you
think forty five minutes it took them to get you
to the sure? Pretty close to that.
Yeah. Jeez.
You know? And then and then just I've had I've had experiences in the hospital. Just I I I was asked to tell this story because I've I've typed it out. Mhmm. In when was it?
The motorcycle crash nobody checked40:13
2010. I think 2010. I used to drive a motorcycle. I had a Honda CBR 600 r r, pretty quick bike. I was stupid on it.
I rode all over the place. I it was it was my daily driver. It wasn't until I was driving the speed limit that I got in an accident. I made a left hand turn leaving work one day, and another lady made a left hand turn the opposite direction. But our turns were so close to each other that I think what happened was that she looked she looked to her right or she looked to her left, and I wasn't there.
She looked to her right to see if she could make the left hand turn, and by the time she started making the turn, I had pulled up.
Mhmm.
I saw this coming, and I thought, I'm gonna die. And I and then I quickly thought, I don't want to. I swerved, and she swerved at the same time at the same direction, so we still collided. And as I hit her car, I made direct eye contact with her through my helmet as I'm flying over her car. And I ended up rolling down the street, and and I land in the middle of the road.
Just dead in the middle of the road. And now she's freaking out coming up to me. I'm I'm the one who just about died, and I'm calming her down. I'm I'm handling the situation. The ambulance gets there, and they they told me later that we had the body bag pulled out.
They said, we saw your bike. We had the body bag pulled out. And then then we go we turn around the corner. You're sitting straight up. We got the stretcher.
Now you're fine.
Yeah.
So there was not one time throughout that whole process. I mean, I had my pump on. I told every everybody knew I was diabetic. There was not one time in that hospital that anybody checked my blood sugar Yeah. That anybody asked me about my blood sugar, that anybody did anything.
Like, it's just it's wild to me that that stuff still happens. Now this is 10 this is sixteen years ago.
Well, listen. Two and a half years ago, Arden went into a Savannah hospital at college around midnight, 01:00 in the morning. She and I talked before that. I sent her to the emergency room. And then I and then I sat at my computer, got myself a ticket, drove to the airport in the middle of the night.
I think I sat there for, you know, maybe waiting for, like, a 6AM flight. I was probably to her about twelve hours after she got to the hospital, and she didn't look good at all. She was there for stomach pain, like, you know, probably, like, Arden can get a cyst sometimes, you know, on her lady bits inside. It could be incredibly painful. And they and we've talked about it before.
They confuse it for a thousand different things. And she's there. She's maybe all of, like, 20 years old. She's got two girls with her who are not, like haven't grown up with health issues, so they're not as adept at all this. You know, the girls are helping her and crying.
You know? They're more upset than Arden is. You you know what I mean? I get there twelve, thirteen hours after she's there. I walk in.
I immediately, like, take her phone and look at her blood sugar. And she says to me, I told them I have type one diabetes. No one's checked on me once. I've been here for thirteen hours. No one's I'm managing my diabetes.
Like, no one's asked about it. They haven't checked my blood sugar. Nobody's asked me if I need food or like, she's like, nothing like that's happened the entire time I was here. Yeah. And I hugged her, then she broke down because she was holding it together for that whole time.
You you you know what I mean? I that's I mean, that's that's not ten years ago. That's two years ago.
No. It's I mean, it's crazy. And I don't wanna, you know
Yeah. Yeah. No. No. I'm sure there are some great doctors out there.
I'm I'm excited to run into them one day.
Same here. Right? Like, I I have a decent doctor now. The last the last thing I'll say in another hospital visit, I had my appendix taken out. And now they have to run your blood work for that.
So they, you know, they they knew what was going on at that point. My a one c at the time was at thirteen 0.4.
Okay.
The the endo specialist at the hospital came in and was like, we're keeping you here longer than we have to because your a one c is so high. My dad looked at this lady and goes, you're keep him here for three months? Like, what are we doing? You know? Like, you're not gonna fix this.
And it's just like, I don't like, I still look back and I'm like, what? Like, what was she planning on happening?
Yeah. I mean, she's gonna gonna get you one of those loaded those those diabetic meals they give you with the chocolate cake and get you all set off.
I know.
I after you eat it.
100%. I like, the doctor said I was cleared to go because of my my surgery. I should have been out of there. Mhmm. Now she's she's holding me back.
Well, she's worried about you.
She's worried
about me. Wasn't gonna it wasn't gonna
But it wasn't gonna fix it.
What was gonna happen. Yeah. Yeah.
You know?
13, Ryan. A 13A1C.
13.
Wow. How old are you at that point, you think?
Oh, I was I was in my twenties. I was twenty twenty one, 22.
Yeah. So diabetes for twenty two years with a thirteen a one c. I I I say all the time that I think that the podcast attracts a certain motivated group of people and that we don't often get to see the totality of what everyone walking around with type one is experiencing and their outcomes and their daily their daily lives. So yeah. I mean, did you can I ask you back then if I asked you if I found you when you were 22 and I said, how are you doing with your diabetes, how do you think you would have answered?
I probably I probably would have said not bad.
Not bad.
Not bad.
Yeah. And what does that mean? It means
I don't It means I'm alive.
Yeah. I'm alive.
It means Okay. Everything else is everything else about me is healthy. Was I I mean, at at that point, like, my vision hadn't gone out yet. At that point, I was good. Like, I was it was just I was fine.
Yeah. There was nothing I couldn't do. I did I felt I've I felt invincible
Right.
Other than I had a pump strapped to my body all
the time. I wonder if it doesn't even, like, give you a false sense of security because you're not even doing the things you're supposed to do. And look. I'm still fine. Still want
A 100%.
Yeah. I still went on a walk. I still do this. I still do that. Like, I might be the one who doesn't even need to pay attention to this.
Like, look how great I am. Like A 100%. And I take again, I take that from my father who smoked two or three packs of cigarettes a day, eventually dies of, you know you know, heart failure type two injury, like a a whole mix of things in his seventies. But point is is that I remember him in his forties going to the doctor and coming back and saying, doctor said he can't even tell that I smoke. He was so proud about that.
Yeah.
Yeah. And and I realize now in hindsight what he meant was that thing where smoking kills you, that's for you suckers.
Yeah.
I'm okay. Like, I I I don't I I my body loves it. My body loves to smoke. It's see, you you don't you guys are all doing it wrong maybe, but I got it together. I'd say, kill kill them eventually.
I was fine. Yeah. I was good.
Yeah. That's interesting, isn't it? The way your brain works and tells you, you're okay. Keep going. So after you've had this experience I mean, it's a long life with diabetes.
The cruise, from both sides47:37
You have this experience meeting Jordan, finding the podcast, etcetera. And then last year, you and your family were on I wanna make sure people understand this. You and your family were on the first cruise that we did in 2025. You came back this year and helped out a little bit. Like, you, you know, took care of some back end stuff, made sure I was where I was supposed to be.
You were actually part of one of the talks. Did a great job in in one of the talks. And you were helping people, like, talk chatting with people. It was a very p like, a peer led. We we really I think we fig the first one was good.
Like, don't get me wrong. People like the first one. The second one, we learned some things from the first one. I think it it it enhanced it. And one of the things we did was, like, kind of peer led sessions.
Like, while I was talking to kids, there were people like you talking in your age group, older people. I mean, it really is fantastic, isn't it? There's there were people on that ship who had diabetes who were I mean, there's an eight year old there. Right? Is he the youngest maybe?
Think I think was but that blonde boy was probably the Right?
I think so.
He was so smart too.
I don't
if you had a chance to talk to him. He's a really interesting little kid. And then, gosh, Maureen, 60 in her sixties, but she wasn't the oldest. There were people there older than that, right, in their seventies too?
Yeah.
And then last year, Terry was in her mid seventies.
Terry's in her mid seventies. Last year, Steven was there.
Yeah. Steven was there. Like yeah. So a a mixture of people. You don't in any other walk of life, I take a 77 year old, an eight year old, a 35 year old, a 40 year old, and I put them all together.
You stare at each other and go, I don't know what I'm doing here, but this is not this ain't my club. You know what I mean? Man, these people come together in two seconds. Really, really something yeah. The diabetes part in there, and everybody's just so quickly comfortable with each other.
Really fascinating. Anyway, so you were you were there. I just I wanna just say for people, like, your your room and board was taken care of, but you flew yourself there. Right?
Yep.
Yeah. And so it's not, you know, it's not it wasn't like a paid gig. You didn't you didn't get paid for it, but the the room was, you know, covered the Wi Fi, drink package, little stuff like that. I just want people to know that. Not for nothing.
Just so they understand how you got there while you're talking about it. You've now seen it once as a a participant. You saw it another time as maybe a little bit on the other side of it. How would you describe it to me? Because I don't know how to I don't completely understand it yet.
I know it's great. I know the people really have a wonderful time. But because I'm so busy doing stuff, I I don't I don't feel like I experience it the same way. So now you've seen it from both sides. Like, how would you describe it?
Amazing.
The first time so in 2025 when we went, Cassandra was there also. And so I got to I got to we got to hang out with her. I got to hang out with Steven. We got to hang out with some of the people that I had been talking to online.
For context, for people, Ryan and a a small group of people are group experts in in my private Facebook group. And they have what might be described as a beautiful, like, relationship. Like, you guys have your own support group inside of inside of a support group.
Yeah. Absolutely.
Right. Right. So I'm sorry. So some of those people are that?
Some of those people are are there, and we're able to to just get to just talk. And everybody's diabetic or or has somebody with them that's diabetic or is impacted by it in some way or another. Now the first time we were there, I spent the majority of my time just with my family.
Mhmm.
And I would see people out on the ship that were with the with the cruise, and we would talk for a little bit, and and and it was it was a great time. This time, I because I wasn't with my family, I was able to watch everybody else and what they were doing.
Yeah.
And to me, that was awesome because I could
see
Read the full disclaimer
© 2007–2026 Juicebox Podcast. All rights reserved.
#1932 Smooth Blood Sugar
Smooth Blood Sugar
Elias is 10, pre-boluses like a pro, runs a 6.2 A1c, and mentors other kids as a youth ambassador. A bright, funny catch-up a year after his first visit, plus a word with his mom.
Jump to a moment
- A 10-year-old who pre-boluses on purpose. Elias times insulin ahead of meals and, when he doesn't, describes the roller-coaster in his own words: a fast spike, a sharp drop, an over-correction, then a headache. His trick for waiting is simply distraction — a game, not thinking about the food. This is a kid sharing what works for him, not medical guidance.
- He splits the work with his parents, roughly fifty-fifty. He handles carb-counting and dosing; his mom handles site and cartridge changes and overnight lows, sometimes waking him to chew a snack. His clearest message for listeners: diabetes isn't an island, and needing help — with a bolus, a low snack, a rough night — is normal.
- He connects highs to his mood, and acts on it. Over about 250 and stuck, Elias notices he gets irritable, so he runs around the yard or jumps on the trampoline to bring it down before it affects how he behaves. He frames it as something he learned over time and now applies — self-awareness most adults would envy.
- He teaches other people. A Breakthrough T1D youth ambassador, Elias speaks to adults at events, ran a diabetes-awareness presentation at school, and stays in touch with friends he met at camp and Friends for Life. He wants to be an endocrinologist — partly because his mom had her thyroid removed, so he already thinks about thyroid and type 1 together.
- A 6.2 A1c, and an easy way about him. Elias reports lows a couple of times a week, carries nasal glucagon, and manages most of his school day himself. Scott spends the back half marveling at how thoughtful and kind he is — and closes with a plan to have Elias back on when he's 16.
- Bold Beginnings series — Scott and Jenny Smith for the newly diagnosed — the series Elias's mom leaned on early on.
- Diabetes Pro Tip series — The management foundation — pre-bolusing, settings, and the tug-of-war framing — with Scott and Jenny Smith.
- Breakthrough T1D — The organization (formerly JDRF) whose youth ambassador program Elias takes part in.
Every word of the conversation
Cold open & sponsors0:00
Friends, we're all back together for another episode of the Juice Box podcast. Hey. 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. Hey, kids.
Scotty needs you. T1exchange.org/juicebox. Head over there. Take the survey. Complete the survey.
Be a US citizen, 18 years or older, have type one diabetes. These are the things I need you to do. T1dexchange./juicebox. Thank you, and, here comes your show. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by MiniMed and the Kontoor Nextgen blood glucose meter.
MiniMed, of course, the innovators behind the MiniMed Flex system, a small, sleek, and discreet insulin automated delivery system controlled from an app. Nothing comes close to freedom you can feel. To learn more, visit minimed.com/juicebox. There is one blood glucose meter in this house, the Kontoor Next Gen blood glucose meter. That meter is on my daughter's person right now and at all times.
It is incredibly accurate and waiting for you at kontoornext.com/juicebox.
Elias is back — a year later1:42
Hi. I'm Elias, and I'm a type one diabetic. And I'm happy to be on the Juice Box podcast with Scott Benner.
Oh, Elias. That's very nice. How old are you, ma'am?
10.
10. And you and I have spoken in the past. Tell people.
Mhmm.
Where did we meet?
Florida. Friends for life.
Friends for life. And in are you going back to Friends for life?
No. Not this year. I'm going to Tennessee.
Tennessee for what?
Vacation.
Nice. Do you do you know about where in Tennessee?
We're gonna go to Dollywood, and then we're gonna stop in, like, Nashville and that stuff.
No kidding. Well, I am going back to Friends For Life in just a few days, actually. Guess less less than a week, I fly back. And Mhmm. Then after that, my wife and I are gonna go to Tennessee to look at houses.
It's fun.
That's kinda weird.
Yeah.
And you see any down there that you think I'll like, send them to me. Okay?
Good.
Alright. So we met last year because you were a tandem Moby wearer. Is that right?
Yeah.
And are you still wearing tandem?
Mhmm.
Excellent. Still have the Mobi?
Yeah.
Awesome. What do you think of it? It's a year later. You still having a good time with it? You think it works well?
Yeah. It works just fine. I no. Like, it's pretty cool having classmates just ask, like, what what is that? And I accept and I just, like, tell them all about the pump and that stuff.
They're interested? Mhmm. Is that everybody or just some people?
Just, like, most most of my class.
Most people are interested. And and and they're kind about it? Yeah. Yeah. Have you met people who have been unkind to you about the diabetes?
No.
That's awesome. How long have you had type one?
Two years.
So you were eight when you were diagnosed?
Yeah.
Okay. Back when we spoke the first time, did you did you and I have an opportunity to talk about your diagnosis, or did we go kinda fast back then? Because it was sort of a quicker interview. Right?
Yeah. We we went through it, but, like, it was, like, a five minute chat.
Yeah. So just let's hit it again for people just so they know. What happened what happened leading up to the diagnosis? You know, how did you guys know there was an issue?
Diagnosis after the flu4:02
So it started, like all the symptoms started, like, right after I had influenza a. And then I just started to like, my dad said, like, while I was sick, like, to keep drinking a lot. So when I started, like, drinking, like, a ton some tons in water, they he he was just like, yeah. He's listening to me, but they didn't know that it was, like, diabetes and that stuff.
Yeah. Are there other people in your family who have type one?
No. No. I'm the first ones.
How about well, the being the first is fun. Right?
Mhmm. Yeah.
Yeah. What about, like, in your extended family? Like, aunts, your uncles, cousins, people like that? No. Nobody?
Yes.
Do you have other autoimmune issues? Like, do you have hypothyroidism, or is anybody in your family celiac, anything like that?
Not that I'm aware of.
Okay. So you're the only one. And you have brothers and sisters?
Yeah. One sister.
Is she older or younger?
She's older. She's
She's older? Yeah. How do we like that?
She she's fun.
She's fun? Mhmm. Awesome. Well, that's great. How much older is she than you?
Eight years.
Oh my gosh. Your sister's 18?
Yeah.
Oh, nice. And she's fun. Mhmm. How is she fun?
She, like, try she asked for me the like, she wants me to come up for it, like, everywhere that she goes. And, like, she lets me get something whenever we go to a store or something with her.
Nice.
And, like, we always just have fun.
Yeah. You guys are, like, ride along buddies. You just, like Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah.
It's awesome. Does she does she drive too fast sometimes, but it's fun?
Yeah.
Yeah. Do do you tell your parents that? Or No. No. They're gonna hear this though.
You know that. Right?
They can only hear part of it.
Don't you think they'll listen to the recording one day? Probably. Yeah. So just you just wanna tell them that you were kidding and she's never gone over the speed limit before. Right?
They know.
They know. It's awesome. So alright, Eli. So you you you're drinking too much. You head to the hospital.
You go to the doctor. What do you guys do next? How do you remember much of that?
Not much, but I remember, like, when I fell asleep, it was, like, a weird dream. It was, like, I was eating a bunch of candy and, like, I was, like, dancing and, like, partying or something. I don't know what medicine they gave me, but it made me have a crazy dream.
No kidding. And you still remember it?
Yeah.
Wow. That's I mean, was it a fun dream?
Yeah.
Yeah? It was candy.
And then when I woke up, I I remember that I was in the hospital for something very serious.
Yeah. Yeah. Not a candy party.
Mhmm.
Yeah. That's nice. Your parents and you, do you share kind of the responsibilities to diabetes? Do they handle most of it? Do you handle most of it?
How do you guys do it?
Fifty-fifty: what he does, what his parents do7:17
It's, like, fifty fifty. I handle fifth 50%, and my parents handle the other 50%.
What do they do? Like, what what are the parts they do? Is it the stuff you don't wanna do or the stuff you don't know how to do, or is it just a situation where they're just kinda helping you by taking some of the work?
They could they like, with my it's, like, with my site changes. I don't know how to do that yet. Mhmm. Like, my cartridges, like, insulin changes and that stuff. But and, like, telling me that I'm low and, like, if I'm playing a game and I had I have headphones on and I can't hear my alarm.
Okay. Do you not feel it when you're low?
No. Not not until, like, I'm 60 to 50.
That's about when you start to feel it. So they do kind of the bigger stuff. They take care of the supplies. They help you with site changes. They help you change your CGM?
Yeah.
Is it a thing you could do, or you're not up to doing it yet?
Interesting that I could do the Dexcom, but I'm not fully, like, taught on the site changes.
Okay. But now are you counting carbs during the day and giving yourself insulin boluses?
Yeah. I do that.
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A 10-year-old who pre-boluses10:22
Most of the time, if, like, I just feel less, like, at the, like, the right moment, like, fifteen minutes earlier if it's, like, high sugar and, like, no protein and that stuff.
You you
You got it.
Wait. Are you pre bolus ing?
Yeah. I do pre bolus.
Oh, I hope everybody hears this, Elias. I hope the people listening here that a 10 year old is pre and that they're out here telling me that they don't know how they can't do it. They don't they forget. They don't know they're gonna eat. How do you figure?
Like, I I want your secret. How do you handle it?
I just, like, don't think about the food. I just don't sleep in weight. Sometimes I play games, like, to distract my brain from, like, wanting to eat it.
Is it ever a problem for you? Do you ever think just, like, I don't wanna wait?
Yeah. Sometimes if I, like if I'm doing nothing and I just, like, think about it, that's when
Do you then do you eat then, or do you wait do you find a way to wait?
I find a way to wait Awesome. Most of the time. But, like, there were there's been a couple times that I have ate ate it. Like, ate this food.
Yeah. I well, I would imagine nobody's perfect. Right? Mhmm. What happens when you don't pre bolus?
I go high if it has, like, a tons of sugar. But, like, if it's protein and low sugar and, like, just high carbs, I'd probably only go to, like, the two to two twenties if I don't preach with us.
How'd you learn all this?
My mom.
Your mom taught
Yeah. I'm
You picked it up pretty quickly?
It took couple months.
Couple months?
For for everything about diabetes.
Are you a good student? Like, do you get good grades in school?
Yeah. I had all a's.
Oh, that's a good student. Yeah. Do you find school difficult or no?
No. I'm going to sixth grade.
So Sixth? Mhmm. I had a great English teacher in sixth grade.
That's nice.
Yeah. I don't remember her name, but at the end of the year, she threw a picnic at her house. We all went to her house for a picnic.
Oh, oh, that was probably fun.
It was pretty cool. They don't do stuff like that anymore.
Yeah.
Yeah. And I think now if you go to your teacher's house, it's like a we broke a law or something like that. But
Yeah.
Back in well, let's think of what year this was. So I was born in '71.
Let's do
some math real quick. So you don't go to school till you're five. I was five in kindergarten. So if it was I was born in '71. I was in kindergarten in '76?
'6.
Okay. Right. And then it took kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seven years for me to get to sixth grade. So '76, we had seven to that. What do we get there?
I was teasing. I already know. It's '83, but I'm not 10. Fair is fair. So 1983, in that summer, I was at my English teacher's house at a picnic.
Mhmm.
That was a great time. I still remember it. Okay. So you're in sixth grade or heading into sixth grade?
I'm heading into sixth grade.
And anything changing about your diabetes care from fifth to sixth grade, or you guys aren't gonna change anything at school? And then tell me what that's like. How do you take care of yourself during the day?
We're just gonna change my five zero four plan for, like, each in each class.
Mhmm. Why why what's what's what's changed from year to year that needs to be addressed?
I don't know.
Not a lot?
Yeah. I don't really know a lot.
A day at school, and the vanishing snack14:00
Okay. But day to day, you get up in the morning, you bolus yourself for breakfast, you you take a bus, does somebody drive you to school, do you walk?
My mom drives me to school.
Fancy. Fancy. So you drive in in what they call the drop off line. Right? Mhmm.
They they they your mom flings you out of the car. She tell you she loves you?
Yeah. But she works there. So
Oh, you guys get out of the parking lot walking together?
Yeah.
Do we like that, Elias? Is that a fun part?
Yeah.
Yeah. When does she tell you she loves you? In the parking lot or at the door?
At in, like, inside.
Oh, that's nice. That's really nice. And then, yeah, then you head off to school. And are there snacks still at your age or no? You don't eat again until lunchtime.
There were snacks in fifth grade, but there's no snacks in sixth grade.
You're going to middle school now? Is that what they call it?
Yeah.
Yeah, man. What a loss, the snack. You know what I mean? Yeah. It's a nice fifteen minute break.
Mhmm. Get to chat with people. Have a cupcake, something like that. Alright. That's fine.
You think you're have any trouble making it to lunch? No. No? Okay. So then you I'm just Go ahead.
I'm normally hungry, like, at lunch. So
Okay. So you'll be good. So you're gonna pre bolus in the class, or you're gonna pre bolus and sit in the what are you gonna do? You you, like
So so I go to the nurse, and I count the carbs before, like, a menu sheet that has all the carbs for, like, the food. Mhmm. And then you bolus, and then you could then you get the your food, and then you wait for the other people to get to lunch. And then they can eat when everybody else gets to lunch.
So you get there a little earlier than the group, and then they make
Yeah. Fifteen minutes.
And they make you sit there and wait?
Yeah. After we get the food and be bullish for it. We can start eating, like Okay. When it's close to the time.
Oh, okay. They don't make you stare at the food and wait for everybody else to get there?
No. No. You can, like, eat some of it, but, like, not, like, the high carbs.
Yeah. I see. Because you're trying to space it out for your blood sugar too.
Stay steady. Yeah.
Do you find any of this difficult or annoying?
No.
Oh, are you easy are you easy to get along with in the rest of your life too?
Yeah.
Yeah. Have you always been like that?
I don't know. I don't I can't really remember, like, before I got diagnosed.
I hear you.
Because, like, seven and six and five. Yeah.
But generally speaking, like, you're you you don't walk around upset about things or getting mad about stuff.
No. I don't walk around, like, with my arms crossed and stomping my feet.
Yeah. No. No. Well, that's awesome. Do you think you take after your mom or your dad in your personality or both?
Probably both.
They're both generally kind people? Mhmm. Yeah. And your sister is too. She's inviting you out even though you guys are, like, way way different ages.
Yeah.
This is nice. Part of the can you tell me what state you live in?
I live in Michigan.
Michigan. Alright. Well, they're doing it right up there, apparently. Do you know that you're easy to get along with? Like, is that is that a thing about your personality that you're aware of, or you just think of yourself as you?
I think that's unaware of it because I was at a diabetes camp for three days. And in, like, the first hour or two there, I made a friend.
You still friends?
Yeah. I still text them all the time.
Oh, that's awesome. Do you know other people who have type one?
Yeah. People from Friends Real Life. I still have them.
You met people last year, and you're in touch with them?
Mhmm.
And you're I guess you're in touch with me too. We just we're talking again. You know what I
mean? Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. And I can tell you're older. You're like, and it's I mean, obviously, it's a year later, but you're answering you're answering the questions more quickly than you did there. Do you know that?
No. No? Yeah. Usually, you don't know stuff like that when you mature. Okay.
Sorry. So lunchtime at school, take care of that business. Then do you guys they they let you go outside and run around, or even that's over in sixth grade. Right?
We do. We did recess in fifth grade, like, before lunch.
Oh, okay.
We did it at ten, and then, like, we did ELA for an hour until 11:30, and then that was our lunch.
What's ELA?
English language arts.
That makes sense. I thought it was Electric Light Orchestra, but then I realized that was wrong. So yeah. It's a band from the seventies, ELO.
Oh.
Not a thing you would know. So but there are old people laughing right now if we're listening, and now they're mad that I'd call them old. But they're probably madder that you can remember to pre bolus and they can't. So probably get me off the hook. You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Alright. So there's no more food at school then. Like, do you make it home and without being low?
Sometimes, like, when I have gym and I come home, I'm low, but, like, that's because I've been running around. I haven't had food in a while. Mhmm. So, usually, when I come home, I usually have a snack. And if I have baseball practice, I probably have a protein snack.
Baseball, basketball, and a big sister19:24
Okay. Oh, you play baseball? Yeah. What position?
Second and center Center. Field.
Can you make the throw from center?
Yeah.
Oh, it's awesome. But you still you're on a 200 foot field. Right? The fence is 200 feet away?
200 yards, I'm pretty sure.
Oh, trust me. It's feet. But Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah.
But oh, that's not that's a nice sized field. You get to play on that for a couple more years. Right? Till you're 12?
Yeah.
Yeah. Do you play for your town, for your school? Do you play travel?
For school.
School's nice. It's a it's a good it's a good experience. It's little usually a little lower pressure when you're younger. Right? Just a fun time?
Yeah.
Yeah. You guys win a little bit, or how does it go?
We won. We made it to the semifinals in the playoffs, and then we lost against the the one seed. No. We were the four seed.
Are they giant kids?
Half of our team was.
I know what you're saying. I do. Some of them grow faster. Usually, the Italian boys actually get bigger faster. I don't know if he's noticed that or not.
Yeah. I do.
Yeah. Right.
I have a friend that's a I have a friend that's, like, partly Italian who needs, like, five five or something.
A monster at five five. Now Mhmm. Here's the thing. Don't tell him. He probably won't grow past five five.
You'll that's sort of a Italians listening now know. It's the curse. You you grow early, but you don't sometimes continue on. Mhmm. Not always, of course, we're generalizing.
But at your age in baseball, they generally have a lot of success for that reason. Nice. Mhmm. Oh, you love baseball or you just like it?
I love baseball. I've been doing it for four years.
Oh, wow. That's awesome. I I I hope you keep playing. It's a it's a great game.
Yeah.
Any other sports?
I do basketball.
Basketball. So you got a winter sport and a summer sport at school?
Yeah.
Perfect. Perfect. Your sister do anything in school? Was she athletic?
Yeah. She did volleyball her senior year.
Oh, nice. Is she
And her freshman in middle school.
Oh, that's really nice. Did she is she off to college?
Yeah. She's going to college in August.
And is she going is she gonna live at home, or is she going away?
She's going away. She's going to Grand Rapids.
You think will you miss her?
Yeah. Probably. Yeah.
You think you'll cry when she leaves?
Probably not.
Yeah. Really? I cried when my son left. Oh. Yeah.
Like a baby.
You're you're the you're the father, so it's probably
Makes sense. Right?
Yeah.
Yeah. I appreciate you saying that. Thank you for being supportive of us.
You're welcome.
Seriously. You're a great kid.
Thanks.
No. No. It's it's a pleasure to talk to you. So okay. So we're home.
Some days, we if we have gym, maybe we're a little low, we have a snack. Heading off to baseball practice, you know, you're taking care of things the same way, but I'm interested how you how you manage baseball practice. So is it a snack first? Do you eat dinner before you play? Do you eat after?
So I kinda eat, like, a half dinner before practice. And then, like, when I'm at practice, sometimes I go low, so I have to, like, go off to the side and, like, go to the like, by the bleachers and stuff so I can, like, get some fruit snacks and eat up and get back to playing.
Mhmm. Get back in then.
Yeah.
Kids are okay with that? They're pretty supportive?
They they know they have the hypo.
Nice. And do you think your coaches understand it, or do you think they just know?
They they understand it.
Oh, wow. So they've been briefed by your mom?
Yeah. I have a coach I have a coach that's gonna coach again. He coached my 10 new teams.
Nice. So you get a little repeat. He already knows stuff.
Yeah. But this year, I didn't have the same coach because I switched to a different school.
Oh, okay.
Did you He's he's switching his because he's he switched his kid with me, but he still had his kid playing for the the old team at the other school.
Okay. And your mom got this all set up with the coaches?
Yeah. She told Good.
Elias, I cut you off. I didn't mean to. Your mom did what?
She she, like, just told them all about it after, like, the first practice or, like and, like, partly the second practice because there's a lot of stuff that you have to, like, take in.
Yeah. It's interesting, isn't it? She was really good at that. But if you just think back twenty minutes ago, how bad was she getting the computer set up?
I don't yeah.
Yeah. You're not a critical person at all. You don't even anyway, your mom was not good with the technology, and I want her to hear that so that she because she she tries harder next time. I would like her to try harder. She's like, I think it's on my watch.
Did you find any of that funny? And she was like, I I think it's or were you just nervous?
I was I was nervous, and I was and it was also funny.
Yeah.
I I I was trying not to laugh because she would probably just yell at me.
Oh, that is that how she keeps you nice? She yell at you?
Well, if I'm misbehaving, like, really bad, yes.
Yeah.
She would yell at me.
I it's I I think it's really nice that you were you paused before you said anything about even a little critical about her. It was really nice.
Yeah.
Yeah. I think you might grow up to be an excellent person. Do you have any idea what you wanna do when you're older?
Probably be a endocrinologist.
Yeah. You like do you like helping people, or is this just that you're being helped by one and you'd like to do something similar?
Well, endocrinology is the stuff, like, with type one and, like, thyroid. Because my mom got her thyroid removes removed, so I know that thyroid and type one and, like, diabetes and that stuff.
Yeah. So you might wanna do that. Mhmm. You good with science and math? Yeah.
I bet you could do it then. That'd be awesome. That's really cool. Alright. So you manage your way through school.
You manage your way through your sports. Nobody's helping you with all that, generally speaking? I mean, the nurse is helping you with the carb counts, but, like, other than that, you're pretty much staying on top of yourself.
Yeah. Basically.
It's cool. How about overnight? You get low overnight. Does your mom help you with that?
Yeah. When because usually, I'm I sleep through my alarms. So my mom has to come into my room and give me, like, snacks. Sometimes she has to wake me up so I can chew them.
Mhmm.
Because, like, if I'm not super low that I need a juice, like, she'll just give me, like, fruit snacks, and I'll have to, like, wake up, and then I'll fall back asleep after I have some.
Yeah. I gotcha. Bad parts about diabetes? Anything you can think of? You don't like slight changes or you have some
anything else? Spot the only spot that I don't really like is probably, like, the leg. Like, if if you put it on, like, the side of my leg, it, like I don't know. Like, always hits something
Mhmm.
That hurts, like, really bad.
Okay. So you just try to keep it off your thigh?
Yeah.
Okay. Fair enough. How about diabetes in general? Are you bothered by it?
No. I'm kinda used to it now.
Yeah. Used to it. Used. Alright. What is hold on a second.
What what have you been doing sorry. I I said what is and those were not the words I wanted. But I'm hearing from your mom that you've been helping other people to understand diabetes. Is that just, like, friend to friend, or is it, like, something you're doing in a bigger way?
Youth ambassador: teaching the room27:14
It's a I'm a youth ambassador, so sometimes I talk to people about it, like adults at, like, an event. And, also, I talk to my classmates about it. I did a presentation about diabetes back in November.
How did where what what was that for? Like, a school thing?
Yeah. We yeah. We do a diabetes day at our school because there's seven diabetics there.
You have seven kids with type one at your school?
Mhmm.
Wow. And so you guys do, like, a presentation?
No. I I was the only kid that did it, but there it was, like, National Diabetes Awareness Day. Yeah. And, also, it was a month, but we just did a day there.
Right. Yeah. It'd be weird if they did thirty days of diabetes awareness at your school.
Yeah.
And you'd be like, you guys are really committed to this.
Mhmm.
Yeah. Yeah. Is that back in November? It probably was.
Yeah. It was.
Yeah. Were you walking outside freezing and wondering why you live in Michigan while it was happening? Because that's probably your no brainer.
I was I I wore a blue T shirt, and I was shivering.
I bet you.
Because because you had the because, like, the theme was that you had the word blue because the blue the blue ribbon is diabetes. I I almost just said cross, but I actually
No. I understand. Like, the circle. Right?
Yeah.
Yeah. Well, that's really cool, man. And was that your idea? Did your mom help you with that?
No. That was, like, a thing that they already did, but we did that at my old school too.
Okay. Just the thing you do. How'd you get I when you said you're a youth ambassador, you mean with Breakthrough?
Yeah.
You think they appreciate that I didn't just say JD or f? Because it's still how I think about it.
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. They probably do. They do. So you do that for breakthrough.
And you go to their events? You go to walks?
Yeah. I did the rejection walk.
Nice. Can you explain to me I know helping other people are is is something you enjoy. But for you personally, what do you get out of being a youth ambassador or taking the time at school to explain it to kids? Is it
I feel like when I explain diabetes to people, I feel like when you explain it, it's almost like you're one step closer to, like, getting people, like, to start, like, stuff for diabetes too. And then, like, more and more people, there's, like like, to join the walks even though it's like, join a team of the walk peep kids. And then, like, every time that you explain it, more people are gonna know. Like, if someone passed out and, like, you look at the bracelet and, like, it's type one, and then, like, you look in a bag for, like, the nose spray thing, then you shoot it up. You just saved the life.
Yeah. You're just trying to make advocates and make people more aware.
Mhmm.
That's wonderful, man. You proud of yourself?
Yeah.
Yeah. No. You should be. I was just wondering if you are.
Yeah.
Yeah. It's really cool. So so you play sports. You're doing the the youth ambassador stuff. I would like to know if there's any kind of, like, emotional effects of type one.
Highs, anger, and the trampoline fix30:25
Do you ever get sad or anything like that you have to deal with?
When I go high yeah. I feel like when I'm, like, over two fifty and, like, I won't come down, that's when I, like, start feeling, like, angry and that stuff. So, like so I try to I just, like, run around my yard to get it down. So, like, I don't, like, do something
Can you bad. Can you explain that a little more? So it's not it's not you're not mad that your blood sugar is high. You're acting differently because your blood sugar is high. Is that right?
Yeah.
Yeah. And you're aware of it happening or people have to tell you?
I'm, like, half aware of it. That's why I, like, start running around and, like, jump on a trampoline.
What are some things that have happened to you when your blood sugar is higher that you didn't
know? I I kicked the ball super hard that it popped because it hit it hit the it hit my fence. Like, I have, a top the top of my fence is, like, kinda sharp, and it, like, perfectly hit the top and it popped. Mhmm. And, like
You're just kinda angry and you kicked the ball?
Yeah.
Like, the Hulk?
Yeah. Basically.
I gotcha. So you're like the yeah. I gotcha. And you don't wanna be that way? No.
Is that why
wanna be that way.
Is that why you think you worked so hard at the pre ball thing?
Yeah.
Yeah. And then is that a lesson you learned over time?
Yes.
And then you apply it now in your regular life?
Mhmm.
That's really great. Oh, man. I'd like you to I'd like you to figure out how you did that exactly. Write down instructions for people or or put it in a spray or something. Bottle it up.
Help them out.
I could I could write an essay on the computer.
Yeah? You could write an essay on pre ballistic?
Yeah.
You do that. I'll put it on my website.
Mhmm.
Alright. Deal?
Yeah.
Yeah. Just it's a it's some people find it to be a difficult thing to do. And for good reasons. Like, you know, they're busy or, you know, just kinda don't wanna have to be thinking about this stuff ahead of time. And and then often it kinda starts off that, like, chain.
So tell me what happens if you don't pre bolus. What's the chain of events that happens afterwards?
So if if I don't pre bolus and I eat something with, like, sugar and, like, high carbs, I'll start going, like, up super fast. And then, like, when I I don't know. I'm gonna, like, stay high for a while, and then I'm gonna drop sharply, and then I'm gonna go low. And then if I overcorrect, I'm just gonna go up high again, then I'm probably gonna stay high. And I'm gonna go down and just start a roller coaster.
Yeah. Then you start having that feeling you don't feel well and all that stuff.
Mhmm. Headaches.
Yeah. How about that? Alright. Well, I'm I'm interested to hear your your essay, your theories on how to accomplish this.
Okay.
Take your time. There's no pressure. You know, when you have it done, you have your mom email it to me.
Okay? Alright.
Alright. Put in a nice photo of yourself too so I can put the photo in there.
Okay.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, nope, again, if you don't wanna do it, don't I'm not making you. But if you're
might only just be a paragraph because I don't have, like, a lot of reasons.
I understand. Yeah. You don't wanna pontificate. You know what I mean? Mhmm.
Because then people leave reviews and say that your thing is full of fluff, and you don't want that.
Yeah. Because, like Good. People like, they're not if you, like, write, like, a five paragraph essay, it's probably not people are really not gonna read all of that because their brain is just gonna get bored for, like, the fifth sentence.
You think people get bored that quickly when they're reading?
If they, like, if they don't have, like, enough concentration. Yeah.
You know, man, it used to be people had to write to each other all the time. And then they'd read those letters, and they were happy to get them. I guess no more.
Yeah.
Yeah. The Internet took care of that. Mhmm. You don't even think of it as the Internet, you? You think of it as, like, your phone.
Yeah. I think well, when I'm, like, on the Internet, I think of it, like, as a database and, like, that stuff.
Wait a minute. What do you what is it you what is the Internet? Explain it to me.
So the Internet is, like, a place where, like, you can look up stuff. Like, it's an online network that you can you can, like, play games on it. You can you can watch videos, make a TikTok dance or something.
How he learned it — and the internet34:55
How does it accomplish that? Do you know the technical aspect of how they connect?
No. I haven't learned that yet.
That's okay. The Internet's just basically a thing that connects other computers out in the world so they can talk to each other. So if there's, like, a website on my computer, you can see it through the Internet. Does that make sense?
Yeah.
Yeah. Why do you know all that? Do you like coding? Are you gonna do stuff like that?
No. I've never known coding. I just, like, know this stuff.
Yeah. You just know it.
I just I don't know where I've learned it, but I just, like it's, like, memorized into my brain.
Explain Wi Fi to me. How does Wi Fi work? If you don't know, it's fine. But give me your best estimation.
Always give my my best guess. So, like, Wi Fi is, like, a network that, like, gives you, like, a connection to, like, something that's, like, across the country or something instead of, like like, if you have no Wi Fi and, like, if it says, like, you have to have Wi Fi for a game, it's like the power?
Yeah. So there's a signal. It's it's wireless Wi Fi. Right? So there's a signal in the air that your phone or maybe your computer or even your game console might pick up.
And
then that signal gives the device connection to the Internet. And then through the Internet, it goes to another server or computer to get the information that it wants. So Wi Fi is just a way to connect to the Internet without wires.
Instead of, like, having a 40 inch computer that's, like, a bunch of wires are hooked up. Like, you don't know which wire is which, and then, like, you don't accidentally unplug the wire that it's, like, the whole power system.
Yeah. Exactly. You don't wanna have to have a bunch of wires. And if your phone has access to Wi Fi, usually, that's a quicker connection. When it doesn't, it uses the cell phone signal actually to connect to a tower.
That tower, I'm gonna guess, connects to probably a satellite and Mhmm. Or to a wired system or something like that. And then that gets you to the to the to the phone company server, which gives you access to texting or phone calls and even, you know, the Internet itself
Mhmm.
For web pages and apps.
Yeah.
Yeah. And you just learn that stuff by paying attention? You think it's just something people talk about and you just pick it up?
Yeah.
Do you think you learned about the diabetes the same way, or was it more really sitting down with your mom and going over it, or is it maybe a mix?
No. It was like I saw some videos about it, and then, like, it was like my mom did it. It was, like, part like, it wasn't, like, a sit down, like, everything gone in, like, two hours sit down talk. It was, like, spacious stuff because, like, when we first got diagnosed, I would, like, listen in on what the doctor was saying. Mhmm.
Then I would learn off the doctor, and then my mom would, like, reexplain it, like, in a simpler eight year old way.
Yeah. And then you figure it out and then and then had some experiences applied it over and over again. Now you understand. Mhmm. Wow.
That's awesome, man. Do you listen to this at all? Do you ever listen to the podcast, or you just wanted to be on it?
I mean, last year when, like, we were still learning this stuff, we my mom listened to it a lot about, like, all the was, like pros
and things, stuff like that? Yeah. Yeah. Bold beginnings, those those series.
Mhmm.
Gotcha. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you guys really picked it up quickly. What do you know your a one c?
What?
Do you know what your a one c is?
It was, like, 6.2.
Man, that's freaking great. That's really wonderful. Congratulations.
Thanks.
Yeah. You're welcome. Not a lot up and down and a 6.2 a one c. How often do you think you're low where you need to, like, rescue with something, like juice or candy or something?
I'm low. Like, I'd say 15% of the time.
Oh, I didn't know you're gonna break it down to percentages. A couple times a week?
Yeah. A couple times a week, I'm low.
And not too, like, aggressive? Like, are you ever in a situation where you think you can't help yourself?
No. Not really.
But you carry glucagon just in case?
Yeah. I do.
What do you got? The the Baqsimi, the nose powder, or you got the
It's nose powder.
You got the powder? Okay. Okay. Jeez. This is a very successful story.
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You you foresee a time where your mom is not involved at all?
Probably when I'm at school, she doesn't have to worry about me.
You think college?
College. Yeah.
Yeah. When you said it's oh, when you think during the day when you're at school, she doesn't worry about you?
No. Not much. I'm not just like I text or something.
Okay.
Because I'm allowed to. So
Yeah. No. Yeah. You get to have a phone and use it because of diabetes, so it's one of the perks. Mhmm.
Yeah. Do you ever break the rules and use it for something else?
No. Never done that.
I know you don't realize. I can tell by talking to you. You're a great kid.
Yeah.
Yeah. I wish I had a 10 year old daughter. I'd wait ten years and hook you guys up. You know what I mean?
Yeah.
You like girls at all or not really?
I'm not really interested right now. I I'm gonna focus more on sports and schools.
I think that's what you should be doing at your age.
Mhmm.
Are the girls a what you call a problem, or you like them, but we're not we're not worried about, like, girlfriends and stuff like that?
Not worried about girlfriends, but most of them are drama queens right now. So
Oh, really? A lot of them. A lot of big feelings? You know what I mean?
No.
No? What what do you mean by drama queens?
They, like like they, like, start lies about somebody then, like, those lies get told to the person, then that person wants to start a fight with that with person a. And then person b, the one that got lied to, they wanna start a fight with person a. And then when they fight, they get suspended. But then when they come back, they fight again and just like a never ending fight.
Hey. I don't wanna break your heart, but some of those people grow up to be adults that do that stuff. Oh. Yeah. It's not a lot of fun.
No no wonder Eminem's raps are so good. Look what's going on in Michigan. You know what I mean? Yeah. Is Eminem, like, a cultural hero in Michigan?
He's not He's part of, like, the rap culture, but, like, not, like, Michael Jackson level.
Oh, I see. Do you listen to any Eminem songs?
I used to. It's I'm not really interested anymore.
Really? You're away from this. Now what are we listening to now?
I listen to, like like, Michael Jackson type songs.
You you know, more like classic
Pop. Yeah.
Pop pop music? Yeah? Yeah. Quickly, two of your favorite Michael Jackson songs. I have mine already.
I've pressured you. I
didn't Bad and thriller.
Thriller and bad? Mhmm. You know about black
or Yeah. I know black or white. White?
Yeah. And hold on a second. It's escaping me right now. My go to Michael Jackson song is, like, right out of my head.
I'm gonna You know what the letter it starts with?
I I like how you wanna work it through, but I'm really just gonna cheat and use the Internet. So hold on one second. Okay.
Okay.
Yeah. People are like, what's the letter? We could play 20 questions, but I think the part you're not knowing about me is that I'll never remember. I can need to see the word. I think your brain and my brain probably work a little differently.
Okay. So Michael Jackson, I'm gonna be to it in two seconds, and then I'm gonna give you where is it? Okay. So this isn't it, but I'm a fan of remember the time as well.
Mhmm. Wait. Is it from that album?
Remember the time we fell in I can't sing, but you know what I'm talking about?
Yeah. I know. That's a song.
You're with me. You said thriller.
Yeah.
Right? I like that one. That's a good one, of course. Have you ever seen the video?
Yeah. I've seen the video a bunch of times.
When I was a kid, there used to be a thing called MTV.
I don't what MTV is.
Wait. You yeah. But back when I was a kid, it it it worked differently.
Like, with DVDs?
It was just videos. Just music videos that ran over and over and over again in a line. Oh. Okay? Mhmm.
Smooth Criminal might be one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs.
Smooth Criminal is a good song.
It's a very good song. Anyway, so these these music videos would just run one after another.
Mhmm.
And then VJs, video disc jockeys, would, like, walk out once in a while and, like, you know, say a little something, and then they'd play another video. But twenty four hours a day, there were just always videos on. When thrill when thriller came out, it was it was like a cultural phenomenon.
Oh.
It was crazy. And you'd, like, leave MTV running all day on your television just in case it came on so you could stop and watch it.
Mhmm.
The world used to be a different place.
I bet it did.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's gonna be interesting for you. What Let's kinda ask you a couple of questions about how you do school.
You guys have computers?
Yeah. We use Chromebooks.
Chromebooks. Are you guys using any AI? No. No. Are older kids using it?
Christmas lists, cars, and getting older44:51
Probably.
Probably. Okay. So you're not hearing anybody talk about it. Do you use it at home in your life?
No. I don't I've never I only think I do chat DBT for is, like, Christmas Christmas wish ideas.
Oh, you you couldn't figure out what you wanted, so you asked it what you wanted?
Yeah.
Did it come up with anything you liked?
Yeah. I was told about my personality and that stuff.
You told ChatGPT about your personality and they gave you ideas of things you might want for Christmas.
Yeah.
Did you get any of those things for Christmas?
I got most of the stuff.
Did they end up being things that you enjoyed and used? Mhmm. It fair to say that ChatGPT knows you better than you know yourself?
Definitely not. I'm not.
That's that's good. But it was able to figure this stuff out. Right?
Mhmm.
That's really interesting. So when you said this was your idea, like, you said I'm gonna go ask chat GPT what I should get for Christmas?
Yeah. Because I I had I had like, it was getting close to Christmas time. Like, I still hadn't figured out, like, what, like, I should, like, get for Christmas, like, a wish list or something. Mhmm. So, like, I just don't get, like, random stuff that I didn't want, and then, like, I never use it.
Like, just a waste of time.
Yeah. Was your mom pressuring you for a list?
No. No. She was just, like, reminding me.
Okay. Like, hey. Don't forget. I gotta go Christmas shop and that kind of stuff.
Mhmm.
Alright. And you were like, I'll ask Chad GPT. Now did it ask did did you say to it, hey. What do I want for Christmas? And it said, tell me something about yourself, or did you sit down and say, let me tell you something about myself so you can figure out what I might like for Christmas?
I, like, told it about, like, the stuff that I watch and like and, like, what I'm interested in. And then, like, it, like, came up with ideas that I would, like, want.
Nice. Do you ever do it for have you ever considered using it for other stuff in your life? Learning how to hit a curveball or something like that?
No. I have watched videos of, like, how to do stuff.
Yeah. So YouTube?
Mhmm. YouTube and, like, Google.
Mhmm. That's awesome.
That stuff.
So if you needed to learn how to I don't know. If you needed to learn how to park a car, you'd think to go to YouTube.
I think probably to go to, like, somebody who knows how to drive, like, really good, and then, like, get lessons for in in person because I feel like I learn better that way.
Okay. But if those people didn't exist, I'm saying you would consider YouTube as a way to learn something. Maybe the drive is a bit okay. You think that'll continue as you get older?
I mean, unless there's a new platform that's better than YouTube. You know?
Yeah. I love that you know the word platform in your 10. Yeah. No. I would I would imagine like, I I've probably said this on here before, but when my son was learning to drive, he had to go get his test the next day.
Mhmm.
We just went out one more time to practice in this, like, parking lot.
And then
it just I was a a bad dad. I forgot that he was gonna have to park as part of the test. And I said, oh, gosh. You're gonna have to you're gonna have to back into a parking spot. Like, you're gonna have to parallel park.
And we didn't we didn't practice that at all. And then I tried to show him a little bit, he stopped me and went on YouTube, watched the video, then did it perfectly. Like, in one try.
That's crazy.
Yeah. I think it's because you guys play video games. Because he also doesn't he doesn't use the mirrors. He uses the cameras.
Oh.
But we're older and, like, I still well, I'm getting better at it now. But I watch my wife, like, look at she uses the mirrors when she backs up, but my kids never look at the mirrors. Like, I don't even think their cars need mirrors.
They don't some just in case the cameras break, you probably do need the mirrors.
I hear what you're saying, but you know what I mean. Like, the Yeah. Everything's going okay. Like, they really don't look at them.
Mhmm.
Interesting. You guys are gonna learn in a completely different way.
You never know what cars are gonna look like when I'm 16 because they they're already work there's already a flying car, but it just looks like a helicopter.
Yeah. Well, that's called a helicopter.
Yeah. I know.
I'm teasing you, but you know what I'm saying. And Yeah. Wow. When you're 16 oh god. Do you know how old I'll be when you're 60?
I shouldn't even say it. People stop listening to the podcast. When you're 16, I'll be 61.
That ain't that bad.
Yeah. You don't think so. I'd rather be 16. But fair enough. I'll be so you'll be getting your driver's license when you're 16, like your learner's permit.
Mhmm.
Some states are different ages. I got mine when I was 16. Day of my sixteenth birthday, I was in line getting my driver's license. I'll be 61.
Mhmm.
Possible I'll be getting ready to retire in a couple of years.
Oh, no.
Yeah. I know. Right? Well, don't worry. I can keep making the podcast.
That's that's fine. But, like, I mean, like, bigger stuff. You know I mean?
Oh, yeah. Like, going to like, going all the way down to Florida for friends for life.
Yeah. Right. Because I'm old. I won't be able to move around. I'll be like, I can't come because my thing hurts, whatever, my leg.
You you know? And but I could probably keep doing stuff like that. I'm just talking about, like, advertisers and, like, the work part of this. Mhmm.
Maybe we're Moving around carrying, like, heavy items to, like, a stand that you had to set up.
Yeah. Exactly. You really do understand my life. Thank you. Maybe I'll just do more like I just got back from the cruise.
That went really well. Maybe I'll do, like, more cruises and, like, some podcasts, but not as many. And I don't have to get maybe I wouldn't have to have advertisers anymore. Not that I don't love the advertisers, but it's a lot of work doing the advertising part. Yeah.
Yeah. And then yeah. It might be nice. Alright. I'll think it through.
And you'll be 16?
Yeah.
Oh, wow. You excited to be older?
I don't wanna have to deal with taxes, but, yeah, partly.
Well, you're right. I I mean, the taxes are a bad part of the whole thing. I can't believe that's what you thought of.
It's the most.
Yeah.
Because you because if you buy a house, you have to pay off, like, this stuff. The interest And then you also have to pay taxes while you're paying off the stuff.
Oh, I know, man. It's the worst. It really is bad. I think I think the government should give you one year off every ten years where you don't have to pay taxes.
Or if, like, if you, like, served in the army or something, you should get, like, a discount or something Yeah. Off of, like
That's a good idea. Have you thought about trying to be a senator?
I'm not really into, like, politics. Yeah. But I do I I have learned about it.
You do like to help people, though, don't you?
Mhmm.
Yeah. Do you have any idea why that is? Why do you see problems and want them to be better?
If I, like, see a problem, it's usually, like, when they're younger, like, seven, six, five years old.
Mhmm.
Like, you've had to, like, you have to give them, like, discipline. So, like, they're a well behaved, like, adult and kid.
Yeah. Okay.
Not physical, but, like
Understand. We're not gonna be be beating anybody up, but, like, make sure they know the rules, they stick to them, stuff like that.
Mhmm.
Yeah. Think you could do that as a senator?
Probably. But standing in, like, a crowd of, like, thousands and thousands of people, like, giving a speech or something that
That makes you nervous.
Yeah. Mhmm. And I've I've did a speech probably in front of a 100 people, but that's nowhere near, like, tens and thousands of people.
100 people is a lot of people.
Yeah.
It really is. I I think them I would say I think the most people I've ever spoken in front of was probably at Touched by Type one last year.
Oh my
I don't know.
I mean,
it was such a big room. And if I had to guess like, you know, those big round tables and, like, when at a wedding or something that hold, like, ten, twelve people?
Mhmm.
There had to have been god. I'm I'm guessing. But there there had to be, I I I would think, eight across in the room and maybe 10 or 20 10 or 15 deep maybe. And almost almost the whole thing was full. There's so many people.
Yeah. There's so many people in that room.
So, like, 6,000 people?
No. I think more like maybe 1,500, something like that. Like, 80 times ten, eighty.
Was it only you up there, or was there other people?
Sometimes it was me. And one time, I did it with a friend of mine named Jenny. We were up there at the same time. Yeah. What was funny about that?
I'm sorry.
I was just thinking about how nervous the other person was. Because if you've already, like, done it a bunch of times, you're probably not as nervous.
I wasn't nervous. I don't think Jenny was nervous. She she's she's pretty good at talking to people too. Oh. But but I was I was not I don't get nervous about stuff like that.
Get nervous about other stuff.
Mhmm.
Like like when you said earlier, I don't think my mom worries about me when I'm at school.
Mhmm.
I thought, oh, I bet you she does. But I didn't want I didn't wanna make you feel bad. But I I bet you she thinks about you all the time.
I mean, I would hope so.
Yeah. But what else is she doing? You know?
She's probably dealing with kids in the middle school and high school.
Is she a teacher?
No. She's a parrot pro.
Oh, Jesus. Kids. Are some of them a problem?
Yeah. There's a lot of kids that are a problem, like sixth grade, seventh, seventh, eighth.
A lot of unruly sixth graders?
Yeah. Seventh graders.
What are they doing? Are they are they smoking?
No.
No. Too young for the that you're not seeing the vapes or anything like that. Right?
No.
Yes. Don't do that, by the way. Okay? And
I didn't plan on doing it.
I didn't think you did. I was just just checking in. And Yeah. So was it, like, behavior, like, causing problems between each other? They fight?
Well, the boys, like, mess around, fight, but the girls, like they, like, fight over a boy. Like, in seventh grade, there's there's, like, a whole group of girls that were fighting over a boy.
They hit they don't hit each other. Right? It's more like verbal fighting?
No. They hit each other. They hit each other, then one girl, like like, pulled like, one girl had a ponytail and, like, they pulled her, like, they pulled her hair. Like, they tugged their hair and she, like, fell backwards.
Michael Jackson and the title bit55:42
Oh, I I have to tell you something, Elias. The most aggressive fistfight I was ever witnessed to in my life was between two girls.
I don't know which
They they have a lot of energy.
Mhmm.
Yeah. Yeah. I don't even wanna you're so young. It would make you upset, but that one girl just took the other girl's hair and just smacked her face on a tree. I was like, my goodness.
That's crazy. No cameras back then.
Was it over a boy?
I don't know what they were fighting about, but they weren't messing around. I'll tell you that much. It was, like, it was way before UFC, but it's what it looked like.
It
was terrible. You like that UFC fighting?
No. I've never watched UFC.
Watched it. You know, like the kickboxing and the wrestling and all that stuff.
No. I'm not very aggressive.
No. I can tell that about you. You watch any television, or you don't care about that?
I watch television sometimes, and it's mostly, like, TikTok and YouTube
That's where
you like, my phone.
Okay. Most of your video stuff back from?
Yeah.
Can I ask you a question?
Yeah.
Would you listen to a song if it was a short song about a diabetes idea? Like, just one single idea. Would that be a way that you would be able to learn an idea, or would you prefer it in a video, but a short video? Like, let's say let's pick something concrete. Let's say you didn't understand pre ballsing as well as you do.
Would you like do you think if you needed to explain to you, you'd rather have, like, a face talking to you to tell you? Do you think you'd rather have a song that explains it? Do you think you'd rather read something? What would you be your preferred way to learn that thing?
So what I would choose probably it would be, like, a video of, like, a rhyme or something. It's, like, something unrelated and, like, something related, like, to keep your brain focused on, like, the important and, like, keeping your brain, like like, funds. Like, something fun. You still like, it would keep it in your mind.
Mhmm.
And, like, you could, like, just remember it.
Ryan, could I get you to look at something on my website later and try it and tell me what you think of it?
Yeah.
Okay. Alright. I'll I'll give you I'll give you the link when we're done. Okay?
Okay.
And get your get your opinion. You're a you're a you're a thoughtful kid. I'd I'm interested in what you think. So you could be a focus group. You're a one man focus group.
You know what that is? You walk through the do they have malls anymore?
Yeah. They have malls in Michigan, but, like, only, like, big malls are, like, standing.
I gotcha. We used to do this thing in a mall where, like, a person with a clipboard would come up to you and say, like, can I ask you some questions for a survey? And then they'd pay you money to take the survey. So you'd go into this very strange little room in the side of the mall, usually down by the bathroom. And then they'd put you in a seat, ask you a bunch of questions, write down your answers, and give you a finski, you know, what a $5 is.
Right? And they throw a 5 on you, and you'd be on your way right out to the food court to get something to eat. And and then that's how they used to figure out what people thought. That's a focus like like, a one person focus group, which is what you'll be. But I will not be sending you $5, fish wonder.
Okay. Okay?
Oh, man. I really wanted it.
I know.
I'm just kidding.
No. No. It's not happening. It's not. I heard you can just ask chatty t p t for something, like, your mom gets it for you.
So I I'm not I don't think you're in a struggling situation. You don't need my phone.
That was only for that was only for Christmas.
Christmas is coming again. It'll be here in six months. Relax. You'll be yeah. Okay.
What is it you're looking for for Christmas this year?
Probably, like, get, like, some nice clothes, like, bigger clothes because I'm getting taller and pretty fast. So, like, I'm probably gonna need new clothes for, like, winter and that stuff.
Nice. Yay. Plus you wanna look nice. They say look good, feel good. Ever heard that?
Yeah. I've heard that before.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think you've heard everything before. What's your do you read?
No. I only read, like, in school.
Okay.
Like, when we're when I'm doing anything, I just started reading.
But you wouldn't pick up a book?
I mean, I would, like, if, like, there was nothing else to do. Like, no like, there was no upside or, like, no playing basketball or baseball or that stuff.
You might find it. Yeah. But you prefer TikTok what do you like on TikTok? It's is it, like, funny stuff? Is it educational?
Like, what what are you scrolling?
I'm like it's like it's like it's like a mixture of everything.
Okay.
It's like funny, like scary stuff, and then learning, and then, like, learning funny scary stuff.
You like it when people fall?
Like, fall?
Yeah. Like, videos when people fall over.
That's it's kinda classic, but, yeah, I still laugh at that.
I like that you called it classic and said I still laugh at it. I love watching people fall. I don't know why and when babies, like, curse, who doesn't love a baby cursing? You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Or, like, when they you ever see the moms, they take their daughters into or their sons into a room, like, with a mirror, and they, like, say, look. Gonna leave the room and you can say whatever you want for a minute. So if you wanna curse, you can do it now.
Yeah.
And then the kids are, like, sometimes they just say, like, the, like, cutest little things that aren't really curses, but some of the kids are, like, viciously cursing. You've seen those?
Yeah. I've seen those before.
It is funny. Right?
Mhmm.
Yeah. So this one little girl, she just gave her she just gave the finger to the mirror. She was, like, so, like, defiant about it. Very funny. You don't do that, I imagine.
No. I don't I don't even know if, like, when I was born, like, when I was a baby, I don't think we had we only had, like, a camera, like, an actual, like, camera that, like, would print the photos there.
My man. Sure. Yeah. You mean, like, like, cameras on phones didn't, like, do all this back then?
Yeah. I don't know. Because, like, my mom wanted baby photos, like, that she could keep with me.
Yeah.
Instead of me just taking a selfie and, like, posting it on Instagram, like, it like, you'll never find it again.
It is kind of great. Is she interrupting? Tell her, get get out. We're doing it. We're having fun.
We don't need her. What's going
on? No?
Tell her same same Scott said we're not done. We'll call you. So she's checking on you because it's been an hour?
No.
No? What was that noise I heard in the background?
Yeah. My AC turning off.
Oh, I thought it was your mom. Sorry.
Mhmm. It's okay.
I was having a good time with you. Yeah. Let me let me ask one last question, then I'm gonna ask you to finish up with telling me some stuff that you think people should know about diabetes. Okay? Okay.
What he wants people to know1:02:30
Summertime, lot of good movies coming out this summer. Are you interested? Do you go to the theater?
I went I went to the Michael Jackson movie in April, but that technically wasn't summer. But that was a really good movie. Mhmm. And I went to choice to revive movie. That was really good.
I do recommend watching it.
Okay. I've heard that.
And I'm a I I wanna watch the new minions movie. I don't know if it's still in theaters or it's in theaters right now.
Mhmm. Where we at is Spider Man?
Yeah. I I don't I'm not really interested in spire Spider Man, like, superhero stuff.
Okay. Okay. Okay. Do you like those, like, movies about like, do like, older movies? Like, people for like like, I don't know.
Like, aliens are coming, that kind of stuff?
Yeah. Like, I forgot its name. It was just, like, a huge alien mothership that, like it's, like, a size of, like, half of the city.
Mhmm.
I don't know what it's called.
It's a movie you've already seen or one that's coming out now?
It's a movie that I've already seen. And my dad likes it a lot, so I watched it one time with him. I really liked it.
Independence Day?
Yeah. Independence Day.
With Big Willie, Will Smith in it?
Mhmm.
Mhmm. You don't know you don't know Will Smith from the singing. Right? You know him from movies.
I know him from the Will Smith like, the slap thing.
Oh, that's how you know Will Smith? Hi, Will. That's funny. You were Big Willie style, and now you're that terrible. I couldn't believe he hit hit Chris Rock like that.
Yeah. Terrible. Right?
Yeah.
Yeah. No call for that at all.
Mhmm.
Alright. Gotta control yourself. Okay. Alright. So movies, not so much.
Now when you're at the theater, do you have any trouble bolusing for the popcorn and the candy, or you're pretty good at it?
I go high because I don't pre bolus at the movies because I'm, like, so locked in in the movie. I completely forget that I have to pre bolus, and then, like, I start eating and then, like, I just shoot up.
Yep.
And, like, the movie, I can't remember anything about it. So, like
Gotta pre bolus while you're in line getting the food.
Mhmm.
That's that's your good timing right there for that.
I'll I'll try to remember that next time I go to the movies.
I hope you do. That's awesome. You go with the fam usually? You guys all go together?
Yeah. But I I saw the Michael Jackson movie just with my sister because we're we're the only two that likes Michael Jackson in our family.
Yeah. Maybe we should call this episode smooth criminal. Right? What do you
think?
I mean, you love Michael Jackson, obviously.
Smooth blood sugar?
Smooth blood sugar? I'll get you trying to get fancy on me. Hold on a second. We should ask ChatGPT. I'll do that.
When I'm all done, I'll put this in you know what? In honor of you, I'm gonna put this I'll put this transcript into ChatGPT, and I'll say, you now know all about Elias. What Michael Jackson themed title should we call this episode? Mhmm. Alright?
Whatever it comes up with is what I'll I'll call it. Okay?
Okay.
Alright. So what I'm gonna let you go in a minute. But just if you had an opportunity to talk to people with type one diabetes, kids, adults, parents who are helping kids, anybody at all, what would you want them to know? What do you think would be valuable for them?
I would want them to know that, like, diabetes isn't just, like, a an island. Like, we need people to help us. Like, sometimes you're you're gonna need we're gonna need help, like, bolusing, low snacks. And we, like, we really, like we just need, like, some help sometimes.
Yeah. Just like the rest of life, really. Mhmm. Yeah. Some it's hard.
You know? Life's easier when you have people around you being supportive. Mhmm. And when you let those people support you too. Is it always easy to allow people to help you, or just sometimes you feel
Sometimes it's, like, almost like I'm being, like, taught again how to do it, but I'm just teaching them.
Yeah.
It's almost like
You don't mind when people are helping you. You appreciate it.
Yeah. I appreciate people helping you.
I hope all you adults are listening. The ones that I interview don't want people helping and can't find a way to prevulse. Elias is just out there kicking your ass all over the place with diabetes, just so you know. You think this is gonna be able to be sustainable, Elias? You think you'll be able to keep this going as you get older?
Yeah. Probably.
Don't see any reason why not?
Yeah. I don't see any reason why not.
Yeah. Set a nice expectation for yourself. You know? Mhmm. You're terrific.
You got any pets?
Yeah. I have two dogs that are jumping right behind me right now.
What kind of dogs?
Australian shepherd, then a border collie, and Australian shepherd mix.
Nice. Do have any smaller animals in your house?
Yeah. Have a cat.
Cat? A cat is smaller than a dog. I meant more like a fish or a gerbil or
No. No.
Nothing like that. While I'm talking to you, I'm watching four emerald tree skinks run around like little they just they're, like, little lunatics. They're the most they're just so visually interesting. Ever watch a fish tank and something's always moving around? Mhmm.
These little lizards are like that. They never stop. They just jump from place to place and run around, and they eat like crazy. I'm gonna have to go give them something to murder in a second. Okay.
I'll let you choose. Do you wanna give them super worms or crickets?
Crickets.
Crickets. Alright. Well, when I'm done here, I'm gonna give them a couple of crickets. They will saw them in half. It's, horrifying.
But, but they seem to really enjoy it.
Mhmm.
I don't the cricket seems to enjoy it less as you can probably imagine.
Mhmm.
Yeah. Alright, man. Listen. You've answered all my questions. You've given good advice to people.
You've been a really good conversationalist. How about I try to keep this thing going till I'm 61?
Mhmm.
And you when you're 16, you come back and do it again.
Yeah.
Would you do that?
Yeah. I'd do that.
Alright. I need incentive to keep going. And talking to you again would be good incentive.
Mhmm.
Do do you think your mom thinks you're as awesome as I think you are?
I would hope so, but, yeah, probably.
Probably? If I hit pause here for a second, we said goodbye, would you go grab your mom for me so I could talk to her for half a second?
Yeah. Mom, come here.
So she's gonna need the earphones, Elias. So let me say goodbye to you, man. I really appreciate your time. Thank you.
Alright. Goodbye.
Bye. This is awesome.
Alright.
Hey. Put those in. I wanna talk to you for a second.
Alright.
You okay to be recorded?
Yeah.
Okay. Tell me when you're ready.
I'm ready.
A word with Elias's mom1:09:29
Alright. So I asked Elias, after watching your mom be so bad at hooking up the computer, isn't it amazing that she's good at other stuff? He wouldn't even say anything bad about you.
I know. That's because he's a good kid.
He really is. Is the girl that good?
Yes. I'm lucky. Both my kids are good.
Are same dad? Because they're eight years apart. That's why I asked.
Nope. My daughter has a different father.
Okay. I figured that right out. Yeah. Yeah. I I nobody waits eight years and thinks, oh, we should have another second kid.
But that's not how that works at all.
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. So he loves her too.
Yes. They they are really close.
I asked him
For being eight years apart, they're very close.
Yeah. No. He said they, like, they they drive around. She speeds sometimes. They have a lot of fun.
That makes sense. She does drive like me. So
I asked if he thought he'd cry when she left for college, and he was like, no. Why would I? And I was like, I mean, I I cried when my son left for college. And he goes, well, you know, you're his dad. That makes sense.
He's incredibly sensible.
Yes. He is.
What do you think his IQ is? Do you think it's in the one forties?
He he I would assume it's high.
Yeah. But he's but he's also articulate and, like, he's a casual speaker too.
Yes.
He's not like He No offense to all you really smart, weird people, but he's not weird. Not that I think that's something there's any problem with that. You know what I mean? Like, he's socially, like, smooth.
Yes. No. He and he's very intelligent beyond his years. He always has been even this when he was little, though.
Be super serious, though. Are you? No. No. I mean, I heard you kinda put it
up the computer now. He's definitely smarter than you.
And then, like, what about the what about the dad, the the guy that you allowed to move into the house?
Kind of.
He he I'm taking that as a no.
Mean, like, it depends on what you're talking about. Like, sports, yes. He's very smart. Other things, not so much.
This is like when two ugly people have a hot kid.
Yes. Yes. Most definitely. Sorry. Nope.
Nope. Completely. I get it, and I agree completely.
I swear to god. I see my daughter sometimes, and I'm like, I have no idea how any of that happened. Like, I I don't think I have an unpleasant face, and my wife is certainly pretty. But my goodness. Like, Arden looks like a supermodel.
Yes. And I don't know how that happens. You you know?
I have no idea how he got he's good at sports, Andy Smart, and that is definitely not me.
If if you saw my son do anything athletic, you and then looked at me, you'd go, what did they steal that kid out of a mall or something? Like, you'd have you'd no idea. I've said mall twice now. Say that's ridiculous. But yeah.
I I don't know how that happens. But, anyway, back to him. Is it hard to parent a kid who is that thoughtful and bright, or is it just easier? Or
No. I think it's harder sometimes for sure.
Do you actually have moments when you think, shit. He might be smarter than me?
Yes. Yeah. That's He's definitely gonna be smarter than me without even a doubt.
I swear I have the same feeling when I'm talking to my kids. I'm like I'm like, what is going on? Like, are you gonna make me feel bad on top of everything else? You know what I mean? Like because Yeah.
He is.
I don't think he'd do it on purpose, but wow. I mean, he said he wanted to be a doctor, and I thought I think he could be.
Yeah. He's he's always said that he wanted to be an endocrinologist now since he was diagnosed.
Yeah. My goodness. He's awesome.
And his sister's going to be an RN.
Is she? I would, a 100%, steal him from you if I could. Like, I think I seriously, I I think he's gonna be an earner. You know what I mean? Like, I'd like to lock him up now.
Like, I'm thinking of him as, like, a low stock guy could get cheap. Think
I keep I keep trying to I'm like, people he's like, he enjoys talking to people. He's smart.
I don't know that it's crazy to do a VC, a little venture capital, like, you know, growth thing for him. May maybe have a have ten, twenty people throw in $20 on him and tell him you'll pay him back off earnings first five years. Think I think you could I think I might throw in a little money on that. He's like he really seems like a safe bet is what I'm saying.
Yeah. Wow. No. He's definitely and he does, like like, the breakthrough stuff. He's telling me.
He's he enjoys doing all of that.
He's thoughtful about it.
We're sad we couldn't go to Friends for Life this year, but it just was not in budget.
Why are you going to Tennessee?
Yes. We are.
Yeah. I know. I got the whole thing. I I mean, you know, he's my goodness. Dollywood.
We are actually not going to Dollywood.
He thinks you are, so be careful.
Yeah. No. Uh-huh. We we changed our minds. Or he might be talking.
We're gonna stop at the
Grand Ole Opry?
No. Dolly just opened up a new gas station thing
Oh, yeah. She did a Dolly Buc ee's.
Yes. Yes. And so we're gonna stop there. And, of course, we're going to Buc ee's too. That's on our list.
Oh, I mean, if you're not gonna vacation to the gas station, what are you doing, Roy? And so and then what into Nashville?
Yep. We're gonna stay a day in Nashville, and then we're going two days down to Gatlinburg. Well, we're staying in Knoxville. But
Okay. Gatlinburg. So for the mountains? Yep.
Yeah. Yep. We're gonna go drive through the mountains. We're gonna go across the bridge.
I think there's a cable car you can take to the top of one of those mountains. Pretty cool.
Yes. We're doing that, and then we're going to the the Titanic Museum.
There's a The Titanic Museum in Tennessee?
Yes. White white. It is awesome. Like, you get to feel the water of, like, what the temperature was when the Titanic went down. We went like, Elias was only, like, three or four
Going back again.
When we went the last time. So
You guys are terrific. I I hope there's more people out there like him. Sorry. Well, what's happened? Are you is there a chicken in the room?
What's that noise?
Oh, no. My dog my daughter walked in from outside.
Oh, don't be. Don't be.
And so my dog assumes that there's somebody running into our house.
Oh, I think your noise canceling headphones made it sound like a chicken. It went buck buck buck. I was like, jeez.
Nope. That was our dog.
Okay. Awesome. Like, you guys are terrific. I I I I think we should whatever you're doing, what I I think you should be in charge of making 30 more babies like him.
Oh, heck no.
Spreading them. You're like, no. It's okay. I'm good.
I'm done. Two is enough.
Hey. No autoimmune in your family?
I have thyroid issues, so that was like and then my grandma had lupus, but that's, like, the only connection to diabetes or to, like, autoimmune in our family.
Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Hey. Listen.
I told him I'll keep doing this for six more years so we can do this when he gets his driver's license again. I did tell him I'm gonna be 61 when that happens, but he seemed to be okay with it.
Yeah. He's probably like, okay. Sounds good. Whatever.
Yeah. I I I have this feeling it's on his calendar right now. What do you think of that?
Yeah. He might he he does not forget things. Do not let him fool you. He will act like he forgot something, but he does not forget anything.
I told him if I had a 10 year old daughter, I'd wait ten years and hook him up with her. But he's not interested in girls, by the way, so you know, right now.
Yeah. That's a lie too. He's had girlfriends already this year.
He said there's a lot of drama with him.
There is. He and that's why he stays away from them now because they are drama.
Yeah. I I tried, but I the the the one the one I have is lives in my house, so there's not a lot I
can do about it. You know what I mean? So
Yeah. Girls are just naturally that way.
I don't think you're supposed to say that out loud.
Well, it's I mean, it's the truth.
Boys play
Boys are just more chill. Yeah. They just, like, are like, okay.
Until they start hitting each other, and then who knows? Anyway, Alright. Listen. You guys are absolutely terrific. I'm so happy we met and that you got Elias back on so I could talk to him a little longer.
You can tell how much more mature he is even just a year later from talking to him the first time.
Yeah. And he loves doing that stuff. Like He's
really impressive little kid. Seriously.
Talking to people. And I keep trying to make them get him on Facebook, but we never had the time to make the videos. He used to do TikTok. We don't do TikTok anymore. We do Facebook and Instagram now.
Yeah. He talked to me a little bit about all that. I asked him how he would learn. I also actually asked him if he would listen to some of kids songs and tell me if he thought they were any good for learning. So and or or just I just wanted his feedback.
I was like, you're like a great focus group. I I literally wanna hear what you have to say about this.
Oh, and he'd tell you straight up. He's very honest.
Well, give him the link. Do you know what I'm talking about? Juice It's boxpodcast.com/jukebox.
Okay.
And there's songs for really little kids, and then there's songs for kinda tween kids. He I'm not asking him to listen to them all, but ask him to pop around through a couple of songs, and then tell him he can send me his thoughts. He also told me he wants to write an essay about pre ballsing for the website.
Oh, perfect.
Yeah. So give him all that stuff to do. Keep him busy.
I will. And I will have him look at listen to a couple of those songs too.
Thank you. I have no idea how you raised a 10 year old boy who doesn't care about the Spider Man movie, but I think I think maybe you might have a parenting book in you.
So Yeah. He just he's very chill.
Would your parenting book be have Elias and then it's not so hard?
Yeah. Someday. Someday. Oh, listen.
Everybody's got a moment. Anyway, Miranda, I really appreciate you doing this with me. Thank you so much. I
And thank you for having him on Oh, of course. Again.
No. He was terrific. He really was. I'm gonna put a Tandem Moby ad on this one so people can see, like, what terrific kids wear Tandem Moby.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. No. We love the MOBI too.
I know you do. Tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. Use the link. Support the show.
Quit trying to take my headphones out. He's trying to listen still. He's hoping to try to take it out to hear what's being said. No.
No. No.
You're good. Tell him I'm gonna let you go. There's nothing left to do. Alright.
Thank you so much. You. Thank for having us. We appreciate it. Bye bye.
Bye.
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