#1777 Scratch That Itch

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Christine, a 73-year-old living with Type 1 for 67 years, reflects on the evolution of diabetes tech and the resilience required to thrive through nearly seven decades of management.

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DISCLAIMER: This text is the output of AI based transcribing from an audio recording. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors and should not be treated as an authoritative record. Nothing that you read here constitutes advice medical or otherwise. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to a healthcare plan.

Scott Benner (0:00) Friends, we're all back together for the next episode of the Juice Box podcast. (0:03) Welcome.

Christine (0:14) Hi. (0:15) My name is Christine. (0:16) I'm 73 years old, and I've had type one diabetes for sixty seven years. (0:23) And, you can call me Chris.

Scott Benner (0:25) How would you like to share a type one diabetes getaway like no other? (0:29) Join me on Juice Cruise 2026. (0:32) You may be asking, what is Juice Cruise? (0:34) It's a week long cruise designed specifically for people and families living with type one diabetes. (0:39) It's not just a vacation.

Scott Benner (0:41) It's a chance to relax, connect, and feel understood in a way that is hard to find elsewhere. (0:46) We're gonna sail out of Miami, and the cruise includes stops in CocoCay, San Juan, Saint Kitts, Nevis aboard the stunning Celebrity Beyond. (0:55) This ship is chosen for its comfort, accessibility, and exceptional amenities. (1:01) You're gonna enjoy a welcoming environment surrounded by others who get life with type one diabetes. (1:06) I'm gonna host diabetes focused conversations and meetups on the days at sea.

Scott Benner (1:11) There's thoughtfully designed spaces, incredible dining, and modern amenities all throughout the celebrity beyond. (1:19) Your kids can be supervised, there's teen programs so everyone gets time to recharge. (1:24) Not just the the kids going on vacation, but maybe you get to kick back a little bit too. (1:29) There's gonna be zero judgment, real connections, and a whole lot of sun and fun on Juice Cruise twenty twenty six. (1:34) Please come with me.

Scott Benner (1:36) You're going to have a terrific time. (1:38) You can learn more or set up your deposit at juiceboxpodcast.com/juicecruise. (1:43) Get ahold of Suzanne at cruise planners. (1:46) She will take care of everything. (1:47) Link's in the show notes.

Scott Benner (1:48) Link's at juiceboxpodcast.com. (1:52) If you're looking for community around type one diabetes, check out the juice box podcast private Facebook group. (1:58) Juice box podcast, type one diabetes. (2:01) But everybody is welcome. (2:03) Type one, type two, gestational, loved ones, it doesn't matter to me.

Scott Benner (2:08) If you're impacted by diabetes and you're looking for support, comfort, or community, check out Juice Box Podcast, type one diabetes on Facebook. (2:17) Nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. (2:22) Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan or becoming bold with insulin. (2:33) Today's episode of the Juice Box podcast is sponsored by the Eversense three sixty five, the one year wear CGM. (2:41) That's one insertion a year.

Scott Benner (2:43) That's it. (2:44) And here's a little bonus for you. (2:45) How about there's no limit on how many friends and family you can share your data with with the Eversense Now app? (2:51) No limits. (2:53) Eversense.

Scott Benner (2:53) Today's episode is also sponsored by Tandem Mobi, the impressively small insulin pump. (2:59) Tandem Mobi features Tandem's newest algorithm, Control IQ Plus technology. (3:04) It's designed for greater discretion, more freedom, and improved time and range. (3:08) Learn more and get started today at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. (3:14) The podcast is also sponsored today by US Med.

Scott Benner (3:17) Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. (3:24) Get your supplies the same way we do from USMed.

Christine (3:28) Hi. (3:28) My name is Christine. (3:30) I'm 73 years old, and I've had type one diabetes for sixty seven years. (3:36) And, you can call me Chris.

Speaker 3 (3:38) Chris, you were diagnosed when you were six years old?

Christine (3:41) Yes.

Speaker 3 (3:41) Wait. (3:42) Sixty seven years ago?

Christine (3:45) Yes.

Speaker 3 (3:46) Alright. (3:47) So if it was 2000 right now, that would mean you were diagnosed in '33, but it's not. (3:53) It's '25. (3:54) So I take '33 and I add '25 to it. (3:57) Now I get 35 is '8, and then 32 is but were you in '58?

Christine (4:02) Yes.

Speaker 3 (4:02) Look at me.

Christine (4:03) Ex exactly.

Speaker 3 (4:04) Thank you. (4:05) Thank you. (4:06) That's what you get when you don't pay attention to math class. (4:08) You get some roundabout way of thinking about numbers.

Christine (4:11) Math was always my worst subject too. (4:14) So Well, I just figured that out.

Speaker 3 (4:16) I just proved myself pretty capable.

Christine (4:18) I think so.

Speaker 3 (4:19) 1958, you were six years old. (4:22) My goodness. (4:23) Your parents tell stories of it. (4:24) How do you know of that time? (4:26) Any remembrances?

Christine (4:27) I remember a few things about it. (4:30) You know, I've talked to my brother and sister about it and my mom when she was still alive. (4:36) And from what I remember, I probably was in first grade. (4:41) I would sit down and my mom would say I could eat, like, a whole package of graham crackers and drink milk and drink milk, and and I was losing weight.

Speaker 3 (4:53) Okay.

Christine (4:53) So that concerned her greatly. (4:56) So then, of course, we went to the doctor. (4:59) I really had a wonderful pediatrician back then. (5:02) He, at the time, was probably close to retirement.

Speaker 3 (5:07) Mhmm.

Christine (5:07) Back in those days, as you've heard a lot of people say, you know, you weren't expected to live past your 20 or or thirties.

Speaker 3 (5:16) Yeah.

Christine (5:16) And I think everything based those first maybe twenty years of my care was based on that kind of thinking. (5:25) As far as my mom and dad, my mom I think she planned on being a stay at home mother, and then my dad was a truck driver. (5:35) There were the three of Us kids, and then my dad, somewhere in the late fifties before I was diagnosed, came down with polio.

Speaker 3 (5:45) Jesus.

Christine (5:46) And polio was, like, rampant back then, but it was mostly kids, although I know adults did get it.

Speaker 3 (5:54) Yeah.

Christine (5:55) And so he was paralyzed from his waist down. (6:01) He couldn't, like, sit up by himself, couldn't really get dressed by himself. (6:06) He did have control of his, like, bladder and bowels. (6:10) We learned how to take care of him at home. (6:13) There weren't a lot of social services back then.

Christine (6:16) Yeah. (6:16) And I would say for the first, you know, decade of my life, we were pretty poor. (6:21) My dad was 24 when that happened, so he was really young.

Speaker 3 (6:25) 24 years old, he got polio and it paralyzed him.

Christine (6:28) Yes. (6:29) My gosh. (6:30) And then he oh, well, here's the other thing. (6:32) He was in the hospital for about a year. (6:34) He was in an iron lung, and that would help you breathe.

Christine (6:38) It it's like a cylinder. (6:39) I don't know if you've ever seen an iron lung,

Speaker 3 (6:41) but it's,

Christine (6:42) yeah, it's a cylinder.

Speaker 3 (6:45) Chris, there's an alien landing behind you. (6:47) What is that?

Christine (6:47) Yes. (6:47) I know. (6:49) Honestly, people only call me when I don't wanna be called.

Speaker 3 (6:53) They're coming to take you away. (6:55) Right. (6:56) He was in an iron lung for a year?

Christine (6:58) No. (6:58) He was in an iron lung for a month. (7:01) Okay. (7:02) That helped him breathe because I don't even think back then they intubated people. (7:07) I mean, this was

Speaker 3 (7:09) pretty I'm a little confused. (7:10) Hold on a second. (7:11) How old were your parents when they were married?

Christine (7:13) 20. (7:14) I mean, my mom was I think my dad was 23. (7:17) My mom was 24.

Speaker 3 (7:20) And this polio thing happened to him just the following year?

Christine (7:23) I think it was a couple years out. (7:25) Couple years. (7:25) A lot of this is

Speaker 3 (7:26) It's muddled.

Christine (7:27) All mixed. (7:27) Yeah. (7:28) Muddled. (7:28) Gets all mixed up together.

Speaker 3 (7:30) Yeah.

Christine (7:31) But it but it ended up with three small kids, my dad in a wheelchair. (7:35) We had to take care of them.

Speaker 3 (7:37) They had the kids before the polio? (7:40) Yes. (7:40) Okay. (7:41) You they stayed together their whole life?

Christine (7:43) Yes. (7:43) They did. (7:44) My mom took her marriage foul seriously, I would say, through sickness and health. (7:49) Yeah. (7:50) And I it was I'm gonna say it was tough.

Christine (7:53) We lived in a very because my dad was in a wheelchair, we lived in a what they used to call prefab houses.

Speaker 3 (8:00) Mhmm.

Christine (8:01) No basement. (8:02) I think there were one or two steps, and then they built a ramp so that he could get in and out of the house.

Speaker 3 (8:09) Yeah. (8:09) Your mom did that her twenties or thirties or forties. (8:12) How long did your parents live?

Christine (8:13) Well, my dad died when he was 42.

Speaker 3 (8:16) As a result of the polio?

Christine (8:18) It was complications from it. (8:19) He came down with a really bad urinary tract infection. (8:24) Hospital that time. (8:25) He I think he had septicemia.

Speaker 3 (8:28) Mhmm.

Christine (8:28) And then, yeah, he eventually had a blood clot and died.

Speaker 3 (8:32) About how old were you when that happened?

Christine (8:35) I was in my early twenties.

Speaker 3 (8:37) Okay. (8:38) My gosh. (8:39) So your mom was taking care of him and your diabetes?

Christine (8:42) Oh, yeah. (8:43) And

Speaker 3 (8:44) The other kids have any issues?

Christine (8:45) My sister would come down with a lot of colds and strep throat and stuff. (8:49) I never had that kind of stuff. (8:50) I was pretty healthy that way as a kid, and my brother, I don't think, got too sick, but no. (8:56) No other issues.

Speaker 3 (8:57) Did they take tonsils out back then, or did they not do that back then?

Christine (9:00) Yeah. (9:00) Although I for some reason, we did not have our tonsils removed when we were kids.

Speaker 3 (9:07) I have to tell you I shared with you, I'm a little sick right now, and I was complaining to you before we started that these people got me sick. (9:14) And it started with is my son. (9:16) He went to visit friends. (9:17) He got on a plane. (9:18) He came back here.

Speaker 3 (9:19) He was sick. (9:21) My wife I was like, stay away from him. (9:23) You know you're going to get sick. (9:24) And she's like, no. (9:26) No.

Speaker 3 (9:26) No. (9:26) Like, we'd he'd been away for a week. (9:28) She's like, giving him a hug. (9:29) I'm like, hug him in a couple of days. (9:31) And, you know, she got sick.

Speaker 3 (9:33) She's getting better now, but the truth is I thought she was gonna die there for a couple days. (9:37) I have, like, low grade sickness. (9:39) Like, my I'll fight off most of it. (9:41) I'm not gonna get very sick, but I am sick. (9:44) The reason I'm telling you that because not only was Cole sick made Kelly sick, Cole got sicker again after he felt better.

Speaker 3 (9:51) It's gotten to me who'd never get sick. (9:53) But you know who's not sick? (9:55) Princess Arden who got her tonsils out.

Christine (9:57) Oh, really?

Speaker 3 (9:58) Yeah. (9:58) And she's like, if I had these tonsils in, you know I'd have strep throat by now.

Christine (10:03) Really? (10:03) And

Speaker 3 (10:04) Yeah. (10:04) She's not wrong.

Christine (10:05) See and I always thought my tonsils kinda saved me from some of that stuff.

Speaker 3 (10:10) Supposed to. (10:11) Yeah. (10:11) I'm not saying everybody shouldn't run out because their tonsils out, but Arden had, like Arden got sick a lot, and, she just has not been sick once since she had them out. (10:19) Those things were back there just trapping flies and then whatever else. (10:22) I don't know.

Speaker 3 (10:22) Yeah. (10:23) Well, listen. (10:24) Your mom's a a good lady. (10:25) I would have pushed Kelly right into a river. (10:27) So

Christine (10:28) May I say, I mean, there were so many problems that you can't I can't even begin to tell you all the things bad things that would happen mostly to my father, sometimes to me.

Speaker 3 (10:40) What do you mean? (10:41) What's an example of that?

Christine (10:43) Well, one time, you know, after my dad came home and stuff well, here's the thing. (10:48) My dad ended up being a stay at home dad like you were. (10:51) So he learned how to cook, and he would make meals for us. (10:55) He was able to drive with hand controls, so he was at least able to get into a car and go places. (11:02) He could never get out of the car.

Christine (11:03) Right. (11:03) And my mom went to work. (11:05) My mom was going to work back when this is before women's live and all this stuff.

Speaker 3 (11:11) Yeah.

Christine (11:11) And so my mom would work I think she mostly worked part time when we were all little, and then she went more to full time when we got older, and then we weren't quite as poor, and it wasn't quite as bad. (11:24) But, anyways, yeah, a lot of things happened to my dad. (11:28) One time, he had a commode chair that would go over the toilet, and he bent down to pick something up off the floor and the commode fell. (11:36) He fell against the bathroom door where the doorstop is, cut open his head. (11:44) Blood was pouring out under the bathroom door.

Christine (11:47) We couldn't get the bathroom door open. (11:49) We had to call the firefighters. (11:50) They had to take the window out to get in to get by him.

Speaker 3 (11:54) Because he was blocking the door.

Christine (11:55) He was blocking the door. (11:57) Traumatizing things kept happening in our family like that. (12:01) Another time, he was in the alley in his wheelchair, and my grandfather, who was older then, backed up into him and knocked him out of the chair.

Speaker 3 (12:12) With a car?

Christine (12:13) With a car.

Speaker 3 (12:15) That's not funny.

Christine (12:16) I know. (12:18) Well, you should hear when my brother and sister and I get together. (12:21) I mean, we just we laugh about this kind of stuff. (12:24) People look at us like we're nuts.

Speaker 3 (12:26) Wow. (12:26) Yeah. (12:26) It's a lot going on. (12:27) I'd laugh too. (12:28) Listen.

Speaker 3 (12:28) Can I ask an inappropriate question? (12:29) I feel weird because you're 73, but could your dad take care of business, or did your mom have to make a friend somewhere?

Christine (12:35) I believe he could take care of business. (12:38) Yes. (12:38) Okay.

Speaker 3 (12:40) Well, that's good. (12:42) Yeah. (12:43) This is mommy's friend. (12:44) Yeah. (12:45) We know.

Speaker 3 (12:45) It's okay. (12:49) Oh, wow. (12:50) Oh, that that's a heck of a start. (12:52) And so is there really any space in that story for you having diabetes, or is your diabetes really just kinda like shooting insulin once or twice a day to begin with? (13:00) It's not really that intense.

Christine (13:02) No. (13:02) No. (13:03) I wouldn't I was somewhat of the focus, but not too much. (13:06) I only took insulin back then once a day. (13:10) It was a a glass syringe with a steel needle on it.

Christine (13:15) Well, here's the story that my brother and sister especially remember. (13:19) For the first year that I had it, my mother would have to sit on me and give me my injections because I would just scream and cry. (13:27) And I personally don't remember that. (13:30) I think I blacked that part out. (13:32) But I know by the time I was seven years old, they had a visiting nurse come for, like, a week or two before I went to school and then taught me how to give myself my own injections.

Christine (13:42) Injections.

Speaker 3 (13:42) Okay.

Christine (13:42) You know, starting on an orange and then eventually myself. (13:46) But back then, we we didn't have, like, disposable needles. (13:50) And, honestly, I think I used the same needle for a couple years in a robe.

Speaker 3 (13:56) Would you take it to the pharmacy to have it sharpened? (13:58) No. (13:59) No. (14:00) You know, I I once talked to somebody who's was from a poor family. (14:04) They had to buy the needle from the pharmacy on, like, a layaway plan.

Christine (14:07) It seems to me they were very expensive, which is probably why we didn't get why I didn't get them.

Speaker 3 (14:13) I wonder what that means for that time. (14:15) Was it $5, you think, or something like that? (14:17) You know what I mean? (14:18) Like, how different money is

Scott Benner (14:19) now. (14:22) You've probably heard me talk about US Med and how simple it is to reorder with US Med using their email system. (14:28) But did you know that if you don't see the email and you're set up for this, you have to set it up. (14:33) They don't just randomly call you. (14:34) But I'm set up to be called if I don't respond to the email because I don't trust myself, a 100%.

Scott Benner (14:40) So one time, I didn't respond to the email and the phone rings at the house. (14:45) It's like, ring, you know how it works. (14:46) And I picked it up. (14:47) Was like, hello? (14:48) And it was just the recording.

Scott Benner (14:49) It was like, US med, doesn't actually sound like that, but you know what I'm saying. (14:52) It said, hey, you're, I don't remember exactly what it says, but it's basically like, hey, your order's ready. (14:57) You want us to send it? (14:58) Push this button if you want us to send it. (15:00) Or if you'd like to wait, I think it it lets you put it off, like, a couple of weeks or push this button for that.

Scott Benner (15:05) That's pretty much it. (15:06) I push the button to send it, and a few days later, box right at my door. (15:11) That's it. (15:11) Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. (15:16) Get your free benefits checked now and get started with USmed.

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Christine (16:50) Oh, I can I do have one statistic that I wanted to tell you that I came across? (16:55) Yeah. (16:55) In 1984, I wrote a checkout for two bottles of insulin. (17:00) It was a bottle of regular and a bottle of NPH. (17:03) Alcohol wipes, it cost me $17, and it was $8 for three months of syringes Yeah.

Christine (17:10) Disposable syringes.

Speaker 3 (17:12) Am I remembering right back then the insulin didn't need the prescription? (17:16) It was the needles you

Scott Benner (17:16) needed the script for. (17:17) Right?

Christine (17:18) Oh, see. (17:19) I don't remember that.

Speaker 3 (17:20) That? (17:20) I that's a thing I feel like somebody's told me in the past.

Christine (17:23) Yeah. (17:24) That kinda seems right, though.

Speaker 3 (17:25) Yeah. (17:26) Oh my gosh. (17:27) Yeah. (17:27) Though things have changed. (17:28) That's for sure.

Speaker 3 (17:29) I I saw a sandwich the other day that was $22, and I thought we're all gonna I'm like, we're all gonna starve to death. (17:35) This is if a sandwich is $22, I don't know how long we're all gonna make it. (17:38) That's ridiculous. (17:39) You know?

Christine (17:40) Right.

Speaker 3 (17:40) Oh my gosh. (17:41) Okay. (17:42) So you're doing one shot. (17:44) And but see, here's the like, here's what we gotta figure out. (17:47) You're 73.

Speaker 3 (17:48) Do you have any issues right now?

Christine (17:50) Really, the only diabetes complication that I came down with was retinopathy.

Speaker 3 (17:57) Okay.

Christine (17:57) And here's here's the thing. (17:59) Everything that ever went wrong with me was always kind of a weirdo thing and not standard. (18:06) So when I I had background for, you know, retinopathy for, I'm I'm gonna say, twenty or thirty years. (18:12) I'd go to see the eye doctor. (18:14) He'd always say, oh, it's stable.

Christine (18:15) It's stable. (18:16) Well, finally, my left eye developed more of the I think they call it pro proliferative retinopathy, and that's when I started seeing a doctor and having lasers done. (18:30) My other eye is still fine.

Speaker 3 (18:32) Okay.

Christine (18:32) I mean, there's some there, and I go to the eye doctor, but it hasn't developed any retinopathy.

Speaker 3 (18:38) And that's the extent of your complications after all this time?

Christine (18:42) Yeah. (18:43) Except now, I think my autonomic nervous system is finally starting to crack, and I think I have a lot of problems from that.

Speaker 3 (18:52) How so?

Christine (18:53) Well, I'm, like, lightheaded every morning when I get up. (18:57) I'm the room does not spin, but I feel unsteady on my feet. (19:01) And for the first half of the day, I walk around in the house with, like, a four pronged walker a cane.

Speaker 3 (19:08) Does your vision ever get dark? (19:10) Do you have trouble bending over and standing back up quickly?

Christine (19:14) Well, I I don't do that too often, but I'm able to.

Speaker 3 (19:17) Have you had COVID?

Christine (19:18) I believe I had COVID before they knew what what it was.

Speaker 3 (19:22) Yeah. (19:23) I wonder if you have, like, have people checked for POTS and things like that for you?

Christine (19:27) Yes. (19:28) I've been whatever test you can think of for this, I've been tested. (19:33) I have another whole story, but I think it might have something to do with either my medication or my autonomic nervous system.

Speaker 3 (19:42) Okay. (19:43) So Yeah. (19:44) Well, I hope you worked that out. (19:45) Are your doctors helpful, or do you find yourself mostly trying to deal with it on your own?

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Christine (20:58) Well, right now, I my kind husband and I kinda deal with it on our own.

Speaker 3 (21:03) Yeah.

Christine (21:03) Because there really is nothing they can do. (21:05) I've tried everything that they can do. (21:07) I've been tested for things. (21:09) I've had, you know, CAT scans, MRIs, whatever.

Speaker 3 (21:12) I don't mean to say people your age because the truth is is I feel I feel like in five seconds, I'm gonna be your age. (21:17) So I'm not I'm not casting aspersions. (21:18) But, like, do you guys use the Internet to try to figure stuff like that out? (21:22) Have you tried, like, you know, having a I know it's gonna sound crazy to you maybe, but have you tried having a conversation with an AI model to talk it through to try to figure out if you can find more answers than what the doctors are providing? (21:33) No.

Speaker 3 (21:33) No. (21:34) Is that a thing you would do?

Christine (21:36) Okay. (21:36) Well, Scott, here's the deal with me. (21:39) I worked in health care for forty years. (21:42) I worked in two different hospitals over those forty years. (21:45) I gained a lot of medical knowledge, especially about the diabetes and stuff that way.

Christine (21:50) I also went to school to work in medical records, and I was a medical record coder, not the kind of coder that codes computers.

Speaker 3 (21:59) Yeah.

Christine (21:59) Ones that read through charts. (22:01) You know, you take the diagnosis and the procedures out, and then that gets sent to the billing office. (22:06) We did that kind of work.

Speaker 3 (22:07) Right.

Christine (22:08) No. (22:08) I haven't been on chat GPT or do anything like that.

Speaker 3 (22:12) Like that. (22:12) Because, I mean, sometimes it just helps to to sit there without being rushed and say, this is how I feel. (22:19) What does that suggest? (22:20) Oh, and then maybe you'll think like, oh, also this happens to me. (22:23) What does that and maybe it's just a better list that you can go back to your doctor with then.

Christine (22:27) I have to say I have a very good PA now, an endocrinologist PA, and she's great, and she's open to a lot of things. (22:34) So I I definitely will do that, see if I can come up with anything else.

Speaker 3 (22:38) I mean, what are you? (22:39) Busy? (22:39) You you know what I

Christine (22:40) mean? (22:40) Exactly.

Speaker 3 (22:42) And but you're you're stuck with a walker now because of this? (22:45) Because why? (22:45) Because you think you might fall?

Christine (22:47) No. (22:47) It actually, it's a I said walker, but it's a four prong cane. (22:52) And here's the weird yeah. (22:54) Here's the weird thing, Scott. (22:56) By the afternoon, after lunch

Speaker 3 (22:58) You're okay.

Christine (22:58) Usually am okay.

Speaker 3 (23:00) Is it maybe are you is your salt level is it something simple? (23:03) Like, have you tried having something salty in the morning to see if it's your blood pressure?

Christine (23:07) Well, of course, because I'm a cardiac patient, they want me to stay away from salt.

Speaker 3 (23:11) But, yes, I

Christine (23:13) yeah. (23:13) But I have tried that.

Speaker 3 (23:14) What's up with your ticker?

Christine (23:15) Oh, jeez. (23:16) Well, I had a heart attack. (23:18) They did a cardiac cath, put two stents in, and then I had a small t stroke after that.

Speaker 3 (23:25) How long ago was this? (23:27) In your fifties?

Christine (23:27) That was a couple years ago, like, three years ago.

Speaker 3 (23:30) In your six at the end of your sixties?

Christine (23:32) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (23:32) Did they didn't attribute the heart problem to the diabetes?

Christine (23:35) Oh, the anything that ever went wrong with me, they always would say, well, you know, diabetics are more prone to this, and I go, yes. (23:42) I know.

Speaker 3 (23:43) Prone. (23:43) Thank you. (23:44) Speaking of prone, have you heard what happened to my dad? (23:46) Now, let's see. (23:48) Thank you.

Speaker 3 (23:49) Thank you, Chris. (23:50) I appreciate the laugh. (23:51) I'm wondering I guess I'm wondering when things shift for you going through time. (23:58) Right? (23:58) One shot a day goes to probably two shots a day.

Speaker 3 (24:01) When do you start counting carbs? (24:03) What are your outcomes like when you're younger? (24:05) Do you even know what they are? (24:07) No. (24:07) Because you're doing well.

Speaker 3 (24:09) I mean, mean, you you're having some issues, but also you're 73. (24:12) You you were gonna have issues one way or the other. (24:14) So I'm 54. (24:15) I have issues. (24:16) So Sure.

Speaker 3 (24:17) I'm wondering, like, when you grew up in a world where someone told you you might not live till you were 20, I guess my I have a two pronged question. (24:25) First of all, like, did you grow up believing you were gonna die young?

Christine (24:29) Oh, yes.

Speaker 3 (24:29) And what was that like? (24:31) How did that impact you?

Christine (24:32) Well, I think part of it was my parents both knew of one guy who must have died when he was a teenager from type one. (24:42) Mhmm. (24:42) I don't know if he was, like, a neighborhood kid or whatever. (24:45) So I think that was in the back of their mind. (24:48) Yeah.

Christine (24:48) They kinda just said, well, it's, you know, it's a very difficult disease and blah blah blah. (24:54) And so, yes, I grew up until I got to about my mid thirties.

Speaker 3 (24:59) You're like, I don't think I'm gonna die. (25:00) What's going on here?

Christine (25:01) Well, because exactly.

Speaker 3 (25:03) Because I

Christine (25:04) did stay kinda healthy, and I I didn't have a lot of complications. (25:09) And when I was a kid, oh my gosh, I was just scared to death of going blind.

Speaker 3 (25:14) Mhmm.

Christine (25:14) And that and seeing Patty Duke and Bancroft in the miracle worker. (25:20) I don't know if you ever saw that movie. (25:21) But as a kid, I would sometimes just close my eyes and pretend I was blind to see how I could do.

Speaker 3 (25:26) Oh, because you thought it was coming for sure.

Christine (25:28) I did.

Speaker 3 (25:29) Did you plan differently? (25:30) Like, did you pay different attention in school or go to not go to college right away or anything because of, like, thinking, like, what why would I bother doing all this?

Christine (25:39) I actually did not go to college purposefully, but part of that was I didn't I didn't really know what it what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Speaker 3 (25:47) Yeah.

Christine (25:48) And then the other thing was like, why bother?

Speaker 3 (25:50) Because you're not growing up anyway.

Christine (25:52) Right.

Speaker 3 (25:52) Wow. (25:53) How crazy is it to live thirty years of your life until one day you go, maybe I am gonna keep living.

Christine (25:59) Yes. (25:59) And that's exactly what happened to me. (26:01) And I have to tell you, my mother till the day she died, and she died in her late eighties, was felt so guilty about this. (26:10) And, like, what did she do wrong? (26:12) And by the time I hit probably 40, I would say to her, look at me.

Christine (26:17) I'm doing okay. (26:18) You know, you don't have to feel so bad about this.

Speaker 3 (26:21) Right. (26:21) Well, you that's good to know I'm not gonna stop feeling bad. (26:24) Awesome. (26:24) Right. (26:25) Do you have kids?

Christine (26:27) No. (26:27) And that was one of the decisions. (26:30) Back then, I worked with a nurse who also had type one. (26:35) She got pregnant, and she lost the baby. (26:38) It was, like, a stillborn Mhmm.

Christine (26:40) At seven months. (26:42) And then because I worked in a hospital, I had access to the medical library. (26:47) So I went in there. (26:49) I would look at journals and medical books aimed at doctors, and I didn't understand a lot of the language, but I kinda read up on pregnancy and diabetes. (26:59) And

Speaker 3 (27:00) Scared you.

Christine (27:00) I think back then, they could actually hospitalize you for a month or two to try to get you through.

Speaker 3 (27:06) That was enough for you to say, hey. (27:07) Maybe we won't do this. (27:09) Yeah. (27:09) Yeah. (27:09) Do you have pets?

Christine (27:10) We did for many years, but now we moved to a condo. (27:14) Our whole life has changed and stuff.

Speaker 3 (27:16) Well, if you want a blue chameleon, he's staring at me very, very oddly right now. (27:21) I could ship him over to you. (27:22) Why are you looking at me like that? (27:23) He is eyeballing me in a very strange way right now. (27:26) I just wanna say it.

Speaker 3 (27:26) I think if there wasn't glass there, he'd be on my head right now.

Christine (27:29) See, I'd I'd rather have a puppy than a reptile.

Speaker 3 (27:32) So Well, hey. (27:33) Listen. (27:34) Tell your husband. (27:34) I didn't make you pay for kids. (27:36) Get me a dog.

Speaker 3 (27:37) Seriously, you guys must be wealthy from not having kids. (27:42) Oh, we don't even wanna go down that road. (27:45) My gosh. (27:46) My wife and I just stood around the other day going, like, I wonder how much money we'd have if these freaking kids weren't here.

Christine (27:50) Can I just I just have to say something in our defense? (27:53) Yeah. (27:54) My husband and I both were very frugal our whole lives. (27:59) We were savers. (28:00) We never well, we both worked a lot, and then we never we would save up and go on, like, a really nice vacation every five years.

Christine (28:08) And then Awesome. (28:09) Yeah. (28:09) Once once a year, we'd take well, we only had two weeks vacation. (28:13) We'd go camping in Canada or or do something like that.

Speaker 3 (28:16) So That's nice. (28:17) That sounds very nice. (28:18) Do you think he's disappointed that you don't have kids?

Christine (28:21) No. (28:21) He he knew going in.

Speaker 3 (28:23) Did you get married later? (28:25) Yes. (28:26) Yeah. (28:26) Because you were like, I can't get if I'm if I don't need to go to college, I definitely don't need to get married.

Christine (28:31) Right.

Speaker 3 (28:32) Yeah. (28:32) You know, it's starting to freak me out, Chris, how many conversations I've had with older people who've said this to me.

Christine (28:37) Well, that's yeah.

Speaker 3 (28:38) One lady sticks in my head so hard that that and I I bring it up every time because her doctor told her to drop out of college and told her that no man would want her. (28:47) You should just just go home. (28:49) Isn't that great? (28:50) Isn't that horrible?

Christine (28:51) That's very harsh. (28:52) Yes.

Speaker 3 (28:53) So okay. (28:54) So do you regret it?

Christine (28:56) I will say at this age, I do. (28:59) I think during the times of, like, my, you know, thirties, forties, fifties, no. (29:05) But now that we're getting more feeble, and I think I have the beginning of maybe some, like, dementia or something.

Speaker 3 (29:13) Really?

Christine (29:14) Yeah. (29:15) And my husband has some medical problems. (29:17) I'm like, woah. (29:18) Who the heck's gonna take care of us? (29:20) What happens now?

Speaker 3 (29:21) When you're younger and he's younger, you have each other. (29:25) And the minute you start getting older, you think like, woah. (29:27) I can't count on him as much. (29:29) He can't count on me as much, and there's no one else coming.

Christine (29:31) Right. (29:32) Wow. (29:32) Right.

Speaker 3 (29:33) That's tough. (29:33) Yeah. (29:34) I'm sorry. (29:35) T1dto100.org is a website set up for people who are older of type one diabetes. (29:40) Might be helpful to you.

Speaker 3 (29:41) I just wanna double check to make sure I have the URL correct.

Christine (29:45) Yeah. (29:45) No. (29:45) I actually looked I looked there. (29:47) I there's a type one of people who have had it fifty years or more.

Speaker 3 (29:52) Mhmm.

Christine (29:53) And I'm on that one, and then I'm also on juice box a little bit.

Speaker 3 (29:56) Okay. (29:57) T one D to 100, did you hear about that on here?

Christine (30:01) Probably.

Speaker 3 (30:02) Oh, she'll be thrilled to know that. (30:03) That was great.

Christine (30:04) Let me just ask you. (30:06) Is that the what used to be the JDRF?

Speaker 3 (30:09) No. (30:10) This is run by a lovely woman named Joanne Milo. (30:12) It's lit

Christine (30:13) Oh, yeah.

Speaker 3 (30:13) You know that one. (30:14) Sure. (30:14) Okay.

Christine (30:15) Yeah. (30:15) I do.

Speaker 3 (30:16) So, yeah, that's a great website for for people who are older of type one. (30:21) My gosh. (30:22) So you were worried about dying. (30:24) It kinda slowed everything down in your life. (30:26) You eventually got moving there.

Speaker 3 (30:28) When do you come up on carb counting? (30:30) Do you remember?

Christine (30:32) Well, I had sort of a carb counting. (30:36) See, I had a really good internal medicine doctor for, like, thirty years.

Speaker 3 (30:41) Mhmm.

Christine (30:41) And he was real open to stuff. (30:43) And this is a shout out to doctor Tanti, and you can keep his name in there because he was great. (30:49) Yeah. (30:49) And he was willing to try things with me. (30:52) He got me before I well, right when we could start doing blood sugars.

Christine (30:59) My husband and I, they were so expensive. (31:01) We would cut the strips in half. (31:03) And then, you know, you'd put your blood on it, you'd have a a chart of a certain it wasn't certainly very accurate, but at least gave you kind of a showing where you were. (31:15) And from there, he would say to me, now maybe when you have lunch, take, like, a unit or two of regular insulin or change your Miles per hour to this. (31:27) So he and I kinda worked things like that out, and that was in the late eighties.

Speaker 3 (31:31) Yeah. (31:32) Just feeling your way through it.

Christine (31:33) Yes.

Speaker 3 (31:34) Yeah.

Christine (31:34) Yeah. (31:34) Then in 1994, I can tell you this, I had my first a one c.

Speaker 3 (31:39) And it was?

Christine (31:41) 12.5.

Speaker 3 (31:44) My god. (31:45) Why am I trying so hard? (31:46) What's going on? (31:47) Well,

Christine (31:48) you know what? (31:49) He and I looked at each other like, really? (31:51) Because we both thought I was doing pretty well at that time.

Speaker 3 (31:55) Yeah.

Christine (31:56) I think it was more we got into taking a little more regular insulin before I ate and stuff, and it was still all until I got my CGM, it was really all just a guessing game. (32:06) Yep. (32:06) And after a while, I got to kinda know what would really raise my blood sugar a lot and what was safer.

Speaker 3 (32:12) Mhmm. (32:13) All these years, all the different devices and different ideas, best thing that's come along, CGM?

Christine (32:18) Yes. (32:19) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (32:19) You have a pump now?

Christine (32:21) I do. (32:22) I've been on a pump for, I think, since the early since 1999. (32:27) '99. (32:27) Twenty six years.

Speaker 3 (32:28) On the same pump for twenty six years?

Christine (32:30) Well, always a Medtronic, so I kept you know, once the new one would come out every four years, I could get another one.

Speaker 3 (32:37) Yeah. (32:37) No. (32:37) I hear your Midwestern accent. (32:39) I knew you had a Medtronic.

Christine (32:40) Oh, wait till I start. (32:41) I could yeah. (32:42) We have a lot of things we say.

Speaker 3 (32:45) No. (32:46) I know. (32:46) I hear you. (32:47) Yeah. (32:47) Medtronic, is is based out there.

Speaker 3 (32:50) Well, they were. (32:51) I don't know if they still are in Minnesota at one point. (32:53) So they were the preferred insulin pump of the Midwest. (32:56) That's great. (32:57) And what are you on now?

Speaker 3 (32:58) Do you use seven eighty g, or are you doing automated?

Christine (33:00) I'm on a seven eighty, but I I do not do, like, their sensor with it. (33:07) I use my CGM separately, and I control everything.

Speaker 3 (33:10) Okay. (33:10) Are you thinking of trying their new sensor and going to automation, or does that freak you out?

Christine (33:15) Here's where I'm coming from. (33:17) I don't know that I would ever go to automation. (33:20) I think I can zero it in enough. (33:22) But, yes, I would eventually probably go to their sensor.

Speaker 3 (33:26) Okay. (33:27) This is interesting, though, at your age. (33:28) I'm sorry. (33:29) Like, what about being on an automated system throws you off?

Christine (33:33) I just don't trust it. (33:36) I just

Speaker 3 (33:37) Why not? (33:38) I wanna

Christine (33:38) know. (33:39) I see people, you know, like, on juice box, and they're going, well, I'm having trouble with this or I'm having trouble with that. (33:44) And Yeah. (33:45) I think there's part of me too I have to be in control.

Speaker 3 (33:48) Well, that's what I'm wondering about because, I mean, do you get low overnight?

Christine (33:52) Not oh, I screw around with my basil all the time.

Speaker 3 (33:56) Yeah. (33:56) What's your

Christine (33:57) It depends. (33:58) Oh.

Speaker 3 (33:58) No. (33:59) No. (33:59) Go ahead. (33:59) Depends on what?

Christine (34:00) It depends on what I'm eating and what's going on. (34:05) Mhmm. (34:06) I'm gonna go into the I started about six months ago trying to eliminate seed oils in my life, and I have to tell you my basil has come down, and I don't eat as much.

Speaker 3 (34:18) Yeah. (34:19) What's what oils did you cut out? (34:20) Like canola? (34:21) Yes. (34:22) Yep.

Speaker 3 (34:22) Good. (34:23) That's awesome. (34:23) Yeah. (34:24) Just use a cold pressed olive oil when you need oil.

Christine (34:26) Well, and here's the thing. (34:28) I love butter because, you know, I'm in a dairy state. (34:31) Then the cardiologist doesn't like that. (34:33) But, yes, it's like butter and olive oil, and I've eliminated a lot of that kind of food from my

Speaker 3 (34:40) Good for you. (34:40) I think I think that's a good that's a good decision. (34:43) Dementia. (34:44) Why do you think you have the beginnings of dementia?

Christine (34:46) Well, from all the scans and MRI and all that, they can tell, you know, there's a lot of vessel disease. (34:53) Mhmm. (34:53) And I just think, I'm not as sharp as I used to be. (34:57) Although when I talk to my friends and I've had the same group of friends for, like, fifty years too, they all seem to have a little bit of the same problems, but you can't come up with names quite as fast or I forget. (35:09) And I'll say my poor husband, I'll say to him, did I tell you this already?

Christine (35:13) And then you know?

Speaker 3 (35:14) Like, real forgetfulness, not just, like, when I call the dog the wrong name.

Christine (35:19) Yeah. (35:20) Yeah. (35:20) I

Speaker 3 (35:20) yeah. (35:21) I do that no matter what, by the way.

Christine (35:24) I

Speaker 3 (35:26) call the one dog the other name, and I look right at him, and I go, Friday, I go, your name is Basil. (35:30) Sorry. (35:30) And then yeah.

Christine (35:31) More and more, I hear this from people, so maybe I won't have dementia, which would be great. (35:37) I'd be

Speaker 3 (35:37) I think I'm just busy, but also old because I really am I don't know, like, what other people's lives are like, but I'm flying around doing, like, a thousand things at one time pretty constantly. (35:47) But yeah. (35:49) No. (35:49) I just sometimes I look at that dog and I'm like, Friday. (35:51) Damn.

Speaker 3 (35:52) Basil. (35:54) And I mix oh my gosh. (35:56) I can't believe I'm gonna say this. (35:57) I call Arden Kelly and Kelly Arden sometimes.

Christine (36:00) Oh, yeah. (36:01) I but people do that. (36:02) I mean, people in my own family do that too. (36:05) So

Speaker 3 (36:05) Yeah. (36:06) I don't know why it is, to be perfectly honest. (36:07) Their voices are starting to sound more similar.

Christine (36:10) Yes. (36:10) That might be a little

Speaker 3 (36:11) I believe you're like, how would I know, Scott? (36:13) I'm the guest on your podcast. (36:14) I have no idea about your kids and your wife. (36:17) Anyway, chameleon's still staring right through my soul. (36:20) Through my soul, he's looking.

Speaker 3 (36:21) What is wrong, man? (36:22) Go for a He's so adorable. (36:25) Blue and red, and I don't know how nature made him that way. (36:29) So you're have being forgetful, blah blah blah. (36:31) You went and got scans done.

Speaker 3 (36:32) I remember when my mom got her scan, and they talked about, like, the front of her brain having atrophy, and it broke my heart when they said that.

Christine (36:40) Oh.

Speaker 3 (36:41) Yeah. (36:42) No. (36:42) I'm so sorry. (36:43) Your husband same age? (36:45) Yes.

Speaker 3 (36:46) Okay. (36:46) You guys are the same age. (36:47) How'd you find each other late in life? (36:49) At work?

Christine (36:50) No. (36:50) We actually met at a wedding.

Speaker 3 (36:52) That's a good way to do it.

Christine (36:54) Oh, yes. (36:54) Yeah. (36:55) And there were, like, three I was the maid of honor. (36:58) There were, like, three single guys there, and so it was kind of fun.

Speaker 3 (37:02) Tell people that's how it used to work. (37:03) Right?

Christine (37:04) Oh, yes.

Speaker 3 (37:05) Absolutely. (37:05) You go to somebody else's wedding to get married yourself.

Christine (37:08) Yes.

Speaker 3 (37:08) Or to get laid. (37:10) You know?

Christine (37:14) I'm not

Speaker 3 (37:15) Chris, here I go.

Christine (37:16) Don't use if you no. (37:18) Don't Don't go

Speaker 3 (37:19) there. (37:20) She said no. (37:21) Don't. (37:22) I was just gonna ask if you took your pump off to have sex. (37:26) I remember

Christine (37:29) we talked about it. (37:30) It did not bother us. (37:32) I had the longer, tubing, so it was, like, fine. (37:36) It worked out just fine.

Speaker 3 (37:38) Look at you bragging. (37:39) You had longer tubing. (37:40) I see what you're saying. (37:41) Yeah. (37:41) Well, that's that's very that's very

Christine (37:42) Now I'm blushing. (37:43) My husband's looking at me like, what the hell are you laughing?

Speaker 3 (37:47) Tell him we're saying great things about his long tubing. (37:49) And Yeah. (37:50) Did you have to have snacks at the table for that?

Christine (37:54) No. (37:54) Not usually.

Speaker 3 (37:55) No? (37:56) Okay. (37:57) Even if you moved into a different position? (38:01) Even. (38:01) Okay.

Speaker 3 (38:02) Yeah. (38:03) This is great. (38:04) I should talk more with people in their seventies about sex. (38:07) I think it's fun.

Christine (38:09) We don't wanna give all the secrets away.

Speaker 3 (38:11) There are not that many secrets. (38:13) Only works a couple different ways.

Christine (38:18) Let me can I just say this real quick? (38:21) Since I've had my stroke and this last heart attack, though, and I'm this age now, I don't feel that I can tell when my blood sugar is dropping as much. (38:30) So, like, when my CGM says 85, I take, like, a a glucose gummy because I just start feeling too weird and stuff.

Speaker 3 (38:39) Mhmm.

Christine (38:40) So I walk around every day with my CGM in one pocket, my glucose gummies in the other, and that's kinda but no.

Speaker 3 (38:49) What are other adjustments you've had to make as you get older?

Christine (38:53) Well, I think I lost my peripheral vision from the retinopathy. (38:57) So I have to, like, when I'm walking with people, I always ask them to walk on the right side of me, or I'm afraid I'm gonna bump into them. (39:04) Or when my husband and I are working in the kitchen together, I can't always see them, and I'm afraid I'm gonna turn around with a pot or milk or whatever

Speaker 3 (39:13) Yeah.

Christine (39:13) And bump into them. (39:14) So stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (39:16) That that kind of thing. (39:16) What about about management stuff? (39:18) Like, you're saying you have to you know, you're 85. (39:20) You know you should treat because you're probably falling. (39:22) Like, has there been have you become less aggressive with prebolising?

Speaker 3 (39:25) Like, are there other things that that your age scares you about?

Christine (39:28) No. (39:29) I think since I got the CGM, I can

Speaker 3 (39:32) You're okay.

Christine (39:33) Just about anything.

Speaker 3 (39:34) Yeah. (39:34) That's great. (39:35) Do you worry about dexterity and using your devices?

Christine (39:41) Oh, yeah. (39:41) I have to say I cannot get my c I cannot get my CGM. (39:45) I could not unscrew that thing if I had to do it myself. (39:49) My husband always puts it in my arm for me

Speaker 3 (39:52) and stuff. (39:53) Seven, you you're having trouble on twisting it?

Christine (39:55) Yes.

Speaker 3 (39:56) Okay. (39:57) And then what about this? (39:59) And he's gotta insert it for you?

Scott Benner (40:01) Yeah. (40:02) Okay. (40:02) Because it's hard to hold, articulate, push the button Yes.

Speaker 3 (40:05) The whole thing.

Christine (40:05) Plus, I have arthritis really bad in my right hand, so that doesn't help either.

Speaker 3 (40:10) Oh, okay.

Christine (40:11) Oh, and we didn't even talk about when I had cancer.

Speaker 3 (40:14) What the hell? (40:15) How'd you boy, Chris, I love people who have lived a longer life because, I seriously I don't know what episode it was, but I think I interviewed a lady once who was married, like, three times. (40:26) And while I was talking to her, you realized they weren't, in and out marriages. (40:29) She had three separate lives.

Christine (40:32) Sure.

Speaker 3 (40:32) She remembered generously, like, each one of them.

Christine (40:35) Sure.

Speaker 3 (40:36) Yeah. (40:36) Yeah. (40:36) So it's interest it makes me feel like that. (40:38) How old were you when you got cancer?

Christine (40:40) I was 64.

Speaker 3 (40:42) What kind?

Christine (40:44) Well, Scott.

Speaker 3 (40:45) Oh, the lady cancer.

Christine (40:47) Yeah. (40:47) No. (40:47) No. (40:47) Well, it was in my breast.

Speaker 3 (40:49) Oh, wow.

Christine (40:50) But I came down with what's known as triple negative, and it was stage two b. (40:56) So it wasn't three because I think it was only in one lymph node.

Speaker 3 (41:02) Mhmm.

Christine (41:02) Yeah. (41:02) I went through a whole year of chemo and radiation, and that radiation then left me with lymphedema on my right side, and it's, like, a more it's not in my arm so much. (41:14) It's under my arm and into my back and into my one breast.

Speaker 3 (41:19) What is that like to deal with?

Christine (41:21) It's not fun. (41:22) I luckily have a wonderful physical therapist. (41:26) I actually have two of them. (41:28) And my husband and I are very lucky. (41:30) We live within two miles of the places I have to go for medical treatment.

Christine (41:35) So that helps a lot, and she's been really helpful. (41:39) I do have a machine that I can use at home that I zip up and it kinda compresses that area, but she's really good about, like, getting the drain in and out and stuff.

Speaker 3 (41:50) Did you get a mastectomy?

Christine (41:51) No. (41:52) I had a lumpectomy.

Speaker 3 (41:53) A lumpectomy. (41:54) Okay. (41:54) Yeah. (41:55) Oh my gosh. (41:57) It's interesting to hear you say, like, how lucky you feel just for something to be close to your house.

Christine (42:01) Yes. (42:02) Oh my gosh. (42:03) My sister lives in the Boondocks in Wisconsin, and she's gotta travel, I think, forty five minutes just to get to town to get to the one hospital that's up there or the or the doctor clinic or whatever.

Speaker 3 (42:16) So I remember my brother one time said he had to pick something up, and I was like, why don't you just go get at the mall? (42:20) He goes, I don't have a whole day to give away to that. (42:22) I was like, wait. (42:23) What?

Christine (42:23) Well, that's the other thing when she goes grocery shopping. (42:26) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (42:26) It's It's a it's a trek. (42:28) You know, it's funny. (42:29) I don't think I talk about it much when you're my my wife and I, we're very hopeful about self driving cars helping us as we get older.

Christine (42:37) Oh, yes.

Speaker 3 (42:38) Yeah. (42:38) And it's funny. (42:39) Do you do you have that thought too?

Christine (42:41) Oh, yes.

Speaker 3 (42:42) So you're okay with a car driving you, but not a pump taking care of your insulin?

Christine (42:46) Yes.

Speaker 3 (42:48) Goddamn, Chris. (42:49) I've been setting you up for that for, like, a half an hour. (42:51) I just want you to know.

Christine (42:52) Yes. (42:52) You have.

Speaker 3 (42:54) Of why? (42:56) What how could you possibly now listen. (42:58) For anybody who hasn't done it and I'll just say, like, it it I think there's a couple companies that do it. (43:04) I've been in a few cars that do it. (43:05) Teslas do it incredibly well.

Speaker 3 (43:08) It's something else. (43:10) If you have not sat in a car that's driving itself and you have not had to touch the steering wheel or the brakes or the pedals or anything Right. (43:16) And watched it, you would be amazed at how well it works.

Christine (43:19) We actually either knew somebody who did that or something because my husband's very impressed with it.

Speaker 3 (43:25) Yeah.

Christine (43:26) And it would be ideal probably for us.

Speaker 3 (43:28) Yeah. (43:28) My neighbors are in their seventies, and they're like, the next time we get a car, we're gonna get a car that drives itself because they try to visit their kids, and their kids are far away. (43:37) And they talk about just how just the drive beats the hell out of

Christine (43:41) them. (43:41) Sure.

Speaker 3 (43:42) But okay. (43:43) So you would that's interesting. (43:44) Do you think you're from a different generation. (43:46) Do you think you're comfortable with self driving because your husband's impressed by it?

Christine (43:50) Yes.

Speaker 3 (43:51) Okay. (43:52) But I wish I husband

Christine (43:53) can can I just say my husband has one of those cars now that he almost it almost is self driving. (43:58) He doesn't have to have his hands on the wheel. (44:01) It's called Super Cruise.

Speaker 3 (44:02) Yeah. (44:03) Yeah. (44:03) But is that the Chevy? (44:04) Is that a Chevy? (44:05) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (44:05) Yeah. (44:05) Listen. (44:06) Again, I took a long drive in a Tesla, and the driver never touched anything. (44:11) I mean, it was right turns, left turns, stop signs, merging, speeding up, passing cars. (44:18) Awesome.

Christine (44:18) I think I could have been in a Tesla. (44:20) Was I in a Tesla in Vegas? (44:22) Oh, my friend and I went to Las Vegas a couple that was maybe three years ago. (44:26) Yeah. (44:27) Two years ago.

Christine (44:28) Yeah. (44:28) We were in a Tesla.

Speaker 3 (44:29) And you

Christine (44:29) know what? (44:30) I like the way the whole inside of the car

Speaker 3 (44:33) looked simple and empty and yeah. (44:35) Kinda clean. (44:36) Okay. (44:37) So how long you've listening to the podcast?

Christine (44:39) Pretty much from the beginning, I think.

Speaker 3 (44:40) Pretend then that I'm your husband for a second, and I'll tell you I'm pretty impressed with the automated insulin delivery systems.

Christine (44:46) I know. (44:46) I can tell by the way you talk about it.

Speaker 3 (44:48) So why don't you try it?

Christine (44:50) Because I'm stubborn. (44:51) Well,

Speaker 3 (44:55) I think Medtronic seven eighty g is a good pump. (44:57) And if you got their sensor and paired it up, I think it's possible it could take away a lot of the thinking about it.

Christine (45:04) Okay. (45:05) Well and like I said, I am open to that. (45:08) Mhmm. (45:08) And at some point next year, I may go to that.

Speaker 3 (45:11) Good for you. (45:12) Yeah. (45:12) Well, that's a good listen. (45:13) You don't have to love it. (45:14) You could hate it.

Speaker 3 (45:15) But maybe it's a control thing you won't be able to give away. (45:18) But, also, maybe you'll just think, hey. (45:20) This is awesome not thinking about this.

Christine (45:23) Yes. (45:24) I suppose. (45:24) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (45:24) As much. (45:25) And as you get older too, you know, maybe maybe it could buy you some extra time because, know, the end of this, you know, for all of us living, the longer you go, the more help you're gonna need. (45:36) But with type one diabetes, it's an extra burden. (45:39) Right? (45:39) And now you're counting on somebody around you to help.

Speaker 3 (45:42) It's not your husband, and it's not kids, and, you know, then you're you're looking at nursing home staff. (45:47) Like, they're not gonna understand it. (45:48) My gosh. (45:49) Yeah.

Christine (45:49) Oh, can I just say my husband and I have talked this over, and we are going to age in place? (45:55) So, hopefully, an aide or whoever can come here.

Speaker 3 (45:59) Yeah.

Christine (46:00) I'm thinking if the worst ever happens, I will go to one injection a day and just let me whatever.

Speaker 3 (46:07) Whatever happens happens? (46:08) Yeah. (46:08) Yeah. (46:09) What's the worst that could happen? (46:10) You mean your husband passing?

Christine (46:12) No. (46:13) I would say, like, if I had a stroll

Speaker 3 (46:15) or something like that where you couldn't handle it.

Christine (46:17) Yeah. (46:17) Where where I was totally incapacitated.

Speaker 3 (46:20) Yeah. (46:20) What a what a great conversation to have on the last day of the year. (46:23) Everybody's feeling hopeful about next year. (46:25) You and I are like, we're all gonna die. (46:26) So I

Christine (46:28) hate to tell you this, but a lot of not good well, not a couple bad things have happened to me on New Year's, but talking to you is not one of them. (46:36) So

Speaker 3 (46:36) I'm glad you're having a good time. (46:38) But did someone hit you with their car in the driveway? (46:40) What happened?

Christine (46:40) Well, no. (46:41) This is I found my breast lump on New Year's Day. (46:46) Yes. (46:47) I had my heart attack on New Year's Eve Day.

Speaker 3 (46:50) What the hell?

Christine (46:51) I know. (46:53) And I would just wanna say to to people, my only symptom for that was my pulse was up to a 100 and yeah. (47:00) I had tachycardia. (47:02) My pulse rate went up to about a 128. (47:04) The only reason I really paid attention to it is because this was during COVID, and everybody was getting those pulse oximeters for their fingers.

Christine (47:13) And then if it went below something, you were supposed to go to the hospital immediately or whatever.

Speaker 3 (47:18) Yeah. (47:19) How about that?

Christine (47:20) So that's how I caught that?

Speaker 3 (47:21) Wow. (47:22) That's insane. (47:23) My gosh. (47:24) What wait a minute. (47:26) How did you find the lump?

Speaker 3 (47:28) Do you, like, doing a self exam where you're

Scott Benner (47:30) like, hey. (47:30) It's the first of

Speaker 3 (47:30) the year. (47:31) Let me take a look. (47:31) Or

Christine (47:32) Okay. (47:32) I'll tell you the the story before it. (47:34) We have we were in Arizona. (47:37) We lived out there part time for about fifteen years, and we were at our friend's house. (47:42) She's a wonderful cook.

Christine (47:44) She made this really kinda spicy chicken dish. (47:48) It was tremendous. (47:49) We had a really good time. (47:51) I ate the spicy chicken, and I woke up the next morning, and my right breast itched so much. (47:58) And I went to scratch it, and I'm like, holy crap.

Christine (48:01) There's a big lump here. (48:03) And I'm like, for five minutes, I said to myself, I'm gonna pretend I never found this because I knew I knew then what it was having worked in, you know, the health care industry for forty years. (48:16) I was like, this is not good.

Scott Benner (48:18) You were saved by itchy titty?

Christine (48:20) Yes. (48:20) Oh, shit.

Speaker 3 (48:21) Boy, what if I made that the title of your episode?

Christine (48:23) No. (48:24) Please don't. (48:27) I

Speaker 3 (48:30) feel like I could get $20 out of you right now not to do that. (48:33) I if I You you

Christine (48:35) could get more than that.

Speaker 3 (48:39) No kidding. (48:39) Just an incredible, like, bothersome itch, and you're like, woah, gosh. (48:43) What is it? (48:44) Tell me that five minutes of, like, I'll just ignore it. (48:47) Is it just, like, I can't do one more thing, or what's that feeling?

Christine (48:50) That. (48:51) Yes. (48:51) Yeah. (48:52) What was that?

Speaker 3 (48:52) What about living your whole life like this? (48:55) I mean, you have a great attitude, and I don't feel like I'm speaking to a 73 year old person. (48:59) I just wanna say that. (49:00) Right? (49:01) At the same time, it's a lot.

Speaker 3 (49:03) I mean, listening over your life, being poor, your dad becoming incapacitated, like, you know, your mom going off and working at a time when that's not what has happened. (49:12) You're taking care of your diabetes, but really, you're living with, like, a twelve a one c for a long ass time.

Christine (49:17) Mhmm.

Speaker 3 (49:18) Heart attack, cancer, retinopathy, a lot's happening. (49:22) You didn't get to have kids. (49:23) It's not I don't think it's a thing you didn't want. (49:25) You had to live thinking you were gonna die early. (49:28) Why do you still have a good attitude And but at the same time, like, this struggle must have done something for you.

Speaker 3 (49:34) Have you ever thought about what it is?

Christine (49:37) Yeah. (49:37) I've tried to examine it quite often, and I can't quite figure it out. (49:43) I think if anything I I I have this one saying. (49:47) I think this came up during COVID, but it was like, I'm bloodthirsty but faint hearted. (49:52) So I think there's a part of me that's willing to fight for a lot of stuff, and then there's a other part of me that's like, yeah.

Christine (49:58) What? (49:58) No. (49:58) I'm not doing this.

Speaker 3 (50:00) And so what does it come and go depending on the situation? (50:03) Is it situational?

Christine (50:04) Think prob probably sometimes.

Speaker 3 (50:06) So give me an example of something you fought for.

Christine (50:08) Well, we didn't even get into

Speaker 3 (50:11) Well, we got time. (50:12) Take your time. (50:13) Go ahead.

Christine (50:13) Oh, good. (50:14) Yeah. (50:15) Well, I'm on Synthroid.

Speaker 3 (50:17) Have Hashimoto's? (50:18) Or

Christine (50:19) No. (50:19) I came down with hypothyroidism because I believe when I went through my cancer treatment and I was going through the radiation

Speaker 3 (50:29) Exactly.

Christine (50:29) They make this, you know, like A collar. (50:33) A collar so that you're

Speaker 3 (50:35) Protects your thyroid.

Christine (50:36) And everything. (50:37) And then yeah. (50:37) And they're aiming right for under your arm and where the your lymph nodes are in that. (50:42) You're supposed to and I think it used to take I had to go there five days a week for a month and have this radiation therapy. (50:50) And when they were doing that, I could not move.

Christine (50:53) Mhmm. (50:53) I was not allowed to move. (50:55) And I think one time, either I must have started to fall asleep or whatever, and I, like, jerked. (51:01) And I think I jerked my neck up enough for the radiation to hit my thyroid because it wasn't till after that that my thyroid was just, like, destroyed. (51:12) It was gone, and they caught it on a CT scan, I think.

Christine (51:16) I caught it, actually. (51:17) I was reading through my whole report, and I know I had symptoms, but a a lot of it, they would say, oh, well, you're getting older. (51:25) This is why, you know, you're losing your hair, and you feel tired all the time.

Speaker 3 (51:28) And yeah. (51:29) Yeah. (51:30) Bad aim. (51:30) They zapped you.

Christine (51:32) Well, I yeah.

Speaker 3 (51:33) Don't don't take blame for it, Chris. (51:35) You've been you've been through a lot. (51:37) Let's just say that somebody messed it up for you. (51:38) I don't need you I don't need you walking around with that burden too.

Christine (51:41) Okay. (51:41) Well, I just have to say when I did mention because I get checked once a year for cancer.

Speaker 3 (51:46) You know,

Christine (51:46) they check up on me. (51:48) And, I did say to that PA once about how I thought that that's how I got it, and she said, oh, no. (51:54) We're not gonna say that happened.

Speaker 3 (51:56) So No one's saying that. (51:58) Yeah. (51:59) Being that it's the anniversary of all your bad news, if you and I get done recording right now, I don't know, and, you know, you look outside and there's a SWAT team coming at you with guns and they're yelling your name and you're like, oh, I'm gonna get shot. (52:12) This is the end. (52:13) Do you go good life do you go, it could have been better?

Speaker 3 (52:17) Like, how do you think of your time?

Christine (52:18) Oh, I think I had an incredible life. (52:21) The the beginning was very hard, and that's maybe what made me a stronger person is I lived through, like, so much horrible things going on.

Speaker 3 (52:30) Yeah.

Christine (52:30) And and then when I met my husband, I mean, it took us a long time before we got married, but he got it from the beginning kinda. (52:40) Mhmm. (52:40) And he's really been helpful as far as like, he can look at me and go, oh, you're going low. (52:45) Yes. (52:45) Or if I'm bitchy or whatever, you know, it's like, well, high blood sugar,

Speaker 3 (52:49) just your blood doesn't get bitchy. (52:51) Her tolerance just changes for my bullshit.

Christine (52:54) That's probably it.

Speaker 3 (52:56) I said, well, it's crazy because you seem bitchy. (53:01) So

Christine (53:03) Yeah. (53:03) We're not supposed to use that word, you know.

Speaker 3 (53:05) No. (53:05) No. (53:05) No. (53:05) It's okay. (53:06) Whatever.

Speaker 3 (53:06) You're old enough. (53:07) You're grandfathered in on something. (53:08) You have to be. (53:09) So yeah. (53:10) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (53:10) I'm not supposed to use it, but I was using it because you used it. (53:13) You understand? (53:14) Yeah. (53:15) I was just agreeing with you. (53:16) You're the guest, so I'm I'm agreeing with you.

Christine (53:18) Okay. (53:18) Well, thank you.

Speaker 3 (53:19) No. (53:19) No problem. (53:19) It's no problem at all. (53:20) Oh my gosh. (53:21) So how's this conversation going for you?

Speaker 3 (53:23) Because at the beginning, right before we started, you scared me a little because you were like, I have plans for this. (53:28) But how's it going?

Christine (53:30) It's going very well.

Speaker 3 (53:31) Good.

Christine (53:31) I just I just wanna say that I think I was blessed and cursed by having so much medical knowledge and not being formally educated.

Speaker 3 (53:41) Yeah.

Christine (53:41) And I came a lot of well, here's the thing. (53:44) When I worked in medical records, I read thousands of charts, and then we would assign, you know, the diagnosis and the procedures to them. (53:53) I learned a lot about the different procedures, and that I would get myself in trouble because I'd go to doctors and say, well, I don't want this, but I want this. (54:01) And they'd, like, look at me like, who the hell do you think you are? (54:04) Why are you telling me this?

Speaker 3 (54:05) You say, read some books. (54:06) Yeah.

Christine (54:07) Right. (54:08) And then finally, one of my nurse one of my good friend nurse nurses said to me, she says, I never let any medical personnel know that I'm a nurse. (54:17) I just ask questions in a way that sound like, why are you doing this? (54:22) And so I kinda learned from her not to go at it from that angle.

Speaker 3 (54:28) Them think they're having the idea? (54:29) Yes. (54:30) But getting what you need?

Christine (54:31) Yes.

Speaker 3 (54:32) Yeah. (54:32) Also, that works when you're married too. (54:34) Right?

Christine (54:34) Sometimes.

Speaker 3 (54:35) Mhmm. (54:36) Sometimes. (54:36) I check my kids that way a lot.

Christine (54:39) Well, don't all parents?

Speaker 3 (54:41) Yeah. (54:41) You have to. (54:42) You can't tell anybody anything. (54:43) By the way, that's not just parenting. (54:45) Anytime you try to tell somebody something, right away, they're upset.

Speaker 3 (54:48) You know? (54:48) But you ask a question and then let them come to it on their own, and they're like, everyone's proud of themselves.

Christine (54:53) So Sure.

Speaker 3 (54:53) Whatever. (54:54) However it has to happen, you're just looking for good

Christine (54:55) care. (54:56) Yes.

Speaker 3 (54:57) Alright. (54:58) So Oh. (54:59) Go go ahead. (54:59) Go ahead. (54:59) Go ahead.

Speaker 3 (55:00) Want you to say a bunch of things. (55:01) Say whatever you want. (55:02) I I wanna tell you, Chris. (55:03) I'm having a lovely time talking to you. (55:05) I think this is very appropriate for my last episode recorded this year.

Speaker 3 (55:09) I'm feeling very lucky to have this conversation with you right now. (55:12) I'm not sharing it with you, but I'm sitting here feeling that way. (55:15) And, yeah, I just I feel really grateful in, in the moment to get to meet you and everyone else that I talked to this year. (55:22) I'm looking up at my calendar and thinking it's possible I had over 300 conversations this year with different people.

Christine (55:29) Bet you did. (55:30) Yeah. (55:30) And I have to tell you, I'm very flattered because I've listened to so many of your podcasts, and so many people have interesting stories. (55:37) No kidding. (55:38) It's just amazing.

Speaker 3 (55:39) Yeah. (55:39) Yeah. (55:39) No. (55:39) I'm I'm listening back to one today where a guy is telling me about his neighbor who built a twenty twenty one twentieth scale battleship that actually floated. (55:47) And I was like, what's the whole whole world's out of its mind.

Christine (55:51) You know what? (55:51) That sounds like something my husband would

Speaker 3 (55:53) wanna Yeah. (55:54) Yeah. (55:54) Yeah. (55:55) Oh my gosh. (55:56) But what'd you wanna say?

Speaker 3 (55:56) I'm sorry.

Christine (55:57) I just this is I can't explain why, but I think somehow I have my body has the ability to self heal. (56:04) I've had so many things go wrong, and, you know, I had all the joint stuff, you know, carpal tunnel, trigger finger, you name it. (56:13) And I never went for any surgeries for any of that, and eventually, it all went away. (56:18) So I I

Speaker 3 (56:19) You outlasted it?

Christine (56:20) Yes. (56:21) I guess so.

Speaker 3 (56:21) Do you have any other autoimmune issues? (56:23) No. (56:24) No? (56:24) How about in your family line? (56:25) Your mom, dad, brothers, sisters?

Christine (56:28) No. (56:28) I talked to my my sister about this. (56:31) We have more genetic. (56:32) We have, like, a genetic blood thing in our family.

Speaker 3 (56:35) Okay.

Christine (56:36) And then I will tell you though, when I first came down with diabetes, apparently, between the two families, it's like, where did this come from? (56:46) Who had diabetes in your family, and how did this happen? (56:49) And it wasn't until I was in my forties or fifties, and it must have been either it came from, apparently, my maternal grandmother's side of the family, and there was one uncle left who that would have been my mother's uncle.

Speaker 3 (57:03) Mhmm.

Christine (57:03) And I think eventually, they figured out that my grandmother either had cousins or some aunts or somebody who must have died before there was insulin, and they figured it was diabetes.

Speaker 3 (57:14) Type one there.

Christine (57:15) Yeah. (57:16) That

Speaker 3 (57:16) yeah. (57:17) Well, jeez, not something. (57:18) Oh, can I throw this in here real quick? (57:20) This is apropos of nothing, Christine. (57:21) But if anybody from the Smart Wool sock company is listening, I would love to rep you and sell some socks.

Speaker 3 (57:26) These things are awesome. (57:28) I would do it maybe just for free socks. (57:30) So if you wanna trade ads for free socks, let me know. (57:33) I got these for the holidays. (57:35) My son, I can't believe my son's like, here.

Speaker 3 (57:37) I got you socks for Christmas. (57:39) They're awesome. (57:39) I'm like, okay. (57:41) Thanks. (57:41) But he's not wrong.

Speaker 3 (57:42) They're really great. (57:43) Sorry. (57:43) I know that takes everything off case. (57:45) But, anyway, anyone's working at SmartWool, reach out, please. (57:48) I think I think we could sell some socks together.

Christine (57:51) That sounds like something my husband could use.

Speaker 3 (57:53) Yeah. (57:53) They're beaut they're, like, just really fit well, and they're warm, and I don't feel sweaty in them ever. (57:59) And my goodness. (58:00) I don't know what they cost. (58:02) The kids got a job.

Speaker 3 (58:03) You know what I mean? (58:03) But Yeah. (58:04) That's it. (58:05) Thank god he's got a job. (58:06) He actually got me a really nice Christmas present.

Christine (58:09) What?

Speaker 3 (58:10) And oh, you want me to tell you? (58:12) He he got me tickets to the Eagles game for he and I.

Christine (58:16) You're kidding.

Speaker 3 (58:17) As happy as I as soon as I got them, as happy as I was to think, oh, we're gonna go to the game together. (58:22) This is awesome. (58:23) There was part of me that was like, oh my god. (58:25) He can afford this. (58:26) Thank god.

Speaker 3 (58:27) Like like, do you know what I mean? (58:28) Like like, just like it felt like a weight lift. (58:30) And I was like, he bought an expensive gift for me. (58:33) He must be saving his money and and then doing okay. (58:36) Like, I was just so happy to think that he was okay.

Speaker 3 (58:39) Sure. (58:40) Know? (58:40) Don't know if that makes sense or not. (58:41) But

Christine (58:41) Well, yeah, that's what you want for your kids, so to eventually be on their own, but but, like, capable and thinking ahead.

Speaker 3 (58:50) I just, yeah, I just was happy to know that he was, like, stable. (58:54) Yeah. (58:54) You know? (58:54) So Sure. (58:55) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (58:55) Really cool. (58:56) And he knows good socks when he sees them, so bonus. (58:59) Smartwool. (59:00) Again, guys, go check them out. (59:01) They're not not a sponsor, but would love for them to be.

Speaker 3 (59:04) I got I got rid of got rid of is the wrong word. (59:07) I wouldn't wanna say that. (59:08) I'm not doing business with a g one anymore. (59:10) So, like, if you want, I could fill that I could fill that space with smart wool very easily.

Christine (59:15) Yeah. (59:15) Well alright.

Speaker 3 (59:17) Do you know anybody at the company, Chris?

Christine (59:20) I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (59:21) No.

Christine (59:21) I don't have that kind of pull.

Speaker 3 (59:22) But listen, a lot of people listen to this.

Christine (59:25) Oh, that's true.

Speaker 3 (59:25) I've said things out loud a number of times and gotten responses. (59:28) I once spoke to somebody who works, like, inside at Facebook by saying out loud, I'd like to speak to somebody who works at Facebook. (59:34) So I'm making a wish right now. (59:36) I'm using my wish up on smart wool socks.

Christine (59:38) Okay.

Speaker 3 (59:38) Okay. (59:40) What kind of socks do you like? (59:41) Do you like the short ones, or do like to pull them up?

Christine (59:44) No. (59:45) I'm better off now probably with the shorter ones.

Speaker 3 (59:48) Yeah. (59:48) How is it can I can I ask, like, you've been so candid here just about getting older in general? (59:55) Is it still the way it is for me and the way other people talk about it? (59:58) Like, do you bend over and struggle to pull on your shoes and think, this isn't me? (1:00:03) How is this happening to me?

Speaker 3 (1:00:05) Yes. (1:00:06) Is that that part doesn't go away.

Christine (1:00:08) No. (1:00:08) It doesn't. (1:00:09) And I have to say in the last couple years, my husband and I will wake up in the morning and, like, we just like, our bones ache.

Speaker 3 (1:00:16) Yeah.

Christine (1:00:17) And it's like it's not that we did anything that, you know, strenuous the day before or whatever. (1:00:23) It just yeah. (1:00:24) It's the natural part. (1:00:25) And I would say definitely, like, I if I turn my neck or something, you hear your neck creak. (1:00:30) It's like, yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:00:32) Do you ever joke with each other? (1:00:33) You're like, look. (1:00:33) Why don't we try to smother each other with a pillow or something? (1:00:36) Like, get the hell out of this. (1:00:38) No.

Speaker 3 (1:00:39) We're not Not to that point yet. (1:00:41) Do you do you wake up in

Scott Benner (1:00:42) the morning and think, I'm gonna need a minute,

Speaker 3 (1:00:45) or do you jump out of bed?

Christine (1:00:47) Can no. (1:00:47) Can I just tell you most mornings, especially since I've been retired, I am in bed for at least an hour or two drinking coffee, looking on my Kindle, looking up articles, reading different stuff? (1:00:59) I try to stay away from the news as much as I can. (1:01:02) But

Speaker 3 (1:01:02) How do you like being retired?

Christine (1:01:04) Oh, I love it. (1:01:06) I would say that I've been the happiest I've ever been since I was retired.

Speaker 3 (1:01:10) Oh, well, it's Chris's fault. (1:01:13) This is the last episode of the podcast. (1:01:14) That's perfect. (1:01:15) We're just starting to think about, like, you know, that next part of our life.

Christine (1:01:21) And Sure. (1:01:22) And Yeah. (1:01:22) And I have to say my husband and I started thinking of that, like, in our thirties, and we were able to retire when we were 55.

Speaker 3 (1:01:29) Wow. (1:01:31) I am gonna be 55 in a couple months. (1:01:32) I cannot retire yet.

Christine (1:01:34) No. (1:01:34) But maybe by 60.

Speaker 3 (1:01:36) Also, in fairness, I make a podcast. (1:01:38) It's not incredibly taxing. (1:01:43) I had to have a guy come out today to, like, a a problem in my house. (1:01:46) Right? (1:01:47) This guy had to come out to look at it.

Speaker 3 (1:01:49) My phone rings, 10:30. (1:01:52) I said I said, oh, I'm so sorry. (1:01:54) I'm like, is this Joe? (1:01:55) And he goes, yeah. (1:01:56) I said, Joe, I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (1:01:57) I'm talking to you from the shower. (1:01:58) I apologize. (1:01:59) And he goes, we're we're out front. (1:02:00) And I went, oh. (1:02:02) I'm like, I thought so early?

Speaker 3 (1:02:04) But but but instead instead I said, just give me five minutes. (1:02:08) And the whole time until I went out to to let him in the house, all I thought was, man, I'm really lucky. (1:02:14) Like, I really am. (1:02:15) Like, I slept. (1:02:16) I I don't feel well today.

Speaker 3 (1:02:17) No big deal. (1:02:18) I slept a little longer.

Christine (1:02:19) Sure.

Speaker 3 (1:02:19) I got up, you know, took care of some things around the house, did what I needed to do, jumped in the at 10:30, I'm in the shower trying to get ready to record with somebody at noon. (1:02:27) You know what I mean? (1:02:28) But at the same time, I'm working, like, in between pretty constantly. (1:02:32) It's the face actually, you know, it's the Facebook group that takes up a lot of my time.

Christine (1:02:39) Yeah. (1:02:39) And I love how you or it's one of your moderators or whatever get in there and say, just stop doing this now.

Speaker 3 (1:02:46) Yeah. (1:02:46) Yeah. (1:02:46) We're we're no no bull I I I don't I don't have time for all that. (1:02:49) I watched a gentleman degrade yesterday in real time. (1:02:52) It was it was fascinating.

Speaker 3 (1:02:54) And it went from he tried to give away insulin. (1:02:59) And it was a real person who really just switched insulin and was like, hey. (1:03:02) I've got this Humalog. (1:03:03) I'd like to give it away. (1:03:04) Now I can't let him do that.

Speaker 3 (1:03:06) Like, Facebook won't let that happen. (1:03:08) It's it's bad for me if I let it happen. (1:03:11) It's you know, it creates a lot of scammers. (1:03:13) People right away are like, you know, I'll take it. (1:03:15) Like, send it to me.

Speaker 3 (1:03:16) Like, you know or or he could be a scammer where he's like, you know, like, just send me $20 for shipping and, like, take $20 off a bunch of different people. (1:03:24) I don't think he was, though. (1:03:25) I think he was a real person just trying to do a nice thing Sure. (1:03:28) Which I would have liked to have supported, but I can't. (1:03:30) So you go in.

Speaker 3 (1:03:31) You gently, like, look. (1:03:32) Hey. (1:03:32) We can't do this. (1:03:33) Like, I need you to delete the post. (1:03:36) And then he doesn't delete the post, so you delete the post.

Speaker 3 (1:03:39) So then he reposts again. (1:03:41) I guess I'm not allowed to do this. (1:03:43) And blah blah blah. (1:03:43) You could see him getting angry. (1:03:45) Then someone else jumps in and is like, stop being a baby and complaining.

Speaker 3 (1:03:48) And I'm like, oh my god. (1:03:49) Like, what is happening? (1:03:52) And so, you know, we, like, you know, settle up so that he can't just post again because he's just gonna keep posting about the insulin. (1:03:58) We wanna be able to cut it off first if it happens. (1:04:01) And then third time he tries to post, the the system stops him and he leaves the group.

Speaker 3 (1:04:06) Uh-huh. (1:04:06) And I was like, I watched in a four hour period, like an adult lose their mind. (1:04:12) Yeah. (1:04:14) Yeah. (1:04:14) It was fascinating.

Speaker 3 (1:04:16) Because I even said, hey. (1:04:16) Like, call your endo up and see if there's I'm sure your endo knows somewhere that can can use this insulin.

Christine (1:04:22) Or go to a homeless shelter or something and say, who who around here takes insulin?

Speaker 3 (1:04:26) Because you're about to ask people on Facebook who don't live anywhere near you. (1:04:30) Right? (1:04:30) Like so right. (1:04:31) So there's anyway, but that's not the point where everyone was being very supportive. (1:04:35) My point is is that he went from, like, I'd like to help some people to everybody can go fuck themselves in four hours.

Speaker 3 (1:04:41) And I was like, I'm like, what is happening? (1:04:44) And and then and at that, like, another person that jumped in who was, like, nasty to him for, like, no reason.

Christine (1:04:50) I was like Sure.

Speaker 3 (1:04:51) I was like, wow. (1:04:52) It's the human psyche is just awesome. (1:04:54) But, anyway, what you you don't realize is that that took up the time of three different people.

Christine (1:04:59) Oh, I bet.

Speaker 3 (1:05:00) Yeah. (1:05:01) It's not an easy thing to accomplish keeping a harmonious place online for people to talk to each other.

Christine (1:05:06) Well, when I look at what you all do sometimes, I'm like, how does he keep this up?

Speaker 3 (1:05:10) There's a lot of very nice people volunteering their time.

Christine (1:05:13) Yeah. (1:05:13) There there must be.

Speaker 3 (1:05:14) Smart, thoughtful people

Christine (1:05:16) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:05:16) That appreciate the podcast and what it does for people and what it's probably done for them in the past, and they're just trying to give back a little bit. (1:05:23) And they do it in a in a a stunning way. (1:05:26) Sure. (1:05:26) Like, just yeah. (1:05:27) I couldn't possibly, like, I sent them all a gift card recently, like, as a thank you.

Speaker 3 (1:05:32) And as I was sending it, I thought this is insulting. (1:05:34) It's such a little amount for what they've done. (1:05:36) And, like, you know, like, I don't I'm just certainly don't wanna insult them. (1:05:39) I can't afford to give them No. (1:05:41) More.

Speaker 3 (1:05:41) But at the same time, like, jeez, it doesn't come close to the amount of effort, time, or

Scott Benner (1:05:47) Well

Speaker 3 (1:05:47) or love and compassion they put into it.

Christine (1:05:49) I think it would be really hard to monetize what you do without behold being beholding to a certain entity, whatever that might be, and then yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:06:01) Yeah. (1:06:01) Well, you listen. (1:06:02) You can't monetize a Facebook group no matter what. (1:06:04) Right? (1:06:04) Like, it just it doesn't it's not set up for that.

Speaker 3 (1:06:06) But the truth is even if you did, then it would fail.

Christine (1:06:09) Right.

Speaker 3 (1:06:10) No one wants to I once worked at a credit union when I was in my twenties, and we were in a sales meeting talking about, like, ways to get people into the credit union. (1:06:18) And I said, why don't we put dog in a brown bag and write free dog on it? (1:06:22) I think because if it's free, people love it. (1:06:25) You know what I mean? (1:06:26) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:06:26) Like but you ask somebody to pay $5 for something that's worth a 100, and they'll go, I'm not up for that. (1:06:32) Yes. (1:06:32) If you're gonna help people, you have to you have to help them for free, or they'll stop themselves. (1:06:38) And so or or maybe they just wouldn't have the $5. (1:06:40) Like, one way or the other, I'm not interested in limiting anybody's access to the conversations and and everything else.

Speaker 3 (1:06:46) You know? (1:06:47) So I I mean, I offset it with ad sales. (1:06:49) It's just it's what I do, and it it's the only thing that works. (1:06:53) Well I didn't record 300 and some times this year and pay an editor and do all this on, like, the good graces of, like, you know, mother nature. (1:07:01) You know?

Speaker 3 (1:07:01) Like, somebody's gotta pay for all that. (1:07:03) And it's not you. (1:07:04) I don't want you to pay for it, Chris. (1:07:06) And I I can't pay for it. (1:07:07) If I was wealthy, I'd pay for it.

Speaker 3 (1:07:09) You know what I mean? (1:07:10) I won that

Christine (1:07:10) lot Monday.

Speaker 3 (1:07:11) Do you see that lot the lottery the other day? (1:07:13) 1,800,000,000.0?

Christine (1:07:14) Can you imagine what you could do with that money?

Speaker 3 (1:07:16) One person in Arkansas bought it. (1:07:18) Oh, one they're gonna buy Arkansas, I imagine.

Christine (1:07:21) I suppose.

Speaker 3 (1:07:22) Well, for 1,800,000,000.0, you could probably get the the state next to it too.

Christine (1:07:26) Hey. (1:07:26) While you're saying that, can I just say that one of the things that drove me crazy is in the eighties and probably into the nineties, I was going crazy because everything was devoted to, like, breast cancer and AIDS? (1:07:44) Mhmm. (1:07:45) And later, I come down with breast cancer, which is the ultimate kinda on me. (1:07:50) But I was like, where are the people screaming about diabetes?

Christine (1:07:53) And we and I would be writing to my congresspeople and saying, you have to start putting some money. (1:07:59) We need a cure. (1:08:01) You have to start putting some money here. (1:08:02) I see all these people coming into the hospital, you know, especially the old old guys who'd be smoking, and then they'd lose their leg and stuff. (1:08:10) And it was like, there's gotta be more education, and and Yeah.

Christine (1:08:14) It just

Speaker 3 (1:08:14) It's all Yeah. (1:08:15) That's all money too. (1:08:16) Right? (1:08:16) Like, you know, that whole, like, breast awareness thing is probably, you know, part of a bigger consortium of people trying to raise money so that their research is funded and and there's probably, you know, more people with cancer than there is with diabetes type one.

Christine (1:08:33) Well, you know? (1:08:33) Yes. (1:08:34) That is true also.

Speaker 3 (1:08:35) The way the world actually works is, you know, break everybody's head if you understood it, I imagine. (1:08:39) But I take your point. (1:08:40) Like, it would be lovely if there was more to it, but, also, play devil's advocate. (1:08:44) You guys you know, you're type one. (1:08:46) You have CGMs.

Speaker 3 (1:08:47) You have insulin pumps. (1:08:48) You have you know, they came up with faster insulin. (1:08:51) They're working on algorithms. (1:08:53) Like, there's an argument to be made from somebody else like, hey. (1:08:55) You're getting a lot already.

Christine (1:08:57) Oh, well and I will say, I don't I'm not sure there ever will be a cure.

Speaker 3 (1:09:01) Yeah.

Christine (1:09:02) But I I certainly, system is beats what was back then.

Speaker 3 (1:09:07) Yeah. (1:09:07) Chris is like, look. (1:09:08) If you want me to vote between what I was doing before and what I'm doing now, I I take now. (1:09:12) Thank you.

Christine (1:09:13) Exactly.

Speaker 3 (1:09:14) Well, listen. (1:09:14) If a cure comes, I think just based on the pure complexity of it and the amount of things we can't possibly, like, factor in in a human mind, it's gonna come through a computer is gonna figure it out if it if it gets figured out that way. (1:09:32) And Phil don't know that that's possible.

Christine (1:09:34) Right.

Speaker 3 (1:09:35) You know? (1:09:35) And in the world that I understand today, like, can I tell you that, you know, fifteen years from now, AI might not teach itself how to make better computing and blah blah blah? (1:09:45) And then one day, we just start asking it everything, and it's like, yeah. (1:09:48) Here. (1:09:48) You you know, like like, may maybe, but not with today's understanding of the world.

Speaker 3 (1:09:54) I mean and all these people are working on is like, oh, we're close. (1:09:57) We're close. (1:09:58) And, like, you know, listen. (1:09:59) I like your enthusiasm, but I don't see it coming. (1:10:02) And I have that horrible experience of interviewing a, a researcher, like, fifteen years ago.

Christine (1:10:08) Oh, yes.

Speaker 3 (1:10:08) And he's talking about, like, encapsulation back then, just, you know, putting a a pouch of cells inside of somebody. (1:10:15) And the the one question I asked him that I think has broke my heart forever, I said, let's say you had it all figured out and it worked today. (1:10:22) How long till I my kid can have it? (1:10:24) He's like, may maybe fifteen years. (1:10:27) I was like, so if it Yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:10:28) I was like, so if it worked today and you had it figured out today, maybe I could have it in fifteen years. (1:10:33) And he's like, yeah. (1:10:34) You know, because of production, you gotta get the cells, he's, like, talking about all that. (1:10:37) Here's what that makes me think about, Chris. (1:10:39) Like, because and you've lived through a big change in technology, bigger than the one I lived through.

Speaker 3 (1:10:45) Right? (1:10:45) Like, I mean, if you were born in what were you born in? (1:10:48) '52? (1:10:49) Yes. (1:10:50) Look at me with the mask still.

Speaker 3 (1:10:51) So if you were born in '52, you drove in cars where air was coming through the floor while

Scott Benner (1:10:57) you were driving.

Christine (1:10:57) Oh, yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:10:58) Right?

Christine (1:10:58) Without seat without seat belts.

Speaker 3 (1:11:00) Seat belts. (1:11:01) No power steering. (1:11:02) No power brakes. (1:11:03) Your mom was probably, like, stomping on that goddamn thing to get it to stop. (1:11:06) You know what I mean?

Speaker 3 (1:11:07) Like, no kidding. (1:11:08) Right? (1:11:09) And you went from that to what? (1:11:12) Tube televisions? (1:11:13) Like, you probably had a one of the first TVs, but you were broke.

Speaker 3 (1:11:17) Maybe you didn't even have one.

Christine (1:11:18) Well, I have to say back then, it was barely black and white. (1:11:22) They were just coming off of radios, really.

Speaker 3 (1:11:25) Right.

Christine (1:11:25) And and that was the early part of TV. (1:11:27) And then, yes, we finally did get a colored TV when I was a little bit older, and I think my grandparents might have

Speaker 3 (1:11:34) helped. (1:11:35) What was TV? (1:11:36) Like, uncle Milty and

Christine (1:11:38) Oh, yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:11:38) Like that. (1:11:39) Right?

Christine (1:11:39) Oh, sure. (1:11:40) The honeymooners.

Speaker 3 (1:11:41) Yeah. (1:11:41) Honeymooners, uncle that that stuff. (1:11:43) Right? (1:11:43) There's, three TV shows. (1:11:45) And my point my point is is then you live into tubes, into transistors, into personal computers, into cell phones.

Speaker 3 (1:11:53) I mean, seriously, do you remember the first time somebody had one of those bagged cell phones? (1:11:57) You were probably like, this is magic.

Christine (1:11:59) Yes.

Speaker 3 (1:12:00) Yeah. (1:12:01) Exact right. (1:12:01) And now today, you know, I'm saying to you, still in your lifetime, why don't you go sit down in a prompt and talk through your your thing and see if it'll maybe, like, pull an answer out for you that you could take back to your doctor? (1:12:12) That's a real thing. (1:12:13) And so, you know but every time

Christine (1:12:16) You're spurring me on here.

Speaker 3 (1:12:18) Get you on a pump. (1:12:19) Watch what I do. (1:12:20) But, like but my my point about talking about it in the timeline is there's there's moments in time where everything seems like the most amazing thing. (1:12:30) But when you look back five years, you don't really use it anymore the way that we thought we were going to. (1:12:35) It all kinda commingles into something else.

Speaker 3 (1:12:38) And I think that sometimes the promise of it never comes to be. (1:12:42) Yes. (1:12:43) I think there are times that we're so busy expanding and trying to find the next thing that we don't bother putting the thing we have into practice.

Christine (1:12:53) True.

Speaker 3 (1:12:53) You know what I mean? (1:12:54) Like, that it's a bigger idea, but, like, I see that in technology through my lifetime. (1:12:59) I think this possibly is the first time we're gonna get to the end if it works, if it doesn't kill us all like in that Terminator movie.

Christine (1:13:08) Yeah. (1:13:08) That's right.

Speaker 3 (1:13:09) And listen. (1:13:09) And if it does, what the hell? (1:13:11) You know?

Christine (1:13:11) Could happen at I grew up, you know, during the Cold War when we were assured that we were gonna

Speaker 3 (1:13:19) be bombed and we were all

Christine (1:13:20) gonna that was gonna be it.

Speaker 3 (1:13:22) You know? (1:13:22) Right.

Christine (1:13:23) And then my my dad this is my dad had a sense of humor. (1:13:25) He'd say, them drop the bomb on this house, and then it'll all be over.

Speaker 3 (1:13:31) So He's like, I'm looking for a way out of this. (1:13:33) I I'll tell you right now. (1:13:35) I'm taking Adam bomb. (1:13:36) Let's go.

Christine (1:13:37) Truly.

Speaker 3 (1:13:38) Yeah. (1:13:38) It's a shit show your life. (1:13:39) I imagine he thought that a couple of times in that wheelchair. (1:13:43) But no. (1:13:43) But seriously, like, with the with the AI, like, this is the first time it's gonna grow fast enough and not need us to understand it to keep growing.

Speaker 3 (1:13:53) And, like, maybe that actually gets us to something. (1:13:55) And I also understand all the bad things that could possibly happen too. (1:13:58) But, like, maybe this is the dice roll time. (1:14:01) Like, maybe you just say, like, we can't keep up with it. (1:14:05) Right?

Speaker 3 (1:14:05) Because somebody comes up with something in 1970, and they spend ten years trying to understand it, And then ten more years trying to perfect it. (1:14:14) By the time they've done that, it's over. (1:14:15) It's gone already.

Christine (1:14:16) Yes. (1:14:17) Yes.

Speaker 3 (1:14:17) And they've wasted their whole damn life on it. (1:14:20) And then you look forward, and no one's even they've built off of it, but they're not using it anymore. (1:14:26) And then it took up someone's whole life just to have an, an understanding of it like that that didn't in the end end up helping that many people. (1:14:34) Like, this is my hope right here. (1:14:36) Like like, I think this could do it.

Speaker 3 (1:14:39) And if I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. (1:14:41) Or if it's earlier than I think it is, then it's earlier than I think it is. (1:14:44) But, like, this to me makes a lot of sense about, like, what could possibly happen moving forward. (1:14:50) And you gotta stop being afraid. (1:14:52) Everyone needs to have been born in 1952 and have their husband tell him it's okay.

Speaker 3 (1:14:56) Yeah. (1:14:56) And we'll be alright. (1:14:57) What's that like, Chris? (1:14:59) Is that comforting? (1:15:00) Because, you know, younger women would be like, I don't listen to that guy.

Speaker 3 (1:15:04) But, like, do you find it comforting?

Christine (1:15:06) Well, I trust my husband's judgment on so many things that, yes, I guess I do. (1:15:11) And the stuff that I don't really care about, I I figure, well, he's right unless I go investigate it. (1:15:17) And then I'll come back and say, well, I I disagree, blah blah blah or whatever. (1:15:20) So but, no, to me, it's yeah. (1:15:23) It's very comforting.

Speaker 3 (1:15:25) You've been together a long time. (1:15:26) He hasn't led you wrong. (1:15:28) No. (1:15:28) Good to trust him. (1:15:30) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:15:30) Is my wife listening to this? (1:15:32) No. (1:15:33) She's not, by the way. (1:15:34) Nobody listens to my podcast in my family.

Christine (1:15:36) I'll tell you this. (1:15:37) I'm not sure how many of my friends or family will listen to this. (1:15:40) No.

Speaker 3 (1:15:41) Of course not. (1:15:41) Yeah. (1:15:42) A whole a whole hour of you, they're like, ugh, it's enough.

Christine (1:15:44) Yeah. (1:15:45) And here's the other thing. (1:15:46) People are so busy with their own lives and whatever is going on in their lives

Speaker 3 (1:15:51) Yeah.

Christine (1:15:52) That to sit down and be able to sit and listen to something, it's very difficult.

Speaker 3 (1:15:57) Yeah. (1:15:57) I I I and also the way content is, like, given to people nowadays. (1:16:02) Like, you know, you when you and I got on, you were like, oh my god. (1:16:05) This was a lot to get set up. (1:16:06) I mean, you know, between you and me and Chris, you were jumping on Zoom.

Speaker 3 (1:16:09) Most people don't have trouble with that.

Christine (1:16:10) I know.

Speaker 3 (1:16:12) You looked at me like, that's enough. (1:16:14) I've I got on. (1:16:15) Like, let's just stop now. (1:16:18) But it just is generational and and all the other things that you've mentioned, getting slower, getting older, like, you know, everything else that comes with it.

Christine (1:16:26) Sure.

Speaker 3 (1:16:26) Yeah. (1:16:26) Alright. (1:16:27) Well, I I hope for a world where your insulin pump is driving your blood sugars and your car is driving you to go visit people and you Great. (1:16:34) You know, and and some computer tells you what's wrong and and tells you take this or do that, and it's all gonna be better. (1:16:40) That's what I'm hoping for.

Christine (1:16:42) Sounds great.

Speaker 3 (1:16:43) Yeah. (1:16:43) Let's get that. (1:16:44) I want that. (1:16:45) I just wanna say I want that. (1:16:47) Yeah.

Speaker 3 (1:16:47) In case I've been ambiguous and you're listening. (1:16:50) I'm I'm I look. (1:16:52) I'm willing to roll the dice on the destruction of the planet to see if we can get to this Because what I've been doing for the last fifty four years, it ain't that great. (1:17:04) Wanna get that in the next thing, Chris. (1:17:05) Alright.

Speaker 3 (1:17:06) Hold on one second for you. (1:17:07) You're really terrific. (1:17:07) Happy New Year.

Christine (1:17:08) Thank you. (1:17:09) Happy New Year.

Speaker 3 (1:17:10) Yep.

Scott Benner (1:17:16) Head now to tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox and check out today's sponsor, Tandem Diabetes Care. (1:17:23) I think you're gonna find exactly what you're looking for at that link, including a way to sign up and get started with the Tandem Mobi system. (1:17:33) The podcast episode that you just enjoyed was sponsored by Eversense CGM. (1:17:38) They make the Eversense three sixty five. (1:17:41) That thing lasts a whole year.

Scott Benner (1:17:42) One insertion. (1:17:44) Every year? (1:17:45) Come on. (1:17:46) You probably feel like I'm messing with you, but I'm not. (1:17:48) Eversensecgm.com/juicebox.

Scott Benner (1:17:55) Arden has been getting her diabetes supplies from US Med for three years. (1:17:59) You can as well. (1:18:00) Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. (1:18:07) My thanks to US Med for sponsoring this episode and for being longtime sponsors of the Juice Box Podcast. (1:18:13) There are links in the show notes and links at juiceboxpodcast.com to US Med and all of the sponsors.

Scott Benner (1:18:22) Thank you so much for listening. (1:18:23) I'll be back very soon with another episode of the Juice Box podcast. (1:18:27) If you're not already subscribed or following the podcast in your favorite audio app, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, please do that now. (1:18:35) Seriously, just to hit follow or subscribe will really help the show. (1:18:39) If you go a little further in Apple Podcasts and set it up so that it downloads all new episodes, I'll be your best friend.

Scott Benner (1:18:45) And if you leave a five star review, oh, I'll probably send you a Christmas card. (1:18:50) Would you like a Christmas card? (1:18:56) If you've ever heard a diabetes term and thought, okay, but what does that actually mean? (1:19:01) You need the defining diabetes series from the Juice Box podcast. (1:19:05) Defining diabetes takes all those phrases and terms that you don't understand and makes them clear.

Scott Benner (1:19:11) Quick and easy episodes. (1:19:12) Find out what bolus means, basal, insulin sensitivity, and all of the rest. (1:19:17) There has to be over 60 episodes of defining diabetes. (1:19:20) Check it out now in your audio player or

Speaker 3 (1:19:22) go to

Scott Benner (1:19:22) juiceboxpodcast.com and go up into the menu. (1:19:25) If you have a podcast and you need a fantastic editor, you want Rob from Wrong Way Recording. (1:19:31) Listen. (1:19:32) Truth be told, I'm, like, 20% smarter when Rob edits me. (1:19:36) He takes out all the, like, gaps of time and when

Speaker 3 (1:19:39) I go, and stuff like that.

Scott Benner (1:19:41) And it just I don't know, man. (1:19:43) Like, I listen back and I'm like, why do I sound smarter? (1:19:45) And then I remember because I did one smart thing. (1:19:48) I hired Rob at wrongwayrecording.com.

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#1776 Bear Attack - Part 2

You can always listen to the Juicebox Podcast here but the cool kids use: Apple Podcasts/iOS - Spotify - Amazon Music - Google Play/Android - iHeart Radio -  Radio Public, Amazon Alexa or wherever they get audio.

In part two of this conversation, Domino continues her story of living with Type 3c diabetes after surviving necrotizing pancreatitis.

+ Click for EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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DISCLAIMER: This text is the output of AI based transcribing from an audio recording. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors and should not be treated as an authoritative record. Nothing that you read here constitutes advice medical or otherwise. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to a healthcare plan.

Scott Benner (0:0) Welcome back, friends, to another episode of the Juice Box podcast.

Domino (0:14) Hi. (0:14) My name is Domino. (0:16) I'm 50 years old, and I am a type three c diabetic.

Scott Benner (0:23) This is part two of a two part episode. (0:25) Go look at the title. (0:27) If you don't recognize it, you haven't heard part one yet. (0:29) It's probably the episode right before this in your podcast player. (0:34) How would you like to share a type one diabetes getaway like no other?

Scott Benner (0:38) Join me on Juice Cruise twenty twenty six. (0:40) You may be asking, what is Juice Cruise? (0:42) It's a week long cruise designed specifically for people and families living with type one diabetes. (0:47) It's not just a vacation. (0:49) It's a chance to relax, connect, and feel understood in a way that is hard to find elsewhere.

Scott Benner (0:54) We're gonna sail out of Miami, and the cruise includes stops in CocoCay, San Juan, Saint Kitts, Nevis aboard the stunning Celebrity Beyond. (1:04) This ship is chosen for its comfort, accessibility, and exceptional amenities. (1:09) You're gonna enjoy a welcoming environment surrounded by others who get life with type one diabetes. (1:15) I'm gonna host diabetes focused conversations and meetups on the days at sea. (1:19) There's thoughtfully designed spaces, incredible dining, and modern amenities all throughout the celebrity beyond.

Scott Benner (1:27) Your kids can be supervised and there's teen programs so everyone gets time to recharge. (1:33) Not just the the kids going on vacation, but maybe you get to kick back a little bit too. (1:37) There's gonna be zero judgment, real connections, and a whole lot of sun and fun on Juice Cruise twenty twenty six. (1:43) Please come with me. (1:44) You're going to have a terrific time.

Scott Benner (1:46) You can learn more or set up your deposit at juiceboxpodcast.com/juicecruise. (1:52) Get ahold of Suzanne at cruise planners. (1:54) She will take care of everything. (1:56) Link's in the show notes. (1:57) Link's at juiceboxpodcast.com.

Scott Benner (2:00) If you're looking for community around type one diabetes, check out the Juice Box Podcast private Facebook group. (2:06) Juice Box Podcast, type one diabetes. (2:09) But everybody is welcome. (2:10) Type one, type two, gestational, loved ones, it doesn't matter to me. (2:15) If you're impacted by diabetes and you're looking for support, comfort, or community, check out Juice Box podcast, type one diabetes on Facebook.

Scott Benner (2:24) Nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. (2:29) Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan. (2:34) This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth. (2:37) You can use my offer code juice box at checkout to save 20% off of your entire order at cozyearth.com. (2:45) Everything from the joggers that I'm actually wearing right now to the sheets I sleep on, the towels I use to dry myself with, and whatever else is available at cozyearth.com.

Scott Benner (2:56) Just use the offer code juice box at checkout. (3:00) A huge thanks to my longest sponsor, Omnipod. (3:03) Check out the Omnipod five now with my link, omnipod.com/juicebox. (3:09) You may be eligible for a free starter kit, a free Omnipod five starter kit at my link. (3:16) Go check it out.

Scott Benner (3:17) Omnipod.com/juicebox. (3:20) Terms and

Domino (3:20) conditions apply. (3:21) Full terms and conditions can be

Scott Benner (3:23) found at omnipod.com/juicebox. (3:27) Today's episode is also sponsored by US Med, usmed.com/juicebox, or call (888) 721-1514. (3:37) Get your supplies the same way we do from US Med. (3:41) It's like that old joke. (3:42) Like, you don't wanna get to heaven and have to say, like, I choked on a gummy bear.

Scott Benner (3:46) Like, you you know what I mean? (3:47) Like, I always say, people are like, don't you clean out your gutters? (3:50) I'm like, because I'm not going out like that. (3:51) That's why.

Domino (3:52) Twenty years of fighting for my life and all these huge things, and that's how I die.

Scott Benner (3:56) That's exactly how I took it. (3:58) You're like, you have fought through so many things, you're like, no. (4:01) This gummy bear was the orange one. (4:02) Got me. (4:03) Well That's not gonna be my story.

Scott Benner (4:05) I I people are always like, I know I'd fall off the ladder or off the roof. (4:10) And on my way down, I'd think, oh my god. (4:12) This is the story. (4:13) People Scott was cleaning the gutters, and he fell off the roof. (4:16) This is how boink.

Scott Benner (4:17) And then I hit my head on the ground. (4:19) I don't want that. (4:20) And so every year, I scrape together a little bit of money, and I pay somebody to clean my gutters out because I don't wanna be the guy that fell off his roof, and I'm pretty sure I would be. (4:27) I don't have that kind of focus.

Domino (4:29) If I have any low symptoms in the shower, I'm like, oh gosh. (4:33) I gotta get out because I'm not dying naked. (4:36) This is not how they're finding me.

Scott Benner (4:37) Right. (4:37) Three firemen like, oh my god.

Domino (4:42) One more of those. (4:43) Funny. (4:44) That's tight.

Scott Benner (4:45) The showerhead in your hand, like, the faucets, like, half up your you're flipped upside down. (4:50) You know what I mean? (4:51) Like, what happened in here?

Domino (4:52) Yeah. (4:52) So one more little funny thing. (4:56) Just talking with my husband about my one year anniversary, and I said, I made it. (5:01) I made it another year, and he affectionately calls me a cockroach. (5:07) He's like, no matter what, you just you will not die.

Domino (5:13) Life keeps trying to kill you, and you will not die. (5:15) And I said, you know, the apocalypse is gonna be me, cockroaches, craft glitter, and corn kernels. (5:23) You can't get rid of those things. (5:24) He's like

Scott Benner (5:25) he's like, Domino, listen. (5:26) I would have left you ten years ago, but honestly, I don't think you're gonna make it much longer.

Domino (5:30) Probably. (5:31) I

Scott Benner (5:31) just wanted to keep the house, but you were really chugging along. (5:34) Way to go.

Domino (5:37) I don't know.

Scott Benner (5:37) Well, I mean, you have to. (5:39) I mean, the story you tell is just it's unrelenting. (5:41) I I don't know how you wouldn't try to have I mean, you gotta try to have a good sense of humor about it. (5:45) Right? (5:46) Because Right.

Scott Benner (5:47) I mean, honestly, in some small way, you really do not some small way, in some major way, You actually know what it's like to have a chronic illness because you've been constantly impacted by something for so long. (5:59) Even though it's not chronically the same thing, it hasn't been the same thing over and over again. (6:03) You still have that, you know, decades worth of struggle knowledge.

Domino (6:07) Absolutely. (6:08) Well, and literally facing mortality over and over.

Scott Benner (6:13) No. (6:13) It's crazy.

Domino (6:14) You know, stopped breathing. (6:16) I mean, just the seizures bleeding out. (6:19) There just so many things, and it is cliche. (6:23) But well, one of my favorite sayings, which I'm gonna get tattooed is memento mori, which is remember you died. (6:34) And going through all this, I do not waste my energy on bullshit.

Scott Benner (6:40) Is that not I bet hey. (6:42) I don't currently have a glucagon sponsor, so I can just say to you, have you tried micro dose microdosing glucagon for your lows?

Domino (6:50) I have not. (6:52) I just switched two weeks ago to a new endocrinologist. (6:58) Yeah. (7:00) And he's supposed to specialize a little bit more in pancreatic endocrinology. (7:07) So the priority is, yeah, working on those those.

Domino (7:12) I'm waiting on a few more labs, and then we're gonna have a care plan. (7:15) So that is something I'm gonna talk to him him about.

Scott Benner (7:18) Good. (7:18) Yeah. (7:18) What glucagon do you have in the house right now? (7:20) Is it the Baqsimi or the Jeuveau? (7:22) Yeah.

Scott Benner (7:22) You have to get the Jevoke, and then oh my god. (7:24) What a freeing thing. (7:25) Do you guys know I was not allowed to say the Gvoke HypoPen? (7:29) I had to say Gvoke HypoPen. (7:32) By the way, they're great sponsors.

Scott Benner (7:33) I hope they come back one day. (7:35) But, like, they were lovely, and I love the HypoPen, and my daughter still carries it. (7:39) But you weren't allowed to say the Gvoke HypoPen. (7:42) I don't I could never get a completely straight answer why. (7:45) Was something about branding.

Scott Benner (7:46) It always came from legal. (7:47) Like, oh, you said the. (7:48) And I'm like, well, it's not a word that fits in the sentence without the. (7:52) And they'd be like, no. (7:53) No.

Scott Benner (7:53) It's Gvoke HypoPen. (7:54) So anytime you hear me say that, it it sounds awkward. (7:57) It wasn't my fault. (7:58) But my point is is that I'm happy to be able to just say it now. (8:01) You gotta get yourself.

Scott Benner (8:04) Now I'm I'm so brainwashed.

Domino (8:05) I almost said Gvoke HypoPen without the, but but

Scott Benner (8:08) but they come in syringes, right, with liquid. (8:11) And if that doctor is a little forward thinking, then all you gotta do is put that liquid into, like, a vial and then draw it out with an insulin needle and bump yourself with it a little bit and get yourself out of those sticky lows faster. (8:23) Yep. (8:23) Yeah. (8:24) So you're already on that.

Scott Benner (8:25) You're gonna that's the conversation you wanna have.

Domino (8:27) We're on it.

Scott Benner (8:27) Good. (8:28) Good. (8:28) Also, nothing here on the juice box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. (8:31) Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan. (8:34) Good.

Scott Benner (8:34) Good. (8:35) So you know to do that. (8:36) Alright.

Domino (8:36) Yes.

Scott Benner (8:37) Scott didn't have to tell you that. (8:38) The did you where did you figure that out though? (8:40) Like, community? (8:41) Like, people talking?

Domino (8:42) Yes. (8:43) Yep.

Scott Benner (8:43) Yeah. (8:44) You making friends in the group?

Domino (8:46) Not outside of there. (8:47) I interact there.

Scott Benner (8:48) But No. (8:48) I'm not saying you're not bringing them you're not bringing them home to Colorado to ski, but, like, you but there's some people in the group that I can imagine you would get along really well with.

Domino (8:57) There's some interactions that are that are good.

Scott Benner (8:59) Good.

Domino (8:59) I still am a little standoffish. (9:03) Not, I guess, just learning. (9:06) Yeah. (9:06) But I still have so much to learn for myself that I still am cautious with giving advice on some things. (9:14) I just try to be and help people not feel alone.

Scott Benner (9:18) You very much do that. (9:19) I well, I appreciate you in there a lot. (9:21) Actually, I hope I won't I I should say that. (9:23) Absolutely. (9:23) We just recently added a group expert, and would it surprise you to know that your name was in the mix?

Domino (9:30) Oh, goodness.

Scott Benner (9:32) Yeah. (9:32) Because just because of the the way you are. (9:35) Like, I I don't even know if you like, you know, we didn't know how long you had diabetes or anything like that. (9:39) But, like, while we were talking, we kinda have this. (9:42) Isabelle and I have a conversation where I'm like, you know, have you identified anybody who you think might be, like, a great, like, group expert?

Scott Benner (9:48) We throw around, usually, about a dozen names and then invite I think we invited one or two people last time. (9:56) And, yeah, your your name was right in there. (9:58) So we were, we're waiting for you to have diabetes a little longer, and then we might ask you.

Domino (10:03) Oh, that's very kind.

Scott Benner (10:04) Yeah. (10:05) And be please, if the time ever comes,

Domino (10:07) you feel free to say no. (10:08) Thank you. (10:08) But, like,

Scott Benner (10:09) it's an interesting thing to choose a stranger from interactions in a Facebook group when you're what you know you're asking them to do is, like, you know, pay a little more attention, you know, answer this and that when you find it. (10:25) If people, you know, seem confused, you can point them towards things. (10:28) Like, you know, you're kind of like a an usher at an old movie theater. (10:31) You know? (10:32) See somebody wandering around, you go, bathroom's over here, that kind of thing.

Domino (10:36) Well, they're your group experts are excellent.

Scott Benner (10:38) They are really good. (10:39) Yeah.

Domino (10:40) They are so good.

Scott Benner (10:40) Everybody does a great job. (10:42) Yep. (10:43) Just dumb luck. (10:45) Or or you know what? (10:46) I I'm gonna stop doing that.

Scott Benner (10:47) Somebody told me to stop doing that. (10:49) I I did this on purpose. (10:50) I picked every one of those people. (10:52) And and if I didn't pick them, they were picked by somebody I picked. (10:55) So we're we're very purposeful about it.

Scott Benner (10:58) I should probably stop sounding like, oh, I just thought I can't believe it's just happening. (11:02) But, like, I I feel like that in my heart, but in my head, I know we made a lot of decisions that got us to where we are. (11:07) So

Domino (11:08) Well, whatever it is, it's working.

Scott Benner (11:11) Domino, listen. (11:12) Here's the here's the secret. (11:14) It's gonna sound distasteful. (11:15) It's me. (11:16) I'm the secret.

Domino (11:21) Secret time.

Scott Benner (11:22) Secret time. (11:23) My genius is overwhelming the situation is what's up. (11:26) I don't know. (11:27) I honestly just think I have I don't know. (11:29) I don't really know what it is.

Scott Benner (11:30) I just know that since I've been a young person, if people have problems, they ask me, and the thing I say generally helps them. (11:36) And I don't know how to take credit for that. (11:38) So, anyway, I I want to, but I I wouldn't know how to. (11:43) This might sound like a humble brag now, but I'm actually trying to I'm I'm trying to be open in explaining to people listening that this thing that's helping you is on purpose, and yet at the same time, it feels very random to me at times, because I'm just I don't know how to like, this is gonna sound like hippy dippy, but, like, I just I'm just floating on a cloud, and I'm just staying on it. (12:08) You know?

Scott Benner (12:08) Like, the wind blows, and I kinda know which way to lean. (12:11) And and it's all fueled by your story and everybody else's because my my goal every day is do something better for you guys. (12:24) I spent a little time yesterday just to give you an idea of, like, what that might mean. (12:29) So I put out an episode two days ago with the Medtronic, so the MiniMed CEO.

Domino (12:35) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (12:36) And she was that conversation took a month or two to get together, and it was completely led by my questions. (12:47) So I, you know, months ago, went to the group and said, hey. (12:51) If I could talk to the CEO of this company, what would you wanna ask? (12:54) I took all their questions. (12:55) I reformed their questions into my own questions.

Scott Benner (12:57) I sent those questions to her. (12:59) I said these questions seem okay with you. (13:01) And they were a lot about, like, hey. (13:03) You know, what the hell happened over there at Medtronic? (13:05) Like, you know what I mean?

Scott Benner (13:06) And, like, and where are you going now? (13:08) And how'd you get stuff that could be uncomfortable for a CEO to answer that you wouldn't normally think they would answer. (13:15) But she was up for it. (13:16) Right?

Domino (13:16) Nice.

Scott Benner (13:17) And she has the conversation, listens you know, we get it all done. (13:21) I want you to know that that conversation is exactly how we spoke it. (13:25) Like, a lawyer didn't cut anything out of it. (13:26) Nothing was removed from it. (13:28) It went up the other day, and I listened back to it.

Scott Benner (13:32) And it's interesting because when you're having the conversation, like, even with you and I right now, like, my experience leading this conversation or being a part of this conversation is different than a listener will have later even if I'm the listener. (13:44) So I went back and listened to it the other day, and I thought, this person kinda sneaky gave a master class on taking responsibility and moving on. (13:54) Right? (13:56) Like and she did it very, very, very well and seemed very genuine while she was doing it to me. (14:02) So I took that.

Scott Benner (14:04) I went back and grabbed the transcript from it, fooling around with Google Gemini lately. (14:09) I have not left you chat GPT. (14:11) I'm just trying other people. (14:13) And I went into Gemini, and I was like, hey. (14:15) Do a deep dive on this transcript.

Scott Benner (14:19) I'm the host. (14:20) Here's the person who I'm interviewing. (14:23) I get the feeling that this this is good for other people in her position to hear. (14:30) Tell me why. (14:32) Diabetes comes with a lot of things to remember, so it's nice when someone takes something off of your plate.

Scott Benner (14:39) US Med has done that for us. (14:41) When it's time for Arden's supplies to be refreshed, we get an email. (14:45) Rolls up and in your inbox says, hi, Arden. (14:48) This is your friendly reorder email from US Med. (14:51) You open up the email.

Scott Benner (14:52) It's a big button that says click here to reorder, and you're done. (14:56) Finally, somebody taking away your responsibility instead of adding one. (15:00) US Med has done that for us. (15:02) An email arrives, we click on a link, and the next thing you know, your products are at the front door. (15:08) That simple.

Scott Benner (15:09) Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. (15:18) I never have to wonder if Arden has enough supplies. (15:21) I click on one link. (15:22) I open up a box. (15:24) I put this stuff in the drawer, and we're done.

Scott Benner (15:26) US Med carries everything from insulin pumps and diabetes testing supplies to the latest CGMs like the Libre three and the Dexcom g seven. (15:36) They accept Medicare nationwide, over 800 private insurers, and all you have to do to get started is call (888) 721-1514 or go to my link, usmed.com/juicebox. (15:50) Using that number or my link helps to support the production of the juice box podcast. (15:55) This episode is brought to you by Omnipod. (15:58) Would you ever buy a car without test driving at first?

Scott Benner (16:01) That's a big risk to take on a pretty large investment. (16:05) You wouldn't do that. (16:05) Right? (16:06) So why would you do it when it comes to choosing an insulin pump? (16:10) Most pumps come with a four year lock in period through the DME channel, and you don't even get to try it first.

Scott Benner (16:16) But not Omnipod five. (16:17) Omnipod five is available exclusively through the pharmacy, which means it doesn't come with a typical four year DME lock in period. (16:25) Plus, you can get started with a free thirty day trial to be sure it's the right choice for you or your family. (16:32) My daughter has been wearing an Omnipod every day for seventeen years. (16:36) Are you ready to give Omnipod five a try?

Scott Benner (16:38) Request your free starter kit today at my link, omnipod.com/juicebox. (16:44) Terms and conditions apply. (16:45) Eligibility may vary.

Domino (16:47) Full terms and conditions can

Scott Benner (16:48) be found at omnipod.com/juicebox. (16:52) Find my link in the show notes of this podcast player or at juiceboxpodcast.com. (16:57) It gave me back a, you know, a research paper on the transcript and came to the conclusions that I was coming to when I was listening to it. (17:05) So now I have that information. (17:07) I know that, like, what the community wanted to know filtered through my mouth into her ears out her mouth turned into a good road map for how to be a leader in this space.

Scott Benner (17:19) And now I'm gonna write an article. (17:22) And to be perfectly honest with you, I'm not gonna write it. (17:24) I'm gonna let the chatbot write it. (17:27) I'm gonna write an article based on all of that, and then I'm gonna put it up. (17:31) And then every CEO of every company you can think of, trust me, is gonna say it.

Scott Benner (17:36) And maybe that moves the needle for us all, you know, people living with type one diabetes or loving somebody with type one diabetes. (17:42) Maybe that moves the needle somewhere for us in ways that you'll never know, and I think it will. (17:48) So, like, but all of that comes from my ability to spend so much time getting up in the morning and thinking, like, what would help everybody? (17:57) Like, even the stuff you wouldn't expect. (17:59) And so that part is very much on purpose.

Scott Benner (18:02) So that that's the kind of stuff I'm doing during the day among other things that, you know, you guys might not know about. (18:10) Also, the same time I'm talking to you about that, I'm getting text messages from Isabelle because some lady is going cuckoo in the, oh. (18:19) Oh, no. (18:20) It's in the group. (18:21) But don't worry, we took care of it.

Scott Benner (18:22) Oh, this is even worse. (18:24) Oh, she's a doctor, and she said the wrong thing. (18:27) Oh. (18:29) Yikes. (18:29) Yeah.

Scott Benner (18:30) So but, again, a great a great chance for learning. (18:34) Right? (18:34) Like, somebody posts a question. (18:37) It's about how Omnipod five works. (18:40) And don't be bored by this, Domino.

Scott Benner (18:43) Give me one more because this is this is really important. (18:45) So somebody posts a question about how Omnipod five works. (18:48) Couple of my group experts come along and say, you know, respond to a post. (18:53) Suppose this person says you can make a change to this setting or this setting, blah blah blah, and they're wrong. (18:59) Right?

Scott Benner (18:59) The person that makes the the statement's wrong. (19:01) My experts come in very kindly, like, pointed out, like, oh, this doesn't do that, what you're saying. (19:06) It does this, blah blah blah. (19:07) And the person fires back and says, listen, this is my profession. (19:11) Kindly, you're misunderstanding.

Scott Benner (19:12) And I was like, so how do you dive into this now? (19:17) Right? (19:18) Right. (19:18) So the person is if you're listening, I'm sure you are, is posting anonymously. (19:22) But for all of you who do that, I can see who you are still.

Scott Benner (19:25) Okay? (19:26) Nobody else can, but I can. (19:28) So

Domino (19:28) Secret time.

Scott Benner (19:29) Yeah. (19:29) Secret time. (19:30) I know your name, and there's nothing you can do about it. (19:32) It's not a thing I'm doing. (19:33) It's how Facebook works.

Scott Benner (19:34) I I am the admin. (19:35) I get to see your name even if you decide to post anonymously. (19:39) So this person, very well intended, like and they weren't far off. (19:43) They just they're saying to make a setting change that won't impact the automation, but they're saying that it will and it won't. (19:50) And so I don't know how to approach this now because I don't wanna seem like I'm just, like, defending my experts.

Scott Benner (19:56) Right? (19:56) Mhmm. (19:56) And I don't want who, by the way, they're called group experts because that's what Facebook calls them. (20:01) What they really are is nice people trying to help you.

Domino (20:03) And Sure.

Scott Benner (20:04) You know, in their free time. (20:06) And so I don't wanna just come off like I'm just I'm just, you know, circling the wagons because I'm not. (20:12) And I don't wanna say, nah, nah, nah, nah. (20:14) You don't know what you're talking about. (20:15) So I'm like, how do I do this?

Scott Benner (20:17) And again, I used AI. (20:19) I don't know why you're all not using I took a a a screen capture of the entire conversation. (20:25) I put it into an AI model. (20:27) I also gave it access to Omnipod's website, the three episodes that I've I recorded with Omnipod about setting up Omnipod five. (20:36) And I just said, in this exchange, you know, please identify things that are being said correctly and the things that aren't being said correctly.

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Scott Benner (21:19) Now, yeah, I'm a bit of a a Cozy Earth convert, I guess. (21:23) I'm sitting here in my joggers. (21:25) I used my towels coming out of the shower this morning. (21:27) I slept on my sheets last night. (21:29) Slept like a baby, by the way.

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Scott Benner (21:48) Cozyearth.com. (21:49) Use the offer code juice box at checkout to save 20% off of your entire order. (21:54) It gave me back what it gave back. (21:56) The group experts were right, and the person that posted was wrong. (21:59) And so I just said, hey.

Scott Benner (22:00) Listen. (22:01) It's a great learning opportunity for everybody. (22:03) Like, everything about Omnipod five, everyone doesn't understand all the time, even at all levels. (22:08) This is the research that I did on this, literally, this thread here, this subthread. (22:13) And, you know, I hope this helps everybody.

Scott Benner (22:16) Also, and here's the part the reason why I'm telling you about it, Scottie's already ahead of that. (22:21) Okay? (22:21) So I've been talking to Omnipod for six months about doing another series that explains the picadillos, the inner workings of the Omnipod five because I went to them and I said, I still think there's confusion about how the algorithm works. (22:37) And I see a lot of people talking about changing settings that I know don't touch automation, that only change manual. (22:45) And then I I said I'm worried that people are, you know, turning the volume up, turning the volume up, not hearing the difference, and not realizing that if they ever flip back into manual, they're gonna make themselves low probably.

Scott Benner (22:57) And I was like, I think we need to do that. (22:59) So I have been working on that for a number of weeks with Omnipod. (23:02) We're gonna record it soon, and it's gonna come out as content to help people understand their algorithm better.

Domino (23:08) That's the thing I've

Scott Benner (23:09) been working on for six months because I have time to pay attention to the little tiny details because this is my job. (23:16) Right? (23:16) And that's gonna end up helping a lot of people. (23:18) And if you're listening and you think, no, not, Scott. (23:20) I will tell you that my Omnipod five series has hundreds of thousands of downloads.

Scott Benner (23:25) So, like, this is gonna help a lot of people. (23:29) Again but it's not happening anywhere except in my head because I'm the only one dopey enough to sit around all this all day and, like, just I don't know. (23:38) Try to take a macro and micro view of what's going on at the same time and just wonder again out loud, like, what would help all these people. (23:45) So anyway, we're doing that. (23:46) Next week, we're we're doing a a pro tip series with Tandem.

Scott Benner (23:50) I'm trying to get Medtronic to do one too. (23:53) I think they will. (23:54) Yeah. (23:54) I'm just trying to get information out there that can maybe just help you guys a little bit. (23:58) You know?

Scott Benner (23:59) So, anyway, I don't know where I'll I I I just had a lot of that in my head, Domino. (24:02) I apologize.

Domino (24:03) No. (24:03) It's all no. (24:04) It's all good.

Scott Benner (24:04) Good. (24:05) I mean, you like the podcast. (24:06) It is. (24:06) Yeah.

Domino (24:07) I think it's information that so many of us are missing, and that's what brings most of us to the podcast, like you said. (24:15) Yeah. (24:16) Where are you gonna get

Scott Benner (24:16) that otherwise? (24:17) Like, I mean, it's all written down somewhere in an FAQ or something, but people don't find that stuff. (24:22) And No. (24:23) And they don't know to ask. (24:25) Like, I think that's part of the of the storytelling style of the podcast and why it's helpful is because the conversations will just randomly lead the things.

Scott Benner (24:33) You'll hear them offhandedly, and then you pluck them later and use them from your memory. (24:38) But, like, you don't know to ask that question. (24:41) Right? (24:41) No. (24:41) Like, yeah, you don't know that, you know, this setting, you know, impacts auto, but this setting doesn't or something like that.

Scott Benner (24:47) And then and and certainly the person who posted, if if you hear this, like, they're not they're not bad people. (24:53) They're not spreading misinformation. (24:55) They're saying something out loud they believe is true.

Domino (24:58) Right.

Scott Benner (24:58) You know? (24:59) So Right. (25:00) And I'm looking here. (25:01) Here's the doctor. (25:02) Look at that.

Scott Benner (25:03) Yeah. (25:03) What about that? (25:04) Because my people are doing the background search right now. (25:07) I got people.

Domino (25:08) Nice.

Scott Benner (25:10) Yeah. (25:11) This is a physician.

Domino (25:13) Oh, wow.

Scott Benner (25:14) So and hopefully, what this person takes from it is, oh, I didn't know that. (25:19) I'll stop saying that now.

Domino (25:20) Right.

Scott Benner (25:21) You know, instead of instead of, you know, maybe

Domino (25:24) Committed to the wrong thing?

Scott Benner (25:25) Pushing back or doubling down or pushing back or getting upset. (25:29) Like, there's no reason to be upset. (25:30) Like, that's a not a thing a lot of people know so much so that, you know, we're gonna make more content about it to make sure that people do know.

Domino (25:36) Well, and I think I think people are. (25:39) And it's a tough balance, though. (25:41) I know even to have the courage to start looking for information, especially in my situation, you know, without my endocrinologist and all the new things I was trying to navigate. (25:53) It's scary to go down the rabbit hole sometimes and worry about getting false information and what applies to my specific body, my situation. (26:05) Yeah.

Domino (26:06) But it's it's really important that that stuff's out there.

Scott Benner (26:10) Well, you're you're just a 100% correct that the idea of like, for many people, it should should be for everybody. (26:17) The idea of going out into the world and just starting to ask questions because not sure what's gonna come back to you Right. (26:24) That's a hard thing to get past. (26:26) Like, you know, how do you know if what you just heard is right or right for you? (26:31) Or Right.

Scott Benner (26:32) You know, like, mean, people can seem I mean, this again, no disrespect, but this is a doctor.

Domino (26:37) Right.

Scott Benner (26:38) And they're saying, no. (26:39) You're wrong. (26:39) I know. (26:40) I do this professionally. (26:42) And you could look and go, that's a doctor.

Scott Benner (26:44) And well, you can't. (26:45) I can. (26:46) And you say, like, you know, well, okay. (26:49) They must be right, but there they go. (26:51) Not right.

Domino (26:52) So And especially with my history of misdiagnosis and a rare diagnose

Scott Benner (26:58) Yeah.

Domino (26:59) Jeez. (26:59) Even getting treatment now, most people have not heard of an acidioblastoma. (27:06) And then you add all the other, you know, complications and going out to try to find information on type three c, which is not as common Yeah. (27:18) With the acidioblastosis, with the digestive stuff going on. (27:24) I just think, ugh, there you know, there's so many caveats with it.

Scott Benner (27:28) No kidding. (27:29) You are probably finding yourself in a situation in a doctor's office where you're the you're the expert on the problem. (27:35) Yes. (27:36) And, yeah, and you don't have hardly any of the information you need. (27:40) And you're and you're like, look.

Scott Benner (27:41) I I'm still having a problem here. (27:43) I've hit my ceiling. (27:44) I can't go any further. (27:45) I need your help. (27:46) But first, let me explain to you what my situation is because I know you don't know it.

Domino (27:50) Well, it's

Scott Benner (27:51) Tough place

Domino (27:51) to start. (27:52) With the doctor every time. (27:53) I mean, that morning, my doctor being out, I mean, he listened to me. (27:59) He helped me get a rare diagnosis.

Scott Benner (28:02) Yep.

Domino (28:02) Brought people in to bring tests to get that rare diagnosis. (28:07) It was a lot, and I'm so thankful for him. (28:09) And then it's I've been grieving him being out all this time.

Scott Benner (28:14) No kidding.

Domino (28:15) And the person that helped me and not only helped me to get this rare diagnosis, but also knows my other twenty years of history.

Scott Benner (28:24) Right. (28:25) And you don't and every time you start over, bet you feel like you the first thing you wanna say is, like, look. (28:28) I'm not crazy. (28:29) Just listen for a minute.

Domino (28:30) Right.

Scott Benner (28:31) Right. (28:31) Because I'm gonna tell you a long story that you're probably not gonna follow. (28:34) I had to live it a 100 times before I even understood it, but here I am trying to explain it to you in five minutes.

Domino (28:39) Well, and I have gotten that that I'm crazy. (28:41) And I think, well, alright. (28:44) This is why I'm crazy. (28:45) This is because you guys I have to go to therapy because all of you guys

Scott Benner (28:48) You're telling me I'm wrong all the time about the thing I lived through, and I know for sure it's happening.

Domino (28:53) I told my husband that's what I'm sending everybody, a card that just says, I made a donut to my therapist in your name. (29:02) Merry Christmas.

Scott Benner (29:03) That's a great idea. (29:07) And if I'm found dead, it was a bear attack. (29:09) I just want you to know.

Domino (29:10) Yes. (29:10) Absolutely.

Scott Benner (29:11) They're they're getting into the bedroom somehow. (29:13) I have no idea. (29:15) If you live in Colorado, people might be like, oh, there's probably bears

Domino (29:18) there. (29:18) Yeah. (29:19) Nope. (29:20) Well I'm a catcrowch. (29:21) I don't think even gummy bears are gonna give me so far.

Domino (29:24) Yeah.

Scott Benner (29:25) You're not you're not going down from a gummy bear. (29:27) By the way, what kind of gummy bears do you like?

Domino (29:29) The Albany's.

Scott Benner (29:30) Yeah. (29:30) It's really the only, it's the only decision to be made. (29:33) Yeah. (29:33) They put the price up recently. (29:35) I don't love it.

Domino (29:36) No. (29:36) Same. (29:37) Yeah. (29:37) Yeah. (29:37) Yeah.

Domino (29:37) Used to be right?

Scott Benner (29:38) You got the big five pound bag on Amazon for nothing.

Domino (29:41) Right. (29:41) Yeah. (29:41) Very good.

Scott Benner (29:42) Because the bag of sugar, by the way wait or shake me down for it. (29:45) Then what happened? (29:46) Well, I know what happened. (29:47) The people started yelling tariffs. (29:49) They were like, oh, can we charge more for this?

Scott Benner (29:50) Awesome. (29:51) Right. (29:51) And they just doubled the price. (29:54) And still, I still order it. (29:56) It's I can write down in our pantry.

Scott Benner (29:58) There's a a big, like, sealed can like, plastic container with a lid on top of it that seals, like, keeps it's airtight, you know. (30:05) And it's just, like, five it's just, like, five pounds of of gummy bears in there. (30:10) Think of it as medicine. (30:11) Like, people generally leave it alone, But Arden actually, Arden sorry. (30:15) Arden got her period and her blood sugar got a little low last night.

Scott Benner (30:18) Mhmm. (30:18) And the middle of the night, like, she was, like, taking care of it. (30:21) And then she's, like, texted me. (30:22) She's, like, hey. (30:23) I'm still a little low and, like, I don't have anything up here, but I don't feel good.

Scott Benner (30:26) Like, there's only it's, her belly hurt from her period. (30:28) There was not too many things she was interested in trying to eat at that moment. (30:32) And so I went downstairs and, like, did a, like, a a flyby grab. (30:36) I grabbed the, like, a banana. (30:37) I grabbed the juice box.

Scott Benner (30:38) I grabbed and I said, golly, grab some gummy bears. (30:41) And I'm not gonna even lie to you. (30:42) Domino, it was, like, 03:30 in the morning, and I I grabbed out some gummy bears. (30:47) I put them on the counter. (30:47) I put the lid back on.

Scott Benner (30:48) I looked down, and I just, like, took two gummy bears. (30:50) I was like, I'm gonna eat these. (30:51) And I popped in my mouth, I was like, this is delightful. (30:53) And then I'm chewing on these two gummy bears, heading upstairs, the stuff, and I'm thinking like, bet you everybody's life is not like this.

Domino (31:02) So What's your what's your favorite flavors?

Scott Benner (31:04) I like to mix them. (31:06) I like to mix light colors with dark colors to see what I

Domino (31:09) I'll do that too. (31:11) But

Scott Benner (31:11) Yeah. (31:12) Dark green with a light yellow. (31:13) Red with blue. (31:16) A little too much. (31:17) Red with yellow.

Scott Benner (31:18) Yes. (31:18) Blue with green. (31:19) Sometimes, like, I just pop them in, like, little this might be a look into my brain, but I I don't commit any of it to memory. (31:27) I just I match them by by color.

Domino (31:30) Hey. (31:31) Whatever works. (31:32) I know.

Scott Benner (31:33) But it it usually works out. (31:34) It's the same thing when people say to me, how did you know this was gonna work? (31:37) And I'm like, I don't really. (31:38) Like, I still haven't

Domino (31:39) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (31:40) Because we took a little time to talk about it today. (31:42) Again, I'm I'm just being honest. (31:45) Like, a lot of my decisions work out, but I don't know why. (31:48) And when people ask me why, like, how did you come to that decision? (31:52) I don't know.

Scott Benner (31:53) And as a matter of fact, when I watch other people think about the same thing, I realize they're considering things and making decisions and considering things and making decisions to coming to an end. (32:05) I just look at something till it makes sense to me, and then I do it. (32:09) But there's no background thinking. (32:13) I don't know how to explain to you what I experience.

Domino (32:16) How much of that do you think is the thought the thoughtfulness and the preparation before you act on it? (32:23) But then also, a lot of people are afraid to act on it. (32:27) And I think you have a confidence and maybe just a go for it kinda attitude. (32:32) So the thoughtfulness before it and working it all how you want it to go, but then the ball is to just do it.

Scott Benner (32:40) So maybe the pieces have already been thought out ahead of time, and I just need to, like, lump them together and then go in the direction they point to.

Domino (32:48) I think so. (32:48) I mean, it's working.

Scott Benner (32:49) Yeah. (32:49) I mean, yeah, I don't but seriously, like, what you just said, like, you're that's you trying to wonder how my brain works and me sitting here going, I really don't know. (32:57) Yeah. (32:58) We all had to go outside and pick something up off the ground, and there was a lot of it or something. (33:03) And you might step back and go, well, this stuff all has to go to the curb, so we're gonna have to put it into a wheelbarrow.

Scott Benner (33:09) And that wheelbarrow's over there, and then we'll like, and you might go like, you might as you're doing it, think those things through. (33:15) I just start moving, and it works out. (33:17) And I know this is sounds like it probably sounds douchey to people, like, who are listening. (33:21) And trust me, it does to me too. (33:22) Also, that's a word from the seventies.

Scott Benner (33:24) But but seriously, like, I don't understand. (33:29) I just all I all I know is I look up and I go, this is the right thing to do. (33:34) I do it and it works. (33:36) And

Domino (33:36) there's highly intuitive.

Scott Benner (33:37) I have just learned to trust myself. (33:39) Yeah. (33:40) Yeah. (33:40) That's all. (33:41) I don't know why I'm done.

Scott Benner (33:42) I'm done trying to figure out why. (33:44) I mean, it's easy to say, like, a lot of hard work and, like, you know, hours and thoughtfulness went into the podcast. (33:51) But this thing is this is unlikely. (33:54) Like, this entire thing, that group of people, the hundreds of thousands of people who listen and talk to each other, like, every day under the umbrella of the thing that I made. (34:03) Like, it's completely unlikely to have grown like this, and I didn't do one bit of it on purpose.

Domino (34:10) So That's incredible.

Scott Benner (34:12) Yeah. (34:12) Just dumb luck.

Domino (34:13) Every time the welcome new members, 150 or whatever it is, I'm like, holy crap. (34:20) Every time.

Scott Benner (34:21) Me too.

Domino (34:21) A 150 more? (34:23) Do you watch everybody loves Raymond?

Scott Benner (34:25) Yeah. (34:25) I've seen it. (34:26) Yeah. (34:26) Yeah. (34:26) I probably saw the whole thing first run.

Domino (34:28) Well, just the dad in there, Tommy says, holy crap. (34:32) That's what I'd be saying in my best Frank Perrone voice. (34:35) Yeah. (34:35) Yeah.

Scott Benner (34:35) Yeah. (34:35) I can't I can't I can't do the voice, but I know what you're talking about. (34:38) I think I think the same thing. (34:40) I'm like, my god. (34:40) Again?

Scott Benner (34:41) Again? (34:41) Again? (34:42) That's awesome. (34:42) Yeah. (34:43) It really is crazy.

Scott Benner (34:44) I mean, just the other day, like, today's episode is is doctor BeachJem, and she I

Domino (34:50) listened already.

Scott Benner (34:50) Raul, did you? (34:51) And she wasn't she lovely?

Domino (34:53) Terrific.

Scott Benner (34:53) Right. (34:54) And she is I mean, no other way to put it. (34:57) She is Internet famous, like, really Internet famous. (35:00) And my wife was like, you should try to get her on. (35:04) And I'm like, you think she's gonna come on my podcast because you like it?

Scott Benner (35:07) Like, because you like her thing? (35:08) I was like, what what's my pitch here? (35:10) She's like, I don't know. (35:10) Ask her. (35:11) I was like, that's not gonna work.

Scott Benner (35:12) And a couple weeks ago for, diabetes awareness month, she put up a post, and and I was like, oh, I wonder if we could get her attention on this. (35:21) So I just went back to the group, and I was like, hey. (35:23) Can you guys just kinda go ping her in this post and see if she'd come on the podcast? (35:27) Well, I didn't even understand the power of my of my words.

Domino (35:31) Messaged her.

Scott Benner (35:32) Yeah. (35:32) Yep. (35:32) The well, she was like, hey. (35:35) Listen. (35:36) If you can tell these people to leave

Domino (35:37) me alone, I'll come on the podcast.

Scott Benner (35:38) No. (35:38) She wasn't like she was very nice. (35:39) But, like, but we, it was enough that she took it seriously. (35:44) You know? (35:44) And she doesn't know me.

Scott Benner (35:46) Like, you know

Domino (35:46) Yeah.

Scott Benner (35:47) And you can you can email somebody or message somebody and go, hey. (35:51) Look. (35:51) I I have the number one diabetes podcast in the world. (35:53) This is how many downloads it has. (35:55) I'd love you to come on blah blah blah.

Scott Benner (35:56) But there people ignore I ignore that stuff all the time. (35:58) I get I get 10 emails like that a day. (36:00) I don't I delete. (36:02) So you don't bother sending them out if you've got any common sense because you know that somebody else is gonna do the same thing. (36:07) So you guys just all, like, put a bug in her ear and she was, like, right on.

Scott Benner (36:11) And, and then we had a really good time talking.

Domino (36:13) She was fabulous.

Scott Benner (36:14) Yeah. (36:14) And she was really great and thought and I think you could hear in there a little bit too. (36:18) Like, I made her think about a couple of things too Yes. (36:20) Which was my goal to spread your guys' need, my daughter's need into the world a little more. (36:27) See?

Scott Benner (36:27) It's on purpose.

Domino (36:28) Abs absolutely. (36:29) Well, the thing that stuck out the most, it was all great, but you sharing about a 40 year old mom that had several kids

Scott Benner (36:38) Yeah.

Domino (36:39) And the texting or calling back and forth, and her saying, why didn't nobody tell me this? (36:44) And I just somebody was cutting onions.

Scott Benner (36:48) Well, you must intersect with that feeling significantly because why didn't somebody help you faster sooner?

Domino (36:55) Right.

Scott Benner (36:55) Yeah. (36:56) Well,

Domino (36:57) they're still learning. (36:58) They're doing a lot of research. (36:59) In fact, some of my surgical videos, they're gonna use towards more research

Scott Benner (37:05) Really? (37:05) For this. (37:06) So That's wonderful. (37:06) Well, it's nice of you to let them do that. (37:09) I'll tell you that you have not heard on the podcast yet, but you will hear.

Scott Benner (37:13) Alright. (37:14) Ready, Domino?

Domino (37:15) I'm ready.

Scott Benner (37:15) I'm gonna tell you something that nobody else knows.

Domino (37:17) Okay.

Scott Benner (37:18) No. (37:18) I need another drink. (37:19) I've already said this twice in two recordings, so I'm it's gonna come out, but it still feels strange to say out loud. (37:25) Probably for the last twenty years, I have battled with hemorrhoids.

Domino (37:31) Okay.

Scott Benner (37:31) And not just like, oh, that itches or it feels pokey or, you know, the paper got a little bloody once or twice. (37:39) Like, I will start to bleed and not stop for hours sometimes. (37:45) Like like, red blood, like, laying on the floor half upside down, like,

Domino (37:49) you know pause you just a second. (37:51) Good. (37:51) I've had two surgeries for hemorrhoids.

Scott Benner (37:54) Well, you're gonna appreciate this then.

Domino (37:56) Yes. (37:56) So I my deepest condolences.

Scott Benner (37:59) So a thing that no one talks about, and I mean no one. (38:02) Right? (38:02) And I tried some twenty some years ago to get them banded. (38:07) It was incredibly painful. (38:08) It did not last very long.

Domino (38:10) Yes.

Scott Benner (38:11) And then I suffered again. (38:14) Most of the suffering is, like, pressure, knowing that there's gonna be bleeding multiple times of year that sometimes you can't get under control for, like, a week. (38:22) You have to, like, stop eating to make it go, like, like, a it's terrible. (38:26) Right?

Domino (38:27) Mhmm. (38:27) Yes.

Scott Benner (38:27) And then I finally was like, oh, I'll go do the banding again. (38:31) Now listen. (38:31) For clarity, for your understanding of what what the banding means, is that someone puts a speculum in your ass and opens it up and then goes in there with a gun with a tiny little rubber band on it that's super strong and slips it over the hemorrhoid then lets it go, and then it chokes it off and it falls off. (38:48) It hurts like a son of a bitch is what I'm gonna tell you. (38:52) Okay?

Scott Benner (38:52) The whole thing, not good, and it doesn't last.

Domino (38:55) Right. (38:56) So I know.

Scott Benner (38:56) Yeah. (38:57) So the last five years, I've just given up. (39:00) I was like, oh, this is how I'll die one day. (39:02) Like like, someone's gonna come in

Domino (39:03) and go somebody murdered him

Scott Benner (39:04) and my wife is gonna go, oh, no. (39:05) Let me see

Domino (39:06) the picture. (39:06) No. (39:06) No. (39:06) No. (39:06) He just looks like he might have bled out of

Scott Benner (39:08) his ass to death. (39:09) And it happens randomly and sometimes it happens and I know it's going to happen. (39:14) And some of those times or if I'm on my feet or talking too much. (39:18) So I have had so nobody knows this. (39:21) Right?

Scott Benner (39:21) I've had this happen to me in a hotel at a Touched by Type one conference. (39:25) This happened to me on the cruise ship last year during the cruise, and it's happened to me a number of other times. (39:34) And so Yikes. (39:36) On the cruise in June, I told my wife, I'm like, I'm gonna get this fixed. (39:41) I don't care what has to happen.

Scott Benner (39:43) Because I was, you know, laying on the floor of a cruise ship with a lot of paper jammed up my hoping I wasn't gonna bleed to death at 02:00 in the morning. (39:53) And then had to go downstairs the following morning at seven and go to poor Suzanne who's running the cruise, who I don't know that way, and explain to her what my night's been like and to to look out for me. (40:05) You know what I mean? (40:06) Like, not a thing you wanna tell somebody. (40:07) Also, there's a 100 people that listen to the podcast are sitting in a room staring at me, and I'm like, now I gotta talk and be, be me.

Scott Benner (40:16) And all I can think is, like, I hope I don't randomly start bleeding because whatever your ex like, whatever people who are just don't know about how this how bad this can be, this isn't like a tiny bit of blood. (40:28) And and for those of you ladies out there are like, well, now you know what it's like to get your period. (40:32) It ain't like that either. (40:33) Okay? (40:34) Like, it's No.

Scott Benner (40:35) Like an open it's like somebody took a knife and just cut an artery in my arm. (40:39) And we're just sitting there watching it bleed waiting for it to to to close-up. (40:42) Right? (40:43) Right. (40:43) So anyway, I come home from the cruise make fun of me if you want.

Scott Benner (40:47) I ask chat GPT about it because all the googling in the world gets you to banding or it gets you to, you know, like, some pretty invasive surgery to do cutting on the inside of, I don't want anybody cutting in that hole. (40:59) You know what I mean? (40:59) Like, like so, like and and all the outcomes are shaky at best. (41:03) Well, I bump into this thing called an HAE, a hemorrhoid arterial embolism. (41:10) Right?

Scott Benner (41:11) And it turns out that those doctors in the hospital who, you know, fish the catheters in and, like, embolize stuff

Domino (41:18) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (41:18) They were looking for ways to make more money with their skill. (41:22) And one of them was like, could we treat hemorrhoids like this? (41:26) And, apparently, they've been doing it like this for about five years. (41:29) Well, my first thought was that same as that lady on the phone call. (41:34) Like, I can't believe this has existed for five years and I didn't know about it.

Scott Benner (41:37) Like, but I know now. (41:39) So then I go and my insurance is the only major insurance company that doesn't cover it.

Domino (41:46) Ugh.

Scott Benner (41:47) And I was like, you have got to be kidding me. (41:49) So I call them back and I'm like, what's it cost? (41:54) Like, tell me what the cash price is. (41:56) Well, the cash price is $10,000.

Domino (41:59) Ouch.

Scott Benner (41:59) So I was like, oh, no. (42:01) I can't do that. (42:01) Like, I'm like, oh, okay. (42:03) But I can't keep bleeding like this. (42:04) Like, I gotta do something.

Scott Benner (42:06) My insurance company says, just wait for the bleeding to start and go to the emergency room. (42:10) We'll cover it then. (42:12) And I was like, why don't you cover it now for a third of the price? (42:16) Right. (42:16) And they were like, it's it's not it's not it's not and so I fought and fought and fought and fought.

Scott Benner (42:21) And I and I and I it wasn't come it you know, nothing was coming of it. (42:25) And so finally, I just contacted the doctor and I said, I'll trade you coming on the podcast for some money. (42:32) You can talk honest about the procedure. (42:35) You can get the word out this way, and, you know, you cut me a a deal on the pricing.

Domino (42:40) And Wow.

Scott Benner (42:41) We we actually and I had the procedure yesterday.

Domino (42:44) Look at you go. (42:44) Yeah.

Scott Benner (42:45) And and he is gonna come on, and you should listen to it because it is not what you think. (42:50) And if you're struggling with this, it's gonna change your life because he'll go over it and the thing, you know, he showed me right after the procedure. (42:58) Have tell you, he they went in through my groin, like, with a calf. (43:00) Right? (43:01) Right.

Scott Benner (43:01) And he found five branches inside of my canal. (43:06) Okay? (43:06) Then where they should have ended, instead of ending, they branched off into, like, a root system. (43:12) And that whole root system is filling with blood

Domino (43:16) Wow.

Scott Benner (43:17) And creating so much pressure internally that not only am I bleeding internally, but it's pushing externally on it as well. (43:26) Like so, like, I've, like, pressure constantly from the inside out. (43:30) Why am I now comfortable talking about this? (43:32) Because it came up by mistake on a podcast a few weeks ago. (43:36) And after I explained it to the person, the person went, I really appreciate you saying that.

Scott Benner (43:39) I bet you it's gonna help people that would never talk about something like this. (43:43) And she's like, that is kind of what you do. (43:45) And I didn't really realize that about myself. (43:47) I didn't know that, like, a lot of this stuff about diabetes that we talk about, most people won't talk about, but I do for some reason. (43:54) And I was like, okay.

Scott Benner (43:54) Fine. (43:55) I'm gonna talk about it. (43:56) Like, after she said that, that's when I reached to the doctor and said, I'd be willing to talk about this on the podcast. (44:01) But, anyway, there's

Domino (44:02) I'd love that.

Scott Benner (44:03) Yeah. (44:03) He's gonna talk all about, like, you know, the procedure, how it works, and also what my body structure is the problem. (44:13) So it's not eating. (44:14) It wasn't exercise. (44:15) It wasn't my he said all the things I tried over the years.

Scott Benner (44:17) He goes, you tried all the right things. (44:19) They were never actually gonna help you. (44:21) And then he explained to me why, and I was like, oh, I want other people to know about that.

Domino (44:26) Absolutely.

Scott Benner (44:26) I'm gonna tell you, Domino, that, like, this is as close as I hope to ever come to knowing what it's like to live as a drug addict because I was incredibly good at hiding this from people. (44:35) And and it's it was really impactful on my life. (44:38) Like, I mean, around my house, from my family, in public, privately, you know, in public professionally. (44:46) I was really, really good at hiding this from people. (44:49) And and it took a lot of mental energy, and it's a lot of, like, physical like, to your point, not dissimilar to you having a an infection that won't go away.

Scott Benner (44:59) My body was always under attack in this one area. (45:03) And I think because it's on your butt, people think it's funny. (45:08) And the truth is if I had swelling in my arm that led to uncontrolled bleeding, nobody would think that was funny. (45:15) You know what I mean?

Domino (45:16) Right. (45:16) So Right. (45:17) Anyway I'm getting choked up. (45:19) Yeah. (45:20) Talking about butt stuff and getting choked up.

Scott Benner (45:22) Butt stuff and choked up. (45:24) That sounds like a different podcast. (45:27) I think that's an S and M podcast, not this.

Domino (45:30) Way after dark.

Scott Benner (45:31) Way after dark. (45:32) Well, yeah, especially when you get up in there, it's very, very dark.

Domino (45:35) I'm getting choked up just because yeah, you carry on and carry it because you've tried things. (45:45) They don't work. (45:46) You felt like this is best it's gonna get. (45:49) Mhmm. (45:50) You don't have a resolution.

Domino (45:51) Yeah. (45:52) You've already put yourself out there and tried to fix it. (45:56) And I I feel that with a lot of I mean, through the last twenty years

Scott Benner (46:01) Yeah.

Domino (46:01) Of it's not pride. (46:03) It's not shame. (46:06) It's like, well, it's not gonna make it better

Scott Benner (46:08) Yeah.

Domino (46:08) To talk about it.

Scott Benner (46:09) So why

Domino (46:09) I don't wanna marinate it, and I don't want advice. (46:13) Yeah. (46:13) And I to manage other people's feelings.

Scott Benner (46:16) Well, I have a a unique platform where I can tell you what happened to me, and you can go decide for yourself, and that's really all I'm trying to do. (46:22) But I I can tell you that in recovery, which by the way, I wasn't even all the way out. (46:26) It's like a light sedation. (46:27) It's just like a little high. (46:28) I felt like fuzzy behind my eyes while they were doing it.

Scott Benner (46:30) You know? (46:31) And, yeah, I was in recovery for like an hour and then I was gone. (46:35) And, he came out and he said to me, he was like, you know, how you feeling? (46:38) And I said, I feel like it's too early to say this, but there's a lot and I can't believe I'm using these words, but there's a lot less pressure on my anus than there usually is. (46:47) Yeah.

Scott Benner (46:47) And I was like, if if even just this is what like, if if that happens and I don't believe anymore, and I and I was getting dressed, like, as he came over and talked to me, I said, may I? (46:57) And he said, sure. (46:58) And I just reached around. (46:59) I hugged him. (47:00) I was like, man, thank you so much.

Scott Benner (47:02) You know?

Domino (47:02) Absolutely.

Scott Benner (47:03) Yeah. (47:03) And by the way, for those of you who are listening, the best part of this procedure is it doesn't involve a speculum, and that's not fun is what I'm saying. (47:13) And just just cast me. (47:14) You just went in through my groin.

Domino (47:15) So recovery time and healing and all that, what does that look like? (47:19) I'm done. (47:19) Without giving too much No.

Scott Benner (47:20) I'm done. (47:21) It's over. (47:21) Yeah. (47:22) Yeah. (47:22) Like, he he he emailed me this morning, asked how I was.

Scott Benner (47:25) I, told him, and he's like, great. (47:28) Just continue to rest today. (47:29) I said, I'm gonna record a podcast. (47:31) I think that's restful enough. (47:32) I was like, but otherwise, I'm gonna sit around and just do that.

Scott Benner (47:34) I came home yesterday. (47:36) I slept for five hours in the afternoon. (47:38) I got up, ate some food, went back to sleep. (47:40) Got up this morning at eight. (47:42) I haven't used the bathroom yet, but I had restricted my food for a couple days before the procedure.

Scott Benner (47:48) Yeah. (47:49) So I didn't expect any to use the bathroom today, which by the way is its own form. (47:53) And I don't wanna I don't wanna sound like a like a fragile girl on TikTok or a fragile I shouldn't have said girl. (47:59) I'm old. (47:59) Sorry, everybody.

Scott Benner (48:00) I have, a fragile person on TikTok, but, like, it is a form of an eating disorder. (48:03) Like, you should see how I manipulate my food so that I don't have to go to the bathroom in certain situations.

Domino (48:09) Right.

Scott Benner (48:10) It's a lot to think about. (48:12) And and, again, I I I hope everybody understands. (48:15) I'm not talking about, like, oh, there's a little blood on the paper. (48:17) I'm talking about, like, hey. (48:18) You think he's gonna die?

Scott Benner (48:19) Looks like he's gonna die. (48:20) It's not great. (48:21) The last time I said the last time it happened to me was on the cruise, but that's actually not even true. (48:26) The last time that it happened to me was the night before Friends for Life.

Domino (48:31) Wow.

Scott Benner (48:31) So I got up in the morning. (48:33) I thought I had it under control. (48:35) It happened again in the airport. (48:39) And then I had to get on the plane, and I and that was the last time it was a problem during that week. (48:45) But during the Friends for Life week, if you guys saw me at Friends for Life, I didn't eat enough food for a human being for five days.

Scott Benner (48:51) Like, I was trying to give it time to heal before I had to use the bathroom again. (48:57) It's crazy. (48:58) Like, it's just a terrible way to live. (48:59) And it and I think it's overshadowed by the fact that it's like hemorrhoid funny, but funny. (49:04) It's not funny.

Scott Benner (49:05) It's it's, you know, as close as I'm gonna come to an arterial bleed in my life, and it was happening a little little too consistently. (49:12) Anyway.

Domino (49:13) Since you're going to do a follow-up podcast on that, I'd be interested to see, especially since you're just so brand new out of the procedure, if you pay attention to how much mental gymnastics and mind space working around that pre surgery took.

Scott Benner (49:33) Oh, I can't wait to have that that time to really consider that because No. (49:37) Just I think it's

Domino (49:38) you're eating.

Scott Benner (49:39) Yeah. (49:39) I think it's a lot.

Domino (49:40) You have to be strategic.

Scott Benner (49:41) Yep. (49:41) No. (49:42) I think it's a lot, and I think it's gonna go away, and I'm pretty excited about it. (49:46) Plus, I told him, the doctor, I said, I don't want to do this right away. (49:50) Like, let me live with this for, you know, some weeks so that I can really contextualize what it's done for me.

Scott Benner (49:56) So Great. (49:56) Yeah. (49:57) So he's gonna

Domino (49:57) so happy for you.

Scott Benner (49:58) Thank you so much. (49:59) I didn't mean to end on that. (50:01) We're still calling this bear attack, and I really appreciate you doing this, Domino. (50:05) And I and I appreciate all your support online and and you taking the time to share your story today. (50:10) It was really lovely.

Domino (50:11) Well, thank you. (50:11) I really believe it. (50:12) You're in in the whole juice box thing. (50:15) You're doing a great thing, and, literally, it's saved my life. (50:19) So I'm grateful.

Scott Benner (50:20) Thank you so much. (50:21) Oh, you made my day. (50:22) Thank you. (50:22) Hold on one second.

Domino (50:23) Uh-huh.

Scott Benner (50:30) A huge thank you to Cozy Earth, a longtime sponsor. (50:35) Cozyearth.com. (50:36) Use the offer code juice box at checkout. (50:40) You will save 20% off of your entire order when you use that code. (50:44) Don't let me down, kids.

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Scott Benner (50:55) Cozyearth.com. (50:56) Use the offer code juice box at checkout. (51:00) US Med sponsored this episode of the juice box podcast. (51:04) Check them out at usmed.com/juicebox or by calling (888) 721-1514. (51:12) Get your free benefits check, and get started today with US Med.

Scott Benner (51:17) A huge thanks to my longest sponsor, Omnipod. (51:20) Check out the Omnipod five now with my link, omnipod.com/juicebox. (51:26) You may be eligible for a free starter kit, a free Omnipod five starter kit at my link. (51:34) Go check it out. (51:35) Omnipod.com/juicebox.

Domino (51:37) Terms and conditions apply. (51:39) Full terms and conditions can be

Scott Benner (51:40) found at omnipod.com/juicebox. (51:44) Thank you so much for listening. (51:46) I'll be back very soon with another episode of the juice box podcast. (51:49) If you're not already subscribed or following the podcast in your favorite audio app, like Spotify or Apple podcasts, please do that now. (51:57) Seriously, just to hit follow or subscribe will really help the show.

Scott Benner (52:02) If you go a little further in Apple Podcasts and set it up so that it downloads all new episodes, I'll be your best friend. (52:11) Hey, kids. (52:12) Listen up. (52:12) You've made it to the end of the podcast. (52:14) You must have enjoyed it.

Scott Benner (52:15) You know what else you might enjoy? (52:17) The private Facebook group for the Juice Box podcast. (52:20) I know you're thinking, ugh, Facebook, Scott, please. (52:23) But, no, Beautiful group, wonderful people, a fantastic community. (52:28) Juicebox Podcast, type one diabetes on Facebook.

Scott Benner (52:30) Of course, if you have type two, are you touched by diabetes in any way, you're absolutely welcome. (52:36) It's a private group, so you'll have to answer a couple of questions before you come in. (52:39) We'll make sure you're not a bot or an evil doer, then you're on your way. (52:43) You'll be part of the family. (52:45) If you're living with type one diabetes, the After Dark collection from the Juice Box podcast is the only place to hear the stories that no one else talks about, from drugs to depression, self harm, trauma, addiction, and so much more.

Scott Benner (53:02) Go to juiceboxpodcast.com up in the menu and click on After Dark. (53:07) There, you'll see a full list of all of the After Dark episodes. (53:11) Hey. (53:11) What's up, everybody? (53:12) If you've noticed that the podcast sounds better and you're thinking, like, how does that happen?

Scott Benner (53:17) What you're hearing is Rob at Wrong Way Recording doing his magic to these files. (53:22) So if you want him to do his magic to you, wrongwayrecording.com. (53:27) You got a podcast? (53:28) You want somebody to edit it? (53:29) You want Rob.

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#1775 Bear Attack - Part 1

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Domino shares her journey from necrotizing pancreatitis to mastering Type 3c diabetes, discussing the loss of glucagon, the "brittle" label, and using technology to reclaim her health.

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DISCLAIMER: This text is the output of AI based transcribing from an audio recording. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors and should not be treated as an authoritative record. Nothing that you read here constitutes advice medical or otherwise. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to a healthcare plan.

Scott Benner (0:00) Welcome back, friends. (0:01) You are listening to the Juice Box podcast.

Domino (0:14) Hi. (0:15) My name is Domino. (0:17) I'm 50 years old, and I am a type three c diabetic.

Scott Benner (0:23) Alright. (0:24) Let's get down to it. (0:25) You want the management stuff from the podcast. (0:27) You don't care about all this chitting and chatting with other people. (0:30) Juiceboxpodcast.com/lists.

Scott Benner (0:34) They are downloadable, easy to read, every series, every episode. (0:39) They're all numbered. (0:40) Makes it super simple for you to go right into that search feature. (0:43) In your audio app, type juice box 1795 to find episode one seven nine five. (0:50) Juiceboxpodcast.com/lists.

Scott Benner (0:54) If you're looking for community around type one diabetes, check out the Juice Box Podcast private Facebook group. (1:01) Juice Box Podcast, type one diabetes. (1:04) But everybody is welcome. (1:05) Type one, type two, gestational, loved ones, it doesn't matter to me. (1:10) If you're impacted by diabetes and you're looking for support, comfort, or community, check out Juice Box podcast, type one diabetes on Facebook.

Scott Benner (1:19) Nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. (1:24) Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan. (1:29) This episode of the juice box podcast is brought to you by my favorite diabetes organization, touched by type one. (1:36) Please take a moment to learn more about them at touchedbytype1.org on Facebook and Instagram. (1:43) Touchedbytype1.org.

Scott Benner (1:45) Check out their many programs, their annual conference, awareness campaign, their d box program, dancing for diabetes. (1:53) They have a dance program for local kids, a golf night, and so much more. (1:59) Touchedbytype1.org. (2:01) You're looking to help or you wanna see people helping people with type one, you want touched by type1.org. (2:09) Today's episode is also sponsored by the Tandem MOBI system, which is powered by Tandem's newest algorithm, Control IQ plus technology.

Scott Benner (2:18) Tandem Mobi has a predictive algorithm that helps prevent highs and lows and is now available for ages two and up. (2:24) Learn more and get started today at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. (2:30) The podcast is also sponsored today by the Eversense three sixty five, the one year wear CGM. (2:38) That's one insertion a year. (2:40) That's it.

Scott Benner (2:40) And here's a little bonus for you. (2:42) How about there's no limit on how many friends and family you can share your data with with the Eversense Now app? (2:48) No limits.

Domino (2:49) Hi. (2:49) My name is Domino. (2:52) I'm 50 years old, and I am a type three c diabetic. (2:58) And, actually, today is my one year diary versary.

Scott Benner (3:03) No kidding.

Domino (3:05) No kidding.

Scott Benner (3:05) Way to make it a year. (3:06) Good job.

Domino (3:07) Right.

Scott Benner (3:07) That's awesome. (3:08) Three c, transplant, surgery, what happened?

Domino (3:13) Total pancreatectomy.

Scott Benner (3:16) Oh, why? (3:16) What led to it?

Domino (3:18) So I was diagnosed with the rare condition called nestioblastosis.

Scott Benner (3:25) What the hell is that?

Domino (3:28) They're still figuring it out.

Scott Benner (3:31) They has a name, but they don't know what it is?

Domino (3:33) Yeah. (3:33) It's it's very new. (3:35) It's more it's still rare, but more common in infants.

Scott Benner (3:39) Okay.

Domino (3:41) So it took about six years for them to diagnose me.

Scott Benner (3:45) Do you know how to spell it?

Domino (3:47) I do know how to spell it.

Scott Benner (3:49) Go. (3:49) Do it.

Domino (3:50) N e s I d I o b l a s t o s I s. (3:59) Jesus. (4:00) So nasidioblastosis.

Scott Benner (4:02) Well, I'm gonna let Google Gemini look into it for us.

Domino (4:05) And it's complicated, but, basically, my pancreas had a overgrowth of cells, so it was overproducing insulin.

Scott Benner (4:16) Wait. (4:17) You had oh, you had too many beta cells.

Domino (4:19) I had too many, and they just went high waiter, so it was flooding my body with insulin and causing seizures and severe hypoglycemic episodes.

Scott Benner (4:33) Oh my god. (4:33) Took

Domino (4:34) almost six years to diagnose it.

Scott Benner (4:36) Wait. (4:36) You lived like that for six years?

Domino (4:39) Yes.

Scott Benner (4:39) Alright. (4:39) We're gonna get to that. (4:40) But first, make sure I understand this correctly, Domino. (4:43) You are probably one of my biggest fans. (4:45) Is that true or not?

Domino (4:47) Absolutely true. (4:48) You are so nice to me. (4:49) Go down that road whenever you're ready.

Scott Benner (4:52) You are so nice to me online that I I judge everything my wife says to me on the level of, is this as nice as Domino would have been to me in this situation? (5:01) So, but yeah. (5:03) Well, I I wanna figure out how you got here. (5:05) But first, honestly, like oh, so here I have it. (5:09) I don't know how to say it.

Scott Benner (5:12) It doesn't matter. (5:12) A rare medical condition characterized by an abnormal overgrowth of the beta cells in the pancreas. (5:18) Man, talk about the wrong jeez. (5:20) Everybody else is looking for beta cells, not you. (5:23) You got too many.

Scott Benner (5:23) Right.

Domino (5:24) Right.

Scott Benner (5:25) Two distinct forms of the condition based on when it appears, congenital in infants and acquired in adults. (5:31) This is extremely oh, good. (5:32) Domino, good news. (5:34) You have an extremely rare condition. (5:37) In adults in recent years, it has been increasingly linked to gastric bypass surgery.

Scott Benner (5:41) Have you had gastric bypass surgery?

Domino (5:43) So yes and no. (5:45) Before I had these symptoms, I went ten years misdiagnosed with, deadly internal infection. (5:54) So I did have removal of the stomach, some re reconstruction of the digestion and the intestines from just saw the damage from that ten years of infection that went undetected.

Scott Benner (6:09) Do you have did you ever find out what the infection was from?

Domino (6:12) They don't know where it started. (6:15) I had surgeries that it could have come from that. (6:19) They don't know if I got it in the hospital. (6:22) But yeah.

Scott Benner (6:23) Oh my gosh. (6:24) That's terrible. (6:24) I'm sorry. (6:25) Yeah. (6:26) Let me finish reading for a second.

Scott Benner (6:27) In these cases, the condition sometimes called non insulin insulinoma pancreas Jesus. (6:33) Why do people name stuff like this? (6:35) Non insulinoma pancreas to hypoglycemia syndrome or n I p h s can develop I guarantee I didn't say any of those words right. (6:46) Can develop years after the weight loss surgery likely due to hormonal change in the gut that stimulates beta cell growth. (6:53) How come they can't stimulate beta cell growth for everybody else?

Domino (6:56) Right. (6:56) I know. (6:57) Uh-huh.

Scott Benner (6:58) They're doing it by mistake in you. (7:00) Yeah. (7:01) So how did it start? (7:03) Did it start, like, just with a bang or a whimper? (7:06) Did it did you slowly start feeling lightheaded and shaky, or was it just, like, full on hypoglycemia?

Domino (7:13) It was sporadic at first. (7:16) So that ten years of the misdiagnosis and then finally treating that and and did the major surgery with all the damage. (7:24) I mean, they were having to dilate my esophagus and, you know, a lot of just GI removal and and reconstruction. (7:34) After they did that, I did start feeling better. (7:39) And those ten years and actually right up until that, I was not doing well.

Domino (7:46) I've had done my will, all my end of end of life stuff. (7:51) I was on oxygen. (7:52) I mean, I was very sick. (7:54) I had, you know, infection just

Scott Benner (7:58) Constant.

Domino (7:59) Riddance, yeah, throughout my body for those ten years.

Scott Benner (8:02) Oh my gosh. (8:02) From what age to what age do you think?

Domino (8:05) Oh gosh. (8:06) So 2008 to 2000 actually, 2007 to 2017. (8:13) And they finally diagnosed me with that infection in 2017. (8:19) And early 2018, I had the major surgery. (8:24) But even before that surgery, just to kill that infection, it took several rounds.

Domino (8:30) They quadrupled the medicine, quadrupled the medicine. (8:34) Just my body was done.

Scott Benner (8:35) Oh my gosh. (8:37) So after the surgery I mean, you don't, like, just bounce back real quickly. (8:41) I had a small procedure yesterday that was nothing, and I came home and slept for five hours. (8:45) So after being ten years sick and having this major surgery to kinda clean things out, how long did it take you to recover from that?

Domino (8:54) It really was pretty quick. (8:57) I mean, from the extreme of where I was, it didn't take very much for me to start feeling better. (9:04) Okay. (9:04) So I I really had a little bit of a window of getting my life back. (9:12) I was able to exercise and eat differently, and so I really did have a short time in there where

Scott Benner (9:21) There's a little excitement and things were back on track.

Domino (9:24) Yeah. (9:25) And I got back on track and really did a one eighty. (9:30) And

Scott Benner (9:31) And then somebody comes along and yanks the rug out from me again.

Domino (9:34) Yeah. (9:34) Yeah. (9:35) And because it was slow, you know, they kept just writing it off as malabsorption or or the way my digestion was working. (9:46) And, you know, you're just weak or you're having difficulty digesting and then absorbing and different things. (9:53) So my symptoms, they were just attributing to that.

Scott Benner (9:57) Just nobody really knew, right, what was really happening to you? (10:00) Okay.

Domino (10:00) And it was slow. (10:02) The the shaky, you know, the sweating, all of the symptoms that come with Lowe's

Scott Benner (10:10) Mhmm.

Domino (10:10) It was sporadic. (10:12) And then towards the end of the before diagnosis, it was all day every day. (10:18) Seizures, passing out, you know, horrible.

Scott Benner (10:22) When did that start? (10:23) What year?

Domino (10:25) So it it started 2018, and it was almost six years until diagnosed.

Scott Benner (10:33) Oh my gosh. (10:35) Uh-huh. (10:35) Hey. (10:36) What did you do in a past life? (10:38) You kill a bunch of kids or something?

Scott Benner (10:39) What what do you what

Domino (10:41) No. (10:42) Actually, the first twenty years of my life, I was a preschool teacher.

Scott Benner (10:47) Oh my gosh.

Domino (10:48) It was early childhood.

Scott Benner (10:49) Oh, there you go, everybody. (10:51) There's no karma, and there's no Yeah. (10:52) Yeah. (10:53) Yeah. (10:53) So Right.

Scott Benner (10:54) My how about in your your extended family? (10:56) Do have brothers and sisters?

Domino (10:58) Yes. (10:59) I I'm one of 19.

Scott Benner (11:02) Holy hell. (11:03) Wait. (11:04) Wait. (11:04) Wait. (11:04) Wait.

Scott Benner (11:05) Stop. (11:05) Stop. (11:05) Stop. (11:06) Stop. (11:06) Stop.

Scott Benner (11:06) I didn't know we were gonna do this. (11:08) Wait. (11:08) You and your mom wait. (11:10) You you, your mom, and dad have 18 there are 18 other siblings, or your dad's been, like, banging all over the place? (11:18) What's going on exactly?

Domino (11:19) So I have I'm one of 11, and then we're all blood from from my birth parents.

Scott Benner (11:26) Mhmm.

Domino (11:26) They both did divorce and remarried multiple times, and so there's stepsiblings. (11:34) But 11 of us are blood siblings.

Scott Benner (11:36) Alright. (11:37) I just this is not important to our story, but I just wanna understand for myself. (11:40) How long were they married? (11:41) How long did it take them to make 11 babies?

Domino (11:44) Twenty years.

Scott Benner (11:45) Twenty years. (11:46) And then the pressure of having 20 children made them get divorced, do you think?

Domino (11:51) Well, yeah, there are multiple factors there, but yeah.

Scott Benner (11:54) I gotcha. (11:55) So they they man, they made it twenty years, made 11 kids. (11:58) I gotta be honest with you. (11:59) I go 11 kids twenty years. (12:01) Even if you try to stab me in my sleep, I'm gonna be like, it's okay.

Scott Benner (12:04) She deserves to try to stab me. (12:05) She's, like, she's been through a lot. (12:07) You you know? (12:09) Yeah. (12:10) If I was your mom, I'd be like, hey.

Scott Benner (12:11) He's a dick, but, like, yeah. (12:13) All the kids look the same. (12:14) Why not hang a little longer? (12:16) We're almost done.

Domino (12:17) Right.

Scott Benner (12:17) But no. (12:18) So they split up. (12:19) They make, what is that? (12:20) Eight more kids between them.

Domino (12:24) And those other kids were from previous marriages.

Scott Benner (12:27) Oh, okay. (12:28) Yeah. (12:28) A group, though.

Domino (12:30) Yes.

Scott Benner (12:31) Yep. (12:31) Now but this is good for my question, which is of all those kids, do any of them suffer with any illnesses?

Domino (12:38) Not any autoimmune or anything like this.

Scott Benner (12:42) Nothing like I mean, people have been sick, but it's nothing where I've been sick for ten years or anything like that.

Domino (12:47) Right.

Scott Benner (12:47) So we're really thinking that maybe from a surgery or something unknown in you, you contracted a festering kind of infection that couldn't be cleared up.

Domino (12:59) Correct.

Scott Benner (12:59) Okay. (13:00) And then they basically strip mined you to get it out of there. (13:04) That worked. (13:06) You start you felt better. (13:07) You were on your way to feeling better, and then before you knew it, you started getting dizzy having these problems and spent six years passing out.

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Domino (15:36) You know, until I got the diagnosis, I really just kept writing it off to this is my new anatomy. (15:47) This they're telling me it's malabsorption. (15:49) It's nutrition. (15:51) It's dumping syndrome. (15:53) It's and I don't blame them.

Domino (15:57) It's really hard because my labs, everything was terrific. (16:01) Okay. (16:03) And I was after I had a surgery, I started boxing, and that was my livelihood then. (16:12) I was just burning calories like crazy and fit and all that. (16:19) And I just thought, okay.

Domino (16:20) I'm feeling weak. (16:21) I need to sit down. (16:22) I need to step out, and just thought that was my new normal.

Scott Benner (16:27) I'm sorry, Domino. (16:28) You made a living boxing?

Domino (16:30) Yes.

Scott Benner (16:30) Oh my god. (16:31) Tell me more, please.

Domino (16:33) I've trained really hard, and I'm actually master boxing instructor and a master personal trainer.

Scott Benner (16:40) No kidding. (16:41) How about that? (16:42) How do you make money with that? (16:43) Is it like the roller derby?

Domino (16:47) So I'm an instructor. (16:49) So I I teach others how to how to defend themselves, how to how how to just use their body, give them confidence. (16:58) Yeah. (16:59) Self defense. (17:00) Women and teenage girls were my primary group.

Scott Benner (17:04) Mhmm.

Domino (17:05) And I did have some other groups with more elderly patients that were also Parkinson's patients, and boxing is phenomenal for that.

Scott Benner (17:14) No kidding. (17:15) How come?

Domino (17:16) Just the repetition and using those bodies you know, using every part of your body, but also even just the voice.

Scott Benner (17:26) Oh, no kidding.

Domino (17:27) And I've the most fascinating to me is the music. (17:33) If they can do that to music that's familiar, it I mean, it night and day.

Scott Benner (17:39) No. (17:39) But that's really that's really cool. (17:41) Oh, so you found something you really liked. (17:42) That's awesome. (17:43) But then Yeah.

Scott Benner (17:44) You're passing out. (17:45) And you just assume, like, this is just how my body works now. (17:48) I pass out sometimes.

Domino (17:50) Right.

Scott Benner (17:51) Did doctors understand? (17:52) Did you understand at that point that it was from low blood sugar, or did they not they didn't have it even that figured out? (17:58) No. (17:59) That took six years.

Domino (18:01) It took six years.

Scott Benner (18:02) Okay. (18:03) Can you recall the the moment when it got figured out and how how they got to it?

Domino (18:09) Actually, yes. (18:10) And I especially with my anniversary, hopefully, I don't get too emotional. (18:17) But bouncing around to doctor to doctor, and, you know, I I just was not getting anywhere. (18:24) I knew, you know, that something was missing. (18:28) Mhmm.

Domino (18:28) Something I should not have to live like this. (18:31) Yeah. (18:32) So I found a new doctor, went to him, and said, here's what's happening. (18:39) I know my number's great. (18:41) I promise I'm not crazy.

Domino (18:43) And he listened and said, when are these things happening? (18:47) When are you noticing these things? (18:51) And did a little bit of journaling, went back in to see him, and he said, okay. (18:56) Here's what we're gonna do. (18:59) You're gonna eat in your car.

Domino (19:01) I'm gonna have standing labs ready to go. (19:06) Have your husband or somebody there with you. (19:08) As soon as those symptoms come on, go straight in the lab, cut in line, and have them draw your blood.

Scott Benner (19:16) Okay.

Domino (19:18) And I was in the thirties, and everybody was scrambling. (19:23) We're gonna call an ambulance. (19:25) And I'm like, nope. (19:26) Nope. (19:26) Nope.

Scott Benner (19:27) Not before you draw my blood. (19:28) Yeah.

Domino (19:30) Yeah. (19:30) So, I mean, it was so quick, and they were like, oh my gosh. (19:34) So from there, it was a lot of testing and a lot of trial and error to get to the diagnosis.

Scott Benner (19:42) No kidding. (19:42) But that that moment is where it started to go your way again.

Domino (19:46) Right. (19:47) Yeah.

Scott Benner (19:47) But listen. (19:49) When they jeez. (19:51) You're describing 16. (19:54) How long ago was this, the diagnosis for the next a year ago, you're saying?

Domino (19:59) So it was about a year and a half ago

Scott Benner (20:02) About a year and a half ago.

Domino (20:03) Started seeing the endocrinologist. (20:05) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (20:05) Okay. (20:06) Okay. (20:06) So and how old are you today? (20:08) Did you say you were 50?

Domino (20:09) I'm 50.

Scott Benner (20:10) 50. (20:11) Yes. (20:11) So you're telling me that since you're 34, you've been struggling with health issues?

Domino (20:16) Probably better part of twenty years.

Scott Benner (20:19) My god.

Domino (20:20) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (20:21) What's that do to you?

Domino (20:23) Pisses you off.

Scott Benner (20:25) Were you surly when you didn't even know you were? (20:30) Do you know do you know any no?

Domino (20:32) No. (20:32) I don't think so. (20:34) You know, the first ten years before the first ten years with the infection, I was very deep in raising my children. (20:45) I've had my preschool at that open at that time.

Scott Benner (20:48) Mhmm.

Domino (20:49) So I was still working and trying to hold everything together and just say I had a lot to live for, had a lot to fight for, so I just did it.

Scott Benner (20:59) Pushed. (21:00) Yeah. (21:00) Hey. (21:00) The kids came before the infection or during?

Domino (21:03) They were before.

Scott Benner (21:05) Before.

Domino (21:05) So they were teenagers when when that happened.

Scott Benner (21:08) I see. (21:09) And you said you may have had a medical procedure that led to it. (21:11) Do you remember, like, what was that? (21:13) What could it have been?

Domino (21:14) Well, and that's the tricky thing. (21:16) Did the infection start first, which led to a couple different surgeries, or was it the infection post? (21:25) We don't know.

Scott Benner (21:26) Okay.

Domino (21:26) But, had partial hysterectomy and then gallbladder removal.

Scott Benner (21:33) Gallbladder removal. (21:34) And you you you live in a fairly, metropolitan area. (21:38) Is that right?

Domino (21:39) Oh, no. (21:40) I do not.

Scott Benner (21:41) You don't?

Domino (21:42) No. (21:42) I was in Wyoming for a good part of this. (21:45) Mhmm. (21:46) We did just move a year and a half ago to Colorado because my doctors are here.

Scott Benner (21:53) Tell people when you went in for your gallbladder surgery, they were working on a bison next door. (21:57) Is that correct? (21:58) Probably. (21:59) Probably. (22:00) Yeah.

Domino (22:00) You know? (22:01) And it's in the cafeteria when done.

Scott Benner (22:07) You know, when you bump into your doctor at the gas station, he's like, can look at you here. (22:11) You know your rural vet. (22:12) Like, yeah, just step behind the the pump. (22:14) We'll check it out real quick.

Domino (22:15) Get in the covered wagon. (22:16) I'll just pull up my front door to my saw.

Scott Benner (22:19) Was his name Doc Holliday? (22:21) It wasn't something like that, was it? (22:22) No. (22:23) No. (22:23) Okay.

Scott Benner (22:25) For those of you listening, I know Doc Holliday was not a doctor. (22:28) I just please, don't wanna get a note about that. (22:32) So, okay. (22:34) Wow. (22:35) Gosh.

Scott Benner (22:36) When you're recanting it, how does it make you feel talking about it right now?

Domino (22:40) You know, it was emotional this morning just with it being the one year. (22:45) I mean, I'm talking to my husband this morning. (22:49) Just think this time last year, I was in a eight hour surgery. (22:54) They were removing a feeding tube that I had been on for four hundred and twelve days and woke up. (23:02) No pancreas.

Domino (23:03) Most of my stomach gone. (23:05) Some of my intestines gone.

Scott Benner (23:07) Jeez.

Domino (23:07) And as a type three c.

Scott Benner (23:10) But if I'm wrong, you just stop me. (23:12) Okay?

Domino (23:13) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (23:14) Most people's onset of diabetes is a sad day where they get an illness. (23:19) Yours was a happy day because you got rid of sixteen or more years of struggling. (23:27) You traded it for something else, but I I I don't wanna put words in your mouth, but you're better off now than you were before. (23:33) Right?

Domino (23:34) I was hoping that would be the case.

Scott Benner (23:37) Oh, no. (23:38) So

Domino (23:38) Yeah. (23:39) There's

Scott Benner (23:39) Dominic Dominic, don't make me cry today. (23:41) Okay? (23:41) Alright.

Domino (23:42) I'm trying to not be a bummer. (23:43) I'm trying to be a

Scott Benner (23:44) real I'm trying I'm trying not to be a bummer, but it is my story. (23:49) Yeah. (23:50) I mean, we can stop in the middle and tell a story about a clown, like, in another twenty minutes or so, if that helps.

Domino (23:54) Sure.

Scott Benner (23:54) But but seriously, you were hoping it would be, but it wasn't?

Domino (23:58) There was no way around it. (24:00) I talked in length with my doctor, you know, about the repercussions of do I just wait it out? (24:09) Is this gonna get any better? (24:10) Is it eventually gonna have to come out? (24:13) Is my pancreas gonna come out?

Domino (24:15) And he said, yes. (24:16) It's gonna have to come out.

Scott Benner (24:18) They couldn't just ice cream ice cream scoop out a few cells or, like

Domino (24:23) no? (24:24) Well well, actually, so January, they did a partial removal of the pancreas. (24:32) They removed the tail of pancreas

Scott Benner (24:34) Mhmm.

Domino (24:35) And that was not successful.

Scott Benner (24:38) It fought back. (24:39) It was like Yes. (24:40) Yeah. (24:41) It was like, that's not gonna stop us. (24:43) Yeah.

Scott Benner (24:43) Yeah. (24:43) Yeah.

Domino (24:44) It it caught up. (24:46) So, yeah, January had the partial, and then December was the total.

Scott Benner (24:51) No kidding. (24:53) Well, so you were probably pretty hopeful on the partial. (24:55) Right? (24:55) Like, we'll just take away some of its ability, this will even out. (24:58) And then it just didn't it didn't change at all after the partial?

Domino (25:02) Slowed down for just a brief bit, but it quickly cut it. (25:05) Jeez.

Scott Benner (25:06) You you know, my biggest takeaway so far is the the cruelty of it for you. (25:11) Yeah. (25:12) Seriously. (25:13) Like, an infection that they can't clear out for ten years, that just seems silly in a modern age. (25:18) You know?

Scott Benner (25:19) And then you're like, yeah. (25:22) No. (25:22) I was there, Scott. (25:23) Thanks. (25:23) It was it was horrible.

Scott Benner (25:24) But, like, you know, that seems silly. (25:27) Then the surgery that, you know, sparks off something that's, you know, described here as a rare medical condition, which means that it's so incredibly unlikely that this would be your outcome, and yet it is. (25:38) And they do other things to try to help. (25:40) Like, feels like to me listening to your story, and I don't know if this is how it feels to you, but I'm asking. (25:45) It feels like you've been lifted up and dropped a lot of times.

Scott Benner (25:49) Does that make sense?

Domino (25:50) Absolutely.

Scott Benner (25:51) That visual makes sense to you?

Domino (25:53) I use the box saying, get knocked down and get back up. (25:57) Knocked down, back up, up.

Scott Benner (25:59) But you started thinking you weren't gonna get back up.

Domino (26:02) Absolutely.

Scott Benner (26:03) You did I hear you say earlier you put your will in order and things?

Domino (26:06) I did with that infection towards the end. (26:11) They were actually treating me for rheumatoid arthritis, misdiagnosed with that.

Scott Benner (26:17) Okay.

Domino (26:17) So a lot of the things they were doing to treat that was probably feeding that infection.

Scott Benner (26:23) You were you had RA symptoms, but it was an infection?

Domino (26:29) I did have RA symptoms, and I think it was just all the inflammation and toxic inside my body.

Scott Benner (26:38) Elbows, knees, wrists, hands, like that?

Domino (26:42) Everything.

Scott Benner (26:43) Muscle weight?

Domino (26:44) Send you pictures and

Scott Benner (26:45) You had swelling. (26:46) I

Domino (26:47) was actually having blisters and rashes externally on my skin. (26:52) I had to wear a full oxygen mask. (26:56) I couldn't just do the cannula because any perfume, smoke, anything

Scott Benner (27:03) Everything was getting yeah. (27:05) Because your body was so busy fighting off that infection, it didn't have the ability to do anything else, I guess. (27:11) No. (27:11) Oh my

Domino (27:12) god. (27:12) Every foreign thing, it was fighting, and I had to be super aware of germs and sickness because it would knock me out.

Scott Benner (27:22) You you lose time with your kids over this and your husband?

Domino (27:25) No. (27:25) I unwisely probably pushed more than I should have, but I feel like it was present. (27:34) And

Scott Benner (27:36) No. (27:37) I hear what you're saying.

Domino (27:38) Fought through a lot of pain and a lot of discomfort to make that a priority.

Scott Benner (27:44) Mhmm. (27:45) If they clear up the infection, do your joints just get better? (27:49) Yes. (27:50) Okay.

Domino (27:50) There's damage with all of that, though, that I'll never ever, which is one thing. (27:57) I just loved boxing so much. (28:00) I was able to get really strong and build my muscles to help carry the weight off my joints.

Scott Benner (28:06) Yeah. (28:07) I'll be damned. (28:08) That's just something. (28:09) Alright. (28:10) Let's shift gears for half a second, then we'll get back to it.

Scott Benner (28:12) Because I'm gonna Yeah. (28:13) I'm gonna jump out of this, and we'll jump back in to the pancreatectomy in a little bit. (28:18) Mhmm. (28:18) So tell people why I'm so awesome. (28:21) Because, you seem to know, and I don't know.

Scott Benner (28:23) I wanna find out.

Domino (28:25) I do, and I probably will get emotional.

Scott Benner (28:27) Really? (28:28) Well, this isn't even gonna be fun. (28:29) Okay. (28:29) Alright. (28:29) Hold on.

Domino (28:31) And I don't wanna, like, bounce around too much.

Scott Benner (28:33) Go

Domino (28:33) ahead. (28:33) But so a year ago, I had the pancreas technique. (28:37) A month later, they quickly moved me to the pump. (28:41) I'm on Omnipod five. (28:43) Mhmm.

Domino (28:43) Thank goodness my doctor was amazing, and I credit him for saving my life.

Scott Benner (28:49) Yeah.

Domino (28:50) But two days after I started my pump, my doctor had a stroke.

Scott Benner (28:58) Oh my goodness. (28:59) You're endocrinologist? (29:00) Yes. (29:02) Jeez.

Domino (29:02) And he's survived, but I didn't know this. (29:06) I didn't know this actually probably till, like, three weeks ago. (29:09) All of a sudden, he was not there. (29:11) I was left with no doctor and two days on the pump, not knowing what I was doing, could not get in with any other doctors. (29:23) I finally did get in with one, and I immediately knew this is not a good fit.

Scott Benner (29:30) Oh, okay.

Domino (29:32) So it took till July 31. (29:37) So from December to July 31 to get in with someone else.

Scott Benner (29:44) So So you had a pump, no doctor for six months.

Domino (29:47) Right. (29:48) And they there was hope that he was gonna come back come back. (29:53) So I kept kind of hanging in there thinking I was gonna get back in for an appointment.

Scott Benner (29:58) Oh.

Domino (29:59) And it was not happening, my the seizures were bad from hypos, passing out again. (30:09) Could not figure it out.

Scott Benner (30:10) Oh, wait, Domino. (30:11) You were passing out again now from artificial in insulin from man made?

Domino (30:16) Yeah. (30:17) Well, just from low blood sugars. (30:19) Because you not struggle with high. (30:21) I struggle with lows.

Scott Benner (30:22) Okay. (30:23) And so you're on a pump now. (30:24) Now you're free of your of your rogue pancreas and oh, rogue pancreas. (30:30) That's a good episode title. (30:31) And you're you're free of your rogue pancreas.

Scott Benner (30:33) You're using Omnipod five, but you're still getting low. (30:37) Yes. (30:38) Okay. (30:38) And you have no one to go talk to because your doctor had a stroke.

Domino (30:43) Right. (30:43) I I no clue what I'm doing.

Scott Benner (30:47) Hey. (30:47) Does anybody else in your sphere get sick? (30:50) Is it possible are you doing this to them? (30:52) Is what I'm asking. (30:53) No.

Scott Benner (30:53) Is it possible you have so much bad luck that it's soaking out of you and getting on to other people? (30:58) No. (30:59) No. (30:59) No.

Domino (31:00) I might have stressed him out. (31:01) That's in fact, it's terrible to say, but I told my husband, oh my god. (31:05) I killed him.

Scott Benner (31:06) Because heard your story?

Domino (31:07) My stuff. (31:08) I killed him.

Scott Benner (31:08) He heard your story, and he was like, it's too much to handle. (31:11) Yeah. (31:11) The oh my gosh. (31:12) That's so but you were left in the lurch. (31:14) No.

Scott Benner (31:15) Of course. (31:15) No. (31:15) I understand. (31:16) Wow. (31:17) So

Domino (31:17) I got desperate and said, I'm gonna start trying to figure this out. (31:23) And I found you No.

Scott Benner (31:25) But no. (31:26) I'm laughing. (31:26) I'm laughing because I'm like, yeah. (31:28) Desperate women. (31:29) They're my bread and butter.

Scott Benner (31:30) Yeah. (31:30) There we go. (31:31) Yeah. (31:33) No. (31:33) But but without the joking, I do think that desperate people I I don't mean that are my bread and butter.

Scott Benner (31:40) I do think that's how you I think that's how a reasonable person goes. (31:43) I guess I'll turn on a podcast and listen to what they have to say. (31:46) Absolutely. (31:46) Yeah. (31:47) You have to get into a situation where you're like, I have no other recourse now.

Domino (31:50) Right. (31:50) I have to

Scott Benner (31:51) try something because it's not a sensible thing for an adult to do.

Domino (31:54) Well, at that point, I thought, I'm gonna die if I do not figure this out. (32:00) These seizures are killing me. (32:02) I'd I'm missing something.

Scott Benner (32:04) Yeah.

Domino (32:04) And no one's helping me.

Scott Benner (32:08) What were you missing?

Domino (32:09) You know, even during the diabetic education for the Omnipod and stuff before, I'm just so little information and so little trust, I think, in me being able to handle. (32:24) And it was a lot. (32:26) I mean, I went from having all of my nutrition just from feeding tube.

Scott Benner (32:33) Mhmm.

Domino (32:34) So I had to not only learn to eat by mouth again. (32:38) So I think they were just worried about overloading me

Scott Benner (32:41) Yeah.

Domino (32:42) Or, yeah, lack of being able to handle it. (32:46) So, yeah, it was just like I felt like do or die.

Scott Benner (32:50) Yeah. (32:51) And then, I mean, what'd you do? (32:53) How did you find the podcast? (32:54) Were you just, like, literally searching, or did somebody put you in touch with it?

Domino (32:58) I just was googling. (32:59) I was just trying to figure out, okay. (33:01) Omnipod settings, you know, just nutrition just anything. (33:05) Anything. (33:05) I was plugging in so many things, and juice box kept coming up.

Domino (33:10) So I actually think I started in the Facebook group in May. (33:17) Mhmm. (33:17) I think I found you in May and was just reading along, but I needed a place I could ask questions too

Scott Benner (33:25) Okay.

Domino (33:25) And try to is there anybody out there?

Scott Benner (33:27) Yeah. (33:28) Yeah. (33:28) I'm lost. (33:28) I don't know what to do.

Domino (33:29) And Yeah.

Scott Benner (33:30) I listen. (33:31) I saw you first. (33:33) I mean, this is this is not uncommon. (33:36) Right? (33:36) But, like, every, I don't know, every couple of months, somebody's account sticks out to me more than others.

Scott Benner (33:43) And you it because there's so many, like, I I mean, if you're all listening, I love you. (33:48) But, like, I don't know who, like, more than, like, 30 of you are. (33:51) And so at any one time. (33:54) But yours your account just started popping up. (33:57) You were just so exuberant about it.

Scott Benner (33:58) Like, you know, there's that even an automated post that goes up, every time a 150 new people join their group, an automated post comes out saying, like, hey. (34:08) Welcome to the group. (34:09) It lists all the people, and it gives you some, you know, stuff to try. (34:12) It's a, you know, it's simple way to hopefully get some of the information to people. (34:17) And you're on, like, every one of them.

Scott Benner (34:18) Like, hey. (34:19) How are you? (34:19) And I'm like, and you kinda came out of nowhere. (34:21) And when I see that normally, I think, oh, this must be a person that the content really helped because you're, like, exuberant about, like, trying for other people to find it. (34:31) Am I reading that correctly?

Domino (34:33) Absolutely.

Scott Benner (34:34) Okay. (34:34) Okay.

Domino (34:35) And I really believe in what you're doing.

Scott Benner (34:38) Thank

Domino (34:38) you. (34:39) And I do not put my fave on stuff. (34:41) I do don't even respond or interact if I don't believe in it.

Scott Benner (34:47) So your level of engagement based on who you are and how you, you know, purport yourself and and and handle yourself online, like, is uncommon for you to speak up like this?

Domino (34:57) Yes. (34:58) Especially in community groups like that.

Scott Benner (34:59) Okay. (35:00) It does you're not completely comfortable with it?

Domino (35:04) You know, just have to be really into it.

Scott Benner (35:08) Sure.

Domino (35:09) And I guess this is a different level also. (35:13) This is you know, some of the other groups are just hobbies or entertainment.

Scott Benner (35:19) Right. (35:19) Right. (35:19) Yeah.

Domino (35:19) Yeah. (35:20) This is life.

Scott Benner (35:21) It's hard hard to get excited about how you made a a stuffed animal into a lamp. (35:25) You know what I mean? (35:26) Right. (35:26) Yeah. (35:26) Right.

Scott Benner (35:27) Right. (35:27) Like, I have a I ain't gonna waste time telling this to you. (35:30) But this this feels like I I see. (35:32) It feels distasteful for me to say it. (35:35) But, like, you feel like the podcast and the ecosystem around it saved you.

Domino (35:40) Absolutely.

Scott Benner (35:41) Okay. (35:41) And you wanna make sure other people know that it's there? (35:44) Yes. (35:44) Thank you. (35:45) I appreciate that.

Domino (35:46) And I just love your your thoughtful approach. (35:50) It's so sensible sensible and balanced.

Scott Benner (35:54) Thank you.

Domino (35:55) I truly I just knew right away there was a good energy, and the more I've listened, I just really relate and connect.

Scott Benner (36:04) Can you hold on a second? (36:06) I'll get my family up here. (36:07) That's Sure. (36:07) I'll tell you those those, they don't listen at all. (36:10) They don't.

Scott Benner (36:11) Look at me like I'm half out of my mind. (36:14) The other night, were telling me I was doing something wrong. (36:16) I was like, I don't even know what you're talking about. (36:21) Well, I first of all, I'm I'm super happy that you found it and that it was helpful for you. (36:26) Like, that's why it's there.

Scott Benner (36:27) It's there, hopefully, to find a person like you or somebody else that could use it. (36:31) Absolutely. (36:32) To know that you're intersecting with it the way that I intend it, that's special for me because I I think there'd be, you know, if we had a if we had a I don't know. (36:44) If we if we had a somebody here who's known me for thirty years, they would say that that explanation of me that you just gave, they'd be like, I don't know that person, like, twenty years ago or thirty years ago. (36:54) I wasn't like this forever.

Scott Benner (36:55) It just I don't know. (36:57) I started making the podcast because I thought I thought, well, I I have all this stuff we figured out. (37:03) I would like to tell somebody else about it. (37:04) I don't want people to struggle needlessly. (37:06) And then it's obviously grown beyond my anybody's expectations.

Scott Benner (37:12) And, you know, to hear you say this today, I mean, how many years removed from my first blog post? (37:19) Almost twenty years. (37:21) It makes me feel like that along the way, when there were bumps in the road where there were decisions to be made about direction, tone, content, whatever, I've made a million decisions between then and now. (37:33) It makes me feel like I've made a lot of them well. (37:36) Maybe I'm sure not all of them, but, like, enough that it it's still working and and finding people like you modern day is really exciting for me.

Scott Benner (37:44) Because four years ago, if you would have asked me, I would have said, oh, the podcast won't be here four years from now. (37:48) Like, that's, like, that's silly. (37:50) Like, a podcast won't last that long. (37:52) And then to hear you talk about it really reminds me of something I did, I don't know, a couple of weeks ago. (38:00) I don't know where the idea came from, but I put up an Instagram post.

Scott Benner (38:02) It was a review of the podcast from 2015 and a review of the podcast from 2025. (38:09) And they're very taken very randomly. (38:13) Like, I just picked them by the dates. (38:15) And if you read them, they read the same. (38:19) And that kind of consistency, I feel proud about that.

Scott Benner (38:22) You know what I mean? (38:23) Like Absolutely. (38:24) Yeah. (38:24) The the takeaway has modernized, but yet not changed for people's outcomes. (38:31) I you know, we could sit here for three hours and try to philosophize about why that is.

Scott Benner (38:35) I don't know. (38:36) I just all I can tell you is that when decisions come in front of me, I I generally pick ones that go well. (38:43) And it's been my whole life. (38:44) I don't even know why. (38:45) It it's, you know, everything, really.

Scott Benner (38:48) Like, I I started in a hole as a as a broke person, and I still like, every time I had an opportunity to make a decision, it usually led to something better. (38:57) So I I don't think it's a skill even. (38:59) I, you know, I used to call it common sense, but it almost seems insulting. (39:04) So I don't know. (39:06) I just have a knack for zigging and zagging the right way at the right time.

Domino (39:11) Well, it's it's terrific.

Scott Benner (39:14) Thank you. (39:14) I'm so happy for you.

Domino (39:16) I've found something valuable in every episode, and I've listened to that. (39:21) I can't get get them all in fast enough, but there's value in everyone. (39:26) And I think, you know, I mean, even kinda joking about, come and tell my family about that. (39:31) It just depends on what you're lacking, I think, what you need. (39:36) If how much is writing on things?

Domino (39:39) Yep. (39:39) You know? (39:40) That's filling a need that is for me, I mean, it was life or death, and I'm not being dramatic.

Scott Benner (39:46) No. (39:46) No. (39:46) It doesn't sound like I don't listen. (39:48) People don't don't willy nilly put their put their affairs in order. (39:52) That's not a Right.

Scott Benner (39:53) Yeah. (39:53) That's not a decision you jump to lightly. (39:55) And and you've also been through, by my count, like, three serious medical situations. (40:03) And Yes. (40:03) You know, each one of them didn't seem to have an answer.

Scott Benner (40:07) Yeah. (40:07) And when they did have an answer, the you know, what came next was not pleasant. (40:12) But how do you describe where your life is right now? (40:14) Now you're a year beyond that surgery, found the podcast, you know, how to take care of your insulin better now. (40:20) Like, are you where you want to be?

Domino (40:23) I'm not where I want to be be yet. (40:26) Okay. (40:26) I don't know if it's just as good as it gets, but I would not absolutely not be aware I am now Mhmm. (40:34) If I didn't start listening to the podcast.

Scott Benner (40:36) What do you think is left to to work on?

Domino (40:40) I don't know if there's a black and white answer with all the complications that I have. (40:47) The variables are are really tricky.

Scott Benner (40:50) Domino, are you getting that echo again?

Domino (40:52) Not too bad.

Scott Benner (40:53) No. (40:53) Is it messing with you? (40:55) No. (40:55) No. (40:56) You're okay?

Scott Benner (40:56) Okay. (40:56) Alright. (40:57) I just wanted to make sure that you are

Domino (40:58) Do we need to switch something?

Scott Benner (40:59) I don't I like, part of me was like, should we should you drop out and jump back in? (41:03) Because I didn't hear it before, but I was hearing it just now when you were talking. (41:07) Okay. (41:08) I'm sorry. (41:08) I didn't

Domino (41:09) No worries.

Scott Benner (41:09) No. (41:09) No. (41:10) Go ahead. (41:11) I'm sorry. (41:11) Do you know where you are?

Domino (41:12) Yep. (41:13) I think the variables are what are hard for me with digestion, with just my whole anatomy, physiology. (41:23) There's just too many too many butts all the time.

Scott Benner (41:30) Well, Tom, remind us again of what your physiology is. (41:33) You have what all has been taken out of there?

Domino (41:37) So no gallbladder, no uterus, which is kinda beside the point. (41:44) Majority of my stomach is gone. (41:46) The duodenum, which is the top part of the intestines, is gone, and also the pancreas.

Scott Benner (41:54) Yeah. (41:55) And they took that stuff just looking for infection to take out. (41:58) Right?

Domino (41:59) They took more out also with the pancreas removal just as far as being able to cut paste back where things would work.

Scott Benner (42:11) Jeez. (42:12) So your body works so much more differently now, but it makes the insulin usage more difficult. (42:18) Yes. (42:19) Yeah. (42:19) What are your outcomes like right now?

Scott Benner (42:21) Only by the way, only six months into finding the podcast and a year into having type three c. (42:27) So, like but where are you at? (42:28) Are your is your variability more variable than you want it to be? (42:33) Is your a one c higher or lower than you want it to be? (42:36) What what's your current situation?

Domino (42:38) My a one c is too low. (42:40) It's 5.3. (42:42) They would like to see that come up, and that's a false a one c in two parts just because of the significant lows.

Scott Benner (42:54) Mhmm.

Domino (42:55) And that a one c can be affected. (43:00) I have macrocytosis, which is a fast turnover of your red red blood cells. (43:07) Mhmm. (43:07) So then there's a younger red blood population and less glycation.

Scott Benner (43:12) Yep.

Domino (43:12) So that can be false also.

Scott Benner (43:16) So it it it's low, but it could be falsely low, but you're having a lot of extended blood sugar lows, so nobody really knows how to gauge what that number really means for you.

Domino (43:25) Right.

Scott Benner (43:26) Yeah.

Domino (43:26) And the frustration for me is which even the struggle with diagnosis, you know, my labs and numbers, everything looks good even though it wasn't. (43:36) And even now, you know, they're you're ninety five percent in range. (43:43) You're you know, this is great. (43:46) This is great. (43:47) But I think, no.

Domino (43:49) You know, when I have two or three hours stretch in the night of a sticky low and seizures. (43:57) And, frequently, that's not

Scott Benner (44:00) How low?

Domino (44:00) Optimal.

Scott Benner (44:01) Yeah. (44:01) No. (44:01) No. (44:02) Not at all. (44:02) How low?

Domino (44:04) I regularly go below the 40 on my Dexcom where it just drops low and with finger six, I've seen in the twenties.

Scott Benner (44:14) And your target on the Omnipod five, we do you keep it at one thirty?

Domino (44:19) I have multiple. (44:21) They want that seventy one eighty, but I do have the one thirty. (44:27) I have 90 to try to catch it, and that's the hard thing with the varying not only digestion, gastric emptying, but the absorption.

Scott Benner (44:40) Mhmm.

Domino (44:40) I have very difficult time absorbing. (44:45) And then also, I'm having early kidney strain from malnutrition. (44:52) So the kidneys are working a little bit harder to flush the insulin out of the potty. (44:58) So sometimes it stays longer, so there's a delayed hypoglycemia.

Scott Benner (45:03) Oh, domino. (45:04) I'm sorry.

Domino (45:05) So That's

Scott Benner (45:06) a lot that's a lot to have to worry about and deal with over and over again. (45:10) Is it controllable at all, based on the foods you eat? (45:16) Like, are there certain needs the foods that you can use to make it work better for you, or is it variable no matter what you do?

Domino (45:22) It's variable, and that's I just had my appointment two weeks ago. (45:30) The malnutrition, malabsorption, the I'm having some nerve effects and brain effects from the seizures. (45:40) I

Scott Benner (45:42) imagine. (45:42) So what are we gonna do? (45:43) Like, wait. (45:44) You're married still. (45:45) Right?

Scott Benner (45:45) That guy, he didn't take off?

Domino (45:47) Yes. (45:47) Yeah.

Scott Benner (45:49) Because because you're a lot, Domino. (45:51) I so, like, I can see if, like

Domino (45:54) I'm a lot.

Scott Benner (45:56) I mean that in a very lovely way. (46:00) Listen. (46:01) Maybe I don't it's not about you. (46:02) It's boys. (46:03) You know what I mean?

Domino (46:03) Right.

Scott Benner (46:05) So good. (46:05) You had a good guy. (46:06) He's hanging with you. (46:07) Like, what would what would since we can't control the the way the food goes through you, like, what would stop these lows? (46:17) Like, have you set up guardrails?

Scott Benner (46:20) Do you get up at the middle of the night and test? (46:21) Does are there anything you've tried that that showing any promise? (46:25) Can we enlist him in helping? (46:27) What can we do?

Domino (46:29) He helps. (46:31) Trouble is sometimes they're just sticky lows. (46:36) They take a long time to get up, and I don't know if the digestion is slower at that time.

Scott Benner (46:42) Mhmm.

Domino (46:44) And, yeah, just absorption, digestion.

Scott Benner (46:47) What do you do for Lowe's when you get low? (46:49) You drink a juice? (46:50) You do what do you do?

Domino (46:52) I primarily been using glucose gel and glucose tabs just to get the most bang.

Scott Benner (46:56) Yeah. (46:57) In your mouth. (46:57) Right? (46:58) Like, trying to absorb through your cheeks. (46:59) Okay.

Domino (47:00) Well, and a lot of times, I'm losing consciousness and having seizures, so the gel is easiest for my husband to rub in the cheek.

Scott Benner (47:09) There's no chance another organ's making insulin inside of that body somewhere. (47:12) Right? (47:13) No. (47:13) No. (47:14) You don't have anything left to give away, but I mean No.

Scott Benner (47:16) Yeah. (47:17) Okay.

Domino (47:17) Well, in a little side note,

Scott Benner (47:19) the

Domino (47:19) glucose, switched to that because there has been a

Scott Benner (47:23) couple

Domino (47:23) times where I've gotten up and they, you know, have gummy bears or something trying to bring it up, and then I lose consciousness. (47:33) And we're both asleep, and I'll wake up with gummy bears in my mouth still. (47:37) So Yeah. (47:38) We don't like liquid.

Scott Benner (47:40) Oh, what the least you can laugh. (47:42) Listen. (47:43) Well,

Domino (47:44) I'm laughing because I told my husband, and he didn't think it was funny. (47:47) And I said, you know, if I die in my sleep choking on gummy bears, please just say I've died in a bear attack. (47:54) Just give me some dignity, please. (47:57) Don't tell him.

Scott Benner (47:59) Oh, Domino, I didn't

Domino (48:00) asphyxiated on gummy bears.

Scott Benner (48:02) I didn't think you were gonna knock me off rogue pancreas, but then there you did it. (48:06) That was awesome.

Domino (48:07) I'm trying to be so behaved. (48:09) I have the most inappropriate dark humor, and I swear like a zipper.

Scott Benner (48:14) No. (48:14) You're fine. (48:15) Please curse away. (48:16) I already cursed once. (48:17) Rob's now listening.

Scott Benner (48:18) Also, Rob, a 100% sure, we're calling this bear attack, so keep that going. (48:29) This episode was too good to cut anything out of, but too long to make just one episode. (48:34) So this is part one. (48:36) Make sure you go find part two right now. (48:37) It's gonna be the next episode in your feed.

Scott Benner (48:42) The podcast you just enjoyed was sponsored by Tandem Diabetes Care. (48:46) Learn more about Tandem's newest automated insulin delivery system, Tandem Mobi with Control IQ plus technology at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. (48:56) There are links in the show notes and links at juiceboxpodcast.com. (49:02) Are you tired of getting a rash from your CGM adhesive? (49:05) Give the Eversense three sixty five a try.

Scott Benner (49:08) Eversense c g m dot com slash juice box. (49:11) Beautiful silicone that they use. (49:13) It changes every day. (49:14) Keeps it fresh. (49:15) Not only that, you only have to change the sensor once a year.

Scott Benner (49:19) So, I mean, that's better. (49:23) Okay. (49:23) Well, here we are at the end of the episode. (49:25) You're still with me? (49:26) Thank you.

Scott Benner (49:27) I really do appreciate that. (49:28) What else could you do for me? (49:30) Why don't you tell a friend about the show or leave a five star review? (49:34) Maybe you could make sure you're following or subscribed in your podcast app, go to YouTube and follow me, or Instagram, TikTok. (49:43) Oh, gosh.

Scott Benner (49:44) Here's one. (49:45) Make sure you're following the podcast in the private Facebook group as well as the public Facebook page. (49:51) You don't wanna miss please, do you not know about the private group? (49:54) You have to join the private group. (49:56) As of this recording, it has 74,000 members.

Scott Benner (49:59) They're active talking about diabetes. (50:02) Whatever you need to know, there's a conversation happening in there right now. (50:06) And I'm there all the time. (50:07) Tag me. (50:08) I'll say hi.

Scott Benner (50:10) Hey. (50:10) I'm dropping in to tell you about a small change being made to the Juice Cruise twenty twenty six schedule. (50:15) This adjustment was made by Celebrity Cruise Lines, not by me. (50:18) Anyway, we're still going out on the Celebrity Beyond cruise ship, which is awesome. (50:22) Check out the walkthrough video at juiceboxpodcast.com/juicecruise.

Scott Benner (50:27) The ship is awesome. (50:29) Still a seven night cruise. (50:31) It still leaves out of Miami on June 21. (50:34) Actually, most of this is the same. (50:35) We leave Miami June 21, head to Coco Cay in The Bahamas, but then we're going to San Juan, Puerto Rico instead of Saint Thomas.

Scott Benner (50:43) After that, Bastille, I think I'm saying that wrong, Saint Kitts And Nevis. (50:47) This place is gorgeous. (50:49) Google it. (50:50) I mean, you're probably gonna have to go to my link to get the correct spelling because my pronunciation is so bad. (50:54) But once you get the Saint Kitts and you Google it, you're gonna and see a photo that says to you, oh, I wanna go there.

Scott Benner (51:01) Come meet other people living with type one diabetes from caregivers to children to adults. (51:07) Last year, we had a 100 people on our cruise, and it was fabulous. (51:12) You can see pictures to get at my link juiceboxpodcast.com/juicecruise. (51:17) You can see those pictures from last year there. (51:19) The link also gives you an opportunity to register for the cruise or to contact Suzanne from Cruise Planners.

Scott Benner (51:25) She takes care of all the logistics. (51:27) I'm just excited that I might see you there. (51:30) It's a beautiful event for families, for singles, a wonderful opportunity to meet people, swap stories, make friendships, and learn. (51:39) My grand rounds series was designed by listeners to tell doctors what they need, and it also helps you to understand what to ask for. (51:47) There's a mental wellness series that addresses the emotional side of diabetes and practical ways to stay balanced.

Scott Benner (51:53) And when we talk about GLP medications, well, we'll break down what they are, how they may help you, and if they fit into your diabetes management plan. (52:01) What do these three things have in common? (52:03) They're all available at juiceboxpodcast.com up in the menu. (52:07) I know it can be hard to find these things in a podcast app, so we've collected them all for you at juiceboxpodcast.com. (52:14) If you have a podcast and you need a fantastic editor, you want Rob from Wrong Way Recording.

Scott Benner (52:20) Listen. (52:21) Truth be told, I'm, like, 20% smarter when Rob edits me. (52:25) He takes out all the, like, gaps of time and when I go, and stuff like that. (52:30) And it just I don't know, man. (52:31) Like, I listen back, and I'm like, why do I sound smarter?

Scott Benner (52:34) And then I remember because I did one smart thing. (52:37) I hired Rob at wrongwayrecording.com.

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