Scott Benner 2/15/26 Scott Benner 2/15/26

#1773 Tandem Kids: Eli

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In this episode of the Juicebox Podcast, host Scott Benner interviews eight-year-old Eli at the Friends for Life conference in July 2025. Eli, who has had Type 1 diabetes for about a year and a half, shares his journey from a high-blood-sugar diagnosis to managing his condition with the latest technology.

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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) I attended my first ever Friends for Life conference in July 2025. (0:05) And while I was there, I interviewed eight children of various ages, all who wear a Tandem pump. (0:10) I wanna thank Tandem Diabetes for sponsoring this short episode of the Juice Box podcast. (0:16) Check them out at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. (0:22) Nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise.

Scott Benner (0:28) Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan. (0:35) The episode you're about to listen to is sponsored by Tandem Moby, the impressively small insulin pump. (0:41) Tandem Moby features Tandem's newest algorithm, Control IQ Plus technology. (0:46) It's designed for greater discretion, more freedom, and improved time and range. (0:50) Learn more and get started today at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox.

Scott Benner (1:06) Hey. (1:07) How are you?

Kate (1:07) Good. (1:08) How are you?

Scott Benner (1:08) Excellent. (1:09) Thank you. (1:09) What's your name?

Kate (1:10) Kate. (1:11) Kate.

Scott Benner (1:11) How old are you? (1:12) 15. (1:12) 15. (1:13) How long have you got type one diabetes?

Kate (1:15) Since I was three, so twelve years.

Scott Benner (1:17) Three. (1:17) I like that you did the math for me. (1:19) I didn't have to do it. (1:20) Thank you. (1:21) Twelve years.

Scott Benner (1:22) Does it feel like it's been that long?

Kate (1:25) No. (1:25) I kinda just feel like I've had it my whole life because I don't remember, like, what it is without.

Scott Benner (1:29) Yeah. (1:30) Do you remember anything about being diagnosed?

Kate (1:32) No. (1:33) I don't.

Scott Benner (1:33) Not at all. (1:34) Do do people tell you about it?

Kate (1:36) My mom told me I was in Target when I figured out, like, I got being, like, I had to pee a lot. (1:42) I was very thirsty. (1:43) And then she was, like, kinda figured out.

Scott Benner (1:45) So your mom figured it out at Target?

Kate (1:47) Yeah.

Scott Benner (1:47) Right. (1:48) So you're, like did she tell you how? (1:50) Does she know other people that have type one?

Kate (1:52) Well, she had it. (1:53) She's had I don't know how long she's had it, but she has it and so is my brother.

Scott Benner (1:57) Oh, so your mom has type one? (1:58) Yeah. (1:59) Your brother is how old?

Kate (2:00) He's 13.

Scott Benner (2:01) How long has he had it for?

Kate (2:03) He's had antibodies since three, but he was diagnosed

Scott Benner (2:09) Recently?

Kate (2:09) Yeah. (2:10) Like, a couple years.

Scott Benner (2:11) Okay.

Kate (2:11) Like, maybe four.

Scott Benner (2:12) You don't know how old your mom was when she was diagnosed?

Kate (2:14) She was in her twenties or late teens.

Scott Benner (2:17) And how old does she now? (2:19) Interesting. (2:20) And your grandmother's phone number? (2:22) Okay. (2:23) Alright.

Scott Benner (2:24) So you don't your mom is probably in her late teens or twenties.

Kate (2:28) Yes.

Scott Benner (2:29) Right? (2:29) And you don't know how old she is now? (2:31) No. (2:31) No. (2:32) Is she in her forties, her fifties?

Kate (2:34) She's in her forties. (2:35) You sure? (2:36) Yes. (2:37) 43.

Scott Benner (2:39) Yeah. (2:39) I mean, are you asking me or are you telling me? (2:42) She's 43. (2:43) You're definitely 15, though. (2:45) Right?

Scott Benner (2:45) Yes. (2:45) How can you be certain? (2:47) Do you know your phone number?

Kate (2:49) Yes.

Scott Benner (2:49) Okay. (2:49) Alright.

Kate (2:50) Yes. (2:50) Alright.

Scott Benner (2:50) Well, okay. (2:51) So you don't remember anything about being diagnosed?

Kate (2:53) No.

Scott Benner (2:53) Alright. (2:54) That's fair. (2:55) Do you do any activities at school or sports or anything

Kate (2:57) like that? (2:58) Yes. (2:58) I've been playing field hockey and lacrosse. (3:00) I've played lacrosse since COVID, and then field hockey, I just started two years ago.

Scott Benner (3:04) Okay. (3:04) Lacrosse? (3:06) Yes. (3:06) Field hockey? (3:07) Yes.

Scott Benner (3:08) Can I ask a question?

Kate (3:09) Yeah.

Scott Benner (3:10) Wouldn't it be easier if they made the stick longer?

Kate (3:12) Yeah. (3:13) I'm too tall for field hockey.

Scott Benner (3:14) Why? (3:15) I don't understand. (3:16) Because it's always like this. (3:18) Right? (3:18) Yeah.

Scott Benner (3:19) Does it I mean, right, everybody? (3:22) Like, why is the field hockey stick not longer?

Kate (3:25) It hurts my back. (3:26) Right.

Scott Benner (3:27) But have you ever gotten whacked with a ball?

Kate (3:30) I I mean, like, on my shins and stuff, but I have shin guards.

Scott Benner (3:33) So But it would hurt otherwise? (3:35) Yes. (3:35) You ever see anybody take one in the head?

Kate (3:36) Yes. (3:37) That, like, just happened, like, three weeks ago. (3:39) She got hit right here and she had go get stitches.

Scott Benner (3:41) Unless they're crying?

Kate (3:42) Yes.

Scott Benner (3:42) Did you cry?

Kate (3:43) I would

Scott Benner (3:43) have cried. (3:43) No. (3:44) No. (3:44) I would have been like, well, there's so much. (3:45) Please stop.

Scott Benner (3:46) What's it like playing with type one? (3:48) What do you have to do to get through the game?

Kate (3:50) It's hard. (3:51) I hate when I go low because I don't really take the initiative to go out because, like, especially when we're running as a team because we're, like, for a consequence, I'm always like, oh, if I go out then, like, I'm like, I should be running because it's a consequence for the team. (4:03) So if I go out, like, I think it looks bad on me.

Scott Benner (4:06) Okay.

Kate (4:06) So sometimes

Scott Benner (4:07) So you're not taking care of your lows because you're afraid No.

Kate (4:09) No. (4:10) No. (4:10) I do.

Scott Benner (4:10) I just But but but it's you you're not as in like, you don't wanna go off the field.

Kate (4:14) Yeah. (4:14) I don't wanna.

Scott Benner (4:15) Okay.

Kate (4:15) But I do.

Scott Benner (4:16) How often does do does that happen, though, while you're playing? (4:18) It's a lot of running. (4:19) Right?

Kate (4:20) Yeah. (4:21) That's like the whole game. (4:23) I don't go low, like, a lot, but when I do, I don't like to come out.

Scott Benner (4:27) Okay. (4:27) Alright. (4:28) So what do you do?

Kate (4:30) Well, I just, like, signal my coaches and they know. (4:32) So I just come off. (4:33) I eat a pack of gummies, and I try to go back in as soon as possible.

Scott Benner (4:36) You can't, like, run down the sideline and grab something? (4:38) Like, one of runners are doing the thing.

Kate (4:40) I wish.

Scott Benner (4:41) Does your mom come to the games?

Kate (4:42) Yeah. (4:42) She comes.

Scott Benner (4:43) She's screaming and yell? (4:44) Like, happy, screaming

Kate (4:45) and yelling. (4:46) She's cheering?

Scott Benner (4:46) Yeah. (4:46) Like, she's not yelling at you. (4:47) No. (4:48) No. (4:48) No.

Scott Benner (4:48) She's better, Kate. (4:49) It's not like that. (4:50) Right? (4:50) No. (4:50) She's like, yay, Kate.

Scott Benner (4:52) What what what pump are you using?

Kate (4:54) T slim.

Scott Benner (4:54) T slim. (4:55) What made you get it?

Kate (4:57) I I thought, like, having the tube would look cool, to be honest.

Scott Benner (5:02) Really? (5:02) Yes. (5:03) Alright. (5:03) Okay.

Kate (5:04) So that was, like, the first thing. (5:05) And then I also loved having, like, my blood sugar on me while playing because I used to not have that because I was on loop. (5:11) So I would just have to feel low. (5:12) And when for me to feel low, I get into the low fifties or forties.

Scott Benner (5:16) Okay.

Kate (5:16) So I wanna catch that before that.

Scott Benner (5:18) So you like the feedback on the screen?

Kate (5:20) Yes. (5:20) I love it. (5:21) Awesome.

Scott Benner (5:21) You love it?

Kate (5:22) Yes. (5:22) Alright.

Scott Benner (5:23) Awesome. (5:23) But but going back to the other thing, you thought the tubing would look cool?

Kate (5:26) Yes.

Scott Benner (5:28) Please walk me through that.

Kate (5:29) I don't know. (5:30) I was like, I like showing it off.

Scott Benner (5:32) You do?

Kate (5:33) Yes. (5:33) How cool? (5:34) I used to not, actually.

Scott Benner (5:35) How how what do you think changed that? (5:37) So at one point, you didn't want people to know your your stuff, but now you want them to know. (5:41) What do you think changed?

Kate (5:44) I like I don't know. (5:45) I feel like just embracing it so people know because there's, like, there's all those stereotypes. (5:50) So when people ask me questions, it kinda clarifies to them, like, what type one really is and not just what they think it is.

Scott Benner (5:56) So it's important for you that other people understand the reality of it. (6:00) Mhmm. (6:00) Why do you think that's important to you?

Kate (6:03) Because I've had the stereotype said, oh, you get it from eating too much sugar, this and this. (6:08) And like, I don't let it affect me, at the end of the day, it hurts because it's not the truth. (6:12) Yeah. (6:12) So like, when I tell them that, they get clarification of what it really is. (6:16) So hopefully, they can stop saying those things.

Scott Benner (6:18) Nice. (6:18) Do you have a lot of friends? (6:19) Yes. (6:20) Did they all know about your diabetes? (6:21) Yes.

Scott Benner (6:21) Yeah. (6:22) If somebody isn't interested in your diabetes, are you not interested in being their friend or does it not

Kate (6:27) I mean It's okay. (6:31) Mean, I don't like I don't want them to say anything bad about diabetes, but like if, like, a lot of my friends just don't they don't care that I have it. (6:40) Like, not not in the bad way, just in the good way. (6:42) They're not just like, oh, like, can you eat this? (6:44) Like, they're not worried about me.

Kate (6:45) Like, when I'm low, they are worried about me, but, like, it's not like it's not in between the friendship, if that makes sense.

Scott Benner (6:51) So you like that your friends understand it, that they're interested

Kate (6:54) Yeah.

Scott Benner (6:54) And that the people who maybe are not, like, super interested are still cool about it.

Kate (6:59) Yeah. (6:59) Like, my close friends, they all understand what it is and, like, I've told them how to use my nasal spray if I ever pass out, so they all know how to use it. (7:07) When I'm low, they're very, like, Kate, stop. (7:09) Like, stop what you're doing. (7:10) Take a break even when I don't wanna do that.

Scott Benner (7:12) Do you get giddy or weird? (7:13) Do they how do they know you're low?

Kate (7:16) They it beeps, so they hear that. (7:18) And then when I'm super low, I can get kinda rude. (7:21) So

Scott Benner (7:22) You get rude? (7:23) Yeah. (7:23) Do you curse at people? (7:24) No. (7:25) No?

Scott Benner (7:25) But you're rude.

Kate (7:26) I can be. (7:26) I can just have a little chip on my shoulder.

Scott Benner (7:28) Yeah. (7:28) Yeah. (7:29) Do you know what's happening when it's happening?

Kate (7:31) I can feel when I'm low, but like

Scott Benner (7:33) But you know what I'm saying? (7:34) Like, right now, you seem very pleasant. (7:36) Yeah. (7:36) You're generally a pleasant person?

Kate (7:37) Yeah.

Scott Benner (7:37) Right. (7:38) So you're not being rude to me right now? (7:39) No. (7:39) If you started being rude to me, you would know.

Kate (7:42) I mean, it's only to my family, to be honest. (7:44) Oh. (7:44) It's only to my family.

Scott Benner (7:45) You love. (7:46) Yeah. (7:46) Yeah. (7:47) But do but while you're saying the words, do you know it's happening? (7:50) Like, are you, like, I am being rude now or is

Kate (7:52) it No. (7:52) My mom's like, Kate, you're low. (7:54) Like, take a break.

Scott Benner (7:56) We used to tell my daughter, we're gonna test your blood sugar. (7:58) And if you're not low, you're in trouble. (8:02) Yeah. (8:03) You know what I mean? (8:03) Because I get the difference between it and Yeah.

Scott Benner (8:05) Just being a jerk. (8:06) Right. (8:07) Right. (8:08) Okay. (8:08) So you play a ton of sports.

Scott Benner (8:10) T Slim helps you with that a lot.

Kate (8:11) Yes. (8:12) A lot.

Scott Benner (8:12) That's awesome. (8:13) Okay. (8:14) Do you have any other things? (8:15) Every kid that's been here has played an instrument. (8:17) Do you play an instrument?

Kate (8:18) No. (8:18) I don't. (8:18) I used to in fifth grade, though.

Scott Benner (8:20) What'd you play?

Kate (8:21) The violin, maybe? (8:22) The violet? (8:23) One of those two.

Scott Benner (8:24) The violin, maybe?

Kate (8:25) Or the violet. (8:26) I we're but it's one they're, like, twins. (8:29) I don't know which one.

Scott Benner (8:30) I mean, I don't know. (8:31) I don't

Kate (8:32) It's the one that's deeper. (8:33) I don't know which one that is.

Scott Benner (8:35) Was it, like, the last instrument left when you were kicking?

Kate (8:38) Probably. (8:39) She

Scott Benner (8:39) gets stuck with it, like, your acoustic cage doesn't look serious about this? (8:42) Probably. (8:43) Did you hate playing it?

Kate (8:44) Yes. (8:44) I really did.

Scott Benner (8:46) Did you hate the playing it? (8:47) Did you hate the

Kate (8:47) I just hated everything

Scott Benner (8:48) about it. (8:49) Everything about playing the violet Yes. (8:51) Which I don't think is real. (8:52) I feel like you've made that up. (8:53) But, like, can someone look?

Scott Benner (8:55) Is a violet a real thing? (8:56) It's like no. (8:57) Violet looks incredibly embarrassed. (8:59) Oh, looks like calm.

Kate (9:01) Viola? (9:01) Maybe it's

Scott Benner (9:02) The viola? (9:04) The violet? (9:05) No. (9:05) There's two of them. (9:06) What's your grandmother's phone number?

Scott Benner (9:08) Yeah. (9:08) Okay. (9:09) Alright. (9:09) Alright. (9:10) Alright.

Scott Benner (9:10) Do you know any famous people have type one diabetes that you look up to?

Kate (9:15) I mean, no. (9:19) I mean, I know Charlotte, the gymnastics person.

Scott Benner (9:21) I've talked to I've interviewed Charlotte. (9:23) She's awesome.

Kate (9:23) Yeah. (9:24) Yeah. (9:24) I I mean, I look up to her.

Scott Benner (9:26) She was wasn't she trampoline? (9:28) Yeah. (9:28) I remember interviewing her and saying, like, you were in the Olympics for trampoline? (9:32) Like, that's a thing? (9:33) It was, actually.

Kate (9:34) Yes.

Scott Benner (9:35) Yeah. (9:35) She's awesome.

Kate (9:36) Yeah. (9:36) She seemed really cool.

Scott Benner (9:37) I spent a lot of time after I interviewed her, when we were done recording, talking to her and her girlfriend. (9:44) Her girlfriend's, like, famous too. (9:45) Right? (9:46) Like, she's like a gymnast that's why you said gymnastics. (9:49) I think it's she's she's a I think she's an Olympic gymnast.

Kate (9:52) Oh. (9:52) Yeah.

Scott Benner (9:53) Yeah. (9:53) So

Kate (9:53) Well, I used to I had her merch when she was in the in the Olympics.

Scott Benner (9:57) You had a what? (9:58) Her

Kate (9:58) merch. (9:58) She had, like

Scott Benner (9:59) Oh, she had bling and you were Yes.

Kate (10:01) You were I was rocking

Scott Benner (10:02) you were repping it? (10:02) Yeah. (10:02) Yeah. (10:03) Yeah. (10:03) What made you so before tandem, did you use a different pump?

Kate (10:06) Yeah. (10:06) I used lube.

Scott Benner (10:07) You were looping? (10:08) Mhmm. (10:09) Why did you switch, do you think?

Kate (10:14) It took a lot to switch, I think. (10:15) I I really liked Loop, but then I think I want something new. (10:20) I didn't really know much about t slim at the time. (10:22) Okay. (10:22) So I was just like, why not give it a shot?

Kate (10:24) And right before t slim, I was actually gonna go on Islet. (10:27) And I was on that for a week and absolutely hated it because my blood sugar was, 300 the whole time.

Scott Benner (10:33) You didn't like islet, but you were look so you were just looking for something different. (10:36) Yeah. (10:37) And then you tried something, didn't like it

Kate (10:39) Yeah.

Scott Benner (10:40) Tried again. (10:41) You're just very open.

Kate (10:42) Yeah.

Scott Benner (10:42) This was this was your mom doing this? (10:44) Like, I'm stumbling on my words. (10:45) Did your mom make this decision or was it you?

Kate (10:48) It was kind of like both of us. (10:49) My mom wants the best for me and she she knows a lot about all the pumps, so she's not gonna put me on some pump that she knows won't work for me, so she kinda let me trial them. (10:58) Okay. (10:58) And if I liked them and she thought it was good for me, we kinda both agreed on that.

Scott Benner (11:01) Nice. (11:02) Well, that's interesting. (11:03) Do you think did you, like, look at what other people were doing? (11:05) Just look online?

Kate (11:07) I think my mom just threw the idea out, and I was just like, sure. (11:10) Why not?

Scott Benner (11:10) Yeah. (11:11) So Look at why do you have such a good personality? (11:13) Like, why are you so friendly? (11:14) What's going on? (11:15) Did were you raised well?

Kate (11:17) Yes.

Scott Benner (11:18) Do you think that that's what just what she wants you to say, or do you really feel like you've you've been raised well? (11:22) No.

Kate (11:23) I have been raised well.

Scott Benner (11:24) Oh, okay. (11:24) Because you were very, like, like, engaging and, like, fresh. (11:28) You're, like, making a lot of eye contact with me.

Kate (11:30) I'm shocked I am. (11:31) I'm really bad at eye contact.

Scott Benner (11:33) No kidding. (11:33) Me too. (11:34) Did you say you had brothers and sisters or did I not ask?

Kate (11:36) Yes. (11:37) I do.

Scott Benner (11:37) Any and and brother has type one, mom has type one. (11:41) Any other autoimmune stuff in your family? (11:43) Somebody got a thyroid thing or celiac or anything like that?

Kate (11:46) So my brother, Ryan, he he would his blood well, wait. (11:52) I forget how it goes. (11:54) He he was gluten free, but he wasn't diagnosed with celiac. (11:57) His, blood test came back really high. (12:00) So we just had him, like, be on celiac, but he wasn't, like, actually diagnosed.

Kate (12:07) So he is gonna get scoped, I think, in a couple months and don't make sure it's, like, for sure. (12:13) So

Scott Benner (12:13) Does he have actual like, they they have what they call silent celiac where, like, he doesn't have any symptoms or does he have symptoms?

Kate (12:18) He doesn't have symptoms. (12:19) Apart from his blood sugar, like, in his mood. (12:22) You can see it in his mood when he has gluten. (12:24) Really? (12:24) Yeah.

Kate (12:25) Sometimes.

Scott Benner (12:25) So if you're low and he's had gluten, we're fighting. (12:29) Right?

Kate (12:29) Or if we're both low. (12:31) Yeah. (12:31) Not a good space.

Scott Benner (12:32) Oh, no kidding. (12:33) Yeah. (12:33) How do you I'm so sorry, mom. (12:35) If they're both low, how do you decide which one to go to first? (12:38) Does one of whoever's

Kate (12:40) the lowest.

Scott Benner (12:41) Is it whoever's lowest or do you trust one of them over the other ones so go to the

Kate (12:44) I actually have had twice in their lives where I treated them on the kid. (12:48) Have you actually? (12:49) Yeah. (12:50) Have I wait. (12:50) Do you do you think I'm do you think I'm moody when I'm low?

Kate (12:53) Okay. (12:54) I was making sure I'm

Scott Benner (12:54) So you're telling me that there's been a time where you've gone into Kate's room, jammed a juice box in her face, and then realized her brother was low, not her. (13:01) That's an awesome story. (13:03) That's where you can come on the podcast whenever you want. (13:06) That's awesome. (13:07) Oh my god.

Scott Benner (13:08) So and then she gets so now you're treating him, then you gotta come back in and give her insulin, and you're up for three hours after that, just beating yourself up the whole time. (13:17) While are you married? (13:18) Yeah. (13:18) While your husband's sound asleep? (13:20) Yeah.

Scott Benner (13:20) Yeah.

Kate (13:20) Yeah. (13:20) Yeah. (13:21) Yeah.

Scott Benner (13:21) I gotcha. (13:22) I know how this all works. (13:23) Awesome. (13:24) You're very friendly.

Kate (13:25) Thanks.

Scott Benner (13:27) Do people like her? (13:28) They do. (13:29) Right? (13:30) Yeah. (13:30) You're very likable.

Scott Benner (13:31) Do you know that about yourself?

Kate (13:33) I mean, I hope so.

Scott Benner (13:34) No. (13:35) No. (13:35) No. (13:35) Stop it. (13:36) Do you know that about yourself?

Kate (13:37) I don't know.

Scott Benner (13:38) Wait. (13:38) Stop. (13:39) Like, forget what you think people think. (13:41) Like, when you think of yourself in the world, do you think I'm a friendly person, people like me? (13:45) Yeah.

Scott Benner (13:45) Yeah. (13:45) You like that about yourself?

Kate (13:47) Yeah. (13:47) Of course.

Scott Benner (13:47) Okay. (13:48) Do you take this attitude into your diabetes? (13:51) Like, do you, like, gleefully pre bolus your meals without being

Kate (13:54) No.

Scott Benner (13:54) No. (13:55) Does she yell at you all day long? (13:57) Pre bolus. (13:58) You have to pre bolus.

Kate (13:59) I'll I'll, like, eat, like, dinner or lunch or something, and I'll, like, go up high. (14:03) And she's like, okay. (14:04) Did you cover ten minutes before? (14:05) I'm like, I covered while I was eating.

Scott Benner (14:06) While you were eating? (14:08) But do you pre bolus? (14:10) No. (14:10) Of course not. (14:10) Nobody does.

Scott Benner (14:11) It's very hard to for nobody to do it. (14:12) Yes. (14:12) But so she doesn't pre bolus and she tells you to do

Kate (14:14) it. (14:15) Basically.

Scott Benner (14:15) They call it hypocrisy. (14:17) You know that. (14:17) Right?

Kate (14:18) Yes.

Scott Benner (14:18) Yeah. (14:18) Do you ever throw it back in her face?

Kate (14:20) No. (14:20) Because I I thought she actually prebolist.

Scott Benner (14:22) Oh, we've learned something today. (14:24) Hey. (14:24) Listen. (14:24) The last kid's getting a puppy out of me, so just be happy. (14:27) This is all that's happening right now.

Scott Benner (14:29) Like, two kids ago. (14:30) Alright. (14:31) Let's slow down a second. (14:32) We're having too much fun. (14:33) Do you understand?

Scott Benner (14:34) We're not getting to other questions. (14:37) You don't have a hero with diabetes, but you've met but you yeah. (14:40) You have

Kate (14:41) strong hero.

Scott Benner (14:42) But you're look at you. (14:44) Do you mean that?

Kate (14:45) I swear.

Scott Benner (14:45) Say it again. (14:46) Who's your your hero? (14:47) My mom. (14:48) Why?

Kate (14:48) Because she has diabetes, she always has my back, and she's just, like, a bigger role model, and I just always look up to her.

Scott Benner (14:54) Oh, you're trying to make me cry? (14:57) Well, I'm misty now. (15:00) My family tells me that if one tear comes out, it's crying. (15:02) I say it's getting welled up, but apparently, that's not a a great stuff, but you really just made me feel very emotional. (15:10) Aw.

Scott Benner (15:10) Aw. (15:11) Do you think it made your mom feel emotional? (15:13) Aw.

Kate (15:13) You know that.

Scott Benner (15:15) Do you know? (15:16) Yeah? (15:17) Aw. (15:18) Look at this. (15:18) This is so nice.

Scott Benner (15:19) I'm warm now. (15:23) These are all the things that when I make the podcast, nobody sees where I'm, like, visually fanning myself, trying not to cry and stuff like that. (15:29) She was so nice. (15:31) Have you ever told her that before?

Kate (15:33) Yeah. (15:33) I mean, when people ask me, like, in school and stuff, they're like, oh, write someone to, like, mister Herrera. (15:39) I was like, write to her.

Scott Benner (15:40) Oh, that's really lovely. (15:41) Yeah. (15:42) You've made my day. (15:43) Thank you. (15:44) Are you doing here at at the event?

Scott Benner (15:46) Are you, like I I it's called Friends for Life. (15:49) Do you come often or is this your first time?

Kate (15:51) So I've been to, Florida last year, and then before that, I've been to, like, their mini conferences, like like, around where they have them.

Scott Benner (15:59) Yeah. (15:59) Where are you from?

Kate (16:00) Pennsylvania.

Scott Benner (16:01) Oh, stop. (16:02) This is why we're getting along so well. (16:04) Where where like, I'm from Philly.

Kate (16:05) I'm near the Hershey area in Harrisburg.

Scott Benner (16:07) No kidding.

Kate (16:08) In that area.

Scott Benner (16:09) My son went to college out that way.

Kate (16:10) Oh.

Scott Benner (16:10) Yeah. (16:11) I don't want you all to know where my son went to college, but, like, yeah, right out there. (16:15) So this is interesting. (16:17) You're right in the middle.

Kate (16:18) Yeah.

Scott Benner (16:19) Eagles, Steelers.

Kate (16:21) What if I told you Ravens?

Scott Benner (16:23) It's fine with me. (16:24) It's right there. (16:25) Right?

Kate (16:25) Yeah.

Scott Benner (16:26) Pirates, Phillies?

Kate (16:27) I don't not really. (16:29) Yeah.

Scott Benner (16:30) Alright. (16:30) Do you wanna go to college and take that stick and hit girls in college with it?

Kate (16:33) Lacrosse. (16:34) Yes. (16:34) Yeah. (16:35) I I look to do that Yeah. (16:37) Hopefully.

Scott Benner (16:38) So we don't hit

Kate (16:40) We don't hit them. (16:41) We hit the goalie.

Scott Benner (16:41) Do you you whack, like, a little bit, though. (16:43) Right? (16:43) I

Kate (16:44) can. (16:44) I can hit their stick

Scott Benner (16:45) Yeah.

Kate (16:45) As long as they have it low enough.

Scott Benner (16:47) Do you love it? (16:47) Like, do you love, like, the hitting?

Kate (16:49) I mean, it's like the accomplishment of smacking the ball out of their stick and my coach cheering. (16:53) So Yeah. (16:54) That's what keeps me going.

Scott Benner (16:55) That's oh, so you're very competitive. (16:58) No? (16:58) Does your blood sugar go up while you're playing? (17:00) Like

Kate (17:01) Yeah. (17:01) Yeah.

Scott Benner (17:01) Because your adrenaline gets going?

Kate (17:02) I I see that a lot, actually.

Scott Benner (17:04) Right. (17:04) After the game, do you get a big drop off afterwards or does the

Kate (17:08) After a little bit, like, feel like right after the game, I'm like double up and it's like, really? (17:12) Wow. (17:13) But then I do come spiking down once I go to sleep.

Scott Benner (17:15) So you are like competitive. (17:18) Yeah. (17:18) That's how we figured out my daughter was. (17:20) We used to when we, we learned that we had to bolus before a sporting event if she felt competitive.

Kate (17:26) Had she felt fit?

Scott Benner (17:27) So here's what would happen. (17:29) We learned this during basketball when she was, like, young. (17:32) We'd show up at this, like, wreck basketball game And some days, her blood sugar would shoot up and some days, it wouldn't.

Kate (17:37) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (17:37) And so we finally figured out, like, a lot of trial and error. (17:41) Like, eventually, the first thing we did was we just bolus no matter what.

Kate (17:45) Yeah.

Scott Benner (17:45) And then if she started to get low, we just basically, we'd bolus the equivalent of a juice box. (17:50) That would stop the spike. (17:52) But if she didn't need it, then we just like, it was like pre bolus in the juice box in Allstate. (17:57) Then we figured out one day that she was super competitive and if she got there and the girls on the other team looked like little killers, that she got ramped up. (18:07) But if she thought she was gonna run them over, her blood sugar didn't go up.

Kate (18:10) That's crazy.

Scott Benner (18:10) Like, that literally worked out. (18:12) So then we'd show up. (18:13) I feel bad saying this. (18:14) We'd show up at the game, look at the other team. (18:16) If they look like marshmallows, we didn't bowl us.

Scott Benner (18:18) And if they look like killers, we'd give her insulin. (18:20) And that actually worked.

Kate (18:22) That's cool, though.

Scott Benner (18:23) Yeah. (18:23) Yeah. (18:23) Yeah. (18:23) Marshmallow is marshmallows the way to say, like, soft, I guess. (18:26) Right?

Scott Benner (18:26) They just didn't look like they were gonna put up a You know? (18:29) And they they like, their parents drug them to basketball.

Kate (18:31) Yeah. (18:31) And they didn't I get what that looks like.

Scott Benner (18:33) Yeah. (18:33) What what kind what do you wanna do in college?

Kate (18:36) It's so hard to say. (18:37) Like, I'm like I was looking at, like, I love kids. (18:40) I love I have two younger brothers. (18:42) One's four and one's two.

Scott Benner (18:43) Yeah.

Kate (18:43) And I just love working with kids, but then it's I I volunteered at preschool and I've seen how hard that is. (18:51) I'm just like Yeah. (18:51) Straining.

Scott Benner (18:52) Yeah.

Kate (18:52) And it just kinda put a new perspective, like, through my eyes. (18:55) I'm like, do I really wanna work with kids in the water?

Scott Benner (18:57) You ever have a puppy?

Kate (18:58) I've had one. (18:59) I mean, he's older now.

Scott Benner (19:00) It's hard too. (19:01) Right? (19:01) Yeah. (19:01) Kids are, like, a thousand times harder than that, and they yell at you sometimes. (19:05) Oh, yeah.

Scott Benner (19:05) Yeah. (19:05) Yeah. (19:06) Yeah. (19:06) It's hard.

Kate (19:06) I get that with my brother. (19:07) Yeah? (19:08) Yes. (19:08) It's like it's like arguing with, like, a 15 year old kid.

Scott Benner (19:11) How old is he?

Kate (19:12) He's four.

Scott Benner (19:13) Why is it, like, arguing with a 15 year old? (19:16) Because he doesn't give up?

Kate (19:16) First of all, he always gets his way. (19:20) Mom.

Scott Benner (19:21) Go ahead.

Kate (19:23) And Your

Scott Benner (19:24) mom's just tired. (19:24) You know that. (19:25) Right?

Kate (19:26) Well, she's like, you're the bigger person. (19:28) Why are you arguing with a four year old kid? (19:30) And I'm like

Scott Benner (19:32) Anytime she says something from now on, you should go, why don't you pre bolus? (19:36) I'm going to. (19:37) There you are.

Kate (19:38) He just, like, he just steps on my toes. (19:39) It's like, he just messes with me.

Scott Benner (19:42) Yeah. (19:42) On purpose. (19:43) Yeah. (19:43) Yeah. (19:44) Yeah.

Scott Benner (19:44) They have a lot of energy. (19:45) Like puppies.

Kate (19:46) I love them, though.

Scott Benner (19:46) Yeah? (19:47) Yes. (19:47) That's nice to hear.

Kate (19:48) Yes. (19:48) I I swear. (19:49) I love all my brothers.

Scott Benner (19:50) You're the only girl?

Kate (19:51) Yes.

Scott Benner (19:52) Is that how do you feel like more of, like, because there's all boys around you, is it make is it does it do you wish you had a sister, I guess?

Kate (20:00) No. (20:01) No. (20:01) So when there's a big age gap, obviously. (20:04) So when my mom told us she was pregnant with the with Leith, my four year old brother, I was like, oh, I wanted to be a girl. (20:10) Like, come on, like, girl, but it wasn't.

Kate (20:12) Yeah. (20:12) And then when Zayd came around, the two year old, I was like, no girl.

Scott Benner (20:16) No girl.

Kate (20:16) I was like, I just wanna I like being a only girl. (20:19) Yeah. (20:19) It's like it's a special connection with my mom

Scott Benner (20:21) Oh.

Kate (20:21) That I get to share.

Scott Benner (20:22) That's nice. (20:23) Do you you mean that? (20:23) You're not just trying to

Kate (20:24) I swear I'm your I swear.

Scott Benner (20:25) Oh, that's lovely. (20:26) I feel like you have this thing. (20:27) Yeah. (20:28) Okay. (20:29) If you so you have three people in your house have type one.

Scott Benner (20:32) What's a great piece of advice for another kid with type one diabetes?

Kate (20:36) Don't let it, like, take too much of your life. (20:39) Like, live your life how you, like, want to. (20:42) Don't let it be such a block in it. (20:44) Yes. (20:44) It's hard to do that, but I sometimes just try to, like, not ignore it, but just, like, do things I really wanna do without it getting in my way.

Scott Benner (20:53) You want it be in the background.

Kate (20:54) Kinda.

Scott Benner (20:55) But you need to so how do you keep the balance? (20:57) Like, because you have to be focused on it to some degree, but you don't wanna be overwhelmed by it. (21:01) Yeah. (21:01) How do you find the balance?

Kate (21:03) Wait. (21:03) Hold on.

Scott Benner (21:04) You understand the question? (21:05) Alright.

Kate (21:06) Yeah. (21:06) I get I gotta find the balance.

Scott Benner (21:08) Like, I

Kate (21:12) think it's just like

Scott Benner (21:15) I don't know

Kate (21:16) how to answer that.

Scott Benner (21:16) I know it's hard. (21:17) I don't think there's an answer. (21:18) I think it's, I think your personality does it. (21:22) Yeah. (21:22) Right?

Scott Benner (21:22) Like like, what I've noticed when I'm talking to people is that some people are a little more drugged down by it and some people are a little less. (21:30) I don't think it's up to them. (21:31) I don't don't think it's a decision they make. (21:33) I just think sometimes your personality just sees it as like, I can do this and you kinda stay lighthearted about it.

Kate (21:39) Yeah. (21:39) Right? (21:40) Well, like, if my blood sugar is, like, good, then I just, like, like, push it behind. (21:44) Like, don't worry about it.

Scott Benner (21:45) Yeah.

Kate (21:45) But if it's high or low, I obviously have to worry about. (21:48) So I'll keep my own eye on it until it gets, like, in the good range and then I can just ignore it.

Scott Benner (21:53) I tell people that I think one of the ways that my family deals well with it is that we wake up every day hopeful.

Kate (22:00) Yes.

Scott Benner (22:00) Like, we just kinda start over again. (22:02) Mhmm. (22:02) You know what I mean? (22:02) Like, some days are great. (22:03) Some days you don't even think about it.

Scott Benner (22:05) Some days you're just like

Kate (22:07) Draining.

Scott Benner (22:07) This was terrible. (22:08) Like, it just takes it completely out of you, but you can't take the bad experience and drag it into the next day. (22:13) Yeah. (22:13) Probably a good piece of life advice though.

Kate (22:15) Yes. (22:15) It is.

Scott Benner (22:15) Yeah. (22:16) So earlier you mentioned that you wanted tubing on your pump.

Kate (22:19) Mhmm.

Scott Benner (22:20) A lot of people would say, I don't want tubing, but why do you think that's not a problem?

Kate (22:26) I honestly think it depends on the age because I totally get the feeling I'm just wanting to hide it. (22:31) I like, when I was little, I but I didn't want anyone to know that I had diabetes. (22:35) I didn't even want the question to be brought up about it. (22:37) And now I just have it and I embrace it. (22:40) I see, like, when I'm at the pool, can just and I'm wearing, I can just everyone looks at it.

Kate (22:45) Right. (22:46) It's obvious. (22:47) So it's just I like embracing it so people can ask me questions about it and they know I have it because I, like, I don't wanna hide it anymore.

Scott Benner (22:54) So do you think this was, like, like, a coming out kind of a thing? (22:57) Do you think, like, I wanted this tubing. (22:59) I want people to see this. (23:00) I want this conversation now. (23:01) Yeah.

Scott Benner (23:02) And when you were younger, you didn't want it. (23:03) Yeah. (23:03) So it's not functional. (23:04) It doesn't stop you lacrosse or life wise. (23:08) Like, you know, some people are like, oh, how do you sleep with it if it has a tubing?

Scott Benner (23:12) None of that's a problem for you.

Kate (23:13) No. (23:13) I mean, doesn't get caught on things and that really hurts, but But that's my own fault because I'm not putting I'm not, like, tucking it in. (23:19) I just, like, sometimes just let it out.

Scott Benner (23:20) Sometimes you just forget to do it. (23:21) Yeah. (23:22) Okay. (23:23) But this is really interesting. (23:24) We should talk for fifteen minutes about this, but I don't think we have the time.

Scott Benner (23:27) Like, you got to how old were you when you decided I want people to see this?

Kate (23:31) I think it was, like, right when I got, like, t slim. (23:33) I think it was in, like maybe when I was, like, 12. (23:37) I just kinda was, you know what? (23:38) It's part of me. (23:39) Like, I can't just keep ignoring it

Scott Benner (23:41) Yeah.

Kate (23:41) And letting people just not realize I had it.

Scott Benner (23:43) You got the t slim and then you just you became braver.

Kate (23:46) Kinda.

Scott Benner (23:46) Wow. (23:47) That's awesome.

Kate (23:48) Yeah.

Scott Benner (23:48) Seriously. (23:49) What does your mom wear the same pump?

Kate (23:51) No. (23:51) She wears eyelet.

Scott Benner (23:52) Oh.

Kate (23:52) That's why I was gonna go on that one originally. (23:54) Oh, I Wait. (23:55) No. (23:55) You're not on eyelet anymore. (23:56) You just swept.

Kate (23:57) Just kidding. (23:57) She's on loop now.

Scott Benner (23:58) Oh, you're looping with an Omnipod? (24:01) Mhmm. (24:01) Yeah. (24:02) What about your son? (24:03) Tandem.

Scott Benner (24:04) So your brother wears? (24:06) Mhmm. (24:06) Does he wear the Moby or does he wear

Kate (24:08) He wears the the one I have.

Scott Benner (24:09) Yeah.

Kate (24:10) T Slim. (24:10) He just he I got it first and then he got it. (24:13) He was like, actually, now I want it. (24:14) I'm like

Scott Benner (24:15) Oh, that's how it works apparently. (24:17) Yeah. (24:17) Yeah. (24:17) You get He

Kate (24:18) likes copying me.

Scott Benner (24:19) I get a T Slim. (24:19) You get a T Slim. (24:20) We all get a T Slim. (24:21) Yeah. (24:21) Like

Kate (24:21) Your turn, mom.

Scott Benner (24:22) Yeah. (24:22) Yeah. (24:23) Did you wanna ask me anything? (24:27) No. (24:27) Okay.

Scott Benner (24:28) That's fair enough.

Kate (24:29) And I have any questions.

Scott Benner (24:30) Do you think we've talked about everything? (24:32) Like, if you walk away right now where you think, oh, I wish people would have known this and I didn't say it?

Kate (24:37) No. (24:37) I think you added everything.

Scott Benner (24:38) Awesome. (24:38) That was great. (24:39) Thank you so much.

Kate (24:40) Thank you.

Scott Benner (24:40) This was lovely. (24:41) The podcast you just enjoyed was sponsored by Tandem Diabetes Care. (24:45) Learn more about Tandem's newest automated insulin delivery system, Tandem Mobi with Control IQ plus technology at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. (24:55) There are links in the show notes and links at juiceboxpodcast.com. (24:59) If you'd like to hear about diabetes management in easy to take in bits, check out the small sips.

Scott Benner (25:06) That's the series on the Juice Box podcast that listeners are talking about like it's a cheat code. (25:11) These are perfect little bursts of clarity, one person said. (25:14) I finally understood things I've heard a 100 times. (25:17) Short, simple, and somehow exactly what I needed. (25:20) People say small sips feels like someone pulling up a chair, sliding a cup across the table, and giving you one clean idea at a time.

Scott Benner (25:28) Nothing overwhelming. (25:30) No fire hose of information. (25:31) Just steady helpful nudges that actually stick. (25:34) People listen in their car, on walks, or rather actually bolus ing anytime that they need a quick shot of perspective. (25:41) And the reviews, they all say the same thing.

Scott Benner (25:44) Small sips makes diabetes make sense. (25:47) Search for the Juice Box podcast, small sips, wherever you get audio.

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Scott Benner 2/15/26 Scott Benner 2/15/26

#1772 Tandem Kids: Elias

In this episode of the Juicebox Podcast, host Scott Benner interviews nine-year-old Elias from Michigan at the Friends for Life conference. Elias, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a year and a half ago, shares his experiences with modern management technology and his life as an active student and athlete.

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Scott Benner 2/14/26 Scott Benner 2/14/26

#1771 Defining Diabetes: Temp Basal

In this episode of the Juicebox Podcast, "temp basal" (temporary basal) is the primary term being defined.

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Scott Benner (0:00) Friends, we're all back together for the next episode of the Juice Box podcast. (0:03) Welcome. (0:14) Managing diabetes is difficult, but trying to do it when you don't understand the lingo, that's almost impossible. (0:21) The defining diabetes series began in 2019, and today we're adding to it. (0:25) Go to juiceboxpodcast.com up in the menu, click on defining diabetes, and you'll see a complete list of all the terms that we've defined so far.

Scott Benner (0:35) Check out my algorithm pumping series to help you make sense of automated insulin delivery systems like Omnipod five, Loop, Medtronic seven eighty g, Twist, Tandem Control IQ, and much more. (0:48) Each episode will dive into the setup, features, and real world usage tips that can transform your daily type one diabetes management. (0:55) We cut through the jargon, share personal experiences, and show you how these algorithms can simplify and streamline your care. (1:01) If you're curious about automated insulin pumping, go find the algorithm pumping series in the Juice Box podcast. (1:07) Easiest way, juiceboxpodcast.com, and go up into the menu.

Scott Benner (1:11) Click on series, and it'll be right there. (1:14) While you're listening, please remember that nothing you hear on the Juice Box podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise. (1:22) Always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan or becoming bold with insulin. (1:29) Jenny, we're gonna define sliding scale, and I'm probably gonna ask you to go back into your way back machine back till you were how old? (1:37) When do you think is the last time you did that?

Jenny Smith (1:39) Oh my god. (1:43) Sliding scale use was trying to think. (1:48) I was in college when I stopped using sliding scale because rapid acting insulin Humalog

Scott Benner (1:57) Mhmm.

Jenny Smith (1:57) Came out. (1:59) So it would probably have to be trying to think I was working. (2:04) Funny of the memories that come in. (2:05) I was working at a plasma donation center when I read an article on my break about Humalog. (2:11) Really?

Jenny Smith (2:11) It's really interesting. (2:12) Yes. (2:13) And then I had a doctor's visit coming up very soon, and I went to him with the article. (2:18) You know, like, Internet and stuff was very Yeah. (2:21) Microscopic at that time.

Jenny Smith (2:22) So I brought him the article so I wasn't, like, the crazy person. (2:25) Mhmm. (2:25) You know? (2:26) And I was like, this

Scott Benner (2:27) Yeah.

Jenny Smith (2:27) This is what Jenny needs right now because RNL is not working very well for Jenny.

Scott Benner (2:33) So And please ignore that I stole this magazine from the plasma center. (2:37) Right.

Jenny Smith (2:38) You know, it's all okay. (2:41) Sliding scale probably until I was a sophomore in sophomore junior in college, I think

Scott Benner (2:51) Okay.

Jenny Smith (2:51) Is where I was using that. (2:53) And it's really it's the best that you could have had outside of using a pump eventually that was programmable in a way that could manage better. (3:04) Really, it's just you get a set amount of insulin for a meal. (3:08) Mhmm. (3:09) Breakfast is three units.

Jenny Smith (3:10) Lunch is five units. (3:11) Dinner is six units. (3:13) That's your dose for the food, and it's given to you with the expectation that your education included, your meal will consist of this much food. (3:22) Don't veer from this because your insulin is dosed according to what we told you you needed to eat. (3:28) Right.

Jenny Smith (3:29) And then if your blood sugar sliding scale corrective was also another math part to add to that. (3:36) If your blood sugar is here to here, add one unit. (3:39) If blood sugar is here to here, add two units or three units. (3:43) And so it was really it was management that was very wide.

Scott Benner (3:47) Yeah.

Jenny Smith (3:48) It was not the precise that we can have today.

Scott Benner (3:51) Do you remember back I know you're you're a particular eater. (3:55) I don't mean that, like, in a in a finicky way. (3:57) Just mean you're you do a good job with your with your intake. (4:00) So I imagine your sliding scale for your food worked pretty well. (4:03) Am I right?

Jenny Smith (4:03) It did. (4:04) Yeah. (4:04) And because my parents, especially my mom, was kind of the controller of the food until I went to college

Scott Benner (4:10) Yeah.

Jenny Smith (4:11) Everything was weighed and measured. (4:13) And, like, we had a bouncy scale that sat in the kitchen table Mhmm. (4:17) And it everything got measured. (4:18) Everything got weighed. (4:19) And it was thankful that I had really good educators too that made it it made it workable in my brain at that age too.

Jenny Smith (4:27) Like, this is just the way that it works. (4:29) And look. (4:30) With all the activity, I mean, I danced. (4:32) I was in volleyball. (4:34) I was a cheerleader.

Jenny Smith (4:35) I did a I biked with my dad. (4:37) I did a lot of things. (4:38) And so with those variables, I saw that if I just stuck with the schedule that I was given Mhmm. (4:45) It worked out pretty well. (4:46) Now what happened in between finger sticks?

Jenny Smith (4:48) I don't know. (4:49) Like, there was no CGM to say, gosh. (4:51) This dose really is the right one for you. (4:54) But

Scott Benner (4:55) Is it fair to say that most see, I don't think this is true because I talked to so many people who are on a sliding scale right now. (5:02) Like, it happens it happens to Canadians a lot depending on what province they live in. (5:07) And I am surprised more and more about Americans that I hear who are like, oh, no. (5:12) I'm on a sliding scale. (5:13) I'm like, how's that possible?

Scott Benner (5:14) It's like hearing somebody uses a fax machine. (5:16) You're like, what? (5:17) Right? (5:18) But but is that still pretty common?

Jenny Smith (5:20) It can be. (5:21) You know, we especially what I do with the clients that I am able to work with

Scott Benner (5:26) Yeah.

Jenny Smith (5:27) I see a lot of people who have access, really, I think is what this speaks to. (5:31) It's access to technology. (5:33) It's access to a clinical service that has encouraged you to to be able to be better because they're providing you the ability to have technology. (5:44) And many people don't have that. (5:47) So sliding scale is what it is.

Jenny Smith (5:49) It's you're told to have, you know, a dose of insulin. (5:53) And I what I've come to see too with some sliding scale people that I've worked with is they're not even given as much detail as I was given when I was using sliding scale. (6:04) Right? (6:04) It's eat breakfast, take three units of insulin. (6:08) There's not as much detailed your meal has to consist of this much food because we're expecting three units to cover your food.

Jenny Smith (6:17) Okay. (6:18) But if Right?

Scott Benner (6:19) If if you met somebody today who had access to insurance and they could get what they needed and they were on a sliding scale, would you tell them, I think you shouldn't be doing that? (6:29) Or would you say I I mean, is it different now that there are CGMs? (6:33) Like, are there people out there on sliding scale who are in a CGM? (6:36) Probably. (6:37) Right?

Jenny Smith (6:37) I would say that it defines sliding scale in a little bit of a different way Okay. (6:42) So those people are MDI still. (6:44) Right? (6:45) They may have a CGM, which gives them more access to information about what their doses that are set doses provide in control.

Scott Benner (6:57) Right.

Jenny Smith (6:58) I would even say that there are some people that might be using their pump as sliding scale instead of carb counting. (7:05) They may actually just be dialing in a manual dose of insulin, and then potentially, they might have a correction factor put into their pump so the pump then automatically gives correction. (7:18) That could be another way of navigating sliding scale with a little more precision.

Scott Benner (7:23) Mhmm.

Jenny Smith (7:23) But in general, sliding scale is usually multiple daily injections with a set amount of insulin and then a corrective factor that's a set dose based on blood sugar value.

Scott Benner (7:34) You think there's a lot of yo yoing that goes on for people who are managing like this?

Jenny Smith (7:38) Very likely, unless they're willing to get you know, I have a couple of friends who use MDI and do very well with it. (7:44) Mhmm. (7:45) But theirs is a precision they've learned how to look at their CGMs. (7:51) They've learned how their insulin works for them.

Scott Benner (7:54) Mhmm.

Jenny Smith (7:54) They've learned the timing of their dosing. (7:57) Even though they are using kind of a sliding scale, most of them have also found that their most common foods, they've just figured out the dose for it. (8:07) They don't necessarily have an insulin to carb ratio. (8:09) They've just been able to say, well, gosh, you know, my bowl of cottage cheese with pineapple always takes four units.

Scott Benner (8:16) Mhmm.

Jenny Smith (8:16) I'll take four units and my blood sugar's high. (8:18) I add a little bit more to this. (8:20) Right?

Scott Benner (8:21) Okay. (8:22) I've never had cottage cheese in my life.

Jenny Smith (8:23) You've never had cottage cheese?

Scott Benner (8:25) And as you're talking about it, it makes me feel I just wanna say that.

Jenny Smith (8:27) Well, that's okay. (8:28) It's not I yeah. (8:29) It's all good. (8:30) I don't know why it even came to mind. (8:32) I was just trying to think of, like

Scott Benner (8:33) It was nice. (8:34) I just was like, oh, I've never had that.

Jenny Smith (8:36) There you go. (8:36) I did make you eat a tomato, though.

Scott Benner (8:38) I did. (8:39) I did have a tomato. (8:40) Where was

Jenny Smith (8:40) I? (8:40) Tomato.

Scott Benner (8:41) I was a that was we were on vacation, and the tomato came out. (8:44) Was like, alright. (8:44) I'll eat it. (8:44) And I did, and I sent Jenny a picture of it. (8:46) I said, look.

Jenny Smith (8:46) I ate the tomato.

Scott Benner (8:48) I don't know if that episode's out yet or if people have context for that yet or not. (8:52) So sliding scale is like like, put it, like, real black and white for me. (8:56) Take all the the the nuts and bolts out of it. (8:59) Like, I'm at the doctor, they're just gonna say, hey. (9:01) Put in this much insulin at this time.

Scott Benner (9:04) Eat at this time. (9:05) Eat this much food. (9:06) If your blood sugar is one fifty to one ninety nine, I want you to do this much. (9:09) If it's 200 to two fifty, I want you to do a little this much. (9:12) That's it.

Scott Benner (9:13) That's a sliding scale.

Jenny Smith (9:14) There's basal insulin behind it. (9:15) So usually the basal insulin is also once a day Yeah. (9:19) At this point. (9:20) Right? (9:20) And then mealtimes are covered with a sliding scale, which tends to work a little bit better at this point because many people, not everybody, but most people are using rapid.

Jenny Smith (9:31) They're not using the older r insulin, which took longer

Scott Benner (9:34) I was gonna say, are there I don't wanna muddy the two, so let's just say we're done talking about that now. (9:39) But, like, are there places in the world where people are still using, like, regular and NPH?

Jenny Smith (9:43) Oh, absolutely.

Scott Benner (9:44) Really? (9:44) Yeah.

Jenny Smith (9:45) Absolutely. (9:46) Yes.

Scott Benner (9:47) Well and then they're on a, like, an old school sliding scale at

Jenny Smith (9:50) that point. (9:50) And then they're on very old school sliding scale, kind of similar to mine. (9:54) It was just very structured. (9:56) There was not there was not deviation from time frames or where snacks were gonna happen or anything unless there was exercise in the picture that you

Scott Benner (10:04) I remember Mike always he kinda paused for a minute when he was drawing up his insulin, and I did ask him one day, what are you thinking about? (10:10) He's like, I'm trying to figure out how active we're gonna be today. (10:13) Mhmm. (10:13) And that was kind of the end of it. (10:14) Like, it was in the morning, and he was just it was weird to watch him.

Scott Benner (10:17) He'd, like, pull on that, and he'd like, and, you know, meanwhile, it wasn't obviously, his outcome was terrible, so it wasn't working for him. (10:25) But that was, I think, the extent of his training. (10:28) I'm making air I'm making air quotes.

Jenny Smith (10:30) I mean, you know, the old school stuff again with even the the intermediate acting cloudy insulin, the n and r Mhmm. (10:37) Whatever. (10:38) Like, I had a very different snack in the afternoon depending on whether I was headed to a sport right after school or not. (10:48) So snack for sport was this type of intake so that I wouldn't drop because I was on the tail end of my intermediate acting insulin. (10:58) Mhmm.

Jenny Smith (10:59) And it would encourage me to have a low. (11:03) And I so

Scott Benner (11:04) And I did.

Jenny Smith (11:05) All those things that you kinda figure out.

Scott Benner (11:07) As you go. (11:08) Okay. (11:08) Thank you. (11:08) I appreciate it.

Jenny Smith (11:09) Sure.

Scott Benner (11:17) If this is your first time listening to the Juice Box podcast and you'd like to hear more, download Apple Podcasts or Spotify, really any audio app at all, look for the Juice Box podcast, and follow or subscribe. (11:30) We put out new content every day that you'll enjoy. (11:33) Wanna learn more about your diabetes management? (11:36) Go to juiceboxpodcast.com up in the menu and look for bold beginnings, the diabetes pro tip series, and much more. (11:43) This podcast is full of collections and series of information that will help you to live better with insulin.

Scott Benner (11:50) Hey. (11:51) Thanks for listening all the way to the end. (11:52) I really appreciate your loyalty and listenership. (11:55) Thank you so much for listening. (11:57) I'll be back very soon with another episode of the Juice Box podcast.

Scott Benner (12:02) If you have a podcast and you need a fantastic editor, you want Rob from Wrong Way Recording. (12:08) Listen. (12:09) Truth be told, I'm, like, 20% smarter when Rob edits me. (12:13) He takes out all the, like, gaps of time and when I go, and stuff like that. (12:18) And it just I don't know, man.

Scott Benner (12:19) Like, I listen back, and I'm like, why do I sound smarter? (12:22) And then I remember because I did one smart thing. (12:25) I hired Rob at wrongwayrecording.com.

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