#1756 Tandem Kids: Connor
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Scott interviews 13-year-old Connor about managing Type 1 diabetes while playing sports, using the Tandem Mobi pump, and his experience at the Friends for Life conference.
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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 (1:08) Are we relaxed now? (1:09) We're good?
Connor (1:10) Yeah. (1:10) I'm good. (1:10) What's your name? (1:11) Connor. (1:12) Connor.
Connor (1:12) How old
Scott Benner (1:12) are you? (1:13) 13. (1:13) 13. (1:14) How long have you had type one?
Connor (1:16) Since I was three for ten years.
Scott Benner (1:18) Three? (1:19) Wow. (1:19) Mhmm. (1:20) The last person I talked to had it since they were two and they were 13. (1:23) Wow.
Scott Benner (1:24) You got him, he's got you by a little bit. (1:27) You don't remember anything about being diagnosed, I imagine?
Connor (1:30) I know a little bit. (1:31) So we were actually in Daytona for a vacation, and we were getting ice cream. (1:40) So we did that. (1:42) And once we were done, we went to the car, and I remember I had to go to the bathroom a lot.
Scott Benner (1:47) Yeah.
Connor (1:47) And then I also remember throwing up a lot, and then I just passed out. (1:52) Really?
Scott Benner (1:53) Mhmm. (1:53) You recall that at three from being three?
Connor (1:55) Mhmm.
Scott Benner (1:55) That's something. (1:56) How does your when your parents retell that story, do they sound scared when they talk about it? (2:01) Yeah.
Connor (2:01) Definitely a little
Scott Benner (2:02) bit scared. (2:03) Yeah. (2:03) Are you the oldest of your how many siblings?
Connor (2:05) Three.
Scott Benner (2:06) Three. (2:06) You the oldest?
Connor (2:07) Mhmm.
Scott Benner (2:07) You are. (2:07) Anybody else have type one? (2:09) No. (2:09) No. (2:09) How about in your extended family?
Connor (2:12) Aunts, uncles, cousins? (2:15) My aunt's husband has diabetes.
Scott Benner (2:18) Okay. (2:19) Do you guys ever talk about it?
Connor (2:20) Mhmm. (2:21) Yeah. (2:21) We talk about it all the time.
Scott Benner (2:23) Do you? (2:23) Mhmm. (2:23) Yeah. (2:24) Does he use a pump?
Connor (2:26) No. (2:26) He just does the insulin shots.
Scott Benner (2:28) He does shots, but you do. (2:29) What pump do you have? (2:31) Tandem. (2:31) Do you use Control IQ?
Connor (2:32) Yeah.
Scott Benner (2:33) Yeah. (2:33) Did you update it recently to the new software?
Connor (2:36) Yes.
Scott Benner (2:36) You like it? (2:37) Mhmm.
Connor (2:37) Yeah. (2:38) Yeah.
Scott Benner (2:38) What does it do something that, that helps you?
Connor (2:43) I just stay in range a little bit more.
Scott Benner (2:46) It it so the new update helps you stay in range even better? (2:49) Yeah. (2:49) It's awesome. (2:50) Was it doing well before that?
Connor (2:52) Yeah.
Scott Benner (2:52) Yeah. (2:52) Just a little bit of an upgrade.
Connor (2:54) Yeah.
Scott Benner (2:54) I'll take that. (2:55) Alright. (2:56) What's your favorite little snack when you get low? (2:58) What do you like to use? (2:59) Probably cheese crackers or a strawberry wafer bar.
Scott Benner (3:03) Strawberry oh, so the, like, the vanilla wafers with the strawberry cream in between? (3:07) Yeah. (3:08) I prefer the vanilla, but I'm I'm with you on that. (3:10) And they help you how many do have to eat to, like, stop a low?
Connor (3:15) Usually, I just do one. (3:16) Really? (3:17) Mhmm.
Scott Benner (3:17) It's a unique answer. (3:18) Most people are like you know what most people say. (3:20) Right? (3:20) Like, Fruit Roll Ups, gummy bears Oh, yeah. (3:23) Like, Smarties, stuff like that.
Scott Benner (3:24) Skittles, people say all the time. (3:26) Mhmm. (3:26) I've
Connor (3:26) just I don't go for, like, super high carbs, so I don't rise a lot.
Scott Benner (3:31) So you're trying to stop the low without causing a rebound? (3:34) Yeah. (3:34) Smart. (3:35) You had diabetes long enough, you know you don't wanna start the fight over again. (3:38) Right?
Scott Benner (3:38) Yeah. (3:39) So you're wearing a hat today.
Connor (3:41) What who's the hat from? (3:42) My dad's baseball league.
Scott Benner (3:45) Oh, no kidding. (3:45) Do you play?
Connor (3:46) Uh-huh. (3:46) Yeah.
Scott Benner (3:47) Yeah. (3:47) You play at school or you play, like
Connor (3:49) So our middle school doesn't do really any baseball, but our town does a huge baseball league. (3:56) Yeah.
Scott Benner (3:57) Where are you from?
Connor (3:58) Lowell, Indiana.
Scott Benner (3:59) Indiana. (4:00) Nice. (4:00) You where you play first base?
Connor (4:03) No. (4:04) Catcher You catch in third.
Scott Benner (4:05) Catcher in third. (4:06) I played third when I was younger. (4:08) Yeah. (4:08) If the ball comes at you so incredibly fast at
Connor (4:12) third base. (4:12) Right?
Scott Benner (4:12) It's insane, isn't it? (4:14) Yeah. (4:14) I'll tell you later about it. (4:15) My son played all the way through college. (4:17) It was a lot of fun.
Scott Benner (4:19) I'll tell you about how I cried after his last game. (4:22) For a while, I was very upset. (4:25) Do you love it? (4:25) Do you love baseball?
Connor (4:26) Yes. (4:26) I love baseball.
Scott Benner (4:27) Yeah. (4:27) You play anything else?
Connor (4:28) Mhmm. (4:29) Football and basketball.
Scott Benner (4:30) Oh, no kidding.
Connor (4:31) Mhmm. (4:31) And I like to fish.
Scott Benner (4:32) Is there any special stuff you have to do while you're playing sports or doing any
Connor (4:36) of your activities? (4:37) So for football and baseball, I usually just keep my pump on because, usually, when I'm, like, super active and stuff, the adrenaline gets to me, so I go a little bit high. (4:49) Yeah. (4:50) So I just keep that on just in case I go amazing.
Scott Benner (4:54) Are you very competitive? (4:55) Yes. (4:55) You wanna win? (4:56) Yeah. (4:56) And it drives your blood sugar up.
Scott Benner (4:57) Right? (4:58) Yeah. (4:58) So the pump's with you all the time Mhmm. (5:00) Fixing it. (5:01) Do you get low while you're playing?
Connor (5:04) Usually, for football, I get a little bit low. (5:07) Baseball, I don't really get that low.
Scott Benner (5:10) Mhmm.
Connor (5:10) I'm usually one twenty to one forty.
Scott Benner (5:14) Yeah. (5:14) But in football, there's more running? (5:16) Mhmm. (5:16) Where do you play on the field?
Connor (5:18) Center and, d end.
Scott Benner (5:20) Oh, so you're either exploding or fighting.
Connor (5:23) Yeah.
Scott Benner (5:23) Right? (5:24) And those are both take a lot out of you. (5:25) So do you prep? (5:27) Like, I I interviewed Noah Gray recently, and he told me how he preps for games. (5:31) Do you have, like, a thing you eat before you play?
Connor (5:34) Usually, I just get, like, a few protein bars, some subways.
Scott Benner (5:40) Yeah. (5:41) Stuff that kinda stays with you for a little bit. (5:43) And then after football, you gotta eat right away?
Connor (5:46) No. (5:46) I usually just, drink a lot of water because usually around after the games, I'm super dehydrated. (5:53) Yeah. (5:54) So I drink water, probably just check my numbers, see how I'm doing. (5:59) If I'm low, I just do a quick snack or juice.
Connor (6:03) And then, if I'm high, I just wait a little bit. (6:06) Yeah.
Scott Benner (6:07) Do you find it bothersome, or is it just kinda part of your life? (6:11) You don't think about it?
Connor (6:12) It's kinda part of my life now.
Scott Benner (6:13) Yeah. (6:14) What do hope to do when you grow up?
Connor (6:16) I me, personally, I want to golf or play basketball.
Scott Benner (6:22) Yeah? (6:23) How tall are you hoping to be? (6:25) Hopefully, like, six foot three, six four. (6:29) Alright. (6:29) So wait.
Scott Benner (6:30) How tall are you now?
Connor (6:31) Five eight, I think.
Scott Benner (6:32) You do have legs. (6:33) Your dad or mom, like, super tall? (6:35) My
Connor (6:36) my mom's not really that tall.
Scott Benner (6:38) No?
Connor (6:39) But my dad's up there a little bit.
Scott Benner (6:43) So you think it's gonna be your mom's fault if you can't play professional basketball one day? (6:47) She's holding you back.
Connor (6:48) No. (6:49) I never really try and blame my parents for anything. (6:51) Yeah. (6:51) Nice you are. (6:52) Probably genetic genetics from the family tree.
Connor (6:56) Yeah. (6:56) Yeah.
Scott Benner (6:56) I hear you. (6:56) My son blames me for not being able to play baseball longer. (6:59) I can tell you that much. (7:01) I know he does, actually. (7:04) Do you think about diabetes at school?
Scott Benner (7:08) Are there other kids you know who have type one? (7:10) Do you guys talk about it, or do you not know other people?
Connor (7:14) So actually, two of my friends got diabetes at different times. (7:20) In first grade, one of my buddies got diabetes, and, like, they were their family and their him were just super confused on, like, how to control it. (7:33) Yeah. (7:33) So, like, we just give them supplies and, like, try and just help them Yeah. (7:42) Be supportive.
Connor (7:42) Understand. (7:43) Yeah.
Scott Benner (7:43) Yeah. (7:44) You share with your friends about your diabetes?
Connor (7:47) Yeah. (7:48) They they're all pretty supportive about me. (7:50) They always check up on me to make sure I'm doing okay. (7:54) Yeah. (7:55) And, yeah, they just check on me.
Scott Benner (7:57) Would they know what to do if you got low and you couldn't help yourself?
Connor (8:00) Yeah. (8:00) They're they always come up to me during sports like, Connor, Connor, do you need a juice? (8:04) Do you need this? (8:05) Are you okay? (8:05) Yeah.
Scott Benner (8:06) Does it get annoying after a while? (8:07) Or are are you happy for it?
Connor (8:09) I think it's kinda nice Yeah. (8:11) Having supportive friends and caring friends.
Scott Benner (8:14) Yeah. (8:15) Me too. (8:15) That's awesome. (8:16) How did you meet how did you make good friends like that?
Connor (8:19) Really just like sports and just mostly being communicative about things.
Scott Benner (8:26) I agree. (8:27) You've ever have you ever done anything with your diabetes that you were, like, proud of? (8:31) Like, you're like, wow. (8:31) I I got that on my own. (8:32) Like, is there a a great bolus that you remember that you were just like, this really
Connor (8:36) worked? (8:37) Well, something that I'm really proud of is what I was talking about, like, my buddies out who had diabetes, like, telling them what they need to do.
Scott Benner (8:47) Yeah. (8:47) That's awesome. (8:48) Do you think, like, do you know what your a one c is?
Connor (8:52) My average is probably about, like, seven point o.
Scott Benner (8:56) Good for you. (8:56) That's awesome. (8:57) Good for you. (8:57) It's a lot of hard work.
Connor (8:58) Yeah.
Scott Benner (8:59) Yeah. (8:59) No kidding. (8:59) Do you remember to pre bolus your meals?
Connor (9:01) Yes.
Scott Benner (9:01) Do you? (9:02) Yeah. (9:02) Does your mom bug you about it all the time?
Connor (9:04) Yes. (9:04) A lot. (9:05) Does she
Scott Benner (9:05) listen to my podcast?
Connor (9:07) Yeah. (9:07) On the way here, we actually listen to most of them.
Scott Benner (9:09) Oh, awesome. (9:10) That's cool. (9:10) I'm glad, because I know that I think pre ball is saying, not just for kids, by the way. (9:17) Like, my daughter's 21. (9:18) She's had diabetes since she was two, but at the same time, I've interviewed people at literally every age up to, like, I think the oldest person with type one I ever interviewed was 80.
Scott Benner (9:29) And Wow. (9:29) Everyone will say the same thing. (9:31) It's really hard to remember to pre bolus my meals. (9:33) And so I don't think it's a thing that's gonna get easier, but if you're getting that accomplished, that's really awesome. (9:39) Also, like you said, like, you're five eight already, I mean, you're 13, right, so you're probably eating a lot during the day, so it's a great accomplishment to do what you're doing.
Scott Benner (9:47) Mhmm. (9:47) Yeah. (9:48) I'm I'm proud of you. (9:49) Thank That's awesome. (9:50) No.
Scott Benner (9:50) I know I know how hard the work is. (9:51) Do you have any diabetes heroes? (9:53) Anybody, like sports figures, people out in the world?
Connor (9:55) Yes. (9:56) Mark Andrews. (9:57) Oh, from the Ravens? (9:58) Yep. (9:59) Yeah.
Connor (9:59) He's really cool. (10:00) I really like him.
Scott Benner (10:01) Nice.
Connor (10:02) He inspires me to, like, keep pushing, keep doing what I'm doing, to not have diabetes stop me from what I like to do and my hobbies, and to keep my pump on during, like, my games.
Scott Benner (10:15) Yeah. (10:15) What's your favorite sport of the ones you play?
Connor (10:17) Basketball. (10:18) 100%.
Scott Benner (10:19) I love it. (10:20) That's the way you're best at?
Connor (10:21) Yeah.
Scott Benner (10:22) It's not just because you're obviously so much taller than other 13 year olds right now? (10:25) No. (10:26) Because you are. (10:26) Right? (10:27) Well,
Connor (10:28) I I would hope.
Scott Benner (10:29) Yeah. (10:30) Yeah. (10:30) Yeah. (10:30) You ever just go, like, move and then, you know what I mean? (10:33) Yeah.
Scott Benner (10:33) I just box out and make your move. (10:35) That's it.
Connor (10:35) Yeah. (10:36) I just put, like, 75% of my time into basketball. (10:40) I love that.
Scott Benner (10:41) You love the most? (10:42) Is it that time is about shooting? (10:44) Like, you just out there shooting all the time?
Connor (10:46) That's what I like. (10:47) That's that's what I'm better at. (10:50) Right. (10:51) But I I need to work on defense. (10:56) Yeah.
Connor (10:56) I'm slow. (10:57) Tandem pump.
Scott Benner (10:58) Right? (10:58) Mhmm. (10:59) Use it with a Dexcom?
Connor (11:01) Yeah. (11:01) Okay.
Scott Benner (11:02) Tell me what you like about it the most.
Connor (11:04) If you were gonna tell another person with diabetes, I I think you should try this pump. (11:08) Why? (11:09) Mostly because of Control IQ. (11:12) I also like the, the feature on, like, I can go on my phone and I can go through the app on my phone
Scott Benner (11:20) Yeah.
Connor (11:20) And I can just check on there.
Scott Benner (11:22) Do you find your parents to be supportive and helpful?
Connor (11:25) Absolutely. (11:26) 100%. (11:27) Yeah. (11:27) They're with me 100% of the time supporting me, guiding me through everything I need to do. (11:34) Yeah.
Connor (11:34) And I think that's really
Scott Benner (11:37) You feel lucky? (11:38) Yeah. (11:38) Yeah. (11:39) Do you find being here with so many people who have
Connor (11:41) type one at Friends for Life? (11:43) It definitely makes me feel safer being around people who is going through the same thing as me and definitely is nice.
Scott Benner (11:54) Safer is an interesting word. (11:55) How does it make you feel safer?
Connor (11:57) Not really, like, safer, but, like, comfortable.
Scott Benner (12:00) Yeah. (12:02) Well, comfort is safety. (12:03) Mhmm. (12:03) Yeah. (12:04) So you so you are, like, being here just what does it do?
Scott Benner (12:07) Does it take off? (12:09) Like, I mean, is there, like, a level of anxiety or, like, what what something's lifted.
Connor (12:14) Right? (12:14) Like, usually, when I'm at, like, a water park, not here, like, around my house, and people look at me weird for having, like, my sensors on and stuff. (12:26) So, yeah, it's definite and then
Scott Benner (12:29) No one's gonna look at you like that here. (12:30) Yeah. (12:31) That's pretty awesome. (12:32) Does your mom, like, track you all the time?
Connor (12:34) She's got the Follow app too. (12:36) So Yeah. (12:36) She she's definitely on me about it a lot, like, especially at sleepovers. (12:41) Did you give yourself insulin? (12:43) Did you check your number every thirty minutes?
Scott Benner (12:47) And you feel but that feels supportive to you. (12:49) Yeah. (12:50) Alright. (12:50) Listen. (12:50) Do something for me.
Scott Benner (12:51) As you get older, hold on to that feeling. (12:53) Okay? (12:53) Because you're gonna get older and think, oh, eventually, it's gonna feel like I can do it. (12:58) Do ever do you ever text back, I'm fine or I got it? (13:03) Have you ever said I'm fine or I got it in the text?
Connor (13:05) Yeah. (13:06) Most of the time, it's okay or yeah. (13:08) I got it.
Scott Benner (13:09) I'm alright. (13:09) If I open my text up with my daughter right now, it just says, I'm fine. (13:13) I got it. (13:13) I know. (13:14) Like, it's one of those three.
Scott Benner (13:15) Yeah. (13:16) Yeah. (13:16) It's nice that you know that it's because she cares and everything.
Connor (13:20) Yeah.
Scott Benner (13:20) It's gonna help you long term too, you know. (13:22) You'll probably get older. (13:23) You go you think you'll go to college?
Connor (13:25) Yeah. (13:26) I'm planning on going to Purdue.
Scott Benner (13:28) Okay. (13:28) Well, that's awesome. (13:30) And your mom's gonna be texting you then. (13:32) You'll be, like, 20 years old in a little, like, little room. (13:35) She's gonna be like, did you take a gummy bear?
Scott Benner (13:37) It's gonna be lovely when she does it too. (13:40) Do you have any questions for me?
Connor (13:43) How long has your daughter had had diabetes?
Scott Benner (13:46) Okay. (13:46) She's gonna be 21 in a couple weeks, and she was diagnosed just after her second birthday, so I think that's nineteen years, right?
Connor (13:53) Wow, that's a long time.
Scott Benner (13:55) Yeah, it's a really long time. (13:57) She's doing awesome. (13:58) That's good. (13:59) Yeah, so she does everything everybody else does. (14:03) She's in college right now.
Scott Benner (14:04) You have such a great attitude about this.
Connor (14:06) Thank you.
Scott Benner (14:06) Seriously, you're awesome to talk to.
Connor (14:08) Thank you.
Scott Benner (14:08) What why why are you awesome? (14:10) Your parents, like, are they seriously, why are you so nice? (14:13) You have a really good way about you. (14:15) Is it like, did they teach you to be that way? (14:17) Are you under duress right now?
Scott Benner (14:19) Is she, like, like, she's off on the side. (14:22) Are you scared that if you say something crazy, you're gonna get in trouble?
Connor (14:24) No. (14:25) No? (14:25) No. (14:25) They just taught me the right way. (14:28) I always live by treat others how you wanna be treated.
Scott Benner (14:32) Right on, man.
Connor (14:33) It really means something to me. (14:34) Wow.
Scott Benner (14:35) This is awesome. (14:36) Hey. (14:36) Listen. (14:36) If you have problems with them, I'll adopt you. (14:38) Alright?
Scott Benner (14:39) Because you seem like you'd be easy to handle. (14:41) You know what I mean? (14:41) Like, I don't think I'd have too much trouble with you. (14:43) You seem are your brothers and sisters a problem? (14:46) Is it just you that's great?
Scott Benner (14:47) Like, what's going on here?
Connor (14:48) No. (14:48) My brothers are all the same way. (14:50) They love to be nice.
Scott Benner (14:52) Good job, mom. (14:53) Was it the dad too, or you took care of it yourself?
Connor (14:56) I mean, 97.
Scott Benner (14:57) Yeah. (14:57) Yeah. (14:58) I gotcha. (14:58) Yeah. (14:59) Your dad just goes hunting.
Scott Benner (15:00) Right? (15:01) That's pretty much it.
Connor (15:01) He's a big talker. (15:03) He loves to talk.
Scott Benner (15:04) He loves to talk? (15:05) Yes. (15:06) He ever get going and you're like, yeah. (15:07) We heard the story already.
Connor (15:08) Yeah. (15:09) He could, like, say one thing to someone and that conversation can go on for, like, forty five minutes.
Scott Benner (15:14) Your dad and I might get along. (15:16) You know? (15:17) I can I can go for a while myself? (15:19) So before before you were using Tandem, what were you doing?
Connor (15:22) So, originally, we were on shots, like, for the first couple years, and then we moved to Omnipod, which really didn't work out well because I had two seizures for with Omnipod.
Scott Benner (15:37) You got too low?
Connor (15:39) Or no. (15:40) It wasn't too actually, one of them were. (15:42) The first one was, severe, like, a pretty bad seizure. (15:48) Yeah. (15:49) The second one was actually on the way here to Friends for Life, and, obviously, it wasn't that bad.
Scott Benner (15:55) Previous previous year or this year?
Connor (15:58) The first year. (15:58) The first year you came here? (16:00) Mhmm.
Scott Benner (16:00) And so you you got you got very low. (16:02) You you actually had, like, a seizure.
Connor (16:04) Yeah.
Scott Benner (16:04) Do you know how they handled it? (16:05) Did you use glucagon, or did you use gel or food? (16:09) How did you manage it?
Connor (16:10) So we used it was some short sort of shot shot. (16:18) Yeah. (16:19) And, for the first one, because we didn't really have anything for the second one because we were in Georgia at a hotel.
Scott Benner (16:27) Yeah.
Connor (16:28) So we kinda just ate breakfast at the hotel. (16:30) They were giving me stuff. (16:32) What did do you remember anything about it? (16:36) The first one was just, like, both of them were, like it was like if I was in a dream or something. (16:42) It like, I didn't know what was going on.
Connor (16:45) I wasn't myself. (16:46) Yeah. (16:47) I was scared. (16:48) I didn't really know what was going on.
Scott Benner (16:50) This has happened to my daughter. (16:51) This has happened to my daughter, and she described that it felt it felt like she was jumping. (16:57) So she's like so she's like, I felt like I was on one side of the room, and then the next thing I knew, I was 10 feet ahead. (17:03) Yeah. (17:03) And then, like, so, like, she, like, in and out of, like, consciousness kind of thing, but she she she described it specific as, like, it felt like I was jumping through time.
Scott Benner (17:11) Did you have that experience?
Connor (17:13) Yeah. (17:13) So it was kinda when, like, we were walking out of the hotel room, and next thing I know, we're in, like, the elevator. (17:23) Yeah. (17:23) And it was weird.
Scott Benner (17:25) Really weird. (17:25) Did you actually seize? (17:26) Did were you, like like, convulsing, shaking, or you just bruised your blood sugar super, super low?
Connor (17:32) For the first one, I think I was. (17:34) I was, like, really low, and I was, like, unconscious too for a little bit.
Scott Benner (17:41) After that happens, is it is it scary to do the normal things that you're supposed to do? (17:46) Like, how long does it take for you to get past the the memory of that?
Connor (17:50) It definitely definitely scares me, like, from now going to, like, the rest of my life. (17:57) Yeah. (17:58) But, I think it's kinda my fault because I get my I probably didn't carb count correct and Gave yourself so much insulin.
Scott Benner (18:10) Yeah. (18:10) Yeah. (18:10) And now you're better with that? (18:12) Mhmm.
Connor (18:13) Yeah. (18:13) Definitely more, like, comfortable. (18:16) And switching to tandem, I've been amazing. (18:19) Like, my control has been so much better.
Scott Benner (18:23) I usually tell people when I speak to them that you can kind of tell when people are gonna be successful. (18:28) Mhmm. (18:28) And I find the two indicators for being successful is being interested and paying attention. (18:34) Like, just like every day putting a little bit of effort into it and actually caring how it goes. (18:39) Like, do know I mean?
Scott Benner (18:40) They almost seem like the same idea, but they're not quite. (18:42) And so, like, if you're interested, you're paying attention, you want this to go well, generally speaking, can. (18:49) You know, you have great technology, you've got, you know, you've got your tandem pump, you've got your CGM, you got good people around you, you're interested in doing it, you're gonna be really successful that way, think.
Connor (18:59) Yep. (18:59) That's that's the plan. (19:00) Thank you.
Scott Benner (19:01) So you weren't having a lot of luck with Omnipod and you wanted to switch to another pump. (19:04) What made you choose Tandem?
Connor (19:06) It wasn't really my idea. (19:08) It was my mom's. (19:09) She just wanted to try a new pump and see how it went.
Scott Benner (19:12) Sounds like your mom talked to a lot of people with diabetes, got a consensus, and came back to you and told you, you're getting a tandem pump. (19:18) Is that what happened?
Connor (19:19) Yeah.
Scott Benner (19:19) And you were like, thank you, mom. (19:22) And you've liked it so far. (19:23) Right? (19:23) Mhmm. (19:23) Yeah.
Scott Benner (19:24) It's been great. (19:24) It's awesome. (19:25) And you and you wear it through all your sports. (19:27) You told me earlier, but you don't disconnect for like, you wear playing basketball?
Connor (19:31) Not really.
Scott Benner (19:32) Not for basketball? (19:33) No. (19:33) Do you bolus a little bit extra before you play, or do you take do you just check and, like, do clip back in? (19:38) How do you handle it?
Connor (19:38) Yeah. (19:39) I usually bolus before a game. (19:41) And then when I, like during a timeout or, like, we come off the court for a minute, I go and check my pump and see how I'm doing.
Scott Benner (19:51) Yeah.
Connor (19:51) If I'm high, just do a small little bolus and then just get back on the court.
Scott Benner (19:57) So you just clip in, give yourself some insulin, take it off again, go back and play again. (20:00) And then Feel smooth? (20:02) Mhmm. (20:02) Yeah.
Connor (20:02) Yeah. (20:03) And then when I'm low, every single sport I do this, I bring this little, like, small fanny pack
Scott Benner (20:10) Yeah.
Connor (20:10) And I pack, like, two juice boxes and then, like, some fruit snacks in it just in case I go low.
Scott Benner (20:18) Every kid that I see that has carrying a bag, I'm like, oh, they have diabetes. (20:21) Like, you know, I I saw this one kid moving in. (20:23) He had these little boxes he was carrying to his room, I was like, those are definitely his supplies in that box. (20:28) You got a box like that?
Connor (20:29) Oh, yeah.
Scott Benner (20:30) Drawer at home or something?
Connor (20:31) Yeah. (20:31) Yeah.
Scott Benner (20:31) My man, thanks, man. (20:32) That was awesome. (20:33) You
Connor (20:33) were
Scott Benner (20:33) very Thank you so much. (20:34) The podcast you just enjoyed was sponsored by Tandem Diabetes Care. (20:39) Learn more about Tandem's newest automated insulin delivery system, Tandem Mobi with Control IQ plus technology at tandemdiabetes.com/juicebox. (20:49) There are links in the show notes and links at juiceboxpodcast.com. (20:53) If you'd like to hear about diabetes management in easy to take in bits, check out the small sips.
Scott Benner (20:59) That's the series on the juice box podcast that listeners are talking about like it's a cheat code. (21:04) These are perfect little bursts of clarity, one person said. (21:08) I finally understood things I've heard a 100 times. (21:11) Short, simple, and somehow exactly what I needed. (21:14) 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 (21:22) Nothing overwhelming. (21:23) No fire hose of information. (21:25) Just steady helpful nudges that actually stick. (21:28) People listen in their car, on walks, or rather actually bolus ing anytime that they need a quick shot of perspective. (21:35) And the reviews, they all say the same thing.
Scott Benner (21:38) Small sips makes diabetes make sense. (21:40) Search for the Juice Box podcast, small sips, wherever you get audio.
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