#1478 You’re Either Born With Diabetes, or You’re Not
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Kim discusses self-advocacy, health awareness, and social media's impact on diabetes perceptions.
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Scott Benner 0:00
Welcome back, friends. You are listening to the Juicebox Podcast.
Kim's an adult living with type one. She's had it for two years. Today we talk about advocating for yourself, paying attention to your health and some of the confusions that other people might have about your diabetes, nothing you hear on the Juicebox Podcast should be considered advice medical or otherwise, always consult a physician before making any changes to your health care plan. AG, one is offering my listeners, a free $76 gift. When you sign up, you'll get a welcome kit, a bottle of d3, k2, and five free travel packs in your first box. So make sure you check out drink AG, one.com/juice box. To get this offer, don't forget to save 40% off of your entire order at cozy earth.com All you have to do is use the offer code juice box at checkout. That's Juicebox at checkout to save 40% at cozy earth.com. Are you an adult living with type one, where the caregiver of someone who is and a US resident? If you are, I'd love it if you would go to T 1d, exchange.org/juice box and take the survey. When you complete that survey, your answers are used to move type one diabetes research of all kinds. So if you'd like to help with type one research, but don't have time to go to a doctor or an investigation and you want to do something right there from your sofa, this is the way t 1d exchange.org/juice box. It should not take you more than about 10 minutes. The episode you're about to listen to was sponsored by touched by type one. Go check them out right now on Facebook, Instagram, and, of course, at touched by type one.org, check out that Programs tab when you get to the website to see all the great things that they're doing for people living with type one diabetes touched by type one.org this episode of The Juicebox Podcast is sponsored by the contour next gen blood glucose meter. Learn more and get started today at contour. Next.com/juice box. US med is sponsoring this episode of The Juicebox Podcast, and we've been getting our diabetes supplies from us. Med for years. You can as well us. Med.com/juice, box or call 888-721-1514, use the link or the number. Get your free benefits. Check and get started today with us. Med,
Kim 2:43
Hi, I'm Kim. I am a type one diabetic. I was diagnosed at 36 years old. I've been diagnosed for about two years to celebrate my two year and middle of November, and yeah, I also have hypothyroidism and some other fun things coming out of my diabetic diagnosis, but I had no symptoms. Um, it just randomly was found one day, and I've been injecting insulin ever since.
Scott Benner 3:07
Other fun things, but other fun things,
Kim 3:11
yeah, so actually, the reason I'll just kind of get in my diagnosis story, because it kind of rolls into it. So my husband and I, we've been together for seven years. Whoops,
Scott Benner 3:22
that's not powerful. He won't hear this, don't worry.
Kim 3:26
And so, you know, about two years ago, we were, you know, talking about family planning and figuring things out. And so I was like, I'm a huge advocate for health, and I'm very fit, I'm very active. I've always am like, what am I eating? What am I doing? What am I putting in my body? Very conscious of all that. So I wanted to get some blood work done see what was going on. And I went to see, you know, my regular doctors, and everyone's like, Oh, you're fine. You're fine. And I just didn't feel fine, you know, like, there's just something off. I was having some regular periods, which was my only main symptom, and everyone was like, oh, that's stress. You're fine. Like, no worries. Keep kicking me down the road. And so finally, I went to see a hormone nurse practitioner, and she did like so much blood work on me, like I'm talking, like every time I go, it'd be like 14 vials. And she was like, your glucose levels are a little elevated. And I was like, I don't know what that means. And so she came tested me again. Three months later, it kept going up and up, but I was still producing insulin, and I still was my a 1c was, like, kind of more in range. And so she was like, I don't know, like, maybe, you know, you have some other hormone things going on, so maybe that's all whatever. And finally, the third round, she I was actually on vacation for my husband's 40th birthday in St Martin. So I had no service, and she called me like she left a voicemail when I got it. It's basically like, you need to come into the office immediately. And I was like, Oh, great. What's Am I dying? And she said that my fasting glucose was 237 and my and my a 1c was 12.5 Wow. And also, I had no symptoms, like. I can count on one hand, maybe even three fingers, the times that I felt super thirsty. I drink a lot of water. So going to the bathroom wasn't anything that was standing out to me. So I went in that next day, and she was like, I can't let you leave here without injecting insulin. And I'm like, what? Like, it was just, I basically blacked out. Just basically go do this. And so my brother is actually type one diabetic. We have different dads, but we have to say mom. So he was diagnosed at the age of nine. He's now 52 Wow. I'm knowing, not knowing any dates today and so and like, I always communicate that to my doctors. I'm always like, my brother has type one. He got it when he was nine. You know, the juvenile diabetes time range, when everyone thinks that's the only time you can get diagnosed with type one. I always would tell my doctors, no one ever was concerned or whatever, and I was never tested for any of like, the antibodies ever, I don't think my mom ever thought that was a thing, right? So, you know, all I remember is, like, my brother didn't really, he still doesn't, doesn't really manage his diabetes. Well, doesn't wear CGM. He's still on MDI, like, really, just rocking and rolling on his own, which is fine. He's old school and, you know, whatever. And I just remember him, like, growing up, like he would put himself in, you know, let his sugar get low, and because he was upset about x or y or whatever. And I just remember when she was telling me that I was type one diabetic, I was like, oh my god, I'm going to be in a coma. I'm not gonna be able to survive. I'm gonna die in my sleep, like, catastrophizing every single potential outcome, just because that's all I knew. And I was just I was so upset. I was like, devastated. And, you know, all the traumatic symptoms that I'm sure everybody feels when they first get diagnosed, yeah, and so, you know, I was trying to manage that, right? So we kind of put the family planning on the side. I was like, well, now I'm type one diabetic. I don't know what that means. Like, I'm trying to just figure out, like, how to stay alive and still like function and in life, like,
Scott Benner 7:01
a completely new life. Kim, right? Like, it just felt like it started over. Yep. Before you move forward, can I ask you a weird question? I'm gonna, I'm gonna forget to ask, if I don't always Your brother's a little kid. He pouts by making his blood sugar low. Did I understand that correctly?
Kim 7:15
Yeah. So he was diagnosed at nine, you know, this was in the he was born in 72 so, like, this is the early 80s, right? I don't know what tech was like then I do,
Scott Benner 7:24
okay, one, great, yeah,
Kim 7:28
yeah. So, like, you know, whatever. And like, the problem, I'm sure there wasn't a lot of education out so, like, my, you know, whatever, I just remember, I almost, like, we always were at Children's Hospital, like, always. But as he got into his like, teens, he was very rebellious, and was like, I'm gonna do whatever I want. Because I think he just didn't want the diabetes to kind of hold him back. And so I think he really would just get use it as, like, not really threatened, but kind of get attention from it. So I just remember there would be, like, one time, like, I think him and his girlfriend broke up, and he, like, was really upset, let us sugar get low. And my mom and I and my dad went over one day, and he was, like, laying in bed, like, probably 10 minutes from a coma. And I just was, like a young little girl, like, what is happening? So Kim, Michael,
Scott Benner 8:12
and I'm wondering is, if your memory is not, like, a little puzzled, like, is he getting letting himself get really high? Like, not giving himself because low would lead to a seizure pretty quickly if he was like giving himself too much insulin. You've probably heard me talk about us Med and how simple it is to reorder with us med using their email system. 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. They don't just randomly call you, but I'm set up to be called if I don't respond to the email, because I don't trust myself 100% so one time I didn't respond to the email, and the phone rings the house. It's like, ring. You know how it works? And I picked it up. I was like, hello, and it was just the recording was like, US med doesn't actually sound like that, but you know what I'm saying? It said, Hey, you're I don't remember exactly what it says, but it's basically like, Hey, your order's ready. You want us to send it, push this button if you want us to send it, or if you'd like to wait. I think it lets you put it off, like a couple of weeks, or push this button for that. That's pretty much it. I push the button to send it, and a few days later, box right at my door. That's it. US, med.com/juice, box. Or call, 888-721-1514, get your free benefits checked now and get started with us. Med, Dexcom, Omnipod, tandem freestyle, they've got all your favorites, even that new eyelet pump. Check them out now at us. Med.com/juice, box, or by calling 888-721-1514, there are links in the show notes of your podcast player and links at Juicebox podcast.com to us, med and to all the sponsors. The contour next gen blood glucose meter is sponsoring this episode of The Juicebox Podcast, and it's entirely possible that it is less expensive in cash. Cash, then you're paying right now for your meter through your insurance company. That's right. If you go to my link, contour next.com/juicebox, you're going to find links to Walmart, Amazon, Walgreens, CVS, Rite, aid, Kroger and Meyer. You could be paying more right now through your insurance for your test strips in meter, then you would pay through my link for the contour next gen and contour next test strips in cash. What am I saying? My link may be cheaper out of your pocket than you're paying right now, even with your insurance, and I don't know what meter you have right now. I can't say that, but what I can say for sure is that the contour next gen meter is accurate. It is reliable, and it is the meter that we've been using for years. Contour next.com/juice box. And if you already have a contour meter and you're buying test strips, doing so through the Juicebox Podcast link will help to support the show.
Kim 11:01
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's a great question, because I distinctly remember him just being like, angry and like, combative and like, just like, almost like he was drunk. So I think it was probably a low, but honestly, it could have been high too. I don't know. I just ended up in the hospital after that, yeah, he was in the hospital a couple times.
Scott Benner 11:23
I'm gonna guess he would stop taking his insulin. But, like, and that you're just nine, like, your little kid memory, yeah, you know what I mean, yeah, yeah. But whatever doesn't matter. I just
Kim 11:32
remember, yeah. I just remember it was traumatic in general. And I was like, I don't want that. I was like, is that going to be my life, right? Like, right? Is that going to be my life, and, you know, all the things, and so, like, the first year was really traumatic, and I was like, Oh, I kind of got a little slow as being like, oh, I can, like, I have my brother to help with. Like, I can talk to my brother about things and very negative about it, very like, this worst thing that's ever could happen to me. And, like, it's like, blah, blah, blah. Like, I can't eat anything. And I'm like, every time we go to dinner, you're always eating pasta, you're eating everything. So, like, calm down. And so I just, like, really quickly realizing, like, he's not going to be somebody I can
Scott Benner 12:10
my guy is not going to be my guy. I don't think, yeah, he's not,
Kim 12:13
he's not my guy. I'm grateful because he like, the way he managed. I didn't want that. I was like, I'm gonna do the complete opposite of that, like I want to ensure that I am staying fully on top of everything. I'm gonna be I swung the complete opposite way. I got it on a CGM, probably so I was, I was told on November one that I had diabetes. I didn't get to see an endo until the 18th of November, and I didn't get a CGM until maybe December.
Scott Benner 12:43
But you sort of used your brother the way people use bad parents. You were like, Oh, I can either be this thing or fight against it. Basically, yeah, yeah, okay,
Kim 12:54
yeah. And it's interesting, because, like, my mom and my dad both raised type one diabetic, and I cannot. I don't talk to my family about diabetes like my mom, literally, like said the other day, are you sure you really have diabetes? I wish I was joking. This
Scott Benner 13:10
doesn't really feel like with your brother. So is that her vibe?
Kim 13:14
I think she just feels like because, you know, I am super on top of my health. I've always been that way. I've always worked out. I've always ate healthy. I've always been that, you know, like the black sheep of the family, that was like, let's have organic vegetables, or let's eat a salad. And everybody's like, let's eat potatoes and all these things, right? And so I got
Scott Benner 13:35
yelled at the grocery store yesterday because I got sent off for something, and I came back and I was like, Hey, I got this one instead, because there's no high fructose corn syrup in it, my wife goes, That's not what I asked for. Like, okay, I'll go back. Sorry. Yes, yes,
Kim 13:47
exactly. I'm like, a label reader and, you know, and they just think I'm like, this crazy person. So I think my mom just is, like, I don't know if it's out of guilt that she's trying to act like I don't have it because, you know, I have another brother. So I have two older brothers. I'm the youngest of three and the only girl and my other brothers. Completely fine. Thank you. I'm so
Scott Benner 14:07
sorry to cut you off, but I did the math on that. You said I had two older brothers on the youngest of three, and then you said I'm the only girl. And I went, Yeah, I got it process of elimination, right? Like, wow, you do. I seem stupid. Are you over explaining stuff to me. No, go ahead,
Kim 14:22
just making it really detailed so the listeners can understand my family dynamic. I don't know. I don't really talk about it with my family. I really don't like the only person I really like talk to about is obviously my husband, because he lives with me. I've met some really amazing people in the community, like, actually, the reason why I listen to your podcast was because of my friend Carly. Shout out, Carly, I know she listens to this all the time. She was like, Do you listen to this Juicebox Podcast? And I was like, No. And like, I was, I don't know if you if, like, ardent, well, Arden was way younger when she was diagnosed, but like, I don't know if anybody you've spoken to before has been like when they first get diagnosed. You're like, there's just information overload, and there's just too much. And you're just like. I kind of want to, like, not listen to things. I don't want to know what's like. I just kind of want to ignore it, yeah. And so this, like, when she introduced it to me, I was like, I just, like, I was going through just, it just was like, not the time, right? And so, you know, about a year after my diagnosis, we really were starting to figure out more around, like, fertility stuff. And then I realized, and then, like, told me that. So in December of last year, diabetes threw me into early menopause at the age of 36 oh, I'm
Scott Benner 15:28
sorry. I didn't mean to be. No, my wife said, is going through it right now. I'm sorry. Like, I have a specific understanding of what you just said. So yeah. So
Kim 15:37
I'm like, okay, so you know, in the span of a year, more or less my life completely changed. I'm no longer able to, like, naturally have family and like, that's fine. I was, we were always kind of on the fence and to begin with, so like, I was like, maybe this is, you know, a higher powers way of making that decision for me, and they knew that I probably couldn't make it myself without having some sort of regret, one way
Scott Benner 16:02
or the other. Can I stop there for a second? I'm super interested in that. So, so you're on the fence about having a baby, but we're probably going to do it. And that's the question is, like, is it because of like, FOMO? Is it like, well, if we don't, then we're screwed.
Kim 16:15
Yep, it's honestly, like, I feel really badly. Like, no, no talking about it like this, but like, I really did feel left out. Like, a lot of my friends are having kids, have kids, like, and, you know, like you're a father, like, when you have kids, your life changes. Like, think priorities shift, like, things are different. It's not the same as your friends that potentially don't have kids. Like, it's, that's just how it is. Like, there's it's not wrong, it's not right, that's just how it is. Yeah, and so I and also growing up, like, that's kind of what I was told I should do. Like, get married, have kids. Get married. Have kids like that. If you don't do that, you're doing something wrong. I always chose my career path because I was like, I really, I want to be successful. Like, this is what I want to do. I work in advertising, and I've, I've just, I love it, like, it's something I've, I've always been doing. I've worked my way up. I'm really proud of where I've landed in my career. Yeah. And when I was like, I was like, oh, you know, like, I don't, I can't imagine being a mom on top of this. Like, we actually just adopted a dog six months ago. And I say to Joe, that's my husband. Like, how do people with real kids do this?
Scott Benner 17:23
No, because with the dog, you're like, This is a mistake. He's like, you know, like,
Kim 17:26
they we both work from home, but it's like, I'm in meeting. Like, basically my whole job is in meetings, right? Like, I'm always in meetings. I'm always doing something. So it's like, what's the dog doing? Where's the dog? Need to go out? Like, I mean, obviously a kid would probably be in school and whatever. But still, like, you know, we're getting ready to go out of town. My in laws are watching our dog. I have to get all of her food ready. I have to get all of her stuff ready. And she's it's just a dog, like, let alone, like, if I had a kid that needed, like, real stuff, you know? And so there are moments where I'm like, actually, this is a blessing in disguise, like, whatever. But there are times where I'm still like, man, that really sucks. That like, at like, none of these things I had no say in any of these things that happened to me. Like, I think that's one thing I'm really working through in therapy. I actually found a therapist and her son is type one diabetic because I was going to therapy. And people like, people would be like, Are you sure you're type one? And I'm like, Oh,
Scott Benner 18:15
why do so many people say that to you? Because I am.
Kim 18:19
I'm five seven, I'm very thin. I work out all the time. I eat very healthy. Like, if you did, I mean, obviously you can't really tell if somebody has diabetes or not, unless you see their tech. But like, if you looked at me, you'd be like, Oh, she doesn't have diabetes. Like, she's working out. She's doing all these things. She's like, all the stuff. And so I actually went for an Invisalign consult the other week, and the orthodontist said to me, like, Oh, you have diabetes. And I said, Yeah. And she goes, How do you have type two? You're so skinny. And I was like, I don't have type two. I have type one. I was diagnosed two years ago. She goes, You can't be diagnosed two years ago. You're either born with type one or you're not.
Scott Benner 18:51
And I'm like, Invisalign girl felt real comfortable with that, did she?
Kim 18:56
I'm like, Okay, I have two paths here. One, I can, like, get crazy pants and be, you know, make a scene and try to educate this woman who's probably not gonna get it or two. I could just keep reassuring her I have type one. And I was like, Yeah, I take insulin and did it and blah, blah, blah. And she was like, I would really double check with your doctor and test it again to make sure I love that. It's awesome. Yeah. And I was like, You know what? Thank you. I will. I'll
Scott Benner 19:22
get right to that. See, you're a nice person, I can tell because I'd be sitting there thinking, Oh, I wonder what she doesn't know about Invisalign. Maybe, honestly, maybe I should be leaving in the minds of people who don't know and have half bits of information and have heard a thing you don't code as diabetes to them, that's what you're saying. Okay, yeah, yeah, I get it and,
Kim 19:46
like, it's fine, whatever. Like, every diabetic is all different shapes and sizes, and there's, it's just such a unique condition that, like, everybody is literally different no matter you know, our body types, our gene. Genetics, like all the things, you know, once I found out that I was in menopause, they're like, We have to go, you have to get hormone replacement therapy so you don't get osteoporosis and die. I'm like,
Scott Benner 20:09
too soon. Grab it. This is great. 30s are going amazing. Oh, like, this
Kim 20:15
is my year, and I also was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which I'm not surprised because it runs in my family, I just it, knew that was a matter of time and like, but to me, I'm like, taking a pill every morning. No big deal. So, you know, just the whole thing. And I'm like, you know, they say things come in threes. And I'm like, Okay, I got my three. Can I be good for the rest of my life? Can these be my only medical problems that I have to deal with for the rest of my life? That would be great.
Scott Benner 20:38
But I'm gonna bum you out for a second. I have not had a place to say this in the podcast, so I guess I'm going to say it here because of what you just brought up. But you know, years and years ago, this woman named Michelle comes on and to tell a story about her son who had type one who passed away, and he passed his way when I I'm pretty sure he was 10 years old. Wow. And about a month ago, she died in a car accident, but along with her husband and, like, three of their best friends, wow. And I thought beyond all the things, I thought about it and how terrible it is, etc, I thought on people who think something bad has happened to me, so nothing else bad can happen, you know, and it's such a human thing, like, oh, it I got my thing. Like, I'm done, and I'm like, it's just not how it works. You know. Anyway, I'm sorry. Like, you're, you're such an upbeat person, but like, I just, I really, I mean, you know, everybody should find the episode. Jesse was here, and Jesse was here too. Michelle was on twice to talk about her son, about surviving after losing a child, and, you know, diabetes awareness, and she was, you know, a lovely person who stayed in the diabetes space and helped other people with type one her whole life. But, yeah, just like, a freak accident.
Kim 21:52
Oh, God. I mean, it's so true. I'm like, oh, that's why I'm, like, always, you know, because I, like, I said I had no symptoms, right? Like, your period was off. That was it, right? That was it. Yeah, that was it. And everyone, and I've very stressful job, we travel a lot, like, everyone's like, Oh, you're like, they would test all these things. You're fine, you're fine. Oh, you're great. Like, everything's great. So now I'm like, Okay, well, I had no symptoms. Like, do I have cancer? Do I have, like, you know what? I mean, you're just, like, hyper aware.
Scott Benner 22:18
Oh, yeah, sure. Like, if I didn't look like I was sick at all, and this happened to me, like, what else is coming? Is that how you feel? Like, Yep, yeah, no, I think like that. I definitely think like, just because things feel good, I credit my youngest brother, Rob, who I don't, I guess I don't talk about a ton. He was always that. Rob was always in trouble, and you knew about it or in trouble and you hadn't found out about it, yeah, there's only two states of Rob as a child, you know. And I do wonder, like, I guess I think about, like, illness that way too, you know. And I think, by the way, I think that's what makes me interested in what's going on with people, and trying to stay a little ahead of the curve, like, I don't want to find out when it's too late about anything. Yep, yeah,
Kim 23:01
I 100% agree. And, like, I get blood work done all the time. I'm like, I know blood work is only a moment in time, but I'm like, I want to know where I'm at. Like, where am I? What's What am I looking at? Like, what are we, what are we playing with here? And my doctors think I'm crazy, but I'm like, hey, my body, I had this huge thing happened to me when I was in my mid 30s. Like, it can happen. And I really want to make sure like that everybody I love and care about and even people I don't know, like get blood work done. Like, talk to your family about your past health, not just your parents, not just your siblings, like your aunts, your uncles, your cousins, your grandma, your grandpa. Like things skip generations, things come down. Like, you just need to be aware. And like, I found out my uncle has type got type one when he was 27 on my dad's side, right? And my grandpa, I think he was probably more type two. My mom's not sure. So diabetes obviously runs in our family. And so, like, it's kind of going back to the menopause of it all. I'm like, Okay, well, maybe I'm trying to stop that lineage. Yeah,
Scott Benner 24:02
oh, listen, yeah, you, I mean, you're not gonna pass anybody if you don't have a baby, that's for sure. Yeah, yeah. You know, I've been thinking a lot lately of finding a way on the podcast to say to people like, you're not supposed to be out of breath. You're not supposed to be tired. It's cool if you don't sleep well last night and you're tired today, but like, go to bed, fall asleep, get up if you're still tired. Maybe your iron is low, maybe you have a thyroid issue, maybe your blood sugar is too high, like, I don't know. But there are people, I know it sounds crazy, but there are people running around on the planet who don't feel like that. Oh, I'm getting older. Thing is, how everyone writes that off, but I just think about, like, how, like on the simplest idea, some for some reason, talk to a lot of people this week who have low iron. You know, they'll discuss like, I had brain fog and I was tired for two years, and I'm like, that's two years of your life. Yeah, once you retired three days in a row, and it's not going away, and it feels like it's getting worse, go to the doctor, get some simple blood work. Let's. Guy look at you and say, hey, you know, your ferritin is, like, 30 or whatever, and like, and instead of just struggling constantly, I know, and I know everybody doesn't know to look for those things, and a lot of doctors aren't helpful with it either. But if you're listening to this, like, you should know, you know,
Kim 25:16
yeah, a lot of people are like, Oh, well, I'm just gonna get like, my a 1c, tested, and my thyroid and maybe some other things, like get a metabolic panel. Like, push to get your your iron tested, push to get your Vitamin D tested. Like, these are things because, to your point, Scott, like not being able to focus, or, you know, being tired, or all these things like, it's not always normal, like, how
Scott Benner 25:40
about just being snippy? Like, you're around other people, and you're just, you're the woman I talked to the other day. She's like, you know, we got my husband's, you know, something, I forget even what it was. Like, I got my husband something checked, we fixed it, blah, blah, blah, and he was nicer, you know. Like, you know, so you're walking around all day, your wife's like, yeah, guy's kind of a dick, you know. Like, and you and you don't know it, like, you have no idea it's happening. So it's so true.
Kim 26:03
And, like, I can get more into this, but I was in a diabetes research trial. I was taking an exploratory drug the research endo was, you know, basically, like, talking to me about, oh, well, you're doing great, and you're doing all these things and, like, but, you know, it started, like, because I was like, Well, what I thought? I think that I got the COVID vaccine, and that's what triggered it, like, I know I had the antibodies, like, I'm not saying like, I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I just think that's something that might have activated it. And because I remember, after I got my first shot, I had severe pain on my left hand side and but he told me, my research endo said that diabetes starts three years before you're typically three years ish, before you start seeing symptoms or what have you, because your body's main goal is to keep you alive, so it's going to be doing a lot of work on the back end. Yeah, and I think that's why, like, my menopause happened, because I think, like, that was happening before I was diagnosed. I just didn't know it, because reproduction is voluntary. So it's like, let's shut something down to give more energy to help keep this person alive. No, it's interesting.
Scott Benner 27:06
It's interesting. You think, like, like, I remember growing up with a girl who just did not get a period forever, and then later you learned there were other things wrong with her, yep, yep, yep,
Kim 27:17
yep. And like, they call that. That's like, you know, the five vital signs. That's like, almost a sixth or a fifth or whatever, because it's like, it's important. You know what I mean? Like, so many women are dismissed with about, like, irregular periods or really bad periods, or all this. And like, not a lot of people talk about it because it's taboo or uncomfortable or whatever, but it's important. It's a huge marker of your health as a female, if you're in your reproductive time frame, yeah, like, my periods were normal. No big deal. Like, I never had any bad symptoms. Or, like, you know, I had PMS, but, like, you know, not, not the PMDD, so I never had any issues. So I think I can, you know, I can't say for sure, but you know, everybody around me and my care team is assuming that, like, kind of that perfect storm was happening. You know, the stress of the diabetes and all the things kind of pushed me into that, which is fine, because I don't have any history of my family, like I don't. It's not a genetic type of thing, whatever. It's just like, wild, how the body will do everything it can to keep you alive until it can't, yeah.
Scott Benner 28:20
Now I'm always fascinated by that. Actually, it's to the detriment sometimes of people, because they're like, No, I'm still doing it. I'm going to work. I'm doing my things. Like, you know? I'm like, yeah, it shouldn't be this big of a struggle. I agree.
Kim 28:32
I know. And like, every time, like my brother, my middle brother, who has the fast and glucose of an angel, even though he probably has never had a vegetable in his life. He would be like, he like, gets sleep or has anxiety. And I'm like, I'm always thinking. I'm like, Okay, your guts probably off. Like, you should take a probiotic. You should do this stuff. Like, I just can see when people have, like, skin things, or they're like, oh yeah. Like, I never go to the bathroom. I'm like, that's a problem. Like, the gut, you know, everything starts in the gut and all this stuff. And I'm just like, like, I feel like I could diagnose people just from their symptoms. They're telling me, I wish
Scott Benner 29:04
there was more to do about that, still, like, more that that you could be certain about, and it wasn't such a crap shoot all the time trying to, like, I was just talking to somebody the other day who had, um, SIBO, and they, they hit, hit her with, like, hundreds of rounds of antibiotics to kill it eventually, like Jesus and but then, once they got it under control, she's doing a lot better, you know. But, I mean, where are you going to find a dog? Listen, in a world where you can't find it's a coin flip. If you're going to find a doctor who will tell you to Pre Bolus for your meals, you're going to find somebody who knows, like, how to identify SIBO and get rid of it, like, come on, you know? You're, I know, yeah, talk about that for a minute. So you were so used to going through your your health throughout your life. Did you just apply that thinking to the diabetes? And is that how you Is that why your mom thinks it seems like you don't even have diet like, is that why? Yeah,
Kim 29:54
because I am super anal about my management, almost to. My detriment, that it's too intense, and I think there's like, a subconscious layer to that, of, like, maybe I don't really have it, or maybe I care myself of it, if I never go past 140 or if I eat something and I still have a steady line, and, like, just all these, like, unhealthy mentality type of thing. Kim, we
Scott Benner 30:21
got a little magical thinking going on here. You got, are you O, C, D, what do you got there?
Kim 30:28
I think I'm just super type A and I really want to control everything. I think I felt super out of control over the last two years, and this is something that, like, I can attempt to control, but, like, I'll never be able to control diabetes. I can only management, manage it, and I am doing the job of a full time organ that, like, I'm guessing on constantly. Yeah, at the beginning it was really hard, because I would be like, you know, you eat the same thing every day, and every day there's a different result. You have to give one unit, 10 units, three units, literally eating the same thing. It doesn't matter. It's like, oh, well, I slept one minute less today, so I'm more resistant. Or the sun only was out for 10 minutes today, so I'm more resistant. It's like, that's what drives me nuts about diabetes. There's all of the variables that go into your blood sugar, not just the food you eat, especially being a female. And I'm just like, This is my nightmare. Like it was just I felt like I was playing dodgeball, but no, I wasn't playing. I was standing in the middle of the court, and I just get balls hit at me all the time, and I can never catch any of them and throw them back. I'm always just being hit.
Scott Benner 31:37
So by moving at something, you feel like you're not being passive. Yeah, okay, did you ever figure out anything with all the hormone testing? Or did that, yeah, not going
Kim 31:49
actually, like, I just got blood work done, and I've never seen so much green in my life, which was great. Also, like, my, you know, the only thing that is still a little weird is I have, like, I have really bad seasonal allergies, and I'm allegedly allergic to dogs, but, like, it's not that high, so I just have, like, this one marker that's always higher. Other than that, everything is fine. So, like, I was saying, I started a diabetes research trial, which is really interesting. I don't know if they're still open, I think they might be closed, but it's this research trial for newly diagnosed, so you have to be, I think, over 18 been able. You have to already, like, apply and start the drug within six months of your first insulin dose. I was a woman I met on Instagram. She actually, she lived abroad and told me she was, like, you should try the study. And so I applied, and I literally started the drug, like, one day before my six months, uh, like anniversary of taking insulin. And so it was a drug that I took for a year, two year study, double blinded. I don't know. No one knows if I had the drug or not, but I had side effects of the drug, which was mainly heartburn. And so I would take it for two weeks on, two weeks off, twice a day. I would go in every three months, and they would, like, give me an EKG. They would test on my blood. They would make me drink this, like, disgusting protein shake. I wasn't allowed to take any insulin. I could take my long acting, but no fast acting. They would just monitor my blood every 30 minutes, of like, how that was that shake was impacting my blood sugar, which was, like, really terrifying to just watch it just be like, Hi, you're like, and you can't do anything about it. And that was really hard, but it was really cool, because I got all these free tests. So kind of going back to what I was saying, of, I'm obsessed with learning. They couldn't tell me a lot of the blood work because it was for the research trial. I got like, four free EKGs. My heart's great, like, you know, like, all this stuff. And so I was like, I love this. I love being a guinea pig for for science. And my research agenda was great because, you know, I don't really love my care team, but you know, you have to be your own doctor, so to speak. Sometimes, like I was saying I had to take hormone replacement supplements because my early menopause, I had to go on birth control, because it was either, you know, I could wear a patch, and I was like, I already wear stuff on my body. I don't need something else. I have to worry about changing. And so I just opted for birth control. But birth control made me so resistant, like it was wild, and that was really dark time for me, because it was like I was doing everything I was doing before, but it was different. And so I was like, Okay, this is wild. And so my endo put me on Metformin. And like, Metformin was kind of helping, and then she realized through my research trial that I was still had some C peptides. So she was like, I think you should be on a GLP. Because she was like, I typically like to give all of my diabetics that still have C peptides or make or have some small amount of functionality, a GLP, because, you know, there's regenerative properties, and who knows, all the things I listened to that podcast that when you interviewed that man, I forget what he was taking, but he took the GLP, a GLP, and now he no longer takes insulin.
Scott Benner 34:53
He was taking the Manjaro, yeah,
Kim 34:57
yeah. And so I was like, Ooh, but. Also like, you know, I'm like, I can't expect that same result, but I did start getting on a GLP on october 1. I'm on ozempic. So I take ozempic, I take Metformin, and I do insulin. So I'm like, doing the most. It's been really helpful. So I can, you know, it's just like, yeah, and playing dodgeball, it's like, I take this medicine to help with this, but it's increasing this. I have to take that to keep that at bay. And it's just like, yeah, it's a lot, yeah. And it's, it's really frustrating sometimes to be like, I'm doing, I'm taking all of this. And there's like, people out there that are just stuffing their face with onion rings and Diet Coke, and they're fine. And it's like,
Scott Benner 35:34
oh, they're fine for now, yeah, it's not gonna, I mean, listen, maybe they'll roll all the way through, but it just seems unlikely I would do what you're doing. You know what I mean? Like, if you feel good about what you're doing and you're seeing value from it, then then do it? Did the ozempic bring down your insulin needs? So what I was doing
Kim 35:53
when I was taking so I'm on Tracy BA and I take email. I'm on a hemolog half units, which I think is one of the reasons why I haven't moved to a pod yet. I was taking so I had some, like, I was on basal gar when I first got diagnosed. And first of all, no one ever told me there was multiple types of insulin, so I just was like, this is this? This is what you take when you're diabetic. This is the insulin. And then people were like, well, there's faster or there's like, little extra long acting and taking Tracy, but like, really changed my vibe with long acting, because people
Scott Benner 36:22
seem to love Tracey, but generally, yeah, I love
Kim 36:24
it. Like, I think it's great. It's whatever. So I had some days like, our leftover and I was needing to take, like, a small little bump of insulin before bed for my overnights, because my overnights were always like, and when I say high, like, my high and other people's high are probably different. But like, I don't really want to sleep at 150 all night. Like, that's my sleep time is, like, kind of my, my bonus time for diabetes. Like, can I try to get my average a little lower to, you know, when I'm sleeping and not eating and not doing anything, you know, it's like, when I'm going into battle, when I wake up, like, I agree, like, like, the so I was taking that, and so the ozempic eliminated that, and also eliminated my variation of when I would go up a unit for my long, acting here and there, just depending on, like this, where I was in my, like, the hormone path. What's your dose? I take nine units every morning. I'm sorry,
Scott Benner 37:16
ozempic, I mean,
Kim 37:18
oh, sorry, I'm at 0.5 okay,
Scott Benner 37:22
all right, so point two, five wasn't enough. That was what I first did
Kim 37:24
for the first four weeks. And then I asked my end I was like, so do I just keep on that? And she was like, yeah, let me know if anything changes. And so I've been on it, but
Scott Benner 37:33
because you're not trying to impact your weight or your nod, no, right? No. What about eat? Are you able to eat on it? Fine. No, it's gonna say, why don't you try point two, five again? I
Kim 37:44
know, I know. I'm just like, I think, like, the nausea now is not as consistent as it was. Like in the early, probably four or five weeks, it was really bad. I You're on
Scott Benner 37:56
Manjaro. I use that bound. It is Manjaro. But yeah. And
Kim 38:00
like, I've heard you talk about your journey and, like, you know, and the one thing I actually listened to one of the pods the other day around the woman who was, she's like, Yeah, who's young, in her early 20s, she takes ozempic, and she was saying how she was having a versions to me. And I was like, me too, at dinner, like, at night, like morning, not really that much. I like workout first thing in the morning. So, like, sometimes there's some nausea because I take, like, electrolytes in the morning, but not super, not crazy, like in the evenings, is when and I smell the food cooking, that's when the nausea hits.
Scott Benner 38:32
Okay, I don't know why you wouldn't try point two five, just to say because they move you up to lose weight, but if you're not trying to lose weight, and point two, five is helping, then it's helping, like, right? So like, I mean, it's not like, you're gonna keep going, because if you push more, you're not gonna be able to eat anything.
Kim 38:49
And even think of that. Like, see again, with the education for adults with stuff, no one tells you you're just like, Here you go.
Scott Benner 38:55
They're reading you the label. You do point two, five for four weeks, and you go to point five, and then you we get you up to the dose, and if it's too much, then we'll back. You all. You off, but we'll see in the future. Yeah, you're not they, because they don't know what they're talking about either. They're following the layout, yeah, which is, I mean, listen, God bless. That's what they should probably be doing. But there's a lot of people out there, like, you know, micro dosing, glps, I know people who are, like, putting it into vials and doing like, little bits every day instead of, like, one injection a week. So there's people are trying a bunch of different things right now, off label with it. Yeah. I mean, if you're not eating, we you want to eat, right? So
Kim 39:31
I know it's, it's bad, like, it's, I'm it's better now than it was. The nausea is what really and it's not like bad nausea where it's like, I'm out for the count, it's just like, you know, when you have a paper cut and you get lemon juice in it here and there, it's annoying, like, it's just in the background.
Scott Benner 39:48
I've been at it for like, a year and a half or more. Now it doesn't touch me anymore, like that. But, I mean, there's a lot you're adjusting to as you're using, for sure. And I just said to somebody the other day, I'm like, Look, you know, I was like, I don't know. That I had like, a solid bowel movement for like, nine months, but I was losing weight, so I was like, whatever. And then eventually my body did get accustomed to it, and now that's just not a problem anymore. As a matter of fact, I'm, you know, I'm starting to sit here today thinking, like, I haven't gone to bathroom a little bit. Yeah, you do have to pay more attention, because you are, you're impacting your systems, right? So, like, you're now kind of in control of it, you pay attention a little more. Add a little, I mean, I add, like, a magnesium oxide if I'm not going to the bathroom, like, you know, like, there's little things you have to do. You can't just sit around and go, like, I injected the stuff. And this is what's happening now. You're not going to succeed if you're not paying attention to it. I think I agree.
Kim 40:40
I and it's all different, like, your experience is different than my experience. Obviously, you know, you're not a type one diabetic, but everyone kind of just like, is like, Oh, you're on those em pick. And they just immediately think, I want to lose weight. And I'm like, that's, that's like, the one, like, my endo was basically like, if you come back, I have an appointment in January. She said, I go every three, four months, and we're going to monitor your weight, and if you're too, you know, if you lose weight, like, if you lose more than, I don't know, whatever, we're going to have to find a different solution or take you off of it. So, and I was like, no, like, this is really helping me. But like, and then there's that vein side of me that's like, Yeah, let's lose weight. Like, you know, I'm like, in this weird, like, push and pull of, like, I want to be healthy. I want to be taking this, but I also don't mind losing, you know, weight. Like, what females like, No, I don't want to lose weight. You know what I mean, like, I mean
Scott Benner 41:29
less than female, male, whatever. Like, yeah, listen the person I spoke to the other day using the GLP that actually helped a lot of their hormonal issues, right? Like, PCOS, stuff and, like, you know, in a much better situation. Now, that was their concern. They were like, if I go back to the doctor and they see that I've lost weight, like, are they? They can't take this from me. This is helping me with so many different things. You know what I mean? Like, it's not a perfect plan. It's like, it's like, you know, here's this drug they they made for type two diabetes. People found that it was, you know, really effective for weight loss. And then suddenly people started realizing, like, the same person I'm talking about, they had, they had kidney issues that cleared. So their kidney issues cleared, and their hormonal stuff, like, really bad periods, not like painful, but like periods that would last, like, weeks, you know, yep, and all this is taken care of. But they lost some weight. You know, you'll hear her episode eventually, but give her a ton of credit, she went back to the doctor and she said, Look, these are drinks that are high calorie. I want you to, like, prescribe them for me, because I need the calories. I'm not able to get them in because of the GLP, but the GLP is helping me with so many other things. I'm not letting you take it from me. Yep. So, that was a great, I thought, fix for that person. Yeah,
Kim 42:43
and I agree, because everyone thinks of glps and they immediately go to weight loss. And I'm like, Do you not realize how many other benefits a GLP can offer individuals, especially a type one diabetic that doesn't make this hormone anymore? Yeah, you
Scott Benner 42:56
know our problem, Kim. And actually, you know it, because this is your job. And I did want to ask you, like, you said, type back. I didn't want to, like, use a phrase that you didn't use, yeah. But being in marketing and advertising, it's such a thing that you you're really not in control of. Like, you can make the best thing and put it out there, and if people don't react to it like that. I just felt like that must have been, that must be crazy for you to like, like, go, like, I know we did a great job. How come nobody clicked on, yeah, that must be like, it must be a bad job for you, is what I was thinking.
Kim 43:24
No, no, it's actually fun. I'm on the account side, so I manage the team that creates all our content. All right, that makes more sense, and it's actually more fun now with like trends and stuff like on Tik Tok. So, you know, I mainly in the social media space, so it's, it's fun, but it is annoying when you're like, Wait, this is so fun. We worked on this for so long and like, no one's engaging with it, damn it. But
Scott Benner 43:47
my point was, is that you said, you know, everybody thinks this about a GLP or, you know, here's what people think about diabetes when I'm out in the world. The trouble is, is that whether you're a regular walking around person or a physician or whatever, everyone's really impacted by the way information moves around. Now, yep, no one really understands anything. And you do know it's funny, because I was going to make this point, but you just sort of made it like your job's kind of a game. It's almost like you're just trying to keep a top spinning for as long as you can, or something like that, right when that's the way it works. Like, if you are on Youtube, for example, I'm gonna feel like I'm all over the place for a second. And you see people doing reviews of things, you realize that they know that the algorithm needs them to say a certain number of good things and a certain number of bad things about the thing they're reviewing. And so I had been looking into a product for a while, and I came to realize that the things that people were telling you to be scared of about the product, they're not really an issue. It's just the only thing they could find to say about it that wasn't positive. And so then when you look out into the ether, people believe that this product has this bad aspect. To it, but it doesn't. It's just the thing that YouTubers use to say. But here's my con, and I wonder how much of that impacts GOP medications, right? Uh huh. Because people come on and they're like, you know, like, if I say too many good things, right? Someone will roll up on you and say, like, Oh, you're, you know, you're pimping for a pharma company. And so I have to say some bad things. So what's the bad thing? I'll say, I'll say this thing because I heard someone else say it, and then down the road, poor Kim's in her office, and her doctor is now spouting this back out like it's true, but it's just the way social media works, you know, because you're in it. And I don't know how clear I was to everyone listening, but I think a lot of the things you think are just things people say to feed the algorithm, to get their clicks, to try to stay in their game a little longer. Mm, hmm, that's, yeah,
Kim 45:51
there's, there's definitely a lot of that. And like, you know, we saw a lot of it, you know, with the election and all of that. It's, it's, it is a game of, like, what people read and what they read a headline of, or what they're actually educating themselves on and, and I think that goes for everything in life, whether it's a new coat you're looking to buy or a medicine you want to take, or all these things. It's like, don't just read a headline,
Scott Benner 46:16
I will tell you. Like using politics as an example, you don't know anything about the people running for office, what you know is what the other side wants you to know about them. Yep, yep, that's what you know. And you will spout it off like I heard. Or you know what he did? You know what she did? Like that thing because you heard it three times. But when you have my job, what you recognize is what you're hearing is talking points, yep. And the talking points have been fed to all the influencers, so they all say the same thing. You catch two or three of them saying it. Now you think it's a rule, Yep, yeah. And now you believe it that's marketing. We should all have to take a psychology and a marketing course in college so that you know how the world is trying to manipulate you. Yeah, I know, going back to what we're talking about is this is where you get, like, I had to suspend somebody in the group the other day because she just like, somebody was trying to talk about their GLP medication and what it was doing for them and their insulin resistance. They're having this really kind of high level conversation about how glps are helping people with diabetes and other things. And this person just swoops in and goes, Oh, I didn't know we were allowed to talk about the skinny girl drug here. Oh, my God. I was like, Okay, what am I gonna do? I mean, yeah, take this person and explain to them how they're being manipulated by influencers on Instagram and YouTube and like, Facebook algorithm and like, I can't do that. Like, and if you just say to them, like, you don't know what you're talking about, like, you have to go find like, listen to what these people are like, experiencing. It's the next level of how this is going to happen. Like, people who I can't believe I'm going to say this, but people who can kind of remain true to their message are going to be the next level of information disseminators, you know? And that's just where this is going to go from here. But then there's the the catch 22 of course, is always going to be that no one's going to believe you if you're doing it, because if you're big enough to be heard, you're taking ads from somebody, yeah, like you listen to this podcast, like, generally speaking, I don't think you would listen to me and think he's being told to say something by somebody? Yeah, you know, I'll have companies on that buy ads, and I'll have companies on that don't buy ads, and when they want to come on and talk about their product, they're doing a marketing pitch, right? It's what they're doing, right? Like, I just did one with a CGM, and you listen, there's all the information out there. You basically just had their website, like, read to you, and this is what they want you to know about it. Now you've got to go out and do the rest and figure it out, right? I don't take that ad. You don't get this podcast, right like so there's my catch 22 at the same time, I can tell you that no one has ever pulled me aside and said, say this. Don't say that. Please. Don't say this, please. No one's ever done that. Yeah? I mean,
Kim 49:05
like, let's just say we're talking about, you know, CGM company, or whatever. Like, they want to reach your listeners, so, like, they'll basically, like, do whatever. You know what I mean? If you say, No, I don't want to say that, I'll say this. But like, okay, great. Just say our name. You know what I mean? Like, just getting that awareness out there is worth it, enough for them. You know,
Scott Benner 49:23
I got this great story told to me one time. There was a company that that was not buying ads on the podcast, and they were in a marketing meeting. I got this phone call from a person, and they said, Listen, I've been tasked with buying ads on your podcast. And I'm like, Oh, awesome. You know, we started talking and everything, and the person said, we were just in a meeting, you know, in a room. This was back before COVID, when everybody got into a room to talk to each other. And the the CEO of the the CEO of the company, this is a big company, too, came rolling into the meeting, stuck their head in the meeting, and said, Hey, everybody's doing great. I just wanted to say, why don't. You have ads on Juicebox, let's fix that. And then walked out. And as the person was walking out of the room, someone stopped and said, hey, hey, hey, we don't buy ads on that podcast because he makes fun of us. Oh, and the guy goes, You're making fun of everybody. Pay attention. I love that. And that was the end of it. And so now I do ads with that company. I love that Yeah, and so, like, has there ever been a time where somebody has said something terrible about an advertiser, and I thought to myself, Oh, gosh, this is probably not good. I've thought that. Have I ever stopped them? No, like I never have, because in the end, I have enough advertisers, and if somebody got pissed and left, I gotta be honest with you, like somebody else would flow right into the spot, it wouldn't really be a big deal to me. What's happening to the people on the other side is worrisome to me, because everyone thinks they know something, but you don't realize in this age of digital like information, you just know what people want you to know. That's it. And even when you dig down, you're still just getting some version of disseminated information. And it's not just about diabetes, it's about everything.
Kim 51:08
And that's like, why I really want to continue to raise awareness and education, because it's like, it's the one thing I can help on. There's just so much information and confusion and all the stuff out there that it's the only thing that I can do. Like, I, you know, can't even educate my own mother to understand that. Like, right, this is something real. And because she's like, Well, why are you she's on Manjaro, but she's on it for type two situations, and really wants to use it for weight loss, which is fine, that's great. Works for her. But, like, awesome. She's like, why are you on it? You don't need it. Like, she just doesn't understand. And so she just thinks, again, like, what majority of Americans think a GLP, weight loss. You know, the celebrities taking ozempic and ozempic face and all this stuff. And I'm just like, You do realize that weight loss is one aspect of what this drug can do for your body, especially for a body that doesn't produce all the hormones that a type one diabetic doesn't produce. Like, it's not just insulin. There's more. There's way more other things, like, there's, I forget the hormones called, but it's the hormone that, like, can have trouble with you feeling full so you eat more. You know what I mean? Like, that's what the GOP helps with. Like, it's just, it's way more helpful than it is hurtful. And it's not a weight loss drug, I guess. It
Scott Benner 52:17
does so many different things, and you're gonna find out in the future, all the things that it's going to do, like, the this study on kidney health, where, yep, the FDA said it's wrong to continue this study, because it's so obvious about how well it works. Start giving it to people. Let's stop, like, stop studying it. Like, that's how, how, like, positive that study was. And so who knows what else I mean. Listen, inflammation, right? We've been yelling about inflammation for 50 years, and now there's something that's bringing down people's inflammation. And instead of being like, wow, we found something that did that, what you hear instead is, oh, ozempic face. But what you don't know about ozempic face is, is that it's just some YouTuber who one day said, By the way, when, oh God, when people are fat and they lose weight, that's what their face looks like, okay? Like, that's what happens. And then your elasticity comes back. And if you're lucky, like, look, I gotta tell you something. I had a double chin that I don't have anymore, and I was so worried that I was just gonna look like George Lucas after I lost weight, which is a very old reference for people, but nevertheless, like that was one of my concerns, and I got lucky, and that didn't happen. But if it did happen, would I have had ozempic Chin, or was I just fat? And now I'm not as fat anymore. Some YouTubers like, Hey, I'm noticing a lot of people losing weight have that look on their face. I'll call it ozempic face, and then everybody else will call it ozempic face, and then they'll drive my clicks up, and then I'll sell my clicks to somebody else. Yep, yep. And by the way, Google owns YouTube, and it's like, pay attention. This person doesn't think you have ozempic face. They think that your little lizard, part of your brain is gonna go, us and them, us and them. I'm us, they're them. Ozempic face is bad. See, people are using that skinny girl drug. They're bad. I'm good. We're on a team. I'm winning. They're losing. In the end, you're all losing because it's just about clicks and minutes so they can serve you ads, right? There's no such thing as ozempic face. I know, I know. Here's another one for you. EVs, don't just catch on fire all the time. These are the things that you're being told every day on I bet you that neither of the people running for president were either as bad or as good as you thought they were. Absolutely not. Yeah. So anyway, and Kim knows, because this is her job, they're just manipulating all you. I
Kim 54:47
know, right? I know it's like, there was one time a couple years ago when my dad was complaining about ads in his Gmail or something. And I looked at my guy, he didn't realize, like, that's the reason why I have a job. And he was like, what? Like. To get it, yeah? But he was like, get this ad off of here. I'm like, yeah, that's, ah, I can't do that
Scott Benner 55:04
sales. Listen, I'd rather this than a guy show up in my front door with a vacuum cleaner. Hello, can I dump some ashes on your floor and vacuum them up for you? Oh, my God, did you not go to college? Leave me alone, right, right? This is a very old business, like, you know, marketing. There's no people used to stand up in the middle of town and yell about, like, hey, this oil will make your skin like, you know, like it's this is what's gonna happen. I don't mind that it happens. I even understand that it happens. I'm confused at how people don't understand it's happening.
Kim 55:36
I know that's the part that throws me off. So I know it's wild, wild. Yeah.
Scott Benner 55:41
So when you hear people say you can't Pre Bolus your meals, it's dangerous. That's just somebody who heard that one time, and then another person heard it and said it, and then one person, one day, gave themselves too much insulin before they ate. They got low, and then they took that as confirmation that that's what happens. And then before you know it, you know, it's 20 or 30 years later, the insulins changed three different times, and you still have a doctor out there who says you can't do that. And then I meet a person who's 40 years old who's had diabetes for 25 years. They have gastroparesis, they're on their way to other problems, and one day, they find the podcast and Pre Bolus their meal and go like, Oh, why didn't anybody tell me this? Like, how come somebody's been giving me the exact opposite of good advice for the last 30 years? I've had diabetes. Yeah, I haven't said this in a long time. Okay, but there's a mom and a little girl, and they're making a meat loaf. The mom, she shapes the meat, and then she gets the pan, and then she cuts the edges off the meatloaf. And she, by the way, I think it's a pot roast in the story, let's say pot roast. She takes the pot roast out, she cuts the edges off, and she puts in her pan. She cooks it. The little girl says, Mom, Why'd you cut the ends off the pot roast? She goes, I don't know. It's how my mom did it. So call grandma and sing. The little girl calls grandma, says, grandma, my mom just cut the ends off our pot roast and cook that, like, what's the reason for that? And she goes, Oh, I don't know. I've always done it that way. It's how my mom did it. Great. Grand mom's off in the home. She's 97 years old. One day they all go visit her, and the little girl runs up to her super excited, and says, mom and grandmom, cut the ends off the pot roast. And they say that that's how you taught them to make it. Why did you do that? The old lady thinks, and she thinks and she thinks. She goes, Oh, I had a really short pan, like, and so, like, you don't know why you're doing what you're doing, and that's a bad thing around medicine. That's my point. My point is that there are people with diabetes who are doing things because there's still a doctor who was given somebody regular and mph, and that guy's still practicing somewhere, yep, that's why. And he doesn't even know. He doesn't know what he's talking he doesn't know what trace, but is, he doesn't, he doesn't prescribe it to his patients. And, you know, I don't know. I hope this conversation is helpful for people. This is what they mean when they say, advocate for yourself. Yep, yeah, yeah.
Kim 57:58
And like, just like, coming out of, like, my story, a lot of my friends have been like, Hey, thank you. Like, I went, I got blood work done, and I have this genetic thing, or I have this and they're making decisions about their health. And, like, I think that's awesome. And I just my one thing to people listening, which I'm sure they're probably already on top of their health. Or if they're not, like, push for extra blood work. Don't just get your a 1c tested, find out what else. Like, do some get a metabolic panel done. Like, do it twice a year, not just once a year. Like, it's very typically inexpensive with your insurance to cover. Like, I typically pay between 20 and $25 for blood work. I'm fortunate enough to have access to health care that I'm able to do these things. But I just, like, advocate for yourself. Don't just take what your endo says. Like, come to your endo with questions. Like, push your endo on things. Like, my end, I pushed my endo to get me on a GLP. I was like, she coded me as type one and type two. That's how I was able to get it, since I was so resistant, it's like, you got you can't just listen to a doctor and just think, like, oh well, my doctor said to do this. Like, question them sometimes, if you don't feel comfortable, like, push them. Do your own research. Be careful of your research. Try things out. See what works for you, because you're the one that lives with this condition, day in, day out, not your endo your end does sees you for maybe 20 minutes every three months, if you're lucky, like you just gotta advocate for yourself. That is the biggest thing that I have learned, is that, like, doctors aren't your only person you know, like you are your own doctor. At some aspects, take those learnings, figure it out, you're gonna fail. A ton, yeah, figure it out. Don't be afraid. Stop
Scott Benner 59:24
taking like, Oh no, that's not how it works. Is the final answer. Yep. I am married to a much prettier lady than I should be. Because at some point in my 20s, I thought, What do I got to lose? I'll ask her, and I do that with everything. Like Arden's, you know, the same thing, like, she's been using Manjaro, but the injector pen is too much for, like, she just can't eat enough so, and she's, by the way, and we've been talking about this a little more and more, Arden has a really terrible, like, needle phobia, and so it's, it's hard for, so she's been. Sing rebel says, now for a few days, like, it's a pill and it's, is it as good as like, Manjaro? Probably not. But like, we're working on trying to, like, make it work for like, where do we get a balance where she can still eat but have impact on her blood sugar? And how do you get that? You get a doctor who says the medical version of like, that girl is probably too pretty for me, but I'll ask her anyway, you know, and look what you did. Like, the doctor was like, hey, I'll just like, she's got insulin resistance. If she didn't have type one diabetes, she'd have type two, so she's got type one and type two. And then you're and then the insurance company goes, Oh, okay, well, here, here's your resume and and will they catch up and put a stop to that. Who knows. But then the next person who comes along and figures out how to get around it will get around it, and then we'll all get around it, like, yep. But if you're busy being that person online or in your life, that just goes like, omics, not for type ones, yep. It says on the label, not for type ones. Could cause low blood sugar. Think a little bit like, Uh huh, just expand. And I know there are even people out there who are like, look, a lot of people use things and they don't understand them, and it can be dangerous for them. And that is 100% true. Like, there's a reason that label says not for type ones. Could cause DKA, could cause blood like, low blood sugars. I understand, like, I know why it's there, but we all don't have to suffer because someone doesn't understand, right? When did it stop being incumbent upon people to take care of themselves? Like, it's the way freedom works, like you don't get to take my freedom away from me because you're scared of what I'm gonna do with it. Like, like, we all get freedom, okay? And some people do a good job with it, and some people do a bad job with it, and ozempics out there, and some people are going to understand it and use it well, and some people aren't, but we can't let nobody benefit, because some people might do it the wrong way. I agree,
Kim 1:01:52
and that goes not just glps, even with insulin too. Like I feel like I was be told to be so conservative with insulin because you don't want to go low. And I'm like, sure there's gonna be a lot of trial and error, but like, I'd rather be on the lower side, like, kind of how you're like, be bold with insulin, than be in the two hundreds, because I'm afraid to be under 70. Like, I don't, this might be whatever, but I don't mind being 6570 I don't that doesn't. I don't feel bad in that element. Like, obviously I'm not, like, going to be six. Ride 65 all day. But, like, but like, if I go down to 69 I'll take, like, a little two to three car piece of candy and eat that and get back up and see where I'm at. Like, yeah, that is better. That's more easier for me to control. Just kind of like, you say you can get a low up, it's harder to get a high down, and then you probably will end up low anyway, because you over corrected. And it's just like,
Scott Benner 1:02:41
Yeah, you know what's funny, though, is the thing I just said, some people will listen to that and they'll be like, Oh, I didn't know Scott was a right wing lunatic. Like, like, you know what I mean. But trust me, you don't know my politics, right? And you only think that because someone has told you that if someone talks about personal freedom or this, then they code that way. But that's, by the way, not true about me, but it is what a lot of people just heard and then thought, and then I'm telling you, like, going back to the other conversation, like, you got to start wondering why you're thinking what you're thinking, right? And then apply it to your I'm not saying this. I don't care about politics, like, and then apply it to your health. Like, like, that's my bigger point. Like, it's funny, because what I just said 20 years ago, I would have coded as a super Democrat. People would have been like, Oh my God, he's so liberal, right? All the like, it's, it's funny. How like people, their version of what, who is on what side, and what that means changes all the time and again. I do think you're being manipulated by social media on that stuff as well.
Kim 1:03:44
Yep, I agree. I agree. And it's like, health should not be political like that. Like, I know that's a whole conversation in itself, but it's like, you can control your health, advocate for your health. Like, don't matter. It doesn't matter. Like, do it. Like, don't listen to what society says. Figure out what you want to do for you, do your own research. Yeah,
Scott Benner 1:04:02
and forget political, but, like, societally political, because that's what really because, because, look, you said it with your your mom's like, she's using this medication that she knows helps her, and you get it, and she's like, Why do you have that? Yep, oh my god, we're on teams on this one too, mom. God, yeah, but your mom's on Team type two. You're on Team type one. Apparently, in her mind, meanwhile, you're on team, like, I just would like to feel better, if you don't mind. And, yeah, it's not constant. I do a really good job online of, like, I really want anybody with diabetes to be able to be in my Facebook group. But every once in a while, you'll get somebody who's like, I don't understand why other people would type two in here. It's called Juicebox Podcast type one diabetes. And I'm like, I called it Juicebox Podcast type one diabetes, because Juicebox Podcast didn't really indicate diabetes to anybody, right? And when I started it, I didn't know the podcast was going to get so big that it would attract people using insulin with type two. I didn't know that glps Were going to come into the world and that maybe I'd be one of the few people having, like, a real. The conversation about them so that other people would the other types of diabetes would show up. Like, I didn't know any of that was going to happen, right? And I can't just change the name all of a sudden, this is what it is. And we let people with type two in here too happily. And most like, you know, there's 55 56,000 members at this point, and they're active members too. It's not like some like, it's not, you know, it's not a shelf number, right? Like, and so, but every once in a while, you'll get somebody who's like, this isn't what this place is for. And I'm like, I decide what this place is for, not. And so if you don't like it, I hate to see you go, but get the out, right? Because this is for everybody, and if you're gonna stand in the way of this being for everybody, then you're not part of everybody, absolutely. Yeah, and that, and it's that, it's that simple again, that just made me sound like something to you. Trust me, you don't know me or how I feel. Yeah, people deserve free access to up to the date information, yep. And if it's not been clear, as I've been talking for the last hour, I feel like that information comes from users, not that that's how I feel
Kim 1:06:03
100% like I cannot tell you your podcast, like listening to other people come on when Jenny's on, you know, like I was saying my my friend Carly that I met, talking to her about her experiences. Another I've met so many other people like we talk about our day to day experiences. I learned so much from from my community and from your podcast, and then a doctor has any has ever, ever told me I use my doctor for scripts, for blood work and for, like, potential new advancements or this or that, or whatever, but all my day to day management or complaining or bitching and all that I go to my community or I put on your podcast, and I'm like, What is this? Like? I learned so much about MDI on your podcast. Like I had no idea what I was doing. No one told me anything. Everyone was like, here you go, inject yourself. And I'm like, when, where? Like, what? Like, what do I do? And it's like, this, that's the problem. No, like, Why do I have I mean, God bless. I'm so grateful for your your podcast. But like, why do we have to depend on a podcast? Why can't we depend on our character?
Scott Benner 1:07:03
You get big enough in this space, like, some people just aren't gonna like you, which is fine, and expect it, right? And I always think to people, I'm like, you know, when they're like, Oh, I hate that guy or whatever, I'm like, Hey, you should. Yeah, it's not my fault. I didn't make the void that I filled. Doctors made the void that I filled. And then some doctors get it, and some don't. And by the way, you could get lucky, you might end up with a doctor who knows everything that's in this podcast and more. And like you said, God bless. That's awesome, right? But for all the people who don't, what do? They deserve to die, you know, because you didn't get lucky enough to find a doctor who understood how your insulin worked, or, you know that GLP medications might be for people, even if it's off label, yep, yep, you know. So I don't know, like, It's not my fault. I shouldn't have a job, right? Like, I really shouldn't. I should be off doing something else. But this exists for a reason, and I didn't make the reason, yep, you know. So I also didn't make the system it runs in. So when people are like, Oh, he takes ads, yeah, because it's a full time job, right? Like, listen, Kim, you oversee a group of people who do social media and advertising and stuff like that, right? Yes, an honest reaction. I have an editor, so I pay someone who does editing, okay? And either are people who volunteer their time to help oversee the Facebook group. Other than that, I make the world's most popular diabetes podcast completely by myself. That's insane, right? Yeah, how many people do you think you'd have to hire to make my podcast like,
Kim 1:08:32
you know, you would have a producer, you'd have an editor, you would have, like, a manager that would help facilitate like appointments and talking to people, getting guests like, I would say you probably need to have at least five to seven people under you to support take
Scott Benner 1:08:45
ads, so leave me the alone. Okay? Yeah, I'm definitely not looking for anybody to feel bad for me, right? I make a podcast for a living, like it's, it's not a bad way to live. But as a matter of fact, I had to tell somebody the other day. I'll tell you the story in a second. This is how it has to happen. This is a full time job, like, at 1130 at night, when you're in bed trying to get lucky. I'm on Facebook, like, going, like, this person gotta go. I'm typing thoughtful notes to people I see what you feel like this way. Bucha, you know, I'm in the shower making social media content my head. I'm gonna record with you, and then I'm gonna, like, turn and put up a blog post that I had to put together, and then I'm gonna, like, I am doing, like, the job of 1000 people, right? And again, I'm not complaining, but when people complain back to me, like, I can't believe he makes money off of my diabetes. I'm like, Do you think that's what's happening? I'm like, great. You have no idea what it is to make this thing work and for to be successful. So, right?
Kim 1:09:40
Like, you're not doing it for ads. Like, that's not why you're in the game. You're doing this because your daughter was diagnosed. You saw a huge gap in her education and help and as a care person, like, I can't even imagine having a toddler or a baby, let alone having Oh, my God. I just when I see parents that have type one children. I just breaks my heart, like I just can't even imagine it, but like, you're helping people, like, I don't understand why people give you a hard time, but like, maybe they
Scott Benner 1:10:08
don't understand that. They don't understand that my electricity costs the same as theirs, you know. And by the way, I've had a two year old with type one diabetes, a three, a four or five, all the way up to a 20. So far, I so far, can't find one age that was better or easier than the others. So far, they've all been pretty horrible. Yeah,
Kim 1:10:27
pretty horrible. I know, I know I just like, I would love to not have diabetes, but I'm glad that I was diagnosed when I was and not when I was like a little kid. But then, you know, you go back and forth, because it's like I had a whole life where I didn't have to worry about what I was eating, but I also went through college, got my first job, got, you know, got through the dating, marriage, such stuff like, so, you know, I have to have it. I'm glad I got it when I did and not when I was
Scott Benner 1:10:53
a lot, it's all perspective, like you're if you're willing to look at it that way, then that's why it feels positive to you.
Kim 1:10:59
Yeah, I mean, you have to, or else you'll just be pissed off and upset and all the time, which I obviously am the like, constantly, but I can't change it. So it's like, why be negative and upset all the time? That's that's way more stressful, and we'll just make my sugars worse. Anyway, no,
Scott Benner 1:11:15
100% and you could again, you could choose to say, Oh my God. Like, I, I just got married, and I was the prime of my life, and I myself, and it ruined everything. But you could, you could come from that perspective and say that, but then that's, that's where you're going to live, then if that's how you decide to look at it. So right, right? Call that ignorance, or if you can call it whatever you want, but ignorance is bliss, a little bit. So math, I agree. Is there anything we didn't talk about that we should have?
Kim 1:11:40
No, I don't, I don't think so. I think we talked about it all. And I just like, I hope, if you know someone's listening to this, that it helps them, or if they have any questions or whatever, like, I hope somebody's like, oh, I had that problem too or something. I just like, I just want to help people, especially in diabetes community, because it's like, like, We're all just trying to figure out on our own, and we're all kind of scared all the time. And you know, I just think this community is amazing, especially the community you've built. So it's like, Let's just all lean on each other and not be so just, you know, be like, Well, I'm on this, or I'm on that, or you take this and I take this much, it's like, come on, we're all just trying to survive.
Scott Benner 1:12:14
Listen, it's my opinion. You can do whatever you want with it, but if you find yourself comparing yourself to other people, or being mad because someone has something or doesn't have something, or I honestly don't think those are your thoughts. I think those are thoughts that have been given to you by, you know, apps and social media and the way things work nowadays, and, you know, the desire to, you know, get your clicks and your eyes and your views and your hearts and all those other things like, just, yep, just try stepping back for a minute and just thinking what you think and absolutely and then just ask out a really pretty girl that definitely shouldn't say yes to you. And I still must have caught her on a bad day, you know? I mean, she must have been, she must have been feeling or good. I think she was probably just feeling bad about herself that day or something. She's like, this is the Jackass I deserve, probably, anyway, you got to go out there and advocate for yourself in all aspects and and that doesn't mean pitting yourself against somebody else or their thing 100% I don't know how we got to this point, but just seems important to say once in a while, I agree. I agree. Yep. Kim, thank you very much. I appreciate it. Yeah. Thank
Kim 1:13:17
you for having me on. I love talking to you. I love your podcast. It's so so so helpful. So keep it up and
Scott Benner 1:13:24
yeah, I appreciate that very much. I really do.
Kim 1:13:26
Thanks, Scott. Talk to you soon.
Scott Benner 1:13:35
Having an easy to use an accurate blood glucose meter is just one click away. Contour, next.com/juice box. That's right. Today's episode is sponsored by the contour next gen blood glucose meter. This episode of the juice box podcast was sponsored by us Med, us, med.com/juice, box, or call 888-721-1514, get started today with us. Med links in the show notes. Links at Juicebox podcast.com this episode was sponsored by touched by type one. I want you to go find them on Facebook, Instagram, and give them a follow, and then head to touched by type one.org. Where you can learn all about their programs and resources for people with type one diabetes. I can't thank you enough for listening. Please make sure you're subscribed, you're following in your audio app. I'll be back tomorrow with another episode of The Juicebox Podcast. Hey, kids, listen up. You've made it to the end of the podcast. You must have enjoyed it. You know what else you might enjoy? The private Facebook group for the Juicebox Podcast. I know you're thinking, uh, Facebook, Scott, please, but no, beautiful group, wonderful people, a fantastic community. Juicebox Podcast, type one diabetes on Facebook. Of course, if you have type two, are you touched by diabetes in any way? You're absolutely welcome. It's a private group, so you. Have to answer a couple of questions before you come in, but make sure you're not a bot or an evil doer. Then you're on your way. You'll be part of the family. The episode you just heard was professionally edited by wrong way recording, wrongway recording.com, you.
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