#354 Sweet Song
Scott Benner
Jaime is her take-out name…
Jaime moved to New York from China. She was initially mis-diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before learning that she had type 1.
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DISCLAIMER: This text is the output of AI based transcribing from an audio recording. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors and should not be treated as an authoritative record. Nothing that you read here constitutes advice medical or otherwise. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to a healthcare plan.
Scott Benner 0:00
Hello friends and welcome to Episode 354 of the Juicebox Podcast. Today's show is sponsored by oh geez, I don't remember what sponsored by hold on a very back. Sorry about that I'm back. This episode of The Juicebox Podcast is sponsored by Dexcom and Omni pod, find out more about the dexcom g six continuous glucose monitor by going to dexcom.com Ford slash juice box. And to get a free no obligation demo of the Omni pod tubeless insulin pump sent directly to you or just to find out more my Omni pod.com forward slash juice box. Jamie's on the show today she was typed to before she was type one, meeting somebody misdiagnosis type two. But she has an incredibly different perspective than most of the people coming on the show because she came to America from another country to study here. So she knows two different worlds. I want you to remember two things. Don't skip forward because you think I'm just going to tell you that nothing you hear on the Juicebox Podcast should be considered advice medical or otherwise, please always consult a physician before making any changes to your medical plan. or becoming bold within some you think I know that Scott. I was going to skip through it. But there's something else I'd like you to check out juicebox docs.com and diabetes pro tip calm. Those are two URLs I've set up. One to get you to the ever growing list of great diabetes doctors that have been sent in by listeners, you can add yours to the list by the way. And at diabetes pro tip calm. All the diabetes pro tip episodes are collected in one place for those of you who would like to listen to them again, or share them more easily. So that's pretty much it. I want you to get ready for Jamie, Jamie's got a little bit of an accent, but you'll stop hearing it in just a couple of minutes. She's got a really great story.
Unknown Speaker 2:06
Hi.
Jaime Song 2:08
Yeah, it's been a while I feel like I'm almost like a completely different person. Since I sent you the email.
Scott Benner 2:18
You know what I really, really thought that's what was gonna be you know, when when we started talking, because you were at the very beginning of an incredibly confusing journey when you sent this email.
Unknown Speaker 2:29
Yeah, it is.
Scott Benner 2:31
So why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself? And then we'll pick through it a little bit.
Jaime Song 2:35
Yeah, sure. Yeah, it sounds like an interview. So my name is Jaime Song, I have a Chinese name as dunking song, but it's hard on like American people to pronounce that. So Jamie is my reservation name and take our name and everything.
Scott Benner 3:01
By reservation, and
Unknown Speaker 3:04
yeah. So,
Jaime Song 3:07
um, so a little bit about my journey is think I, it's a long story, actually. Because right now I'm 29 years old. But why was like 18 probably even earlier, I started start to have those low, low blood sugar symptom. Um, I always want to learn that long word like that fancy word, but I haven't. So I always like sweat. And like, it's always like after two hours of eating, or it's either around midnight, or it's like I had breakfast at 8am. And I start to have this crazy, like, low sugar symptom at 10 or sometimes 12. I've known So, but we didn't figure it out. I I feel I am a constant visitor to hospital because I wasn't like that much of a healthy kid. Why growing up. So, but we, like we see doctors like Western medicine doctors and also Chinese medicine doctors. They didn't know like, what is happening and I was having anemia back then. So until then, like until 2013. I came to United States for my master's program at Columbia University. Somehow I got something checked out and the nurse was saying oh, you need to watch your Avon see, because it's elevated is it was like I didn't remember the exact number is is a 4.8 or five point something so Oh I, so I, I saw, like, Oh, I probably need to exercise. And I remember I started running at that time at the gym of the university also, I I run like all doors and like, start to eat salad before that I never saw like salad as, like a meal like, because I feel like it's just raw vegetables. But um, I did that for a while also i remembering like, in year of 2015, I start to see a specialist, like, she's a handle, but like, in the hospital near our university. And she was like, uh, give me a bunch of like, strip strips, and also the meter. Want me to take my sugar after the meal before you and before bedtime? Like for four months? And as that time she saw it and she says, Oh, it's still okay. Like, I don't I cannot give you any diagnosis right now. But you need to watch your diet and exercise. So I got him I think definitely my a once you was five point something. And
Scott Benner 6:23
then you were thinking, Well, everyone was thinking you were about to get type two diabetes? Is that what was happening?
Jaime Song 6:29
Yeah, I think so. Like, she's more like towards that. Because also she wasn't sure she said, I don't know if you are type one or type two. But until now I realize she could have test my all my antibodies, or like, yeah, to make sure like to figure out what is happening but she didn't she just let me go home. So I saw nurse like a world like that Titian to like she taught. She taught me how to eat berries, like how many very detailed and how to control my diet. But then last for a while. I was eating healthy, I was exercising. But I and then I had a room another roommate, like, right, like me a lot like sweets. So wait, drink Coke, like, whatever, like even doulos like there was there's a Xiang famous food near Chinese University also, you know, like Chinese, Mr. Chinese. So our diet is more like, heavy on carbs. So I basically like last day, like, at that time, I feel like something changed at my house. Like I was thinking because our exam apartment wavefront is like, more towards like, indoor, like, the window doesn't have that much light. So I was like, during the weekend, I can sleep through like noon or something. I was quite sleepy. Also, I feel lazy or like lethargic. Almost like, since I was 15 or 12. Because I start to I can a lot of weight when I was in middle school like Klaus I was I don't know how much pounds, but I was like 45 kilograms. Why was tough, but I jumped to maybe almost
Scott Benner 8:38
like 60 Why was like a, you know, over for period of time. And that was that was all wait, you didn't get like incredibly taller at that time or something like that to?
Jaime Song 8:49
Not really because my height is five, four. Okay. Um, so it's around that I hide almost all the time. So I can wait, I was skinny. But because while I was in middle school, my mom suddenly start to cook very, for her cooking skills. Like I turn into another person. Like, it's really delicious. It's got better. So so so I start to eat more. And also the the work has schools start to pick up so I don't run outside all the times. Instead, I stay inside and do my homework all the time. So again,
Scott Benner 9:31
a lot of Wait, can I ask you? Have you ever had your thyroid levels checked?
Jaime Song 9:37
Carol level? I think so. Yeah, I think that's why so my endo. Like why go my final diagnosis. Before that. My endo saw my thyroid level. She was saying something.
Scott Benner 9:51
Yeah. Because my thought there is if you had a significant weight gain out of nowhere and you're lethargic, and you're sleeping a lot that that all could lead to hype. hypothyroidism. Oh, which Arden has and oh, I see and it's very similar. I've you know, Arden didn't gain weight with it she just got really tired and, and and Arden's the same way if you blackout her windows, she'll sleep forever. Forever. Yeah,
Jaime Song 10:22
yeah, I heard you talking about this before on the podcast.
Scott Benner 10:27
Yeah. Oh worth looking into. Can I let me pick through a couple other questions too. So,
Jaime Song 10:32
where did you grow up? I grew up in China. What?
Scott Benner 10:37
How would we like where abouts in? Like, is there a problem? How do they How do they split China up?
Jaime Song 10:43
So it's a it's in the middle, if you have ever heard of Shaolin Temple is CRC. Okay, so our province is called Hernan. And our city is jungle. So it's not like really famous city like Beijing and Shanghai, but it seemed the right right in the middle.
Scott Benner 11:02
And you were there until it was time to come to? To do your graduate work?
Jaime Song 11:08
Yeah, almost. I had my college not far from my home.
Scott Benner 11:13
How does that work? not to get too far away from diabetes for a second. But how does somebody how does someone from the middle of China who assuming obviously is a really incredible student, how do you find your way to Colombia?
Jaime Song 11:24
Um, I think while I was in college, my cousin was telling me someone, her, her like, classmate because she was having a master's degree is getting those tests called gr. e. And TOEFL. And I was thinking about it, because either I'm going to graduate school in China, or I'm thinking about here. So I definitely want to go outside and check it out. What is out there? So I start Yeah,
Scott Benner 11:57
did you take care? Yeah, I do. I do tend to be a doctor.
Jaime Song 12:02
Oh, no, I think it's because I'm, I was studying math.
Scott Benner 12:07
Mr. E is the prayer physician. Oh, yeah.
Jaime Song 12:10
Yeah, I think so. It's a separate thing. So Jerry is more for signs.
Scott Benner 12:17
Subject, okay. Okay, so let's pick a little more through so because you said something here we have friends who are Indian. They, they say that the incidence of type two diabetes in Indians living in America is incredible. Because of that, again, their diets are so like, really, like, carb heavy, and like, you know, sauces and stuff like that. Yeah. And so you grew up with the same thing. Now? How about back at home or their or their family members with diabetes?
Jaime Song 12:48
No, actually, no, not. Or, like, my grandparents, they they passed away quite early. Also, at that time. They don't have this sort of thing to check out. Check it out. But none of my parents siblings who work themselves have heaven.
Scott Benner 13:09
Gotcha. And so there's nobody who can help you at home and you're just you're here trying to figure it out on your own. Do you go to the doctor at a private physician? Or do you go through the school?
Jaime Song 13:20
Um, so at that time, I I call that first like, I usual a once a school and then I graduate, I start to work, so yep.
Scott Benner 13:33
Now you're now you're a real person with a job? Yep. Okay, so is it at some point, someone figured out a weight? I had one more question that I'm sorry. You said that with the with your diet being like heavy the way it was at home and you got here you describe like, you know, like to like drink soda and eat carb heavy meals, or all those things were available at home or was it sort of the situation where you got here and you're like, Wow, look at all of these options I didn't have before.
Jaime Song 14:05
Oh, you mean heavy carbs?
Scott Benner 14:07
Well, I even like Coke and like stuff. Yeah. Is that universal? Or did you get here? Yeah. Presented much of things.
Jaime Song 14:15
I think is universal like, um, because why was little like, I feel I was drinking soda growing up. I am such crazy fun about coke.
Scott Benner 14:31
Was it like a sign? Was it like a Hey, this is American. This is cool. Like that kind of feeling?
Jaime Song 14:37
Ah, not really. I feel like life wise. It's miserable. Sorry, no offense. No,
Unknown Speaker 14:42
no, no.
Jaime Song 14:44
Um, because I feel like um, oh. I would say the western food I had at home like we had Pizza Hut at home. It's more like a sit down like diner like cheese factory. We're like more fancy diner like in China. So all the pizza burgers KFC, like McDonald's are customized to Chinese like taste. I would say I would rather have KFC in China than here. Because, yeah,
Scott Benner 15:18
it sounds to me like, America is planning like, we're attacking you with bad restaurants.
Jaime Song 15:27
No, it's delicious. Actually. I feel like when I was growing up, KFC would be like, a more better meals and like as a meal say it's more expensive and also like,
I couldn't have it every day. or right.
Scott Benner 15:44
Was it tailored? Was it tailored to Chinese culture? Or was it chicken and mashed potatoes?
Jaime Song 15:50
I think it's tailored to Chinese culture. It's mainly I feel like I I always had that impression like McDonald's and KFC. Chicken burgers. Only a few like, beef burgers, but here I feel like most of the beef, most of the burgers like Shake Shack. Five Guys. Also like my McDonald's, they have more like beef burgers,
Scott Benner 16:20
right? I understand. Okay. That's really it's crazy. How did you speak any English when you got here?
Jaime Song 16:28
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Because as TOEFL is a language test, it has like writing, speaking, listening. And what else? Yeah. So it has everything. So you have to get certain braid to get get getting into a good school.
Scott Benner 16:45
Gotcha. Gotcha. That's really cool. I you're, I mean, what are you doing now? You said you're out and you're working? What kind of job do you have?
Jaime Song 16:53
Yeah, so I work in pharmaceutical right after my graduation as a analyst, more like statistical analyst because I went to a stats program. Now I'm, like software year, like, completely different,
Scott Benner 17:12
just not with farm anymore.
Jaime Song 17:14
No, I'm with a bank. I'm with JP Morgan right now. Wow.
Scott Benner 17:19
Geez, you killing it?
Jaime Song 17:23
Yeah, it's not really hard. It's just some.
Unknown Speaker 17:28
You said it's not hard.
Jaime Song 17:30
Yeah, I will say I feel I am a average person. especially among Chinese. So yeah, I feel like if you just apply, apply, keep applying. So you get it.
Scott Benner 17:44
Jimmy, smart. People always think they're not smart. It's very interesting. I'm average for you know, a statistical you know how that goes. So at what point? Because Do you consider yourself type one now?
Jaime Song 18:01
Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Because the funniest story is, actually I got my first diagnosis in China. Because I was drinking sodas and now care about my life at it at all. While I was traveling back to China, I think 2018 February. So my cousin was staying with us. She's a nurse. So she was saying, oh, why don't you get your sugar check? I know you have this problem. I said okay, so we checked the fasting sugar. It was like eight point something nine point something. It's right now I'm thinking probably 140 something as measure here. So that was like quite high and she checked a few times or twice or three times. And then she said you need to see a doctor. So me and my mom just hop on a taxi and went to our big hospital there to see the doctor. I saw we were just like, like we always do we sorry, we check like we check with a specialist. I thought we were going home but she was saying because I only had vacation for like three weeks or something that was almost like halfway through it. She was saying oh you need to be like stay in hospital if you want to check all your things. So we did over wore checked because I was complaining. I was having a low blood sugar. I I don't have really any feeling when the sugar is really high. So they'd either over or check like even something like eat they had some fancy check is like checking. I think they did that safety or something. they inject something into my arm. And they can scan me to see the shape of my pancreas. They were sick. Yeah, things as it were sinking, I have some tumor on my pancreas or something is causing me low blood sugar. Because I didn't find any tumor and they put on us like CGM ami, actually, it's quite like, I feel is a dinosaur model or like something where So anyway, like, they check if I will have low sugar symptome also they, they will because I'm in hospital, they will come like, even during the night, they will come like every two hours to collect my blood and check my sugar. And after that, they were saying, Oh, you are like, type two you need. This is my foreman, and another drug I forgot. So take Metformin and just
pass your blood and do this.
Scott Benner 21:05
And so when you so you're in China, they're doing these tests, they felt like this was tight to still there.
Jaime Song 21:13
Yeah, yes. Because this because I feel I'm 130 pounds at a time. So if I Oh, you're not really skinny person. And from my sugars, they also stats, they were saying oh, you you're probably have to. It's also
Scott Benner 21:33
funny how they do that with certain ages and certain body types. They just make a leap. And they decide, though this is type two diabetes and like you said they probably could have checked for anybody's for type one and had a better answer. But then you got to put on Metformin. How did that process go? Like how does treating a type one like a type two affect your life?
Jaime Song 21:54
Yeah, sure is mostly like emotional, like impact. Because I came back here, I started to see my primary care physician to continue my prescription for my my foreman. And I thought because at that time I start to pick up all the exercise, I run our building have some class, I almost like attend them all. So I exercise like two hours a day. At least list so as I have I am losing weight. Also. I feel like promising. I was thinking Oh, if I keep exercising and eating healthy meals, I will be off this I will be cured. Yeah, you'll get rid of this. Right? Yeah, yeah. So but I still want to confirm this one with a specialist here again. So I went to Columbia in niomi Diabetes Center
make made an appointment. And
and I think I only called the appointment like until like five months later. But before that I was attending classes. They require you to attend class to see a doctor. But that's apparently like a type two class. Right. So my. The certified diabetes, diabetes. Yeah. educator. Yeah.
Scott Benner 23:30
You call that a CBE? That can be their their? Their name? Yeah,
Jaime Song 23:35
yes. Yeah. My city is like she was hosting. She's teaching those classes. She was saying, oh, there's probably something wrong with your case. Let me like, give you an appointment like four and Oh. So in the meanwhile, you just keep your diet like, better this way. And that.
Scott Benner 24:00
Yeah. So how hard was that for you to just change your diet immediately. Did you think Did you struggle with that?
Jaime Song 24:08
I don't think so. I was more like, afraid of that. So I changed immediately. Like snap your finger like, I never. I feel like that. That was another extreme. Like I barely eat. I feel like my my eating like dropped like, must be like 50% so I lost a lot of weight at that time. Also, I was afraid to eat. I was very careful with everything I'm eating.
Yeah, but
Scott Benner 24:40
that sounds did that. Did did your change of diet affect your tiredness? Did you stop feeling so tired as you lost weight?
Jaime Song 24:49
No, I think it's getting worse. Okay, sure.
Scott Benner 24:51
Okay. Yeah. And would you call that like you have like, like, brain fog or you're kind of foggy when you're trying to think again. Do you have like muscle aches, joint pain? That kind of stuff, too?
Jaime Song 25:03
Yeah, I think I have brain fog fog, like for a long time, especially before my period like something like, yeah, I think before. Yeah, it got.
Scott Benner 25:15
So let me suggest this to you if you have someone look at your thyroid panels again. Mm hmm. And the numbers aren't out of range, but they're like a little high or a little different. So ask the doctor to give you medication anyway. Sanjay say can I just try it anyway? Because I've heard of a lot of people whose tests come back in range, but who have hypothyroidism and and here are my symptoms. My symptoms really seem to match hypothyroidism. Because I'll tell you why. My my wife realized she had hypothyroidism after she gave birth to Arden. And for seven years, doctors wouldn't listen to her about it. Seven years. And it really impacted her body and her health and everything. And then one day in a doctor's appointment, we just said to the doctor, I don't care what the panel say, Give her the medicine. And two weeks later, she felt better. Oh, so I don't don't struggle with it. Just because that number is sitting in a range because it's very common for people to have hypothyroidism and not be in that range. Or I should not be out of the range. I'm sorry.
Jaime Song 26:21
Yeah, I see. Yeah, I would definitely check out with my doctor but but I think right now is everything turns wrong. Like I think is I'm all already above a year actually, I feel like a year is really a threshold. Because I remember myself like crying. Like why her my doctor calling me like Oh, your antibodies came out you I think you are definitely a type one diabetes.
Scott Benner 26:49
Patient crying because you were happy to have a good diagnosis.
Jaime Song 26:53
crying because after eyes Oh, I I saw I'm have to I'm still getting control of this. But now it's like, I need to be on like being a bit dependent on insulin forever. So I feel like that was a shock. Okay.
Scott Benner 27:14
Yeah, I can see did did that push it into any kind of did you experience any kind of depression around this time?
Jaime Song 27:20
Oh, no, I think I was a little bit depressed at the moment, like a few months. Also, I didn't really use insulin that much either. Even though I was prescribed also I think as my first try I use like two units for like 40 something carbs or I got like low. Okay,
on the first time, so I was even more scared.
But I think everything changed after one event. Maybe because 2018 like 2018 July God the first like, Type One Diabetes diagnosis and 2018 December I went back home again. And they put on CGM like I was doing over or checked because in China like if you go to hospital they will check everything for you. Now here like why tell if I tell my doctor I have stomach work like something else happening I will have to go to see a separate specialist. So they are even though they are specialists, they will probably they will call consultation for other doctors but they will check everything for you to the all the labs. So they put on the freestyle CGM ami. So I saw Oh, actually, I can see my sugar this way instead of poking myself like 10 times a day. So after I came back I I get my doctor to get me like freestyle CGM. But that was my primary care physician. So I didn't know like I didn't. I lost touch with my endo. Like, ever since. So I was like, I wasn't sure like what it was. I'm using. So actually, I made an appointment with my uncle A few months later on, she was saying oh, here as a Diabetes Center, actually using Dexcom because it's more accurate during the night, right? Also I feel I'm I feel like swiping is so stupid. I have to scan a layer every time. I feel like I'm a food like a frozen foods like from Trader Joe's. What was checkout I knew to scare myself.
Scott Benner 29:58
I never thought of it that way. But you're just passing yourself over top of that glass thing. Beep
Unknown Speaker 30:05
Yep.
Scott Benner 30:06
Yeah, that's fine. It's very funny. Jamie, that's hilarious, actually. I mean, I think, you know, if Next comes, if you can afford next comments, I think it's a huge leap over the Libra. And you know, people say, Well, we braise less expensive. So it's all I can afford, which I think if that's the case, there's nothing wrong with it. But I have heard ideas of it being less accurate, too. So it's, it's a, it's a tough call, like, you know, there's a lot of a lot of different things that impact what you can afford and what you can use. And I think you do your best. So how so? I guess let me just start here, like, like with the type one, how long have you been living with your type one diagnosis now?
Jaime Song 30:53
thing is
one year and three months
Scott Benner 31:00
with the Type One Diabetes diagnosis. Yeah. Okay. And you said something at the beginning, you said that when I sent you this email, I was a completely different person. And you've described pretty well now how, like, what the person was you were back then. But what what is your situation now? How do you how do you see yourself now, if you were to write me again today to tell me about your diabetes? You know, how would you How would you characterize yourself?
Jaime Song 31:27
I think, probably, um, I feel like more. Right now, at that time, while I was reading you the email, I feel like diabetes is like, 99% of my life. Right now. It's like, it's just a sitting quietly in a corner is like five person or like, 3% of my life.
Scott Benner 31:51
I like the I like the the vision of it just sitting quietly in a corner. I think that's how did you get to that place?
Jaime Song 32:00
I think it's a lot of, I think you're just some
Ah, I think it's like, it's like, debugging, or like, if you don't do the right thing, it won't work. If you just constantly struggling emotionally, and banging or had to say things repeatedly, by doing the wrong thing, it will never get better again, like, will never happen.
Scott Benner 32:27
So you just looked at the steps that needed to be taken and you make sure to take them.
Jaime Song 32:32
Yeah, I think you just saw need to, because right now I'm, like, constantly seeing or, because my allowance is really like, perfect, quote unquote. My one C has been like 5.5. Wow. Like, twice, or it was, once I use insulin is always like four or 5.8. Like, when I'm sloppy six point something. So I'm always like, 5.5.
Scott Benner 33:03
That's amazing. How, how have you been? I mean, where did you is the doctors, I guess the question I should ask is, the doctors you met put you on a plan that is really helping you?
Jaime Song 33:13
Yeah, I think that's definitely helpful. I think the way my Diabetes Center is doing things is very, like, logical and organized. And I got all the information I need. And they're always there for me. And also, I feel like because I only I'm on, I was on injection until you think September or August. I use my pen to inject insulin at the time. But I was browsing this beyond hype one. forum, I put up a question there. I was, I was asking because I was listening to your podcast a lot. You're talking about Omni path. So I want to check it out. I say I reached out to them in the beginning, because I I don't really use as think as much insight as other tech one right now. So in the beginning, first time, I call them call the Omni pod saying oh, I want to check it, check it out. If I'm I'm able to do this. But they said what's your injection dose? I I told a number to them. And they say oh, you don't have minimum. So probably cost back later. Also, my city was saying, Oh, I think we still have a little bit time. So you can just use a injection for now.
Scott Benner 34:44
Are you wanting to get away from injections?
Jaime Song 34:46
Yeah, I'd certainly do like because I'm a big fan of like all the garbage trash. Food like cakes.
Unknown Speaker 34:59
Babies like Listen, I really would like to get back to.
Jaime Song 35:05
Yeah, because I heard while your back pocket podcast was saying he wanted to eat a chocolate muffin, and you have to create a blanket of insulin for her to absorb all the carbs,
Scott Benner 35:20
it's those chocolate muffins at her school are difficult. But I haven't figured I have figured them out. But they did take some. They took some trial and error for sure there's a, a pretty hefty amount of I don't know what it's also interesting because I never with her. So when she has, I don't get to see them. I don't get to look at the nutrition labels. You know, we just sort of wing it. She's always, you know, kind of rolling now out of our class real quick to go grab one and then goes back and it took us I bet he ate about eight or 10 of those muffins before we got that straight. But yes. And you live you live in New York, right? Are you? Yeah. It's a city full of bagels and muffins and pizza. And you know, a lot of stuff like that. And you're trying to live your life. And that's what you want to do. Are you still are you still exercising the way that you did?
Jaime Song 36:09
Yeah, actually, I recently because I also read that American Diabetes magazine Association magazine, it was saying, if you I used to run also, like, almost I exercise after each meal, like, but I own like elliptical like slow motion, like, not really intense. So I recently read like, because also I'm gaining weight. So my city is saying try cardio exercise. So I start to run. And I'm joined, I joined a club, a running club with all the massive runners. So I trained. I only joined them once one month now. And I trained with them like 6am in the morning, twice a week. And then I read about this on the magazine saying, if you exercise in the morning before breakfast, it will be better on your sugar tolerance and our bed saying it's better on your finger. Okay,
basically. So
also, I saw that if I run in the morning, like say, eight miles, I'll be meeting, I'll be meeting like less insulin design normally would. So I have been trying to run my five miles every morning. For like, two weeks now I feel is working very
well for me. Well,
Scott Benner 37:38
that's excellent. Where did you find the podcast?
Jaime Song 37:42
Um, oh, yeah, I found the podcast on the magazine. I'm American.
Scott Benner 37:48
Oh, uh, when they did that thing last year on the on diabetes podcast in the ABA magazine.
Jaime Song 37:54
Yeah, yeah. I think that.
Yeah, I think that's the only reason like, I got out of the depression. Like, I was feeling like miserable, like, deprived and so depressed until I heard your podcast, you are so funny. And you're always like, making joke of all those things. And also, yeah, talking about eating away. Like, I feel like, it's no big deal. You just have to
Scott Benner 38:26
do our thing. And does it helps to feel that way like that. It's just you got to see that's how your brain works, though. Right? Like I, I basically said, they're like, if you just do this, this, this and this, it should work out. And that that makes you happy. Like the idea that there's a process there?
Jaime Song 38:43
Is that Yeah. Is that right? Yeah. Yeah. That's cool.
Scott Benner 38:46
Well, I'm very happy that you found it. And that it that it helped you. Sincerely, I'm huge in the center of China, from what I understand. I'm just kidding. I don't think. Yeah, you are. I don't think anyone listens in the center. It's, it's really wonderful to hear you say that. And it's, it's hard to know how to, to answer somebody when they say something like that. It feels it's nice. And at the same time, it's, it's, uh, I know what the podcast is. And I know how it helps people. And still when somebody says it right to your face. It's, it feels strange. So I really appreciate you saying it. I'm happy for you. I wish I could be less awkward about answering.
Jaime Song 39:29
Yeah, I really yeah.
I really appreciate this because I feel I really like turn my life around completely. Like, yeah, this your podcast is I it has huge impact. Like, I don't know how many people like me, but like it's, yeah, it's amazing.
Scott Benner 39:51
Well, that's cool. I just looked actually and in the last, it has been downloaded 500 times in China in the last like year and a half which is not You know, not a not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it is a lot when you consider I don't have any impact in China. I don't think. So that's, that's really cool. Well, I don't like you threw me off a little bit saying nice things. I'll tell you what, if you could give me like one minute actually Arden's sleeping in today, and I just need to change to her and some I'll be right back. Okay.
Jaime Song 40:27
Yeah, sure. Sure. Take your time. Thanks. Yep.
Scott Benner 40:31
So what are you doing after the podcast? Don't worry, I'm not hitting on you. I'm just saying maybe you should take a look at the Omni pod tubeless insulin pump and get yourself set up with a free no obligation demo. Alright. Hold on. I got an itch on my head here. It's very distracting. This is not what a pod sprayer for. Hey, on the pod. Appreciate you by the ad where I'm scratching my head. Don't worry. I'll do the IBM Oh my god, that was weird. Check for something I could have an element. When you go to my omnipod.com forward slash juice box, you are going to be presented with information. Wow. Huh? God damn. Sorry, about my voice broke. All right, hold on a little water. Goodness me. You're going to be presented with information about the Omni pod tubeless insulin pump. Now this is information that you want to have trust me, my daughter will be turning 16 in just a couple of days. She's been wearing it on the pod every day since she was four years old. It is in fact, exactly what it says it is. and not many things in life are. It is little, it is convenient. It is tubeless. It is discreet. If you want it to be. You can wear it loud and proud. Or you can hide it away. It doesn't matter. It's not going to cause you to need tubing snaking all through your clothing. It's not going to make you disconnect to shower, to take a bath to go for a swim, to play soccer hockey, go for a run whatever you do, where this tubing would be a problem for you. The Omni pod will not be a concern. And on the pod is so sure that you're going to like it. They're happy to send you a free, no obligation demo. That's why you go to the link, Miami pod.com forward slash juice box. Fill in a tiny bit of information about yourself. And on the pod will whisk right into the mail. A demo for you to wear. And that way you can swim and run and sleep and do whatever it else is you do and do whatever else it is you do that you'll also be doing with your insulin pump. You can give it a test drive. That's not bad, right? I mean, they call it a pod. What do they call it? They used to call it a demo kit. Now they're calling it a pod experience kit. But I like test drive. Nevertheless, let's not confuse the marketing. Get yourself a free no obligation pod experience kit from Omnipod. Today, you will be happy that you at least tried and there is no no harm and trying. Right? Give it a shot. Imagine yourself in your desk chair, leaning against the wall in your kitchen. I don't know where you lean in the kitchen counter later when I'm in the kitchen. You've got your phone there, your laptops out and you've just gotten you're on the pod demo squared away. It's on the way to you and you're feeling good about yourself. But you want to feel even better. This feeling should send you directly to dexcom.com Ford slash juice box. Why you ask? Well, because everything you want to know about the dexcom g six continuous glucose monitor that you don't already know they haven't learned here on the podcast is available@dexcom.com Ford slash juice box. I'm typing it in right now. The website pops up and boom, there it is gorgeous. The dexcom g six there's a transmitter, the receiver you can see that you can use it on your iPhone or Android shows you the sensor. My goodness gracious, everything's right there. super exciting. Now super exciting for everybody in the world. Probably not everybody, but for someone using insulin. This may not be judged against any other exciting things. Understand I'm saying it already won Dexcom is the most exciting thing you could do for your type one diabetes.
Keep in mind if this was an omni pod, I would say the most exciting thing you could do for God. You know you what I'm saying? You know where I'm at on this. There's no parsing words. I'm an omni pod and Dexcom fan. We use them both. We've loved them both for a decade or more. And I know what they bring to your life. But at the moment, we're talking about Dexcom. So the Dexcom to the best, sort of like when you're talking to friends about who's most attractive. It's whoever you're talking to. Right? Patty? Oh, but you, you're gorgeous. Anyway, Dexcom, the G six, no finger sticks, glucose readings right on your smart device, customizable alerts, and alarms, seeing the data that gives you the answers to how you can use your insulin more effectively. That's how I use it. I mean, sure, it's indicated for kids, too. And plus, and it's got Siri integration. And of course, you can share your data with loved ones up to 10 people. But you know, at its core, the Dexcom is that great information, that tells me I'm rising, I'm falling, how fast so you can do something about it. Be healthy and safe. That's what you need to know. dexcom.com forward slash juicebox. Dexcom is the most attractive of my friends, right? Until Omnipod gets here and then I'm just going to go off in a corner and I'll be like, Hey, Dexcom I'll be back on one second. Hello on the pod. You're so pretty. links in the show notes of your podcast player. Where Juicebox podcast.com. Upgrade your health.
Okay, so I have questions that have nothing to do with diabetes. Do you mind?
Jaime Song 46:31
Yeah, not at all. Go ahead. How?
Scott Benner 46:36
I love crazy rich Asians the movie?
Unknown Speaker 46:39
Ah, do you?
Scott Benner 46:40
Is it a caricature that you think is ridiculous? And the only something that Americans would like? Or is there any accuracy to it? Why is it that every time it comes on cable, and I noticed some like oh look, there's that movie again? And then I end up watching it?
Jaime Song 46:54
Um, I liked the movie too. But I feel I saw a little bit Hollywood pies.
Scott Benner 47:03
Oh, I wouldn't I would imagine I was. I was imagining I didn't think that everyone in China was running around incredibly wealthy wearing like, million dollar outfits and stuff like that. But yeah, but but but how does the How does it compare? How much cinema Do you get in China first, I guess?
Jaime Song 47:20
thing every few blocks or a lot? Yeah.
Scott Benner 47:25
So are there movies that are made in China that you grew up watching? Or do you see a mix of those plus, like imported movies?
Jaime Song 47:34
I think is some probably more Chinese movie now. In China, China.
Scott Benner 47:41
So there's a there's a there's a like a Chinese Hollywood somewhere.
Jaime Song 47:46
Oh, probably because I feel like entertainment is pretty like active right now.
Scott Benner 47:51
Yeah. How can you guys in China, people always say and I have no idea about this. So I'm dying to know that your technology is way better. Your Wi Fi is way better, like infrastructure. Is that true?
Jaime Song 48:05
Ah, I will say yes. I feel I would have I go back I will be like go back to the future.
Scott Benner 48:12
Ah. So you guys so you like like your cell phones are like better?
Unknown Speaker 48:19
Ah,
Jaime Song 48:20
actually, I never use a Huawei phone. But my parents use and also one thing different is like, you know, in Chinese show drama shows it used to be like the the they're using iPhones in the show. But now it's all hallway show. A Huawei phones?
Scott Benner 48:39
Oh, okay, so Chinese made phones? Yeah, yeah. And seriously, the Wi Fi way better, right.
Jaime Song 48:46
Wi Fi actually, I think there are always Wi Fi like,
in shops
bought I don't think Wi Fi is on the road yet.
Scott Benner 48:58
Or wait, but you live in New York. So it's there in New York. Most people don't have it the way they have in New York where it's kind of covered everywhere.
Jaime Song 49:07
But New York Wi Fi. I don't know if I connected the wrong world. I'm too impatient. Like it's always Oh, I'm listening to your podcast and sighs it stopped because I connect to New York City WiFi,
Scott Benner 49:20
and then it doesn't work as well.
Jaime Song 49:22
Yeah, I don't think so. We're like, I just turn it off. Because I have like unlimited
Scott Benner 49:29
data, you can do that. So is there I guess the question I want to, I want to understand is I understand coming here to to, like, want to, like absorb what Colombia has. Mm hmm. And do you stay behind because you like it here because there's better opportunity here. Like that's it. It's an interesting thing to me like to move away from home even if it wasn't from country to country if you you know, move away from home and then don't go back is it just this is where you feel like you live now.
Jaime Song 49:58
Um, I will say Still thinking if I would go back or not because I'm the only child in the family also, but I feel like right now because with I'm using Omni pod I'm using Dexcom is like if some in the future something comes out I feel like it probably gonna be here.
Scott Benner 50:21
Right? So you consider that you might want to go home just I guess because your parents when they get older and that you're the only child. Yeah, but you feel kind of held here by your about the, from the medical supplies you can get here.
Jaime Song 50:36
Yeah, I think so. Also, I have I feel like I've been living here like six years.
Scott Benner 50:44
Starting starting to feel like home.
Jaime Song 50:46
Yeah, I feel like it's more homes on my my CD because I also practice Japanese martial art. Like for three years now. My teacher, my Sensei, my son pies like my, my dojo, which is a place I practice is like, community to me. I'm
Scott Benner 51:09
building a life here.
Jaime Song 51:11
Yeah, exactly.
Scott Benner 51:12
I find it. It's not. It's bizarre that you know, medical devices, it's hard to get them everywhere they need to be. I've been having a messaging conversation with somebody from Iran, who's trying really hard to get on the pod index comm for their kid and they can't figure out a way to get it accomplished. Because they just it's not for sale there. Oh, so I guess Same thing with China. That's just you can't buy those things there.
Jaime Song 51:40
I think freestyle you could buy them. I look it up once to see if there's Dexcom. But I don't know if they have or the news doesn't say so. Yeah. And yeah, I believe there must be like, actually, influence in China is pretty good. I will say if I have a job and everything, I would say probably I'm even spending less than here. But if tax calm is now there probably I was still stay here for a while.
Scott Benner 52:16
How does insurance work in China? If you have a job? Do you get it through your employer? Do you pay for it? Do they pay for it? How does that work?
Jaime Song 52:24
Oh, I should? I don't know.
Yeah, but I would say because my mom is a teacher. their insurance is pretty good. Also, there's like difference between like, if you stay in hospital if you are inpatient or outpatient also, like, because I feel I teachers probably have the very good insurance because they are consider like the same benefit as government or whatever.
Scott Benner 52:56
So, yeah. Is there is there a way for you to take what you do and do it in China? I would imagine so right. I mean, you're working for a bank so that
Unknown Speaker 53:05
Yeah,
Scott Benner 53:06
yeah, I it's weird. I wouldn't think you'd go. But I to be perfectly perfectly honest. My brother just went from New Jersey to Wisconsin for college, and he never came back. Because he built a life there. You know, like he met people and got a job. And it's just where he lives. Now. I think it's incredibly common. It just wouldn't, it feels like when it's that far away. Like I didn't know how hard it was to be, you know, away from your parents that far. And that's tough. But you sounds like you have a real incredible base here between your dojo. And you know, your job and you live in New York it talk about that for a second. Because New York City is an interesting place because there are so many people yet no one's really talking to each other. Right? So are you are you alone with people? Or do you not feel alone? When you're when you live there?
Jaime Song 53:55
Um, I feel like half on have actually, on one hand, I have my community, I have my running club, I have my dojo, I have my work. Also, I'm living with a roommate. We have known each other since I got here. Um, but on the other hand, I feel like, Oh, my parents are getting old. But I'm away. So I feel a bit guilty
Scott Benner 54:22
about that. Of course, no, I understand. How long does it take to fly home to see them?
Jaime Song 54:27
Um, if I I always have two flights, the directing flight to Beijing takes 13 hours. And then I take another flight to my home one hour.
Scott Benner 54:42
So how long do you usually sit in Beijing?
Jaime Song 54:45
Um, I will. If I say I I'll take a long like layover and we'll call call my friends and we'll go out and eat all the foods.
Scott Benner 54:58
How how's How is it Traveling that far now that you're using insulin is that have you done that trip yet with?
Jaime Song 55:05
Yeah, I have actually there are some because I think why I travel internationally I I just put my insulin all the pens in the ass pack. Something I got I was going to kind of soak it in the water and it will become cold and
Unknown Speaker 55:21
free. Oh pack. Yes. So yeah, something
Jaime Song 55:25
like that.
Now I'm with Omni pod. Actually, I try it because my Qingdao like always, like not sometimes like when I'm showering sunlight scraped the white it came off. Or like sometimes I have to change it like, not the time I plan because this weekend is a long weekend. I'm traveling to North Carolina to see my friends. So I was thinking probably because I saw that can inject the insulin into the pot and carried outside like put it on whenever I want.
So I tried. I tried it like
on Tuesday I work actually i in the morning before I left, I inject insulin i saw i heard two beeps. Then I went to work after I put it on like around. It's definitely above two hours. And it doesn't let me activate that part. So I didn't read the really thick manual of the a PA that's my fault.
Scott Benner 56:34
Yeah, I think right. So I get what you're saying you were trying to transport the insulin inside of the pod that wasn't set up yet. Except that after a certain amount of time, it just errors if you don't turn it on, right?
Jaime Song 56:45
Yeah, yeah. So
Scott Benner 56:47
I gotcha. So do you have a very small shower? Or do you just take very active showers? How did you knock off your
Jaime Song 56:55
Yeah, that's, that's totally on me. Because, you know, like, we have a dent on the wall like you can put in like shower gels and everything. It has a an edge. So I was like, I just bending over to scrub my feet. And I was like, probably like, I scrub the wall on that ash. So it's just take it
off completely. Like
I was so surprised, because normally, it takes me so much strings. And if I have like, marks, like when I take it off, it
sticks, so Wow.
Scott Benner 57:30
Yeah, you just hit it just right and it pop and pop right off.
Jaime Song 57:33
Yeah, it's like, not even like sticky edge on it anymore. So have
Scott Benner 57:40
to be honest, you made me jealous for being younger and single. When you're like this weekend, I'm gonna go to North Carolina. Going to North Carolina for three days is like a major upheaval of my life. And I love the idea that you could just kind of pick up and go. It's very cool. Somebody that somebody you met in college?
Jaime Song 57:58
Oh, yeah. Yeah. From my master program. She's getting a PhD over there. So I've never been to North Carolina, so I'm going to check it out.
Scott Benner 58:08
That's nice. I get to celebrate with her a little bit.
Jaime Song 58:11
Yeah, I think she's, although she's statistician. She also is a choreographer and musician. So I probably gonna dance with her or like, um, and also I want to keep my running schedule. I will run with her probably
Scott Benner 58:29
in North Carolina. Well, hopefully it's got to be warmer there right now than it is here. I would think. I hope so. Yeah, yeah. How, by the way, how bad are New York winters? They're terrible, right? Just
Jaime Song 58:44
I will say, yeah, it's so much colder than my hometown. And I when I got here, I was like, Ah, it's snow. Like, this is so beautiful. And after two weeks, it's still still snowing. I feel like oh, no, not again. Stop being beautiful. A while
Scott Benner 58:59
ago, the most interesting thing for anybody who's never been in New York City, isn't always it on very cold, windy days. The wind only blows through the city one way so you can be on a cross street where there's no wind, all the sudden, to an intersection, and it feels like there's like a giant God sized fan blowing down the street. Right? And yeah, and if you get stuck on one of those streets, and you're walking up and down the way the winds blowing, it's it's very, I mean, it's to be expected. I guess there's so many buildings, but the buildings block the cross streets. It's very weird The first time you experienced it. It's a strange thing. Very much.
Jaime Song 59:36
Yeah, it is like I heard a story like because our office was at Wall Street area once. So while my colleagues actually came out of the building and his glasses were all blown away.
Scott Benner 59:50
That sounds completely right.
Jaime Song 59:51
Yeah.
Scott Benner 59:54
Yeah, it's a very it's a wind tunnel going in one direction and the other direction there's just a void of air. There's nothing happening no noise and it's all it's all fine. But I know I mean, it really is how, how I'm how immersed Are you in culture here? Like when like Christmas time, Christmas time is coming up soon? Like, is that a big deal for you? Or is it just another day like thanksgiving to like, how do you handle those kinds of holidays?
Jaime Song 1:00:22
Um, I will say yeah, I'm also like, half and half. Like, I school, I used to go to Thanksgiving dinner with my, like, American friends and but at work is like, my friends aren't going away home. So I feel like, I almost like spend all those like, American holidays, especially when I'm working more and more. Now I'm spent spending it like, you know, Chinese way I will go with my roommate for like, a celebration for hapa or like, my Japanese friend or like, it's different.
Scott Benner 1:01:03
Yeah, that's excellent. So it sounds like you have a cross culture of friends. So that's, that's nice. Like I we live in a diverse place. And it's just it's great because Arden and Cole have friends from just all different kinds of backgrounds. And they are always you know, they're always doing different things and seeing how other people celebrate different holidays. It's very cool. So it sounds like it sounds like you're living a very Metropolitan lifestyle to be perfectly honest.
Jaime Song 1:01:32
Yeah. At least a full wise it is in York City.
Scott Benner 1:01:36
You can find almost anything there which might not be good for you, Jamie. I'm starting to think but
Jaime Song 1:01:42
yeah, but still one thing I'm thinking about is I hear like everything is labeled clearly and it's also like label crackly I would say.
Unknown Speaker 1:01:53
Yeah. at home. It's not always right.
Jaime Song 1:01:56
Yeah, I hope like I brought something back like it's some sesame like powder. You can actually put in hot water and drink it is more like a soup or something. So it says like, fun day something carbs. So I pulled in my insulin, but my is my sugar jumped to like 200 or something? Well, so I never tried it. Again. Probably I will. was more insulin.
Scott Benner 1:02:22
Yeah, sometimes in American we complain about the government and the things that they do. And you know, the regulations they put on industry, but that's a good example. You know, there's a part of the US government that makes sure that foods are labeled correctly, and they come down hard on businesses that don't do it. And therefore those businesses make sure it's right. And And that ends up helping somebody like you, I just I really like tickled by the idea that the podcast helped you. With your with your with your goal of eating cake. So I I think it's true that Jamie is actually having her cake and eating it as well. Can I we're right up on an hour. But I am I wanted to ask you to say your name again. In the in Chinese
Jaime Song 1:03:06
a bullying song.
Scott Benner 1:03:09
Yeah, you're right. I would not be able to say that. Can you in Chinese say you're listening to the Juicebox Podcast? Or does that not translate?
Jaime Song 1:03:18
Oh, I can try. I'm watching the agenda teen gorgeous podcast or full cup playing that Dr. shoting or fish on she wants to go broke.
Scott Benner 1:03:35
Thank you. I don't know what I'm gonna do with that. But it made me happy. I just, I just got done. Actually, I didn't just get that I'm doing tomorrow morning. with somebody who's gonna jump on real quick in Spanish and go over the signs and symptoms of type one diabetes in Spanish. We're gonna put that up along with something else. But you're making me think that I should be doing it more languages because I have to admit, like I like, I mean, you listen to the podcast, you know, there's, there's been like 280 episodes so far with mainly English speaking people. Like every once in a while somebody comes from, you know, Czech, or, you know, I've had people from, you know, other countries, but they're still mainly English speaking Australia, the UK, you know, that sort of thing. But you in your email, and when we've been going back and forth, you're like, Listen, my English isn't great. And like, you're like that, but you really are. I had absolutely no trouble understanding you at any point during this conversation. So, I mean, obviously you work with mostly English speaking people all day. Yeah, sounds very cool. I I'm thrilled that it reached you like this. Do you think there'd be any value in me adding the signs of type one diabetes in Chinese?
Jaime Song 1:04:49
Yeah, I think I think so. Because I feel like um, but I don't really know what is care, care like diabetes. Carry in China like because I'm mostly like, just do the checkup and go because they have some like classes and also, before I have type while we saw like, diabetes is same for senior people. Um, so I feel like people need to conquer their fear for insulin and also there's certain like misunderstanding thinking Chinese medicine can cure anything like, say type one diabetes, or like it might be helpful but still you need to take insulin so I feel like people need definitely need more information about Type One Diabetes there.
Scott Benner 1:05:45
Yeah, great. I really appreciate you coming on and doing this.
Jaime Song 1:05:48
I appreciate your time too. This is fun. Good guy.
Scott Benner 1:05:53
Thank you so much, Jamie for coming on and sharing your very unique experience. Thank you also to Dexcom and Omni pod for sponsoring this episode. You can get a free no obligation on the pod at my Omni pod.com forward slash juice box. And of course learn all about the Dexcom g six continuous glucose monitor@dexcom.com forward slash Juicebox Podcast remember those links there right there in your podcast player notes or at Juicebox podcast.com. I got you covered. You'll find your way there.
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