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Scott Benner 0:00
Hello friends, and welcome to episode 634 of the Juicebox Podcast.

Victoria, she snuck one in on me, as they say, Victoria has type one diabetes. She met Spence at school, they are fast friends and have been on adventures together. Spence also has type one diabetes. Victoria listens to the podcast, Spence doesn't, but today they're both here to talk about their type one and their experiences in grad school. Please remember while you're listening that 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, or becoming bold with insulin. I particularly enjoyed this today because two people similar age, very close friends both have type one, but they both sort of do diabetes differently. And it was interesting to hear their different answers to similar questions. I hope you enjoy it as well. Don't forget, if you're a US citizen, and you have type one diabetes, or you're from the United States, and you're a caregiver of someone with type one, filling out the survey AT T one D exchange.org. Forward slash juicebox helps the podcast and it helps people living with type one.

This episode of The Juicebox Podcast is sponsored by the Contour Next One blood glucose meter, please head over to contour next one.com Ford slash juice box to learn more about the Contour. Next One, if you're interested in seeing which meter my daughter uses, that's the one and that website is full of great information about it. Contour next one.com forward slash juicebox.

Tori 2:01
Yeah, so I'm Tori and I met Spence last year when we started our MBA program. So we're grad students, and I was diagnosed with diabetes a little bit later in life. I was diagnosed when I was 23, living in New York City. And I thought it would be fun to come on for Cincinnati to talk about kind of grad school what we did during zoom school all year, traveling a ton. Just being super active. We live in a place that you can be you know, outdoors all year round, which is great. So yeah, I'm really excited to be here. Okay, so

Scott Benner 2:33
Victor, you were diagnosed at what age 2323. And how old are you now?

Tori 2:39
26.

Scott Benner 2:39
Six. And we're Spence. Yeah, is a friend.

Tori 2:46
Yes. So we met. Yeah, last last fall when we first came came to school. And I had never had like a friend with diabetes before. Oh, so excited.

Scott Benner 2:57
Tell me Tell me about yourself.

Spence 3:00
Yeah, hi, Spence. Originally from Minnesota, I was diagnosed quite a bit earlier at age six. So and I'm currently 29. So I've been dealing with the throes of type one diabetes for for quite some time now. I've done a lot in the way of traveling and sports just to try and stay active, regardless of the of the disease. But somebody Ettore came to our MBA program last fall, and was really excited to meet a fellow classmate who also had type one, and so was a great way to connect, and we stay close ever since.

Scott Benner 3:34
That's cool. So how did we you guys virtual? Were we together?

Spence 3:39
You were We were virtual last year? Yep.

Scott Benner 3:42
So how did you figure out one another? Like what beeped. I'm assuming, like, there's something beef and one of

Tori 3:48
you. Yeah, I went to brunch with one of Spencer's roommates, and I was wearing my Dexcom on my arm. And she was like, Oh, my roommate has one of those. And I was like, no, like, they probably don't. And she was like, Yeah,

Scott Benner 4:00
I think I'd rather talk to that person. I would like to hear about that. I'd like to hear about the lunch for they're like, how many of these people am I going to meet my life? That's excellent. So she goes back tells she he or she goes back tell Spence like, I met somebody today, who has a Dexcom to when you guys are in the same class together that kind of thing. And you just started talking from there.

Spence 4:22
Pretty much I think even before she got a chance to get home Toria just jumped in my direct messages and shoot me a note to meet up and start talking about beers and insulin and you know, all the things that MBA programs consist of related to diabetes. So

Scott Benner 4:41
three what made it so exciting like, seriously, like, what made you like, reach? I mean, I'm looking at Spence a handsome guy, but I mean other than that, like what? What What made you go?

Tori 4:51
Yeah, I hadn't even I hadn't met him in person yet, so I had no idea what he looked like. But I was just super excited to potentially have i Didn't think I'd have another classmate with type one. Our class size isn't that big. So I thought for sure I'd be the only one. But I again, I kind of couldn't, I didn't, I couldn't really believe it when she was talking about it and wanted to like meet someone and kind of be their friend. Was

Scott Benner 5:17
this the first time you realized you'd been in class like, as an adult with somebody? Or I mean, has this ever happened in the past?

Tori 5:24
Yeah, I mean, for me, I was out of school when I got diagnosed. So I was kind of just like in the workplace, and no one I really knew that type one. And then I had kind of tried to meet people in New York. But I didn't have any close friends with diabetes. So I thought it would be interesting to talk more about it with someone

Scott Benner 5:43
I spent you grew up with. And so you had to have known a few people growing up right or no?

Spence 5:48
Yeah, yeah. And I've actually had a couple friends along the way who have gotten diagnosed like later in life similar to Tori. So have been able to, you know, help them kind of manage the transition to being a type one diabetic and no, often in complicated scenarios, like junior year of undergrad, so obviously, a lot of changes that they come at you pretty quickly and so have had the chance to have a couple friends along the way.

Scott Benner 6:15
How many Spence is it possible you're giving people type one diabetes?

Spence 6:19
It can be affected doubt myself here. But yeah, I mean, I'd say probably five or so I've first cousin who had it prior to when I was diagnosed, and then maybe three in my high school class a fourth who got it senior year, and another close buddy junior of college as well.

Scott Benner 6:40
Tori, do you have any family members with any autoimmune issues?

Tori 6:45
I don't my mom has a little bit of thyroid stuff. So you know, all in the family, but um, was totally totally shocked.

Scott Benner 6:53
Yeah, no, but so you were shocked by Taiwan. But we're gonna call we're gonna is Do you know for thyroid is Hashimotos? Or if it's just hypothyroidism? Has she ever?

Tori 7:03
I don't know about that. It very well. Could be though.

Scott Benner 7:06
I love asking people your age about their parents health, because they're like, why? Don't know, we don't talk about that stuff. But even how about you spent? family line you said cousin anything else? Autoimmune?

Spence 7:20
Not? Not that I know. I've had no.

Scott Benner 7:24
Yeah, you don't have an aunt that runs to the bathroom for Thanksgiving dinner all the time or anything like that? Because that might be celiac. And they don't know.

Spence 7:32
Yeah, not not that I've drawn attention to

Scott Benner 7:34
I would love it right now you outed one of your aunts. And you're like, Oh, my God, actually. Yes. So so we have two different perspectives here. Spence, who's known people with type one and has really grown up with it. And Tory who's only had it for a couple of years and has never really met anybody else. I'm going to guess the Tory was the more excited person in this in this meetup. But Spence, you probably knew the value of reaching back to her right?

Spence 8:00
Yeah, absolutely. And I think it was, it was funny, because I've had it for so long. That, you know, I haven't been as involved as diabetes has come into the digital age and was surprised to hear Tory talk about podcasts and shows and things like that, that are out there that candidly I just hadn't been paying as much attention to. So while I think she was maybe hoping to get a wealth of knowledge and information, like I probably got more insight and more resources out of the interaction at the end of the day.

Scott Benner 8:33
That's interesting, Tori, that did that shock you.

Tori 8:37
I mean, I think, because I was diagnosed a little bit later, I, I wanted to dive into the education and I also kind of was diagnosed at an age where like, my parents wouldn't really have helped at all, they live or living across the country. And I was in New York by myself. And it was something that I kind of had to manage day to day and didn't have another person or anyone to kind of talk to about management. So I really dove into like the podcasts and going to like, like seeking all the new technology and just kind of being really up to date the Facebook group but so I didn't know a sense of would have the same kind of up to date stuff that I was interested in. So we I kind of shared a little bit more with him.

Scott Benner 9:22
spent 20 years you you probably started with the human log, right.

Spence 9:29
I actually I started with I don't even know what the technical words were, but they called it regular. Oh, you

Scott Benner 9:35
you that's far enough back for regular and mph. So you were just a couple of times a day as a kid.

Spence 9:40
Yeah, yeah. And testing a couple of times a day. And so I mean, it's really gone from, you know, having a couple of data points that you're just kind of correcting around throughout the day to where we are today and these continuous glucose monitors and just a more much more efficient and real time monitoring.

Scott Benner 9:57
We know you both are wearing a G six but towards Are you or do you have a pump?

Tori 10:02
I was inspired by you, Scott and I got to Omni pod a couple months ago.

Scott Benner 10:06
Oh, this is normally where I like to say, hey, the price is gonna go up next year. Yeah, it's been spent. Do you have a fun?

Spence 10:13
I do have the tandem T slim switchover from the Medtronic mini med last year.

Scott Benner 10:19
And you said you were from Wisconsin or Minnesota? Did you say that? Minnesota? Yeah, you definitely got that. The Medtronic is like, yeah, like it's the companies up there. And so the sales is really close. A lot of people come out of that part of the country of Medtronic or using control like, you know, we're no, yes, you are. And Tory are you waiting from the pot five? Are you excited? Or?

Tori 10:42
Yeah, I've been waiting for one. So

Scott Benner 10:46
we're all waiting. It's coming. Don't worry. Yes. Maybe we should write the FDA all together. I have no idea. But okay, so So Tories and Tory, you listen to the podcast fairly religiously?

Tori 10:57
Yeah. I mean, I feel like I've learned my entire management from the podcast. Oh, well,

Scott Benner 11:02
and since you've never heard it.

Spence 11:04
I haven't heard a couple episodes of copy, but not enough to get I can't say I've heard everyone

Scott Benner 11:09
though. No. Like, you were like, I can't keep listening to this is that was

Spence 11:14
after 20. Some years there's there's only so much diabetes. You can

Scott Benner 11:17
Yeah, no, no. And that makes a lot of sense to me, actually. So. Okay, which one of you has more stable control? Question. Do you guys know? Have you do you ever talk about this? Let's start with a once a we know a one C is not the end all but spent years is?

Spence 11:37
Oh, geez, I have to go back but I believe I believe it was high sixes

Scott Benner 11:43
okay. How about you? Sorry.

Tori 11:44
Yeah, I've I was in the fives last year, but I'm in the sixes this year.

Scott Benner 11:48
Okay. Is that lifestyle? Like what happened?

Tori 11:52
Wow, yeah, even just being in our program, even though we had everything school related, be virtual. A lot of our classmates were still in the area. And we would we did a lot of things a lot, including, like drinking and eating and, you know, going out to things and traveling. It was it was a little bit of a change of lifestyle.

Scott Benner 12:14
Can you describe to people, either of you, both of you? What this has been like, like, grad school, virtually? Is it a like, is it a bummer? Does it suck? Or like I my son's a senior in college, and he came home to me after you know, COVID hit. And then I think he did a finished a semester in his bedroom, did another full semester in his bedroom, and then came to us and said, We are wasting my time and your money. And I'm going to skip and go back and he just went back the other day. So he's a little behind now. But he just said like, I don't know what we're doing. You know, does it feel like that sometimes? I think Yeah.

Spence 13:04
Yeah. In my in my opinion. Yeah, it was a very different experience. But I think, you know, super grateful that we still came in at the chance to meet each other. A big part of our program is also the networking aspect. And, you know, for me, like building a network on the West Coast, having most of it located in the Midwest was was huge. And so we're still able to achieve that, which, you know, for me, it was the biggest value add, but yeah.

Scott Benner 13:33
Do you think that the information you left in your brain with is the same as it would have been if you were together in a room?

Spence 13:42
Probably not. But, again, I don't know that that necessarily is bad. Yeah, yeah. Well, that that was the the primary goal from from my point of view, okay.

Scott Benner 13:53
I gotcha. Yeah. I have a question here. What about just the sedentary nature of it right? Like now you don't have to get up in the morning and hustle and get out the door like, Do you think that's got something like is your is your activity level lower than it would be normally?

Tori 14:13
I think while we've been kind of were in like the Bay Area, then it is more sedentary. But what we kind of started to do last year was because we didn't have to be in the location the school was in we we ended up going on the road a little bit. So we did a ton of skiing. We did you know a week in Salt Lake taking classes we did a week in Colorado skiing and snowboarding. And then we went down to like Santa Barbara and spent a week there. We were in Hawaii for a week. So in that sense, we were not sedentary but when we were kind of just sitting in our own bedrooms taking classes, that was just a huge bummer.

Scott Benner 14:51
Yeah. Well, so you guys basically took advantage of this not having to be in a room and you're like, I guess wherever you have a laptop, you have a classroom so Let's go cool places. That's a pretty good idea. That's yeah, that worked out pretty well, I would imagine. And you guys, I know, this isn't my business. And it's not what this is about. You guys are like, not together. You just friends, right? Correct. Correct. All right. It's got awkward and weird for a second, but I wanted to just understand so. So you just you guys just became good friends through having tight bond, can you explain either of you what that attraction is, like, there's, you know, there are certain parts of the podcast that I can't fill in. And I don't have diabetes. So why it's so important, and why it feels, I don't know how it feels to you. Sometimes I mess with the open to the add music forever thinking like it's gonna make this like perfect mix to help get your attention. And then in the end, I think it was a waste of time. But anyway, today I'd like to talk to you about the Contour Next One blood glucose meter. Now, it doesn't matter if you have a Dexcom or libre, you still need an accurate meter. Yo, you please, you need a good meter. Okay, not a crappy meter, not an okay meter, a great meter. You want to know that when you're testing your blood sugar, you're getting accuracy. The Contour Next One offers just that. And many other things. For instance, the test strips for the Contour Next One, possess Second Chance testing capabilities. That's a lot of words that just mean, if you touch the blood don't get quite enough. And you go back to get more that does not interfere with the quality of the test or ruin the test trip. Second Chance test strips. See whoops, no. Okay. And yeah, beep perfect. The meter also has an incredibly easy to read screen. It's very handleable. That's a word, meaning that it's not too big, and it's not too small. It's easy to travel with carry in your bag or your pocket. And at the same time, not so small that you can't get a hold of it with your hand I got the big hands. You don't mean like the big I got big hands. And I can still handle that meter perfectly well. It has a bright light for what I'm trying to do Arden's blood sugar in the middle of the night. And now it's just nice, feels nice. It's got a good vibe about it. I don't know how to put it exactly. It's a great meter. It's actually my favorite meter that Arden has ever used. And I'm telling you, I if I had a stack of Bibles right now put one of my hands on it, but the other hand up in the air, and I would swear to that, absolutely my favorite meter contour next one.com forward slash juicebox. To great website has a ton of great information. I've now used the word great three times in a row. And didn't mean to. But it's too late at night for me to go back and edit this. So let's just say that the website is great. But it's also awesome, fantabulous and has a ton of really useful information. right at your fingertips. Contour next one.com forward slash juicebox. Get a good meter. Yeah, you could get an okay meter, I wouldn't get a fantastic meter. Why not? I mean, it may cost less than cash than you're paying right now for your current meter through insurance. What I know, I know it's crazy. Contour next one.com forward slash fuse box. links in the show notes. Links at juicebox podcast.com. When you click on the links, you're supporting the show. Go get yourself a one fantabulous meter extravaganza. Get a good meter, you deserve it. Just don't take whatever meter the doctor gives you. Do a tiny bit of research help yourself. And now I will read you synonyms for great accomplished ace adept, complete. consummate crack Cracker Jack, educated, experienced expert good master masterful Master Li practice. professed proficient skilled skillful versed veteran virtuoso words related to great adroit, clever, deft, dexterous, handy slick shorthanded, gifted talented polished refined the Contour Next One blood glucose meter is refined it is workman like knowledge of blood sugar testing. I mean it's great I'm just gonna stick with great

Tori 19:53
Yeah, I mean, I think it's just someone who is there who gets it. I mean I think when we are traveling as well It would be like, you know, one of our pods will stop working or kind of, you know, alarms would be going off. And it's like, you know, like, are you good? Like some other who always has, you know, sugar in case we're walking home and going low. But it's yeah, it's just, it's, it's really nice to have someone that you don't have to explain things to, like my roommates would would totally, you know, help me in anything and be willing to be there. But I don't necessarily want to, like, sit down with them every time something happens and explain everything that's happening.

Scott Benner 20:33
Is that a function of see, I feel like it's just a function of you don't want to have to do that. It would be like if I had to explain to somebody that I made dinner, like, right, like if I had to say, Oh, here's what happened around four o'clock, I realized it was getting late. So I went to the refrigerator, and I looked, and now you're explaining this money beam thing like, right, step by step. It's not embarrassment, right? You don't want to not tell them because you don't want them to know you have diabetes. You just this is not something you want to have to say out loud or revisit. Is that correct?

Tori 21:04
Yeah. And I think it's just it's such a hard thing to explain, because it could be the exact same situation on a Tuesday and Thursday and be completely different. Insulin needs are like, oh, like, I really want to go on a run. But I have so much insulin on board that like I just I'm not going to like there's there's there's so many nuances.

Scott Benner 21:24
Yeah, my daughter's on her placebos right now in her birth control, and she might as well be a different person with diabetes. Like just fascinate. And Spencer, I'm sure that happens to you on your birth control as well. So

Tori 21:38
yeah, I always tell my roommates, you know, when they

Scott Benner 21:42
look up, I'm gonna, I need it's interesting. Like, she needs more insulin during the pills. Because of, you know, because there's more hormones, and then suddenly you take the pills away, there's fewer hormones and bang, like, like, especially you don't have to, although I guess, you listen, I'm only looking at you guys from shoulders up. But you're a big guy. Right, Spencer?

Spence 22:01
I'm gonna Tory

Scott Benner 22:06
I was trying to get to you must have had similar situations when you went into puberty.

Spence 22:12
Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's, again, what a while ago. So, you know, I can't recall exactly how turbulent it was. But, but yeah, I didn't even know that about about birth control, though. Yeah. So

Scott Benner 22:27
I don't think it's going to come in real handy for you. But. So you guys are really interesting, because Spencer gets type one at a young age, pretty much young enough, I'm guessing where you don't? Like you don't have any weird feelings about having diabetes, right? Like, it just feels like you've always had it?

Spence 22:45
Yeah, yeah, it's interesting. And I think, you know, comparing our two experiences, like I, I've just, you know, grown up with diabetes and have, you know, evolved and grown physically and mentally and whatnot, like with the disease, and it's just been a part of my life for so long that I've never really had to, you know, make a material switch and lifestyle or anything like that. And so from my point of view, I think it would be more difficult to be diagnosed later in life and just have to do a total 180. So have, you know, a lot of respect for Torian and other friends that have just had to refigure out and recalibrate their life later on?

Scott Benner 23:24
So what is my question here? It was, it was really fascinating to watch you when I asked about it once he's earlier and you were like, I guess I could look somewhere, like, you know, like, like, I don't really know. But Tory was more specifically understood what hers was. And is that a function of time? You think? Or do you think that's a function of Tory came up in a world where, like, Tory, you're you you think about diabetes the way I do, right? But, but Spencer doesn't think about it the way you do right.

Tori 24:01
Now, yeah, I think we do have slightly different approaches to things.

Scott Benner 24:08
Okay, and what do you and what do you think that what do you think this is gonna be interesting? I'm gonna ask both of you please try to be honest. What do you think the difference is like, Tori, what do you think the differences between how you do it and how Spence does it and then I'm gonna ask the same back again?

Tori 24:25
Yeah, I suppose I don't use really talk specific numbers, because I feel like it's so personal. But, I mean, I like to stay. I do leave between like 80 and 110. And I think Spence one time was like, I spent so you can, you could tell if this read what you were like, oh, yeah, like 90 is kind of low.

Spence 24:45
I, yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think just to like, from from a high level, if, if I was to assess it, I think Tory is more particular about like, managing it. No, very My newly, whereas I like my emphasis is on ensuring that diabetes doesn't slow down the lifestyle that I want to live. And that, like, that's the macro factor that I'm trying to control for, rather than, like, you know, managing the the specific numbers knowing that like, it's obviously a benefit long term, you know, the better you can manage it day by day, but I think my my focus has always been on like, living a lifestyle and managing diabetes and not letting it get in the way of that lifestyle.

Scott Benner 25:34
Cool. Please understand going forward dispense because you don't listen as much that if I sound at any point in the next couple of minutes, like I'm judging anybody, I'm not okay. I'm just trying to dig into something. Tori, does diabetes get in the way of your lifestyle?

Tori 25:50
I don't think so. I think when I was first diagnosed, I was making choices that just would make it ease. You're like, I ate a lot of low carb. But now I kind of am at a point where I can, I can have pretty good control no matter what I'm kind of doing or eating.

Scott Benner 26:08
So would you say that the podcast has helped you to think less about diabetes, but have more specific management ideas?

Tori 26:17
Yeah, I think the podcast has been really good. And you're really good at kind of just like being intuitive about things, and less about, you know, just like carb counting. And so being like, oh, like, yeah, you're looking at like a banana versus a piece of cake. And even if they're the same carbs, you intuitively know kind of what the difference is gonna be.

Scott Benner 26:39
What's funny, because I think, from his explanation, I think Spencer and I are in the same place where we don't think about diabetes very frequently. But ah, I don't know, this is. So I find this incredibly interesting. I appreciate the by the way, people don't know. But I did not realize Spence was going to be on the program. So the two people popped up in front of me, and I was like, Oh, and by the way, this is probably the best I've ever done with two people. It's a it's a learned skill that I don't get to use very often. I have done some interviews with two people that when I'm done, I'm like, Oh, I was so bad at that. But I actually feel like this is going well, if it's not, please don't tell me because you'll ruin my confidence right now. But

Tori 27:19
no, I mean, Spence has done things that I feel like I would not be comfortable doing like he did, like this huge hike in Spain through like France and like lived in like, Australia, like just like without like, like insulin for a while or like, it's just done things that like I would not do.

Scott Benner 27:38
And, oh, okay, Spence, do you leave your blood sugar higher for stuff like that? Or what? How do you like what does? I guess what I want to understand is, let me say something that asked my question. I think that people who have had type one for a long time, very commonly say, I don't want diabetes, to impact my life, which I think is a great message. And I agree with, I want to be super clear about that. I also think that it's a little bit some people can use that statement as a crutch is not the right word. But I think excuse is the right word for not doing as well, because well, okay, sure. My blood sugar was 200 all day today, but I didn't let it get in my way. And I think that, that makes a ton of sense in that timeframe. Because the technology didn't exist, you couldn't see your blood sugar's anyway, like, I mean, who the hell would know, right? And now suddenly, things have shifted. And this technology exists for many people, where you can suddenly see your blood sugar and the difference between impacts and foods and things like that. And I would say that Tory probably lives and doesn't let diabetes get in our way, either. But I think the statement comes from two different places. Is that a fair statement from me? Spence?

Spence 28:50
I think so. Yeah. Yeah. And I think the big thing probably centers on, on your point around what, what you grew up with, or what, you know, what your baseline for learning about diabetes may have been, and the fact that, you know, that, that baseline and the ability to control it more minute, Li has changed a lot over the last 20 years. And it's definitely been a personal choice, you know, as to how much do you want to lean into that, that learning curve, and keep up with it? Candidly, I would say I got I still am, but for a while, was quite jaded, just on the lack of progression in the space and the fact that technology hadn't kept up with with diabetes in the same way that it had and other industries and so was, you know, just got kind of set up and just removed myself from the learning curve. You know, I would say, you know, as a result of meeting Tori and learning more about some of the resources out there and podcasts and whatnot have had an increased This is on, you know, trying to get better control or at least better technology. Not, I still wouldn't say to the same level that maybe both of you have, but definitely an improvement over before.

Scott Benner 30:11
So you said something I find really interesting. Because I, my daughter's had type one for 14. A God now I don't know, six. Oh, math, this is always fun. She's 17 she had when she was 215. Like, like, for 15 years. Okay. And mandatory expenses. 100%, right. Like, it would be like four years would go by and a company would come out with a new meter, it was no more accurate than the meter they made before it was in a different shape or something like that. And people were like, Oh, finally, it was like, it was like it rained from the heavens, you know, and it was a meaningless improvement. If it was an improvement at all. It wasn't until, I mean, for my money. It's not till Dexcom where people like, like, things start leaping. And, you know, you don't even realize, you know, the rate limiting factors is was always the FDA really, and that there was no money in this. Like, if you're already buying a meter, what's this company's onus to make a better meter, right? Like, so Dexcom comes into the space, and they make this thing and then they go, we can make it better. But then the FDA is in the way, because it takes so long Dexcom actually hires people to learn about that process so they can get through the FDA process more efficiently. Like that kind of innovation lacked for people with diabetes, like nobody was, nobody gave a crap and nobody was doing anything. And so that kind of beat you down, huh?

Spence 31:40
Oh, yeah, absolutely. I think he hit the nail on the head. I mean, when I was first diagnosed back in the mid 90s, the, you know, what they told me in the hospital was oh, like, they think we'll have a cure in five years. And then five years later was like, oh, yeah, next five years, like, we're gonna get there. And 20 years later. And to your point, you know, the first 15 years was really no development, no emphasis on development. And you'd have someone like Medtronic, who's just been the the big dog on campus and has cornered the market and has all these captive patients that are just cash cows for their business. And there really wasn't, you know, the motivation to develop better technologies. And candidly, it's really only now I think that we're seeing more of an emphasis from the general public on tracking blood sugars and whatnot, even for non diabetics that, I think, you know, will be the big catalyst that might push diabetes technology forward. Yeah, I'm, I'm,

Scott Benner 32:42
I'm sorry, I don't mean to cut you

Spence 32:43
off. No, no, I was just gonna say I'm, I'm all for the general public, paying closer attention to their blood sugar, because it's only going to help all of us

Scott Benner 32:51
Yeah, man. It's true. And it's where you got to give a lot of credit to new pump companies to because they actually, I mean, there's really two, right? There's Omni pod in tandem and then Medtronic. To your point about Medtronic being so big. You got to give those other two companies a lot of credit for wanting to be an insulin pump company. Right? Because that's a they could just easily go Medtronic, Scott this, like, what are we gonna do? We can't make any kind of debt in this. There's no business here. But they they are and it's a it's a it's to everyone's benefit, but it competitions really important, you know, for advancement. But, but Tory it's so good. Do you? Is it weird to hear him say that? Like, because you don't feel like that? Like there's just a cornucopia stuff for you to choose from?

Tori 33:38
No, I mean, I had issues that I've heard other people talk about as well, where I had to basically beg my endocrinologist to prescribe a CGM, for me. It was not really of interest to her. And I've since kind of found another endocrinologist. But no, I mean, I think it's when you're doing research, I mean, my, my, my main form of research initially was like Reddit, so it was kind of just hearing people's different experiences on Reddit, which, you know, can really be can throw you in a whole nother direction. But, no, that's kind of like how I, I was, I was deciding between the JSX and like, the FreeStyle Libre product,

Scott Benner 34:18
you know, I'm starting to get when people come into the private Facebook group, they there's like four questions they answer to make sure they're like living things. And one of them is like, Where'd you hear about the podcast, and I'm starting to hear Reddit more often, which I felt really good about, because I like you thought of Reddit as a place where people complained about diabetes, not about a plan, which by the way, I think there needs to be a place to complain about it, but I didn't think of them as like a group of people who were like, I wonder what I can, like do but it's nice to see that even in that space, like people and because that's also there are adults, which is important to me to like, you know, I don't want to I mean, I know the podcast is pretty much down the middle. It's tough. talking to parents and adults. But I always, I'm very careful and, and hopeful not to abandon adults because like, because Spence, you don't know this, and there's no reason for you to know, but I'm 50 years old. And when I was 18, my best friend was diagnosed with type one, and he's not with us anymore. And he fell into a rut of this is the way it goes, this is what I was told, yes, it's not going right. But it's not my fault. It's what the doctor said. He was taken regular and mph, he didn't transition to a faster acting insulin. When they became available. He kept doing what he was doing. And, you know, those kind of all those different influences impacted his health really significantly. And, like I look at you, and I don't know you, and you might find this weird for me to say, but like, I want you to, like, I want you to know what torinos I don't, I don't care if you do it. Like I'm not into telling people what to do. But I don't want you to get to a point where you're like, Oh, I didn't know. Like, that's like, you know what I mean? Like, as long as people are making informed decisions, to me that's comfortable, like for me, but I don't want people to be in the position my buddy was in where he just didn't realize any of this existed. And he was just living like it was 1986 the whole time. And I know that's a bummer. And I don't mean to be, but I like that the podcast is like it's really exciting to me to Tori found it and is doing so well. And it's exciting for me that you guys met each other because like I've now I'm dying to know like now Spencer has to come back on the show like three years from now. Like it's not even like he's not even allowed to say no to it. Because I because I want to know what happens next. Not that he's doing a poor job because he clearly isn't he's doing terrific, right. And he he adjusted you adjusted on your own like you went to a different pump you you got the CGM. So you're not in the same scenario where you're like unaware, it's just that you have you're going to always be colored by those first years, I think. And I don't I hope that doesn't. I'm not even talking about you. I'm talking about everybody. I hope that doesn't hold people back. That feeling of this isn't worth it. Because it's not. It's not going to be any better. When it obviously can be. So I don't even know you might have taken great offense to me just now. I don't I apologize if you did.

Spence 37:23
No, no, not at all. I think that was all. That was all very fair. Oh, I'll take you up on that offer to come back.

Scott Benner 37:30
Yeah, no, I would love my motivation. Yeah, I would love to know like, what your relationship? Plus you guys will be married by then you don't even realize that now. You have 16 Super diabetes babies probably. Is that that would be a lot. Trust me, one's a lot. I'm going to ask both of you. Similar question. Do you I realize this is not the part of your life. I realize you guys aren't together. I'm teasing you. But do you think about having kids? Do you worry about diabetes for children, as I run through it through your minds?

Spence 38:08
I can't say I've put significant thought into it now, but I don't think it would, again, hold me back from living a normal life or at least intending to live a normal life and start a normal family of whatever time that's appropriate.

Scott Benner 38:22
I don't think anyone listening is surprised that a guy your age hasn't thought about having a family and but worry, right?

Tori 38:31
I mean, I've definitely thought about it. And I see kind of parents in the Facebook group. And I feel like I might, I might feel this way as well. Even though I do not plan on having children anytime soon. But I feel like I might feel even more like passion and then maybe guilt if my children if my child's blood sugar isn't going that well. Like for me, it's like okay, like, you know, I have a bad day. I have a bad day like whatever. But I feel maybe like if my child has, you know, a day in the three hundreds all day or something, I'm gonna like, freak out. And I feel like it would be more of like a mental stress. Actually.

Scott Benner 39:07
Tell me how old you are again. I'm 26 You're the chemicals in your brain are about to like attack you. Got yours away. Tory have a baby. Have a baby and you're gonna be like, No, I don't want to I'm young. I just got my MBA, and they're gonna be like, no, no, no, no. Try to fight it. Because also you're gonna like guys, you don't even like when that starts happening. You're gonna be like, he seems okay. Look, it's gonna get real weird. And it's how I tricked my life.

Tori 39:36
But it'll be like Immaculate Conception setup.

Scott Benner 39:43
Right, right. I understand. I had a thought for Spencer and now it's out of my head. Hold on a second. Spencer, what would you say to parents who would who are right now raising kids with like, like legit Goldstar like a one sees their time and range? like crazy, and they know, one day their kids are going to go into high school and college and take over their own management, you know, and it's not going to probably be the same, like, Do you think there's any comfort that you could offer in there?

Spence 40:15
Yeah, I mean, candidly, I, I wish, you know, maybe my parents had been more like that, and more, I think they transitioned and were willing to pull back, you know, earlier than maybe they could have or should have, I don't know. But I think at the end of the day, like, you're gonna have to transition the knowledge and the ownership and everything over to your kid. And I think it's just gonna happen naturally, like, you're, you're gonna have to let your kid go out and play with other kids and be away from the house for a while. And that's gonna extend into school and college and living on their own and, you know, partying, and probably drinking and whatnot. And so, I think it's probably natural for any parent to be worried and any parent of a diabetic to be even more worried about those kind of things. But, again, I think that's, that's all part of life. And if you've instilled the knowledge and you know, the, the emphasis and the the learnings in your child for good management, and what that'll bring them later in life, I think that that's all you can do. And at some point, you know, you're gonna have to just let go a little bit.

Scott Benner 41:29
Where do you think your parents being more involved would have been beneficial?

Spence 41:35
Maybe, maybe just following up and keeping up to date with, with trends and new things coming out, and just a greater emphasis on the sugar management and kind of watching your diet and whatnot there? Yeah, St. Joe's?

Scott Benner 41:55
Am I Am I understanding that you get like a baseline understanding of how to keep your diabetes, you know, whatever it is, and check, we'll call it. And so you're doing, you're taking steps every day as a kid. And as long as at the end of the day, as long as you're not dead or passed out, then this was a good day, and you must be doing right, but there's so much more underneath of it that you can't possibly follow as a child, right?

Spence 42:17
Yeah, yeah. And, and again, I'm sure it's difficult from a parent's point of view as well, not having diabetes and trying to, you know, they're probably not sure how, how serious to take a high blood sugar or low blood sugar, and, and how, you know, minute, or how much to micromanage it. But I think, over over time, like, you just kind of naturally had to take more ownership. And now if my blood sugar went low in the middle of the night as a kid, like, I wasn't waking my parents up, you know, at some point pretty young to to deal with it if like, I would go downstairs and make a bowl of cereal and get my blood sugar's back up. And because I was doing it, and I was a, you know, seven, eight year old kid, like, maybe the blood sugar shoot too high and or maybe it's not a, like, perfectly calibrated redirection. So I think, you know, over time, it's just kind of more and more ownership that was transitioned over.

Scott Benner 43:18
You know, what's interesting is that I've spoken to, like, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people and adults whose parents weren't super involved when they were kids are always very careful to protect their parents when they talk about it. And, like, it'll, it borderlines on the defense, they want people to know, my parents did a good job, like, like, this was what and people whose parents are super involved, will say, like, my mom was up my butt the whole time. And I'm like, wow, people are so complex. Like, right, like, it's so it's so interesting. Like it like I feel like if if Spencer's parents were like, super involved, right now, I'd be like, I wish my parents would have just given me a little more space. And it's interesting how, no matter what, like, you guys don't have kids. But one day, you'll see like, no matter what you do, like, you can't win is how it feels sometimes like like, right, like, it's just like, when you do something people are always gonna have. It's not bad. Like, I'm not like, dude, like, I think your parents probably did a terrific job, especially the time you were diagnosed. And it sounds like you were a fairly responsible kid, which probably gave them a lot of confidence and, and, you know, solace. But it's just it's super interesting, like you you don't know because you haven't heard all the responses but there are studies that that indicate that people with type one do well with having parental or some sort of, you know, somebody to lean on into their mid 20s like it because it's such a difficult, like complex thing that sometimes you just need somebody to bounce it off of. Tori, do you have somebody or who do you cuz you don't it sounds like you, you in Spence have a really interesting relationship like it's not. It's because you guys have diabetes that you met each other but you don't speak about it very often. So who do you talk to when you're confused about what you're doing? Yeah, I

Tori 45:14
think we talk about things that like a high level, but we don't get super, super nitty gritty. But no, I mean, I. Yeah, I, I mean, I think a lot of people are diabetes, to work maybe like adults, and I don't know, I don't have a ton of people to bounce things off of. So I just kind of think about it myself.

Scott Benner 45:35
Yeah. Does the podcast substitute for humans? Like, do you just listen to people's conversations? And kind of, like, I'm not saying you pretend you're there. But you know what I mean? Like, is you like, Oh, here's another person talking about it, that I can't find in my real life.

Tori 45:49
Yeah, totally. And I love when you talk about specific situations, like with art in line, kind of like what you do or how you're doing things, or if someone else talks about specific situations as well. Yeah,

Scott Benner 46:01
I think if I did that, with Spencer, he punched me. I think if I was like, here's what I would do with this Pre-Bolus. He'd be like, dude, I'm alright. Thanks. Not that I would not that I would infer myself onto somebody. But I just I think there's a, I don't know, there's like a card you get when you've had diabetes for a while, like, you know what I mean? Like, it's just, I, you can see it on people. It's a it's sort of this quiet confidence of like, I have this. Does it feel expressor? Because you grew up taking care of it so much on your own? Like, does it feel would It feels strange if somebody tried to interject themselves? Like, what if we suddenly made you married? And your spouse was like, I'd like to help with this? Do you think you'd be like, I don't need your help with us? Or do you think you'd be? Where do you think you'd be with that?

Spence 46:49
Yeah, that's a good question. I think, you know, initial reaction might be, you know, a little averse or a little resistant to taking, you know, someone's help. But I think, in actuality, I probably would appreciate that and would welcome in at some point, especially if it was done just in a, you know, like a genuine, trying to help sort of way rather than, like, a forceful takeover of my management and I torinos like, I'm not a big fan of being micromanaged and whatnot. And I think that would translate into diabetes as well. But yeah, I do feel like I was, you know, maybe forced to be like, very independent with with that, and, as a result, just independent in life, you know, very early on and so, yeah, I can't say I've had that level of like hand holding in a long time. But yeah, I think would be something I'd welcome back in.

Scott Benner 47:48
Did you ever go through a bad spot, like the jury wants he's ever gets super high, and you stop taking care of yourself? Or?

Spence 47:55
No, no, I mean, I, I've never been in denial over it or anything. And I'm sure the height agencies are all all relative definitely had better periods of management and worse, you know, the, the worst probably being a big chunk of time, where I was working, like 7080 hours a week, you know, was on the, the old Medtronic pumps, which, you know, I could go on a rant about and just, you know, just trying to, like, keep up with life and diabetes was just the, you know, annoying distraction that was, if anything, just keeping me from like performing at the same level as everyone around me. So, yeah, I'd say that's probably the worst.

Scott Benner 48:37
This is normally a time where I say out loud, Medtronic, it's not my fault. People don't like your stuff. And then I move on gracefully. Sorry, I have a question. Please try to answer it. Honestly. I try not I'm not trying to break up your relationship together. But has he ever done something like with his insulin or something where you bet your lip and you were thinking like, dude, no, no, no, no, no, not like that. Or do more stuff like have you ever had that feeling? I'm gonna ask Spencer the same thing. So just, I'm just wondering if you've like, because it sounds like it sounds like you guys don't get involved but it still must be like you're aware of each other understands what you're doing right? Like so you're together and you're doing something like if you ever looked up and thought Dude, that's not 45 carbs that's 60 carbs or like like something like that or?

Tori 49:23
I mean, I think we we've shared our blood sugars when they're going really well. Because I mean, it's it's again it's it's so personal and I would never ever want to bake like or expense feel bad about something. I mean, I feel like sometimes he's like riding a little high and I would like give a correction at that spot. But like I I'm not I'm never gonna like say anything or judge

Scott Benner 49:47
or good I love your guys generation. You're so kind to each other. Like she did not answer my question until the very like, she's like, I guess I'm gonna have to answer he's gonna press me more so, but I really do love that you guys Just like everyone cares about each other's feelings, somebody did something, my daughter's 17. And somebody did something crappy and like their circle. Last night, I said, you know, if this was the 80s, you could just be really horrible back to them, and it would feel terrific. I was like, but you guys are not allowed to do that anymore. So I think you're supposed to just accept them for who they are and move on. But Spencer, really, what does she screw up that you want to talk about? And you just don't say anything?

Spence 50:24
Yeah, no, I, I definitely don't think it's anything to screw up. And as you know, we pointed out here, I think Tory is better at managing the the numbers themselves than I am. I think if anything, maybe I've, I've encouraged Tory or maybe tried to, like, open her eyes that there are like, like, you can still take risks with diabetes and go on adventures and things like that. And so, yeah, I think that that might be the only the only area that I'd say like it, you know, diabetes. Can can feel like it's holding you back. But but it doesn't have to, and I think maybe combining you know, both of our viewpoints would get to the ideal state where you can, you know, still live like a you know, the, the adventurous life that you want, while you know, closely managing your your diabetes and getting good numbers.

Scott Benner 51:19
I have a couple of things here. So have you ever like, Have you guys ever like split a sandwich and she's Bolus like 35 carbs? And you were thinking 20 You think? Oh, hell, I guess maybe it's 35? Or, like, is that ever happened?

Tori 51:32
You know, we've shared a lot of meals, but we've never talked about what we're dosing or the carbs we're dosing for. I don't think ever

Scott Benner 51:42
three don't listen to this next part. Because I don't want you to feel weird, but Spencer, I'm really pretty straight. I'm thinking of leaving my wife and pursuing you. Like you seem like a really solid guy. Like every one of your answers, it seems like genuine and well thought out and like that idea that together you guys are like a great bank of knowledge of like now and before and how valuable it is together and like you're seriously like you're dating right? Like somebody is trying to marry Spencer? Really? Like seriously like Tori, you're fine. But Spencer's amazing. Like, you're getting that right. And I don't mean just fine. Like, like, you're like you. Alright, let's pretend he's not here for a second. He's a super good guy, isn't he? No, look. Don't look at him. Like, look at me. It's just my picture. But look at me. He's a really good person. Is he? Am I wrong? Am I getting it wrong?

Tori 52:40
Yeah, he's, he's not perfect.

Scott Benner 52:45
Okay, all right. He's not like robbing banks, or like, Are there a trail of women who think they're about to call him but he's not really going to or like anything like that going on.

Tori 52:57
Now he's just, you know, riding his motorcycle away.

Scott Benner 53:01
Spencer, how long do you have to be with a person before you tell them? You have diabetes?

Spence 53:06
Um, I mean, it's the the beeping is usually give it away for me. Just yeah, very various insulin pump beeping. But I I mean, I'm very open about it. And don't don't conceal it at all.

Scott Benner 53:19
Yeah, Tori, how about you? Is it hard to date because of it?

Tori 53:23
Yeah, I feel a little bit weirder about it. I usually don't say anything on like a first date.

Scott Benner 53:29
Yeah. Have you heard the the after dark episode with a woman who talked about having sex with a pump and all that?

Tori 53:37
Don't know if I've heard that one. Specifically, I think I think I have. I think I have because you were saying something. She was like, oh, like, I don't know if I want to be like, like naked with my pump on. And you were like, oh, yeah, but like you're just naked. It's fine.

Scott Benner 53:53
I remember somebody saying something about them having their infusion set on their hip. And I wanted to, I guess I'll have to, like bleep this out. I don't know, like, Spencer, a lot of kids listen to this podcast. So. But my follow up question. Like where I thought she was going with it was that like, I'm just gonna say it, I'll bleep it out that I was out of the question. Because of that. And then she went in a completely different, like way. And I was like, Oh, that's interesting. Like, see there? I'm, I wasn't even trying to be funny. Like, I really felt like that was where she was headed with the statement. And then I was like, oh, it's something completely different. Like there's all these other things to think about. But what I found mostly was when I spoke to I cuz I spoke to an adult man, an adult woman who both had had type one for a while, and it was like they both were just like, initially the concern is embarrassment. Like like that's the initial concern which I felt terrible hearing. And then after that, when you're in a real relationship becomes more functional about your, the the equipment, I mean, the diabetes equipment, and then from there it becomes More of like, what happens if I get low or high during the event, which is what I ended up calling it because I didn't know what else to say. And it was just interesting to watch how it grew from where the initial concerns were to, you know how it went through the process. So is it not sexy Spence to throw your pump aside? Like, like, you do it when she's like, taking off her pants, so she can't say you're like, like, you're like, where does it happen? Just tell me one thing, because yours is tube. So there's more forward to you. Tory's got a Omnipod she's okay, but you you got you take your dude, you take it off, right?

Spence 55:40
Yeah, yeah has perfected the, the quick unclip at this point.

Scott Benner 55:47
See, that's the stuff parents don't want to know what's gonna happen. And I have to write down 5040 Where I said, oh, oh, no, I'm gonna write down this time because I suddenly got the quick unclip super seriously could end up being the title of this episode, just to go. I'm sure Tori's as a more of a listener. Tory's disappointed something she said hasn't become the title yet, but that was really cool. Tori, are you upset that you invited him on now? Because he's so nice?

Tori 56:19
No, I think it's great.

Scott Benner 56:21
This was really this is a great idea. I want to say to other people who are coming on, please don't spring other guests on me, although this worked really well. But that doesn't mean your stories just got an eye for it. Or you're like a, like a budding producer of audio content. But I appreciate that. Spence, what does she ever tell you about the podcast? Like, does she ever break down and go? Like, there's here's an idea, or a thing I heard?

Spence 56:45
Um, yes. Yes. I specific instances, like don't come to mind right now. But I know, she's like a very avid listener, and has definitely pushed me on the podcast and plugged it as the main source of information that I think she, she goes to, or just like, actively?

Scott Benner 57:04
How does that? How does that hit you? Like internally when, when she or somebody else says to you there's a thing about diabetes? I think you should check out? Is it like the abrasca against it? Or does it feel like something you might consider?

Spence 57:17
It's, it definitely feels like something I would consider. Again, I think the resistance is just, like, knowing how to incorporate something else into to life, I think my I think for the longest time, like my tendency has been to try and minimize diabetes, involvement or influence in my life as much as possible. And so, you know, the, the thought of like, converting all of my podcast consumption, or significant amount of it over to diabetes. And just like increasing that involvement is probably where the just like, subconsciously, the resistance comes from? Knowing that it's not the right answer, and that it would be beneficial to do so.

Scott Benner 58:04
That's really honest, I appreciate that. Do you have? Do you think you did it? The idea of like, cuz you've said a lot now, like, I don't want diabetes to encumber my life, like, does it not? Or does the pursuit of not letting it take up a lot of your time?

Spence 58:21
No. I, I would say I've been very happy with how little I've let it into my life. And and I mean, that's, that's been a big source of pride for me, in terms of like, what I've been able to do and what I hope to continue doing in the future. But that, that said, like, you know, as we've talked through here, can certainly do more and would hope to be able to like, increase accuracy and whatnot, while still minimizing any, any sort of influence negatively in like,

Scott Benner 58:55
is there a feeling like there's time? Like, I don't need to do it right now? I'm young, like I can, does that ever come into your head? Like, because you're talking about that there might be more out there fine tuning or whatever you want to call it? But does it feel like it's not important to do yet?

Spence 59:10
No, no. I mean, I, like I know the impact of doing it earlier, and that they're all positive. I think the thought was, it's been more that we, you know, you only have one life to live and there are a lot more experiences and things to do when you're young, whether for a diabetic or non diabetic and so prioritizing and emphasizing those experiences now, in my mind would ensure that I wouldn't look back in 40 years kind of regardless of my condition then and wish that I had done more.

Scott Benner 59:48
I'm totally in love with your sponsor. That's all I mean, in a very like, like, Bro way but you're my new favorite person. So Tori, I got to talk to you more because I feel like I'm I'm leaving you out. I have it apologize.

Tori 1:00:01
No, it's okay third wheeling.

Scott Benner 1:00:04
You guys like definitely like Do you have any other diabetes friends? Like, is this gonna be a cabal? Is it gonna turn into a thing or

Tori 1:00:12
so there is there's our program is two years and there were two other people last year for a year above us who had type one and I'm wondering if there's there's new incoming students who who are diabetic as well, but right now it's just the two of us,

Scott Benner 1:00:27
you guys. I mean, I know somebody saw like a mutual friend saw your Dexcom but are one of you more visibly? Diabetic? Diabetic? That was weird, like, does one of you not hide your stuff for like, Do you not care? Like where do you stand with that? A lot of people worry about that for their kids. Victoria, where do you where your paws mostly?

Tori 1:00:50
Yeah, I don't really care. But I actually don't love using the back of my arm because I feel like it catches on things, especially the Omni pod. I feel like it's a little bit big. So I really like wearing my pod on my legs, like my thighs. And then I almost always wear my Dexcom on my stomach.

Scott Benner 1:01:04
Okay, how about you Spencer? Where do you put your sets?

Spence 1:01:07
Um, yeah, usually pump on my legs just seems to be kind of the most out of the way. spot and then I have been wearing the Dexcom the back of my arm quite a lot. Just I actually find the opposite. And I think it's, it's pretty out of the way there. And yeah, I think I've grown to think like, appreciate it more as like, kind of a soft flex as well. When, like people people will ask about it or, like, you know, what, what's the thing on the back of your arm and it you know, people are usually like, surprised to hear if they didn't know already that that you were a diabetic. So it's been a good conversation starter too.

Scott Benner 1:01:44
I love that he said soft flex there was one time I started a conversation with somebody I said this is gonna seem like a weird flex but I have an incredibly popular diabetes pockets. Even as I was saying, and I was like I feel really douchey saying that out like for some reason. But you know, some some trying to jump into a conversation you need somebody going sometimes. Tell me in both your opinions you I'm assuming maybe both will have a different answer. But what's the best place you went? When you were doing you know, your your version of studying abroad? Where did you enjoy authority the most that you guys were at?

Tori 1:02:20
Oh, man. I mean, we I'm a big skier and Spence's big snowboarder, so we had some great I mean, I got it bar skiing days that I ever thought possible this past year. But Salt Lake was absolutely amazing. And then Aspen, Colorado was amazing. I mean, we did Kowai which is an island I've never been to in Hawaii earlier this spring. And it was absolutely breathtaking. Like it was stunning.

Scott Benner 1:02:43
How about you spent? You agree?

Spence 1:02:45
Yeah, yeah, I'd say big sky Montana and Aspen, Colorado were pretty spectacular. And then yeah, Mexico as well was was was just great.

Scott Benner 1:02:57
What's it? What did you learn about traveling with insolence stuff like that? Was there anything that you would tell people is an absolute must?

Tori 1:03:08
I actually I, one of my more recent trip, I got I got stopped and like patted down at the airport and like taken into a room for me to like, show them my pods and stuff. So I learned you got to bake in a little bit of extra time. But other than that, I've never really had an issue bringing stuff. I mean, I've learned to always been extras. And when I first started on the Omni pod we had we'd driven up to Bend Oregon. And there was a hot tub, and I thought it would be fine. But the Omnipod was not fine in the hot tub and I didn't bring enough extras.

Scott Benner 1:03:41
Did you cook the insulin? Or did it make the adhesive fall off?

Tori 1:03:44
No, the pod itself that the PDM wouldn't connect? It just stopped working?

Scott Benner 1:03:49
Oh, no kidding. That's fun. Yeah, you have to have a lot of I when we travel, I could probably take care of for people with diabetes for like a week. Because especially when you're just dealing like I have to say I guess if I'm in if we're in America, this is before COVID Like but if you're in America, I always feel like okay, we can get to supplies pretty easily if something goes wrong. And I don't feel like I have to have too many. But we have vacation a time or two in St. John. And so when we when we leave the contiguous then I'm like alright, like let's bring extra stuff with us. But Spencer, she said something earlier that you traveled once without insulin. Is that true? Or did I misunderstand her?

Spence 1:04:27
Um yeah, I don't I don't recall it. I I usually always travel with you.

Tori 1:04:34
When you are in like Australia or Southeast Asia years ago.

Spence 1:04:38
Yeah, yeah. So I I did a big nine month trip around the world after graduating undergrad, and one was on the Medtronic pump at one point in Bangkok, Thailand. Upon malfunction then all I had was fat fast and homologue and a few syringes and was a couple days before I was heading to Australia. And so I was basically just like giving my shot myself short acting shots, like very frequently of while waiting to go to Australia. So Medtronic could ship me a new pump to that international destination, because it's kind of a multi day lead time and wasn't sure where I would where I would be. So

Scott Benner 1:05:25
how few syringes did you have where you were using them? Yeah, yeah, I bet. Because that's the worst thing gonna happen to us. You run out of those, those, those syringes in that situation? So you didn't have any, you didn't have any? Well, obviously, you didn't have any Basal insulin. So you were just probably making small injections along the day. Did that? Did that mess up your plans? Like, did you end up hunkering down and doing that? Or did you just keep doing what you were doing?

Spence 1:05:52
Um, no. I mean, I certainly I don't think it was the smartest flight. But yeah, I I had an itinerary and a ticket booked and was traveling on a budget. And so I stuck with that and just kind of suffered through the 48 hours in Bangkok, in the hospital by myself, and then figured everything out when I got to Australia a few days later.

Scott Benner 1:06:14
Wow. I have to say that I understand you wanting to preface it and saying it wasn't the best thing to do. But I think it's great for people to hear that you got into a situation like that. And you You made your way through it. I'm assuming no CGM back then Right.

Spence 1:06:28
Oh, God, no. Yeah. I mean, it was. Yeah, checking a few times a day. And yeah, it this. This was only a couple years ago. So again, to the point of like, how quickly things have evolved for the better, at least in my personal management. It's just been kind of night and day traveling with CGM now versus backpacking with, you know, shots and a finger prick a couple years ago.

Scott Benner 1:06:55
Do you have? Do you have wanderlust? What they call wanderlust?

Spence 1:06:58
I think that would be an accurate diagnosis.

Scott Benner 1:07:01
Yeah. And Tori, how about you? Did you? Did you? were you diagnosed with it this year? Or did you always

Tori 1:07:07
know I'd love to travel I kind of did the the study abroad thing and undergrad, and then a little bit after college, but now it's great.

Scott Benner 1:07:14
That's really cool. It really is. I'm jealous of both of your travel schedules and and everything you've been able to accomplish and still good. What do you think you'll ever work toward? Or the school thing going to go on forever?

Tori 1:07:26
This school thing is working for me right now. But now we graduate next spring? So

Scott Benner 1:07:31
it'll be time to? Oh, boy, that'll be soul crushing for you guys. If you have to stay stable. Do you think that this COVID thing maybe is gonna make it possible for for you to have like tangible jobs without having to be tied to one area?

Tori 1:07:48
Yeah, I think especially in in the Bay Area. That's a that's been a thing that companies are really leaning into.

Scott Benner 1:07:56
It's interesting. Do you? Can I ask what do you guys like? What's your area of study?

Tori 1:08:04
Yeah, so we're getting our MBAs, which is kind of a more generalist degree, I guess. You don't have to really declare like a concentration or a major or anything. But I'm actually getting into healthcare. So kind of like health care companies,

Scott Benner 1:08:19
Spencer, your dating service teaching guys how to say the right thing. So what's going on here? Now? What do you do?

Spence 1:08:25
Not Not yet. I've actually been working in the cannabis space for the last couple years. So I'm currently doing a cannabis startup with with another classmate here. So very excited about that industry.

Scott Benner 1:08:36
That's a that's a great idea. The way things are going, what does smoking impact your blood sugar?

Spence 1:08:45
I don't really smoke, particularly in a lot. But the like cannabis ingestion in general, I don't, I haven't noticed a particular impact on blood sugars. But obviously the associated munchies and consumption of food that can go along with it. That that you have to be careful with.

Scott Benner 1:09:05
Are you saying you use edibles more often? Or?

Spence 1:09:09
Yeah, yeah, compared to smoking. Okay, Tori. I'm not a big consumer in general. But But yeah,

Scott Benner 1:09:15
but you're getting the space that says so you see the value. So do you see it as a business thing or a value thing are both

Spence 1:09:22
primarily a business thing, but but I'm also pretty passionate just about the social equity component of cannabis and where the industries come from. So that's definitely a component to this

Scott Benner 1:09:32
article. I'll tell you I would be interested in talking about the the political ramifications of trying to get into this space because I imagine it's fascinating. Yeah, yeah. A lot of big companies are trying to take the space, right.

Spence 1:09:47
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I, we could have a huge conversation about it, but there. It's definitely an example of if you have money and resources and can compile those quickly. You can enter the space and achieve success versus, you know, others trying to bootstrap it or mom and pop shops trying to get in. And the barriers to entry are much higher and more difficult. And so it's it varies state by state. But yeah, it's a good example of access to resources and what that can get you.

Scott Benner 1:10:20
Yeah. And Tory, you smoke a ton who you are nodding like crazy earlier. What are you doing?

Tori 1:10:25
Now? I mean, I think we've got we've had a lot of fun this year. But no, I mean, I think just in general, I don't notice an impact on my blood sugar's but it is, you know, I can kind of forget about them. And then I, you know, I won't be checking him for a while, then I'm like, Oh,

Scott Benner 1:10:41
I guess I should check that for a second. I thought I finally figured out why Tory wanted to be your friend. I was like, Oh, I see what's happening. On the ground floor of this. Do you have to know about growing? Or are you gonna hire a grower? Or how do you think about that?

Spence 1:10:57
Or for cannabis? Yeah. Um, I mean, there are many different business models, the the couple startups I was working for before did do all the growing in house themselves. You know, the the current business venture that I'm working on, where we're not growing anything ourselves, and in most most edible products are using some sort of distillate type based inputs. And there's a whole marketplace for that. And so you don't need to be vertically integrated and own the growing portion of the supply chain.

Scott Benner 1:11:30
I would imagine and I want to be sure that I say I'm more than a neophyte in this space. I only know what I hear from people. But I would assume like if you're going to be making edibles, if you could get them to be very consistent, that would be a big deal for people, right?

Spence 1:11:44
Absolutely. Yeah, that's huge. That's huge. And a big thing that we're we're going after with with an adventure,

Scott Benner 1:11:50
right? So that people don't end up like overdosing in an incredible amount of time. So I know you guys gotta go. And, and I want to thank you very much for doing this. Let me just ask, is there anything you want to say before you get out of here?

Tori 1:12:06
I don't think so. You can. I mean, you could find us on Instagram. We're starting like an Instagram together. I don't know if people want to follow us, but it's called an insulin influencers. So it's insulin and then influencers but they share the i n in the middle.

Scott Benner 1:12:21
Okay. All right, I will you send me the link, I'll put it in the show notes. These don't go up for a while. So I apologize. If it, it'll take a little bit of time. But thank you very much for doing this. Let me stop the recording. And thank you like real people, and I'll let you out of here. So

Spence 1:12:34
appreciate you know, it's been eye opening for me to see the know this podcast and what you know, parents like you and others are doing for us in the space. So thank you for what you're doing here.

Scott Benner 1:12:44
You're very kind. I appreciate you taking the time to do this I really do.

First, a huge thanks to Victorian Spence for coming on the program today and sharing their story with us. Thank you very much. I'd also like to thank the very capable and competent an all around bite. I'm gonna say great how Look at me. I'm trying not to say great for fun. Alright, let me try again. I'd also like to thank the very capable and incompetent blood glucose meter called the Contour Next One. Do you know it? It's clever, Deft and dexterous. And it's going to do for you. I mean, it's gonna do it's gonna give you good accurate blood sugar test. Contour next one.com forward slash juicebox. Man, I ran out of steam on that one. And now that I'm done, I'm seeing here ace, I could have been like the Contour. Next One blood glucose meter is an ace. It's aces. Oh, Aces. It's skilled and well versed in blood glucose meters in blood glucose. I really should write this down before I say it. Thank you so much for listening. I'll be back very soon with another episode of The Juicebox Podcast.