Reclaim Your Rise: Type 1 Diabetes with Lauren Bongiorno

In this eye-opening episode, we dive into a critical yet often overlooked complication of diabetes: Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis (EDKA). Despite having normal blood sugars, EDKA can still lead to life-threatening ketoacidosis, and it’s rarely discussed in the diabetes community. Join us as Belle Krueger, social media coordinator at Risely and creator of KruegersplusT1D, shares her personal exp...

In today’s episode, we’re excited to chat with Kelsey Bascom, a writer, actress, and passionate T1D advocate who spoke at our Rising Above T1D event in New York City last November. Kelsey is the creator and star of Quarter, an independent coming-of-age film about a 25-year-old woman navigating life with diabetes. Kelsey opens up about her journey, including speaking up about living with diabetes,...

Risely coach and registered dietitian Elisabeth DiDonato is back again to open up a BIG can of worms: metabolic supplements. Should we take them? Do they really help with T1D? What do we look for? In this conversation, we specifically look at the supplements currently on the market for blood sugar control. Elisabeth breaks down the typical ingredients in popular brands, the difference between liqu...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by DCB graduate Barbara Nichols who was met with a shocking Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis in her retirement years. Barb is candid about her initial resentment towards diabetes education and how she just wanted to be told what to do which led to codependency on medical staff. Barb talks about how Risely filled a major gap for her in building self-reliance, as well as the...

In today’s episode, I’m sharing my third-trimester update, including how my insulin sensitivity has shifted during this time and the steps I’m taking to prepare for the hospital, labor, and delivery. I’ve chosen to open up about my birth plan because, whether you share similar preferences or have a completely different approach, advocacy is such an important part of the process. I’ll talk about ho...

Happy New Year! In this first episode of 2025, Abby and I hope to not just motivate you, but ground you in your goals with strategic systems. New Years can feel very loud with all the talk of resolutions, so we are breaking down a favorite book, Atomic Habits, with practical tips and systems that actually stick. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel excited to approach 2025 with smart, sustainab...

In this final episode of 2024, I’m taking you through my annual reflective journaling process to close out the year and set intentions for 2025. I’ll guide you through five prompts, help you choose a word of the year, and go over three core principles for living with diabetes. We also cover a self-assessment with eight pillars of well-being. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel encouraged to ta...

S it down with me and the Mallia family as they share their journey with their daughter’s Type 1 diagnosis at the age of four. From navigating diagnosis at such a young age, to creating TK Type1, a foundation supporting families like theirs both financially and educationally, we discuss building confidence in kids with diabetes, fostering open communication with your spouse (even when you don’t al...

In this episode, Joe Solowiejczyk—diabetes nurse educator, family therapist, and type 1 diabetes advocate for 63 years—shares his transformative experience with the iLet bionic pancreas. Joe opens up about how this groundbreaking technology has given him a glimpse of life without the relentless demands of diabetes management. He describes the mental relief and emotional distance the device provide...

Join me as I chat with Dr. Laurel Messer, Tandem’s Senior Director of Medical Affairs, who brings 20+ years of experience in diabetes care, education, and research. 75% of clients coming to Risely are already using automated insulin delivery systems, which shows us that technology doesn’t necessarily solve all of our problems living with T1D, right? Today’s conversation with Dr. Messer offers insi...

After a traumatic pump recall and malfunction, today’s guest and 2024 Risely graduate, Emily Hawkinson, shares how she overcame her debilitating fear of lows and technology failures. From the time she would carry jugs of juice wherever she went to discovering sustainable diabetes management, Emily gets real about what living with trauma was like. She shares how, after 25 years of living with type...

Today, we're diving into the intersection of diabetes and the healthcare system with an incredible guest – Natalie Bellini, who brings over 50 years of lived experience with type 1 diabetes and expertise from the forefront of diabetes care. As an Endocrine Nurse Practitioner, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), and Program Director for Diabetes Technology at University H...

Named by Apple podcast’s Best Shows of 2021, today’s guest, Sarah Stewart Holland, is a mom, author, speaker, and podcaster of Pantsuit Politics. In today’s conversation, Abby sits down with Sarah to share her family’s journey with Type 1 Diabetes through her son Felix’s diagnosis at the age of seven. Coining the term “The Chaos Lottery,” Sarah talks about her positive mindset approach to living w...

I’m back for my second-trimester update. This recap includes the FULL spectrum of feelings that have happened over the last 12 weeks - including both the beautiful moments like starting to feel the baby kick and a traumatic flooding experience that completely knocked me and my husband off our feet. I’ll share the whole crazy story while also discussing the impact of trauma on my health, managing i...

In this week’s episode, we take a deep dive into nervous system regulation with world-renowned thought leader Dr. Brooke Weinstein. We explore the intersection of emotional regulation and living with type one diabetes. Dr. Brooke weighs in on how stress and trauma affect those with T1D. We also discuss masking emotions, avoidance tendencies, re-wiring your brain to form different responses, and wh...

In this week’s episode, we’re focusing on focus, pun intended! Joining me is Risely Coach Megan Baumley, who also works outside of Risely as a speech-language pathologist. Between 4-5% of adults in the US are believed to have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, and yet fewer than 20% of them are diagnosed and treated, with women often going undiagnosed. In today’s episode, Coach Meg shares pra...

On today’s episode, I’m joined by former NBA player and dad, Gary Forbes. Having grown up in a family of professional athletes, Gary immediately leaned on his dad, who also has diabetes, for encouragement. In this conversation, Gary talks about his journey with using a CGM, how he conquered his fear of needles, the challenges of managing diabetes with basketball, and why he believes T1D has made h...

Joining me today is Keary Cheney, a mama of four and the host of Spill The T1D Podcast with a wild, inspiring story that will have you on the edge of your seat! She tells her diagnosis story that started in Africa and landed her in a coma. Keary shares the anxiety and steep learning curve that came with adjusting after her shocking diagnosis. We talk about her adoption journey, how diabetes has sh...

Joining me today is the newest member of the Risely coaching team, Meghan Higgins. Meghan, a registered nurse, graduated from our group coaching program and became a certified health coach to help others with T1D. In today’s episode, she shares how she never thought she’d get off the blood sugar roller coaster and how she didn’t realize how certain things she was doing were preventing her from see...

Today’s episode answers all of your questions about diabetic alert dogs. Our guest, Annie from Medi-Dogs, is here to tell us about how diabetic alert dogs actually work, what they’re smelling for, and how reliable they are. Annie also shares how training works, no matter if the dog is raised to be one or is a dog you already own. She goes over the timeline and which breeds excel in training. Three...

Today’s guest and Risely graduate, Emma, who was diagnosed with T1D when she was four years old, shares her experience growing up with diabetes in the UK and her journey to finally finding support. She spent years in the “I’m not good at diabetes” mindset, but through coaching, she finally changed her relationship with food, pattern management, and self-care. She learned her patterns and strategie...

Diagnosed at age ten, today’s guest Hannah Holcomb, spent 20 years feeling like she was the problem. After so many attempts to get unstuck with her diabetes, Hannah felt like it must just be HER diabetes and her body that didn’t follow any patterns. Sound familiar? But after going through our signature group coaching program, she lowered her A1C from 8.9 to 7.0 (and after the recording, it's...

The news is out, I’m pregnant! I’m so thrilled to FINALLY share the news that Kris and I are expecting our first child early next year. In today’s episode, I break down my experience so far, from preconception tips, my blood sugars, and, of course, what I’ve been craving! I also answer listener questions, such as what surprised me most, what advice would I give, and I share my favorite prenatal vi...

Today Coach Abby is sharing one of Risely’s self-coaching tools to create momentum and provide clarity, especially when you’re feeling stuck in frustration or overwhelm. Through this exercise, you will take an honest evaluation of your behaviors to see what’s working and what’s not in your T1D management. Grab a pen and take some notes!  Time Stamps:   (01:45) The Importance of Self Coaching  (05:...

In this episode, Lauren and Coach Neil chat about his preparation for his second full marathon with the Beyond Type 1 Team. They discuss listener questions about hydration, nutrition, blood sugar management, carbohydrate intake, preventing foot ulcers, and insulin pump settings during training and on race day. This episode gives you the pep talk and tips you need to accomplish your endurance runni...