We brought an expert in for this episode, Dr. Katie Lee, dentist and author of Saved by the Mouth, to tell us everything we need to know about the connection between oral health and diabetes. Dr. Lee breaks down how conditions like Type 1 diabetes can lead to issues like gum disease, dry mouth, and slower healing due to a heightened inflammatory response. We also explore how blood sugar fluctuations—both highs and lows—can affect your mouth, promoting plaque buildup and increasing the risk of infections. Beyond just oral health, Dr. Lee reveals the surprising gut-mouth-brain link, showing how inflammation in the mouth can impact brain function, and what you can do to level up your oral health. There aren’t enough dentists making these critical connections, so EVERY person living with T1D needs to hear this episode!

Quick Takeaways:

• Oral health has a bigger impact on our overall health, wellness, and longevity than most of us even know 
• Why taking care of our teeth and mouth is so important for lowering inflammation in our body
• The connection between diabetes & dental health 
•  How blood sugar fluctuations—both highs and lows—can affect your mouth, promoting plaque buildup and increasing the risk of infections
• A dentist’s take on current oral health trends: do's and don'ts

Time Stamps: 

• [00:00] The traumatic event that led Katie to her career path 
• [09:13] The power of the mouth-body connection 
• [15:20] Implications of gum inflammation and diabetes 
• [17:14] A closer look at cavities 
• [20:25] “Dentists are not making the connection.” 
• [22:58] Hyperglycemia vs. hypoglycemia: How they impact your oral health 
• [27:00] What to do when your blood sugar goes low after you brush your teeth (the million dollar question) 
• [31:21] Reducing inflammation: 2 most important things to do
• [35:00] How often you should be seeing your dentist 
• [39:43] Oral health trends: do’s and dont’s
• [46:47] Find out where to hear more from Dr. Lee 

Have you heard any of this information from your dentist before? If not, it’s time to start making these crucial connections! Let us know what experts you’d love to hear from next, and be sure to share this episode with anyone who could benefit from this game-changing knowledge.

What to do now: 

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 
3. Download the first chapter of Dr. Lee's book for free here: https://katieleedds.com/saved-by-the-mouth 
4. Dr. Lee’s #1 recommendation to improve your dental health: Using salivary testing to discover inflammatory genes and bacteria--  https://portal.access-genetics.com/agenetics/login/RemoteOrder.do?orgOid=27626#nb-button
5. Follow Dr. Lee on Instagram (@katieleedds) and Facebook 

Today we are hearing from Laurie Smith, a 2022 graduate from Risely’s T1D group coaching program. Laurie shares the harrowing details of her experience being hospitalized after brain surgery, from the hospitals' rigid insulin dosing protocols that ignored her personal needs, to her struggle for the proper care and advocacy in a system that wasn’t equipped to understand the nuances of T1D. This conversation highlights the critical importance of T1D education for healthcare professionals and the need for more advocacy within hospital settings. Her experience is a powerful reminder that when it comes to chronic conditions, there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach—and patients must be empowered to advocate for themselves. If you’re living with T1D or know someone who is, this episode is a must-listen.

Quick Takeaways:

• The importance of T1D education for ALL healthcare professionals 
• Advocating for yourself and your diabetes in a hospital setting 
• How to prepare for surgery and/or a hospital stay as a T1D 
• What rigid hospital protocols can look like for people with type 1 diabetes 
• Advice for somebody who feels overwhelmed by the prospect of managing their diabetes during a hospital stay

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction & the years Laurie spent being improperly diagnosed 
• [03:15] Why she was in the hospital to begin with 
• [07:25] Blood sugar management pre and post-surgery 
• [17:02] The mind-blowing confession she received from her nurses 
• [18:20] Fighting for proper care: “This is not acceptable… I am my own life support system right now.”
• [23:35] Advice for somebody who finds themselves in a situation where they have to advocate for themselves with healthcare professionals
• [31:45] Changes that need to be made in hospitals approach to T1D care

Have you had a similar experience to Laurie? Share your story with us by sending us a DM on Instagram (@riselyhealth) 

What to do now: 

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

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 experience with EDKA, the challenges she faced in getting diagnosed, and what both patients and healthcare providers need to understand about this hidden danger.

Quick Takeaways:

• Understanding what Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis (EDKA) is
• Tips for dealing with EDKA & a personal experience with it
• How to advocate for yourself in a hospital setting 
• What both patients and healthcare providers need to understand about this hidden danger
• Signs & symptoms to watch out for 

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction and Bellé’s background living in a family with 6 diabetics 
• 03:32] Start of the EDKA journey & personal experience  
• [07:15] The challenges she faced in getting treatment
• [11:28] Comparing multiple experiences with EDKA 
• [20:51] Bellé’s experience in seeking T1D care in the emergency room (you won’t believe what happened)
• [27:43] What both patients and healthcare providers need to understand about EDKA
• [30:35] Signs & symptoms of Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Was this the first time you’d heard about EDKA? Help us spread the word about this life-threatening risk– share this episode with everyone & anyone you know in the T1D community and leave a review so more people can be educated and aware. 

What to do now: 

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 
3. Tune into the Krueger’s first feature on the pod– Episode #24: The Krueger Sisters on Life in a Family with 6 T1D Siblings
4. See more from Bellé & the fam: Click here  
5. Learn more about EDKA: Pub Med study

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, her diagnosis story, and her transition to diabetes technology. She shares advice for those considering tech options and explains why she chose Omnipod. We dive into the creative process behind Quarter, discuss the importance of representation in media, and how authentic storytelling can inspire change. This episode is full of valuable insights and inspiration—don’t miss it!

Time Stamps:  

03:29 Speaking Up About Having Diabetes 

06:43 The Impact of Diabetes on Life Choices and the Beginning Years of Diagnosis

12:17 Her Transition to Diabetes Technology

20:17 Advice for Those Considering Diabetes Tech

26:04 Creating 'Quarter': A Unique Film Experience

31:17 The Importance of Representation in Media

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan. 

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 liquid or capsule form, the truth about apple cider vinegar, and we even tackle the controversial debate about cinnamon! 

Time Stamps:  

01:59 Elizabeth’s background

03:34 The Purpose of Supplements and Do They Really Help?

08:13 “Supplement Trends Are Like Fashion”

09:17 What is Metabolic Health?

09:58 Who are the Supplement Brands Mostly Targeting?

11:41 The Ingredients in Blood Sugar Supplements

16:00 Apple Cider Vinegar

16:54 Liquid or Capsule?

19:00 Cinnamon

21:60 Supplements for Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes

25:19 Third-Party Testing and What to Look for in Supplements

29:44 Lauren and Elizabeth’s PSAs

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Check out the Men’s Health study referenced in today’s episode: The Effect of Cinnamon Supplementation on Hemoglobin A1c in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
3. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan. 

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 vital role of having “diabuddies” to travel and do life with, including her adventures with the Diabetes Travelers Network. 

Time Stamps:  

01:43 Reclaiming Her Rise

03:17 Barb’s Retirement Diagnosis

06:01 “Fumbling Through”

08:12 “Is this what having diabetes means?”

10:17 What Was the Hardest Thing About Being Diagnosed Later in Life?

11:39 The Red Tent for Diabetes

12:52 Resentment and Outsourcing Responsibility vs. Being in the Drivers Seat

15:55 Diabetes Travelers Network

18:49 Diabuddies: Focusing on Community vs. Problems

21:36 What gap did Risely fill?

26:50 How She Found Balance

29:29 Educational Empowerment and Self Reliance

32:21 Barb’s Advice

34:56 Her Personal Goals Now That DCB is Over

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan.

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 how I’ve been navigating conversations with my high-risk team and the hospital staff to stay aligned with my vision, even when their suggestions differ from my plan.

Birth plans are deeply personal, and I know not everyone will agree with all of my thoughts. But I believe it’s worth sharing my journey openly, especially when it comes to induction and other big decisions.

My hope is that this episode inspires you to trust your body, advocate for what feels right, and feel empowered in your own decisions—whatever they may be.

Time Stamps:  

04:12 My Blood Sugar Management in 3rd Trimester - why it’s been easier

11:40 My Birth Plan, Intuition, and to Induce or Not

25:44 Advocating for Your Birth Choices

31:27 Three Notes from My Birth Plan and Reflections

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Preparing for pregnancy in 2025? Access our Pregnancy + T1D Workshop on demand HERE.
3. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan. 

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, sustainable changes to start implementing right away, let go of chasing outcomes, and know how to bounce back when you get off course!

Time Stamps:  

04:20 On “Atomic Habits” the Book, Habit Formation, and Systems Over Goals for Sustainability 

07:55 Identity Change vs. Focusing On Outcomes

19:18 The Four Laws of Atomic Habits: Practical Applications for Type 1 Diabetes

25:00 Temptation Bundling 

28:45 Lowering the Barrier to Action

28:56 Outsourcing

29:17 The Importance of Starting Small

29:25 Avoidance and Its Consequences

31:39: Making It Easy: Building Momentum

33:33: Tracking Progress and Immediate Rewards

35:41: Reclaiming Habits After Setbacks

38:50: The Role of Systems in Managing Diabetes

41:43: The Power of Social Influence on Habits

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan. 

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 take responsibility for your well-being and make 2025 one for the books! 

Time Stamps:  

• 05:25 On Journaling
• 07:21 Prompt 1: Energy Creators and Drainers
• 11:03 Prompt 2: Greatest Hits and Misses
• 15:13 Prompt 3: Beliefs
• 19:10 Prompt 4: Lessons Learned
• 21:14 Prompt 5: Self-Report: 8 Pillars 
• 23:00 Choosing a Word
• 26:45 3 Core Principles for Living With Diabetes 
• 36:15 Getting Through the Blocks Together 

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 
3. Get involved with Tk Type 1 foundation for families HERE.
4. Check out the world's smallest, durable automated insulin delivery system, the Tandem Mobi HERE.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan. 

Sit 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 always agree), managing dietary choices, and empowering independence in your child with diabetes. This episode is packed is a heartfelt guide for families moving through life with diabetes. 

Time Stamps:  

• 01:14 Introducing the Mallia Family's Journey to Risely 
• 06:13 Navigating the First Hospital Experience
• 12:20 A Family Affair 
• 15:27 The Birth of a Foundation
• 18:14 The Ripple Effect of Support: Risely Partners with TK Type1
• 20:43 Kids Growth in Confidence with Diabetes
• 23:40 Communication as Parents
• 25:21 Navigating Dietary Choices for Kids with Diabetes
• 31:04 Kaylee's Growing Independence in Diabetes Management
• 35:56 Sleepovers
• 41:58 Advice for Parents of Newly Diagnosed Children
• 46:05 Dreams for TK Type1

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 
3. Get involved with Tk Type 1 HERE.

Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other