In today’s episode, I’m boiling down everything I’ve observed in 7 years of coaching people impacted by T1D into one essential takeaway. In my experience, there is this ONE thing that is at the base of every T1D transformation, no matter who the person is, when they were diagnosed, or what their story is. I've seen it for myself and I've witnessed it for every single one of our clients here at Risely. Today, I’m sharing the number one thing that YOU can do to lower your A1C.  If you're waking up every day frustrated and feeling like you're not getting any closer to creating positive change in your life or with your diabetes, then this episode is for you! 

In this episode, I sit down with Patrick House, who’s lived with type 1 diabetes for 35 years and came to coaching feeling completely burnt out. He opens up about rebuilding trust with his body, shifting from self-blame to self-compassion, and how a late ADHD diagnosis changed everything. Let’s be honest… we don’t hear enough male voices talking about type 1 diabetes, burnout, or what it actually looks like to heal from the inside out, and Patrick’s story proves something I want everyone listening to hear. 

If you're looking for a sign to ask for help, here it is: 💻Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.  

‼️ P.S. Don't forget to save your spot to celebrate World Diabetes Day on November 14th with us, virtually OR in-person: Last chance! 

Today, I’m reflecting on my 25th diaversary, 25 years since I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In the past, I’ve shared this day with my parents on the podcast, but this year I felt called to sit down solo and really process what this milestone means. From the memories of my diagnosis at seven years old to the lessons I’ve learned along the way, I’m sharing how my relationship with diabetes has evolved over a quarter of a century. My hope is that no matter where you are in your journey, five seconds in or fifty years, you’re reminded that it’s never too late to shift lanes, grow, and create the life you want with diabetes. Giveaway details below! 

🎊 To celebrate 25 years of living with type 1 diabetes and to thank this amazing community, I’m hosting a special giveaway! Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a star rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts (give it whatever rating you truly feel it deserves).
 2. Go to my Instagram — @lauren_bongiorno — and comment on my 25th Diaversary post so we can reach out if you win.

We’ll be selecting one winner, and this giveaway is stacked! You’ll receive:

• A Glokos CGM light — a calming way to check your blood sugar status at a glance
• A One to One diabetes bag — stylish and functional for your daily essentials
• A Type Zero pre-workout — clean, sugar-free, and designed for people with diabetes
• A Risely Health Diabetes Health Journal
• Neil Greathouse’s book, Type 1 Diabetes: True Stories
• And your choice of Risely Health swag (t-shirt or sweatshirt in any color you like!)
  
  
  

‼️P.S. Only a few weeks left until our 5th annual diabetes event. REGISTER HERE!

🫂Stay connected with us: DM takeaways/ episode requests or email [email protected]   
IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

💻Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

In this episode, I sit down with author and mom Stephanie Fallon, whose six-year-old daughter, Posey, lives with type 1 diabetes. Stephanie’s story struck me deeply—she shares how her lifelong perfectionism was challenged when faced with the unpredictability of diabetes and how that journey reshaped her perspective as both a parent and a person. We talk about what it means to try to “win” at diabetes, the emotional toll that mindset can take, and how she learned to let go of control in favor of connection and presence. Whether you’re a parent, someone living with type 1 yourself, or just someone who’s ever felt like your worth is tied to outcomes, I think you’ll relate to Stephanie’s story.

What to do now: 

📲 Say hi to Stephanie on Instagram or on her website.

🫂Stay connected with us: DM takeaways/ episode requests or email [email protected]   
IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

💻Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

Getting your diabetes supplies shouldn’t be so complicated and we’re here to help spread the word. Today, we’re joined by Stephen Ouellette from Byram Healthcare to unpack what’s happening behind the scenes that makes this part of life with T1D so frustrating. From prescription renewal timelines and insurance authorizations to communication gaps, we break down the biggest challenges and what you can do to stay ahead of them. If you live with T1D, you know how stressful it can be when supplies don’t arrive on time—so even if this isn’t your biggest diabetes stressor right now, consider sharing this episode to support those who are feeling that weight. Anyone in the T1D community will walk away from this conversation not only more informed, but also empowered and validated.

Quick Takeaways: 

• The surprising story behind Byram Health & how Stephen found his way into diabetes care 
• How patient support has evolved and what that means for people living with T1D today
• A behind-the-scenes look at how your diabetes supplies are ordered, approved, and shipped
• Why supply delays happen (and what you can do to prevent them)
• The simple steps to start home delivery through Byram Health and make ordering your medical supplies stress-free

What to do now: 

📲 Learn more about Byram Health. 

🫂 Stay connected with us: DM takeaways/ episode requests or email [email protected]   
IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

💻 Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

‼️P.S. Our annual event Rising Above T1D is BACK! 🎉 Join us this World Diabetes Day, virtually or in-person, in Chicago on Friday, November 14th & don't miss our exclusive in-person coaching workshop on Saturday, November 15th! 🎟️Virtual event tickets are free, but you need to register to save your spot: REGISTER HERE!

Meet Coach Alejandro, the newest member of our Risely Health coaching team! His journey with type 1 diabetes is deeply personal, from being the first in his family diagnosed to later supporting his young daughter through her own diagnosis. Instead of letting diabetes define their story, Alejandro turned it into his purpose, becoming a health coach and diabetes educator to help others find more freedom and confidence in their own journeys. We also share a special announcement: Risely is now offering coaching in Spanish, and Alejandro is leading the way in expanding our mission to support even more people living with T1D around the world. Please share this episode to help us spread the word! 

Quick Takeaways:

• Alejandro’s Personal Journey with T1D: “Diabetes became like a shared language in our family across three generations.”
• Life-Changing Experience Before Receiving His T1D diagnosis 
• Finding Purpose Through His Diagnosis: “I realized why I had been diagnosed…”
• From Lived Experience to Coaching Others: “With the right mindset and support, life with diabetes can be not just manageable, but deeply meaningful.”
• Advice for Handling Tough Blood Sugar Days (as a T1D & T1D parent) 

What to do now:

🫂Stay connected with us: DM takeaways/ episode requests or email [email protected]   
IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

💻Apply for coaching:
Work with Alejandro or another Risely coach and start reclaiming the life you deserve!

‼️  REGISTER HERE for our annual event, Rising Above T1D!

• Join us this World Diabetes Day—virtually or in person in Chicago—on Friday, Nov. 14th.
• Don’t miss our exclusive in-person coaching workshop on Saturday, Nov. 15th.
• Virtual tickets are free, but you must register to save your spot. 

In this solo episode, I’m spilling all the behind-the-scenes details from filming Beyond Type One’s Go Beyond campaign with Nick Jonas, Billy Porter, and more. From navigating pregnancy on set to what this experience taught me about breaking stigma and owning your story, it’s one you don’t want to miss. Plus, I’m dropping a sneak peek at our Rising Above World Diabetes Day event featuring Dancing with the Stars’ Rylee Arnold!

Quick Takeaways:

• Inside scoop from the Go Beyond Campaign by Beyond Type 1 
• Behind the scenes of filming a T1D shoot 
• “At one point, Mr. Nick Jonas walks in…”
• How impactful misconceptions are (especially to the T1D community) 
• Big announcement about our upcoming event for World Diabetes Day 

📲 Beyond the Misconceptions: Watch my feature on IG + the full video! 

This episode is in honor of Kylee Breann Whitley, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend living with type 1 diabetes. 

In this deeply emotional conversation, Dr. Joren Whitley opens up about the life and loss of his sister, Kylee-a bright, adventurous young woman who lived with type 1 diabetes and battled diabulimia, an often-misunderstood eating disorder. This is not just about loss, it is a call to action for families, friends, and healthcare providers, and what we can all learn from one family’s journey. While this episode touches on heavy topics, it’s ultimately one of love, remembrance, and hope. If you know someone living with type 1 diabetes, what you hear today could truly save a life. Please share it and help save lives. 

Quick Takeaways:

• The annual mortality rate for diabulimia is estimated to be 34.8% (yet it wasn’t recognized in literature until after 2007).
• “I help hundreds of people every single week, and I couldn’t help the one person who was closest to me.” – Dr. Joren Whitley
• A type 1 diabetes diagnosis through a sibling’s eyes: “I just remember her struggling.”
• The hidden danger of diabulimia: how insulin omission and lack of awareness can turn deadly.
• The call to action: what Kylee’s story teaches us about advocacy, early intervention, and the power of speaking up.

What to do now: 

📲 See more from Dr. Whitley

🚨More Diabulimia Support: Call 1-425-985-3635, click here or listen to our episode (#108) with the founder & executive director of the Diabulimia Helpline

🫂Stay connected with us: 
💻: Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 
IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth | TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

‼️Our annual event Rising Above T1D is BACK! 🎉  Join us this World Diabetes Day, virtually or in-person in Chicago on 11/14/2025 🎟️: REGISTER HERE

Today's guest is a dear friend of mine who I've shared many meals with, a few stages before, Kyle Banks. In the middle of living out his dreams, performing on Broadway and working with some of the biggest names in the music industry, a type 1 diabetes diagnosis changed everything. In this episode, Kyle shares his journey from the bright lights of Broadway to starting up Kyler Cares and how that work has grown from helping a few families in his network with diabetes to serving over 2000 students with T1D in the New York City public school system. We'll talk about the problems these kids and families are facing, how Kyle secured a major grant to tackle them, and why this work has the potential to scale nationwide. This conversation is going to be inspiring, eye-opening, and one that you're going to want to hear all the way through. 

Quick Takeaways:

• Kyle’s story 
• Addressing the needs of T1D families and getting them the support they need 
• The biggest problem kids with Type 1 Diabetes are facing in public schools right now 
• Project 31 

What to do now: 

‼️ Our annual event Rising Above T1D is BACK! 🎉  Join us this World Diabetes Day, virtually or in-person, in Chicago on Friday, Nov. 14th. 

Don't miss our exclusive in-person coaching workshop on Saturday, Nov. 15th. Virtual event tickets are free, but you need to register to save your spot.
Early bird pricing for in-person event + workshop tickets ends Oct. 14th.
🎟️ REGISTER HERE: [www.riselyhealth.com/type-1-diabetes/rising-above-t1d-2025]

📲Stay connected: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.

📩Send us a DM: Share your takeaways, questions about the episode and/or ideas for our next recording via direct message on IG to either account linked above. 

💻Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

If you've been afraid of carbs or you were told that eating fewer carbs is the only way to manage blood sugars, today's episode is for you. We’re breaking down everything that people with T1D need to know to make empowered choices with food and have a healthy relationship with it. To help us understand why we need carbs and officially debunk these myths, is Bridget Wood– Registered and Licensed Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, highly respected expert in diabetes and nutrition, with over 15 years of personal experience living with T1D. This is what a conversation about T1D and food should actually sound like. Be sure to share it to help this message reach more people in our community. 

• How your relationship with food shapes your diabetes management 
• Debunking the myth that all carbohydrates cause high blood sugar
• Overcoming fear of insulin and fostering a positive relationship with it
• The lasting impact of restrictive dieting: “When we remove things from our diet, our relationships with food can be tainted forever.’ 
• 5 tips for able being able to eat carbs and stay in range more effectively

What to do now: 

📲Follow Bridget on IG!   

‼️ Our annual event Rising Above T1D is BACK! 🎉  Join us this World Diabetes Day, virtually or in-person, in Chicago on Friday, Nov. 14th. 

Don't miss our exclusive in-person coaching workshop on Saturday, Nov. 15th. Virtual event tickets are free, but you need to register to save your spot.
Early bird pricing for in-person event + workshop tickets ends Oct. 14th.
🎟️ REGISTER HERE: [www.riselyhealth.com/type-1-diabetes/rising-above-t1d-2025]

💻Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

🫂Stay connected with us:   

• IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth 
• TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
• YT: Reclaim Your Rise 
• 📩Send us a message: DM us your takeaways, questions about the episode and/or ideas for our next recording via direct message on IG to either account linked above. (Or send email to [email protected])