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 

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 provides, explaining how it’s reshaped his day-to-day life. Joe addresses common misconceptions, highlighting that the iLet isn’t solely for those facing management challenges—it’s for anyone looking to ease the daily demands of diabetes care. He also explores how the device can empower families, particularly teenagers, by fostering confidence and self-efficacy in managing diabetes together. Whether you're a person with diabetes, a parent, or a healthcare professional, this conversation will change the way you think about diabetes technology and self-care.

Time Stamps:  

• 03:01 Joe's Diagnosis and Early Experiences with Diabetes
• 06:55 The Impact of Family Dynamics on Diabetes Management
• 12:39 Understanding Family Support and Its Role in Diabetes
• 18:00 Operating as a Family: The Role of Parents in Managing a Child's Diabetes
• 20:52 The iLet Bionic Pancreas: A Game Changer
• 26:50 Daily Life Before & After the iLet Bionic Pancreas
• 31:37 What the iLet Looks Like
• 35:00 Whe the iLet is Best For 
• 34:11 The Impact of Technology on Diabetes Care
• 36:11 Empowering Youth with Diabetes
• 38:50 Ownership and Acceptance in Diabetes Management
• 43:28 Understanding Patient Perspectives on New Technology and the Adaptation Curve
• 48:57 The Balance of Knowledge and Letting Go of Control
• 50:32 Having Patience in Change, Redefining Perfection, and Surrendering 

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. Find out if the iLet Bionic Pancreas is right for you:  https://bit.ly/iLetReclaimYourRise

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. 

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 insights on why users love Mobi, how to overcome barriers of use to Control IQ technology, what critical mindset shift is needed with automated insulin delivery, plus how to optimize technology and break old, unhelpful habits. With a deep understanding of patient care and technology, Dr. Messer offers a glimpse into the future of diabetes innovation that you can start being a part of now!

Time Stamps:  

• (03:58) “I was a nurse first - nurses bear witness to the human experience”
• (06:25) What Surprised Her the Most About People Living with Diabetes 
• (08:26) Her Role at Tandem 
• (09:47) Control IQ Technology 
• (11:20) User Feedback on Mobi Wearability, Ease of Use, and Control IQ
• (15:54) Tandem’s Development of Mobi and Overcoming Barriers to Using Tech
• (17:51) Shifting Mindsets on Automated Insulin Delivery
• (21:50) Optimizing the Technology and Knowing Your Body’s Patterns
• (26:08) How Old Habits Block Tech Optimization
• (31:09) Who is a Good Candidate for Automated Insulin Delivery Systems?
• (35:05) Where is Tandem and Technology Going?

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. 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. 

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 1, finding community and coaching helped her finally reclaim hope, freedom, and confidence.

Time Stamps:  

• (03:43) The Turning Point
• (06:22) Traumatic Pump Malfunction and the Psychological Impact
• (11:10) Navigating Conversations with Her Endocrinologist 
• (14:11) The Role of Fear in Daily Life 
• (17:24) Community and Vulnerability in Diabetes Management
• (20:25) Finding Hope and Empowerment Instead of Shame
• (30:51) Integrating Mind and Body in Coaching 
• (34:08) Sustainable Management and Overcoming Perfectionism 
• (41:10) Rewire Your Brain for Success
• (47:45) Overcoming 35 and Miracles of Transformation

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. 

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 Hospitals in Cleveland, Natalie is also the host of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives. Throughout her career, she has been a trailblazer in advancing diabetes care, publishing studies on topics like GLP-1s and groundbreaking diabetes technology, and speaking nationally and globally to advocate for the community. In this episode, we discuss key issues in the doctor-patient relationship and what needs to change, the role of technology in improving outcomes when patients are empowered with education, the challenges many people with type 1 diabetes face, and the critical importance of early screening for type 1.

Time Stamps:  

• (02:58) "Diabetes kind of found me, I didn't find it." 
• (03:30) The Evolution of Natalie’s Career 
• (05:57) Being Diagnosed 50+ Years Ago & the Technological Advances Made Since 
• (12:50) How the Education Around T1D and the Complications Have Changed
• (14:00) Balancing Patient Care with Healthcare System Demands  & The Growing Crisis of T1D Misdiagnosis with Adults. 
• (16:00) Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Diabetes Management
• (16:41) Barriers to Effective Diabetes Management 
• (19:54) “You should never say you’re fine when you walk into an endo’s office.”
• (20:25) Why So Many T1Ds Are Still Struggling (With or Without Technology) 
• (32:00) The Importance of Addressing Emotions in Diabetes Management
• (34:55) The Truth About AID 
• (40:26) The Importance of Early Detection
• (41:00) “In the US, they are recommending first-degree relatives be screened and people aren’t doing a great job of it because we need to educate the right people.” 
• (42:26) The Science of Understanding Antibodies 
• (52:49) Finding the Support You Deserve 

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. Be ready to treat very low blood sugar with Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection). To find out more, go to GvokeGlucagon.com/Risely

See Important Safety Information: https://www.gvokeglucagon.com/#important-safety-information

See Full Prescribing Information: https://bit.ly/3baHqAO

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. 

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 with T1D, along with the impact diabetes has had on Felix’s siblings, how they travel to places like Japan with low anxiety, keeping a healthy relationship to CGM technology, delegating tasks as parents of a child with T1D, preventing diabetes from taking over your relationship with your child, and the one thing she wishes she could look back and tell herself at the onset of diagnosis. 

Time Stamps:  

• (03:40) Coining “The Chaos Lottery”
• (06:46) Diabetes Impact on Siblings
• (09:15) Traveling With Your Child Who Has T1D
• (13:04) Projecting Anxiety Onto Your Kids 
• (14:17) The Reality of Parenting 
• (17:53) How She Manages Her Fear & Anxiety as Mom of a Child with T1D
• (22:25) Navigating Diagnosis
• (24:37) Understanding Food Management 
• (28:00) Technology is a Blessing and a Curse
• (31:16) Communication and Delegation as Parents 
• (36:18) Maintaining a Healthy Parent-Child Relationship
• (38:17) “If you could look back and tell yourself something at diagnosis, what would it be?”

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Be ready to treat very low blood sugar with Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection). To find out more, go to GvokeGlucagon.com/Risely

See Important Safety Information: https://www.gvokeglucagon.com/#important-safety-information

See Full Prescribing Information: https://bit.ly/3baHqAO

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. 

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 insulin resistance during pregnancy, why I got coaching support, what adjustments I needed to make, pump tech during pregnancy, and two tips from my second trimester along with a play-by-play of my doctor’s appointments as we prep for the third trimester and nesting!

Time Stamps:  

• (04:40) Croatian Summer Heat, Blood Sugar, and Stress 
• (07:26) Disaster on a Sunday Night 
• (12:53) The Impact of Trauma on My Health, Sleep, and Food Intake
• (13:55) Managing Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugars During Pregnancy
• (17:31) “I realized I need a coach” and Making Adjustments
• (23:16) Insulin, Pump, and Tech During Pregnancy 
• (24:30) Doctor’s Appointments and Baby Growth 
• (26:38) Two Tips From My Second Trimester
• (28:50) The Beautiful Moments from My Second Trimester 
• (29:23) Prepping for the Third Trimester and Nesting 

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. Last chance! The event of the year for reclaiming life with type one diabetes is BACK November 1st. For the first time ever, this is a live hybrid event—both virtual and in-person. Register here for Rising Above T1D 2024.
3. Access our Pregnancy + T1D Workshop on demand 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. 

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 what steps you can take to stop people-pleasing and live more authentically.

Time Stamps:  

• (05:02) Brooke’s Journey
• (10:33) Understanding Psychological vs. Neurological Health
• (12:28) Emotional Dysregulation for Everyday Life (not just extremes) 
• (16:53) The Impact of Type 1 Diabetes on Emotional Health
• (22:36) Tools for Managing Blood Sugar and Emotions 
• (31:47) Rewiring the Brain for Self-Care instead of People Pleasing, Fear, and Procrastination 
• (46:10) The Concept of Masking and Its Impact
• (50:38) Releasing Perfectionism and Embracing Authenticity

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. The event of the year for reclaiming life with type one diabetes is BACK. For the first time ever, this is a live hybrid event—both virtual and in-person. Register here for Rising Above T1D 2024.
3. Find Dr. Brooke on her website or on IG.

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 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 practical tips for how to use your unique executive function strengths to support our T1D management. Abby and Meg also discuss topics like the nervous system, repurposing time, offloading, task initiation, and the benefits of working with a coach as a T1D with ADHD. 

Time Stamps:  

• (03:51) Statistics on ADHD Diagnosis 
• (05:23) Impact of ADHD and Working Memory 
• (08:01) “How can you use your executive function strengths in your T1D management?”
• (10:45) Daily Type 1 Diabetes Management Challenges
• (13:33) “Repurposing Time” 
• (15:21) Offloading Information 
• (18:14) Importance Vs. Interest-Based Nervous Systems 
• (22:42) Practical Tips for Simplifying Type 1 Infrastructure 
• (26:49) Importance of Support and Accountability
• (29:28) The Benefits of Coaching to Help Manage T1D + ADHD
• (32:30) Meg’s Main Takeaways

What to do now:

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. The event of the year for reclaiming life with type one diabetes is BACK. For the first time ever, this is a live hybrid event—both virtual and in-person. Register here for Rising Above T1D 2024.
3. Check out our book recommendations from the episode: “How to ADHD” by Jessica McCabe and "Extra Focus" by Jesse J. Anderson.
4. How To Get Diagnosed With ADHD: 7 Steps for Adults To Get an Accurate Evaluation https://add.org/how-to-get-diagnosed-with-adhd/