Reclaim Your Rise: Type 1 Diabetes with Lauren Bongiorno

Episode Summary: 

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by someone incredibly close to the Risely heart. Bianca Volpetti, from our enrollment team was diagnosed with T1D diagnosis at age 31, just weeks before her wedding. Even though her sister had been living with T1D since childhood and she was in the best shape of her life, Bianca’s diagnosis completely rocked her world. Because matter how “healthy” or informed you are, diabetes changes everything. Like many of us, she tried to DIY her way through it… and learned the hard way just how isolating and overwhelming that path can be. Today, Bianca opens up about her lowest moments, what finally pushed her to say yes to support, and how coaching helped her not just stabilize her numbers—but truly reclaim her life. If you’ve been stuck in the belief that you should be able to figure this out on your own, this conversation is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to wait until rock bottom to rise. 

Quick Takeaways:

• The importance of seeking support with your T1D (beyond your loved ones) 
• How T1D impacts your personal relationships 
• Navigating an adult diagnosis 
• Accepting the help you need

Timestamps:

• [03:20] Receiving her T1D diagnosis at 31 years old 
• [05:38] “I was in the ICU for four or five days and that is where my journey started.”
• [07:08] Growing up with a T1D sibling/ family member 
• [10:51] Finding Risely… with a plot twist
• [16:24] Hitting her breaking point & deciding it was time for help 
• [31:33] “We kind of allow ourselves to accept mediocrity because we have type one and… this is just how life has to be because I have this... We don't deserve to accept that.”
• [33:25] The most common blocks Bianca hears from other T1Ds 
• [34:32] Believing in yourself 
•  [38:15] Advice for someone on the fence about getting support 

What to do now: 

1.  Get 10% off your first order and try Glow Gummies today for a smarter, more effective way to recover from lows.
2. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
3. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

Episode Summary: 

Today we’re diving into a topic that doesn’t always get the spotlight—how I handle low time in range blood sugar days. I’m walking you through what happened, what I was feeling, and the 5 things I always do to reset—physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen my CGM graphs when I’m in range after eating pizza or a bagel, and while I love sharing those wins to show what’s possible, it’s just as important to keep it real when things don’t go as planned. We all have days when our numbers aren’t where we want them to be, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean we’re failing—it just means we’re human. If this episode resonates, share it with another T1D—you never know how far a little support can go on the hard days.

Quick Takeaways:

• First and foremost: EVERY T1D has bad blood sugar days, what matters is how you respond 
• How to get to a place where these days are more rare then they are normal   
• Lauren’s five steps for overcoming a bag blood sugar day 
• Why reflecting on these days is important & how to stop procrastinating it 
• Recognizing low TIR days as data to move forward *instead of* a reflection of failure 

Timestamps:

• [01:05] Introduction into today’s episode 
• [02:27] “It was purely a 100 % human error” 
• [03:07] Events leading up 
• [04:46] “Everything was good until Friday night…”
• [08:12] Reflections of the day 
• [09:31] “The thing that drives my A1C below six and my 80 to 90 % time in range is not…”
• [10:27] Debriefing/dissecting the 24-hour graph 
• [12:55] FIVE things that I always do after a tough blood sugar day
• [25:23] The 4 reasons we avoid reflection–and how to recognize them in yourself 

What to do now: 

1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.
2. If you have blood sugar days like this more often than not and you’re tired of navigating this alone and want support, this is exactly what we can support you on inside our signature Group Coaching Program for women with diabetes–Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. 

If you're listening to this right now, there's a good chance you're sitting in a hospital room or just a few days or weeks into your child's Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. First, we want to say: We see you. This is hard, and you are not alone. In this episode, Abby Cooper, Director of Coaching at Risely, shares the five things she wishes she had been told six years ago when her own son was diagnosed. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed in these early days yourself or maybe you’re months/years into your child’s diagnosis, and this advice is long overdue– This episode is the soft place to land that T1D parents deserve. 

Quick Takeaways:

• Navigating those early disorienting and emotional days after receiving your child’s T1D diagnosis  
• Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition, not caused by parenting
• Becoming the expert and NOT doing it alone 
• The importance of self-compassion with T1D parenting 
• Making space for both hope and grief 

Timestamps:

• [01:21] Introduction into the episode 
• [03:14] “You didn't cause this and you're not alone.”
• [05:29] “T1D is life changing, but it is not life limiting.” 
• [07:56] “Don't let the learning process consume you.” 
• [09:25] “With time, you will become the expert on your child's diabetes.”
• [11:09] “You don't have to choose between hope or grief or between strength or struggle."

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. Listen to Abby’s first episode on the pod & hear her personal story with T1D
4. Additional T1D parenting content: Listen to episode #161
5. Download our parenting freebie and be entered to win FREE thimble product samples: www.riselyhealth.com/type-1-diabetes/newly-diagnosed-parent-freebie

For this episode, we’re giving Nicole Trone the spotlight again, to share her incredible journey with Type 1 Diabetes, from her initial diagnosis to a life-changing transformation. Diagnosed with diabetes as an adult, Nicole was left without proper education or guidance, thrust into managing her condition while abroad in Barcelona. She shares how fear, uncertainty, and low blood sugar anxiety ruled her life, especially after a traumatic experience just before her engagement. Fast forward to 2025, and Nicole’s mindset and approach to diabetes have completely shifted, thanks to the support of the Risely coaching program. This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of education, mindset, and community in managing chronic conditions, and Nicole's story is one of hope and inspiration for anyone struggling with diabetes.

Quick Takeaways:

• The importance of proper education post diagnosis 
• The connection between mental health and diabetes 
• The impact of blood sugar anxiety on daily life
• Getting diagnosed as an adult 
• The power of the T1D community 
• Impact of trauma and learning to work through it 
• How to find the confidence to live life freely with type 1 diabetes  
• Training a diabetic alert dog 
• Words of encouragement for newly diagnosed and/or those struggling with fear and anxiety around diabetes 

Timestamps:

• [01:09] Introduction for today’s episode 
• [03:02] “I was diagnosed in a super strange way...”
• [08:02] “ Without any education, proper training. So you went to, how did you get your insulin?”
• [13:09] Nicole’s behind the scenes of operating at 75% time in range 
• [14:16] “I was waiting to die at any second”
• [14:58] “My bad low happened the night before I got engaged…”
• [18:00] “I cried for like months straight, seems like every time I talked about diabetes.”
• [25:22] “So in one year you do a complete 180. What happened? How?”

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. A FREE coaching tool to help you reclaim the life you deserve: Download your T1D Self-assessment guide 

In this episode of Reclaim Your Rise, Abby is back for a heartfelt conversation with the Smith family. We met Tyler and Callie after their son Wally’s T1D diagnosis at age 4. They came to us feeling lost trying to function as their child’s pancreas and needing more support than they were getting from their doctor. While Callie and Tyler’s experience will especially resonate with other parents, this episode is for everyone who wants to understand what T1D parents are really going through. 

Quick Takeaways:

• Importance of knowing the signs & symptoms of type 1 diabetes
• The mental & physical toll a T1D diagnosis takes on the entire family 
• How family dynamics play a significant role in managing & finding a balance in parenting roles 
• Maintaining your relationship as parents while still caring for your T1D child 
• The need for better communication with healthcare providers about care expectations

Timestamps:

• [01:45] Meet the Smith Family 
• [02:30] Wally’s diagnosis 
• [07:07] Emotions post-diagnosis & learning their new life 
• [09:24] The standard of diabetes care 
• [11:00] Deciding they needed more support 
• [15:27] “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” 
• [16:43] Balancing parenting roles & dynamics: Knowing when to ‘tap out’ 
• [18:00] Self care: The key to family well being 
• [20:00] Finding Risely 
• [27:05] “We were sick of just getting a pat on the back and a gold star, every time we went to the endo…we weren't getting what we needed.” 
• [29:40] Words of encouragement for T1D parents 

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. 

Today, we’re tackling a highly requested topic: how to avoid low and high blood sugars during exercise. This is something I get asked about a lot—whether through Instagram DMs or coaching applications at Risely. It’s a topic I’ve been wanting to dive into for a while, and last week, I had my first low blood sugar during a workout in a really long time, which was super frustrating. That experience motivated me to finally record this episode and share these insights with all of you. Let’s dive in and break it down!

Quick Takeaways:

• How to avoid low and high blood sugars during exercise 
• Understanding workout types and their impact on blood sugar 
• Five questions to ask yourself before working out 
• Insulin sensitivity & resistance: what factors are impacting it and how it plays a role in exercise  

Timestamps:

• [01:05] Introduction to the episode 
• [01:45] Story-time: Lauren’s first day back to the gym postpartum 
• [05:24] “High blood sugars are just as frustrating too” 
• [06:26] How different types of workouts impact your blood sugar 
• [07:55] 3 things contributing to your insulin sensitivity / resistance 
• [16:15] Starting blood sugar
• [17:35] Navigating a workout with insulin on board 
• [21:40] Understanding your workout patterns 

What other topics do you want me to cover in solo episodes like this? Send 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. Learn more about our signature group coaching program and apply before 3/31 to qualify for the early bird discount!

Episode Summary: 

The Story Time You’ve All Been Waiting For: 42 hours of labor, 5 days in the NICU, and finally bringing home our healthy baby boy.  It’s taken me some time to sit down and record this one, but after welcoming my son Luka into the world on January 5th, I’m ready to open up about the experience. I spent the last nine months carefully managing my type 1 diabetes, and I had a vision for how labor and delivery would go—one that, let’s just say, didn’t quite play out the way I expected. From the moment my water broke, it felt like everything went wrong, and I needed time to process it all before sharing. In this episode, I’m sitting down with my doula, Corinne, to give you my unfiltered birth story. I hope this serves as a reminder to you that even when things don’t go according to plan, we’re strong enough to navigate it all.

Quick Takeaways:

• The play-by-play of my very unpredictable birth experience
• The transformative power of doulas & having a birth plan
• The experience of laboring naturally and then needing to pivot 
• The complications that can occur that are completely unrelated to type one diabetes risk factors
• Healing from a traumatic birth experience and how Lauren is processing it all

Timestamps:

• [XX:XX] Introduction to the episode & Lauren’s reflection 
• [XX:XX] Meet Corrine, Lauren’s doula 
• [XX:XX] Understanding the role of a doula 
• [XX:XX] The journey begins: "This is where it started."
• [XX:XX] Heading to the hospital 
• [XX:XX] The Start of Active Labor
• [XX:XX] Labor progression: Understanding back labor and its challenges 
• [XX:XX] “You've been up for over 24 hours now…and I don't typically say that to people. I think I said that to two other of my clients out of 60, they needed to get an epidural.”
• [XX:XX] Things take another turn…
• [XX:XX] “That's when I pulled Kris out into the hallway.”
• [XX:XX] Luka’s birth 
• [XX:XX] Overall reflections on T1D and birth: Processing the trauma, feelings of guilt & plans for next time 

Whether you're pregnant, planning for the future, or just curious about what this journey was like for me, I really hope that this story helps you feel more prepared, supported, and seen. 

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. 5 Things You Won’t Hear From Your Endo About Pregnancy and T1D. 
4. Access Risely’s Pregnancy + T1D Workshop on demand HERE.

Our coach manager, Abby, is back to lead an honest conversation with coach Jehan about what it looks like to actually prioritize your own health, wellbeing, and identity as a mom while balancing both diabetes and motherhood. With Abby’s perspective as a mother to a child living with T1D, and Jehan’s perspective as a mom living with T1D herself, they bring so much relatable experience to this topic. Spoiler alert: true self care is so much deeper than bubble baths. This is about practical strategies for avoiding burnout. Whether or not you are a parent, this conversation is what you need to hear if you are struggling to make yourself AND your health a priority. 

Quick Takeaways:

• The challenges of balancing type 1 diabetes and parenthood (whether it’s you or your child that has T1D)  
• The emotional toll of diabetes on parents & letting go of the guilt 
• How to prioritize self-care in the midst of parents 
• The impact of a mother’s wellbeing on the rest of the household 
• Importance of taking care of yourself so you can better take care of others 

How did you like hearing from Abby and coach Jehan? Be sure to leave a rating & review to let us know you liked it and feel free to email your thoughts or ideas for their next episode to: [email protected] 

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. 

GIVEAWAY ALERT: We’re doing everything we can to get this episode out into the world, and we need your help! Share it with your friends for a chance to win a T1D gift bag filled with the Risely team's favorite products.

For this episode, Risely coach and certified diabetes educator, Neil Greathouse (aka @thebetes), is back on the podcast today for another crucial episode. We’re tackling some of the most common (and sometimes frustrating) misconceptions about type one diabetes—everything from the infamous “Can you eat that?” to the “What’s that thing on your arm?” questions. We’re breaking down five myths that I know will surprise you and help you feel more understood, whether you’re living with type one or you’re supporting someone who is. Listen and send to your people so they can better understand this big part of your life.

Quick Takeaways:

• Five of the T1D misconceptions we find most frustrating (and why they aren’t true)
• The fine line between diabetes humor and harm–when to make a joke vs. when to educate 
• Advice for educating the people in your life about type 1 diabetes 

Timestamps:

• [01:12] Introduction to misconceptions and how we contribute to them 
• [02:57] Diabetes jokes: Understanding the fine line between humor & harm “Some of these maybe we joke around about more than we actually educate people on.”
• [05:24] Neil Story-time: “You don’t look like anything is wrong with you” 
• [07:07] Misconception #1
• [12:51] Misconception #2
• [15:52] Misconception #3
• [21:25] Misconception #4
• [25:11] Lauren Story-time: “She sends me a message and goes, Lauren, you would be appalled…” 
• [27:04] Misconception #5 
• [33:20] Advice for educating your loved ones 

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

1. Follow: @riselyhealth & @thebetes
2. Rate and review Reclaim Your Rise podcast
3. Comment on Risely’s 2/25 IG post 

***BONUS: Share this episode to your IG stories AND tag us @riselyhealth (so we can give you credit) & to help us debunk these T1D misconceptions!!

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