When I found coaching, I was in search of getting out of survival mode. I felt like I needed uninterrupted time with some who “gets it” and was there for me as a mom and as someone who knows what it is like to grow up with diabetes. My coach Trista helped take a holistic approach to managing diabetes. She really dove into the data to make sense of daily/weekly trends. Goals were set based on my own values on how I wanted to manage diabetes for my daughter….not what “typical diabetic kids” do. Trista also went it of her way to find answers she didn’t have. I think this is such a valuable service. I wish that coaching was a resource that you found out about at diagnosis whether it was from the hospital, endo., etc. I feel that coaching is far superior to any endo appt or education from the diabetes nurse educator that I have received.
Having a young child diagnosed with T1D is devastating, heart breaking and changes the whole family’s life. Lauren and her team have helped us in so many ways to make my son’s diagnosis more manageable.
Their knowledge and availability is truthfully hard to quantify. I’m so grateful. They are able to educate you on T1D in a real in depth way and are knowledgeable on optimizing pumps and CGM devices which can be overwhelming. Most importantly Trista and Lauren are able to support our family emotionally and keep things in perspective for how to teach your child to live a long and healthy life.
My 3-year old son, Ethan, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 20 months old in 2015. Our first endocrinologist provided no nutritional counseling, had low expectations for a toddler A1C and struggled to manage his insulin needs coming out of honeymoon. Enter: Lauren Bongiorno.
When we started with Lauren, Ethan’s A1C was 8.3, he had just gotten on an insulin pump, and I was at my wit’s end with roller coaster blood sugars that were NEVER in range. Lauren taught us so much about not only what worked with Ethan’s body, but even more importantly WHY. She taught us that diabetes management is bio-individual and that what works for some people does not work with others. She taught us how to keep a detailed food diary to help us identify which foods spike Ethan and how to manage his insulin on the rare occasions that we eat those foods. She helped us understand how and why exercise affects his blood sugar. She taught me how to use the data from his CGM and pump downloads to adjust his insulin-carb ratios and basal rates, and she gave me the confidence that I could do it without our endo team. She helped me manage my stress and emotions and to release my ownership over his blood sugars. She was available constantly.
Most importantly, Lauren helped me set goals that were achievable yet aggressive, all the while maintaining the emotional, physical, and psychological well-being that helped out entire family feel healthier and happier. Ethan’s last A1C was 6.7, and most importantly, we achieved that A1C with fewer lows and a higher percentage in range than ever before. We don’t feel deprived or like we are missing out on anything because of diabetes, and we owe all of that to Lauren. She continues to be an integral part of our diabetes team!
I hired Lauren to work with my 13 year old daughter, Charli, who was experiencing difficulty in managing blood sugars due to rapid growth, hormones and the onset of t1d burnout.
Charlize’s a1c had steadily risen over a year and a half to 11.7! Even though Charli has strong support from her family and endocrinology team, she most positively responded to Laurens’ advice and assistance because Lauren was able to come from experience and personal understanding of what it is like to be a t1d teen! Lauren got Charli to understand the danger of her situation and to care about taking control and responsibility in managing her t1d to not only be healthier, but to feel better overall each and every day. Lauren worked with Charli to find realistic solutions and tools to help her better manage her blood sugar at school, when out with friends and on vacations with the family. Within a few months Charli’s a1c dropped to 6.9, and continues to range between 6.9-7.9, all while still managing those teenage hormones and growth!
Teen years are tough on the mother-daughter relationship, and adding the extra frustration of t1d further strains this dynamic! I am so grateful to Lauren for her positive “big sister” mentorship. My biggest tool is now “what would Lauren want you to do?” and letting that guide Charli to the right choice.