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Dana was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 6 and has now lived with it for over 24 years. As an ICU nurse working long, intense shifts, she found herself bouncing from the 50s to the 300s, feeling exhausted, ashamed, and frustrated that she couldn’t “get it together” — especially as a medical professional. In this episode, she shares how she went from an A1C of nearly 11 to 6.4, what finally helped her break through the “stuck at 7” plateau, and the mindset work that let her feel in control of her diabetes for the first time. If you’ve ever felt alone, burnt out, or like your body is failing you, Dana’s story will give you both hope and tools.
What we cover:
- What it’s really like to manage T1D while working 12-hour ICU shifts
- The shame of being a nurse with “uncontrolled” numbers
- How Dana went from an A1C of ~11 down into the 6s
- Why she stopped going to her endo for a season — and what changed
- Using the A1C Shift Method + coaching to finally break past 7.0
- The power of pre-bolus, pattern-tracking, and reflection (not perfection)
- How sleep mode on her pump changed her overnights and energy
- Moving from diabetes controlling her life to her feeling in charge
Key takeaways:
1️⃣ Mindset is the first tool.
Before anything else shifted, Dana had to move from “I can’t do this” to “I can figure this out with time and support.”
2️⃣ You can’t treat a complex condition with 15-minute visits alone.
Endo appointments gave tiny tweaks. What really moved the needle was education, ongoing support, and accountability.
3️⃣ Small wins add up to big change.
From celebrating a 110 fasting BG to turning on sleep mode, Dana’s transformation came from consistent small shifts, not one giant fix.
What’s next:
🔗Take the A1C Shift Method Course: https://www.riselyhealth.com/a1c-shift-method
🔍For More on Today’s Topic: Click Here! [Link past episode and/or free resource here]
💻Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve with T1D.
📧Join thousands of T1Ds reading our newsletter every Tuesday: T1D tips and encouragement, straight to your inbox.
Stay connected with us:
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