After 33 years of living with Type 1 Diabetes, Dori thought she was “fine.” Her A1C was steady at 6.8, her endo told her she was doing okay, and on paper it looked like nothing needed to change.
But after a rushed, 15-minute endocrinology appointment where she was told “69% time-in-range is good for 33 years,” Dori walked out thinking: There has to be more than this.
In this episode, Dori shares what it’s like to live with T1D for decades, especially when your diagnosis is tied to family trauma and fear of complications. She opens up about being diagnosed while her dad (who also had T1D) was facing severe complications, being told she’d never have kids, and spending years pushing down the anger, fear, and resentment that so many people with diabetes carry quietly.
We also talk about what changed when she finally took the leap into group coaching, and how she went from “doing okay” to feeling genuinely free.
WHAT WE COVER
- The endo appointment that became Dori’s turning point
- Why many diabetes appointments don’t create real empowerment
- Being diagnosed during family crisis: her dad’s complications and transplant timeline
- The fear of complications after losing her dad to diabetes-related complications
- How “you can’t do that because you have diabetes” shaped her identity
- Joining Taekwondo at 41 (and going for her black belt by 50)
- The mindset shift from “A1C is everything” to looking at the full picture
- Fear of lows, time-in-range, and why progress isn’t about restriction
- What changed inside the messy middle: acknowledging emotions instead of ignoring them
- How community support helped her stop carrying it all alone
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1️⃣ “Doing okay” isn’t the same as feeling empowered.
Dori had solid numbers, but she wasn’t getting the education, confidence, or emotional support that makes diabetes feel sustainable.
2️⃣ Unprocessed emotions don’t disappear. They just get louder over time.
After decades of being brave, Dori finally made space for the anger, fear, and grief that had been living under the surface.
3️⃣ Better numbers don’t require a smaller life.
Dori improved her results while eating out more, learning pump tools she hadn’t used in years, and living more freely, not less.
What’s next:
💻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:
Email us at: hello@riseyhealth.com
IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If Dori’s story helped you feel seen, especially if you’ve been living with T1D for a long time and quietly thinking, I want more, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.
