In this episode, Abby Cooper (Risely’s Director of Coaching and a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes) sits down with Jessie Bennett, a mom of two in California whose 13-year-old son, Samuel, was diagnosed with T1D two years ago. Jessie opens up about what the first year really felt like: survival mode, numbness, and the constant, invisible fear of low blood sugar that can hijack your body and your mind.
Together, Abby and Jessie talk about why this episode is intentionally different, because the goal is not to wait until everything feels “fixed” before you get support. Jessie shares what shifted through coaching: building a simple “order of operations” toolkit, learning to slow down the spiral, and redefining progress as being able to live even when fear still shows up.
WHAT WE COVER:
- What the first 6 to 12 months after a child’s diagnosis can feel like, and why it’s normal
- How fear of low blood sugar shows up physically, emotionally, and in decision-making
- The “invisible” anxiety parents carry, even when they look calm on the outside
- Why coaching is not about erasing fear, but changing how you live alongside it
- A practical toolkit for making decisions: insulin on board, trend, and “I have what I need to handle this”
- Redefining progress when you’re still in the middle, without rushing yourself to a finish line
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1️⃣ Fear is protective, but it comes with a cost. The goal is not to shame it away. It is to stop letting it run the whole day (or night).
2️⃣ Real change comes from experience, not explanation. Tools, repetition, and safety-building moments are what rewire confidence.
3️⃣ Progress you can’t measure still matters. Letting your child go play at 110, trusting the plan, and staying regulated, those wins change your whole family.
WHAT’S NEXT:
💻Learn more about our T1D parent coaching.
📧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
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YT: Reclaim Your Rise
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:
If Jessie’s story helped you feel seen, especially if you’re making progress but still feel fear hanging around, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.
