At 10 years old, Ella Suvak was doing EVERYTHING she could to hide her type 1 diabetes. Now, at 21, she's sharing her T1D journey with thousands of people and building a community of her own. She's also the founder of Sugar Letters, a monthly T1D mail club that delivers postcards, stickers, stories, and encouragement from the diabetes community straight to your mailbox. So what changed? In this episode, Lauren sits down with Ella to talk about growing up with T1D, the things she never told her parents, and what she wishes she'd known as a kid.
From navigating sleepovers and sports to accidentally giving herself 20 UNITS of insulin and managing diabetes alone halfway across the world, Ella shares the stories, scary moments, and lessons that shaped her relationship with T1D. Plus, she reveals what her parents got RIGHT, what she wishes they'd done differently, and the one thing that could have completely changed how she felt about diabetes growing up. If you're raising a child with T1D or remember what those years felt like yourself, you won't want to miss this conversation!
WHAT WE COVER:
- The ONE thing Ella wishes her parents had made her do as a kid with T1D (and why she still hasn't done it at 21).
- How Ella's parents handled sleepovers, competitive sports, and giving her independence with T1D, even when things could go wrong.
- How a simple pump mistake led Ella to accidentally give herself 20 UNITS of insulin, panic, and call 911.
- What went wrong during Ella's first solo trip to London that sent her blood sugar above 300 and forced her to abandon her plans.
- How Ella went from wanting NOBODY to know she had diabetes to building a community that reaches hundreds of people every month.
WHAT’S NEXT:
🎟️ Join us at Rising Above T1D! Come together with the T1D community for two days of connection, inspiration, and conversations about living a fuller life with type 1 diabetes. Learn more and register for free!
💻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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IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
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