Reclaim Your Rise
with Lauren Bongiorno

In this solo episode, Lauren shares practical, experience-based guidance for people living with Type 1 Diabetes who use the Omnipod 5 and still feel like their numbers are unpredictable or frustrating. Drawing from her own life with T1D and years of coaching clients at Risely Health, Lauren breaks down common gaps she sees between simply being on a pump and truly optimizing it. Rather than focusing on perfection or medical rules, this episode highlights how mindset, awareness, and intentional use of pump settings can create more confidence and stability. Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to work with their Omnipod 5, reduce common challenges like rebound highs, and use their pump as a supportive tool instead of a source of stress. WHAT WE COVER: How to find the right “sweet spot” for your max bolus setting What red line suspensions mean and how they contribute to rebound highs When and why manual mode can be helpful in certain situations How to use the custom food feature to break unhelpful bolusing habits Why stress should be treated as a real factor in blood sugar management KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1️⃣ Being on a pump is not the same as optimizing it. Confidence comes from understanding how your settings actually work for your body. 2️⃣ Auto mode is a powerful tool, but knowing when to switch to manual mode can prevent frustration and improve outcomes. 3️⃣ Stress, habits, and mindset play a major role in blood sugar patterns and deserve just as much attention as carbs and insulin. 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 this episode helped you feel more confident navigating your pump or reminded you that diabetes does not have to be figured out alone, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.

Kristin was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1997, right before she turned four. Like many of us, her early years were defined by parental support, and then college became the turning point where she had to learn how to truly take ownership. From studying abroad in Mexico and navigating T1D with a host family who did not speak English, to advocating for herself during surgery in a hospital system that largely understood Type 2, Kristin’s diabetes journey has been shaped by resilience and self trust. But even with nearly three decades of experience, Kristin still hit a wall. Her A1C was sitting at 7.1, time in range was around 63 to 65%, and she felt emotionally drained from the constant highs, lows, and pressure to “figure it out.” She was working out consistently, eating responsibly, watching her numbers closely, and still felt like the output did not match the effort. In this episode, Kristin shares what changed when she joined Risely’s group coaching program, and how she went from chasing blood sugars reactively to learning her patterns, building confidence in decision making, and feeling lighter mentally and emotionally. We also talk about the ripple effect diabetes has on relationships, why community can matter even if you already have strong support at home, and a very real story of an insulin dosing mistake that underscores how important preparation and support systems can be. WHAT WE COVER: Managing diabetes independently for the first time during study abroad in Mexico Advocating for Type 1 needs in a hospital setting during surgery Feeling stuck at a 7.1 A1C and 63 to 65% time in range despite high effort Hormones, protein, strength training, and why “doing the right things” still can spike blood sugar How her metrics changed: average BG (159 to 134) & time in range (up to 80%) The impact diabetes narratives have on partners and relationships A 20 unit insulin dosing mistake KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1️⃣ If you feel stuck, you are not broken. You are likely missing a system. 2️⃣ Confidence comes from experimenting, not perfection. 3️⃣ Better numbers can come with a lighter mental load. 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. Email us at: hello@riseyhealth.com IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth YT: Reclaim Your Rise SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If Kristin’s story helped you feel seen, especially if you have been putting in effort but still feel stuck, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.

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.

December is busy, loud, and full of expectations even when all you want is a breath. In this end-of-year episode, Lauren Bongiorno and Risely’s Director of Coaching, Abby Cooper, slow things down and walk you through a refreshingly grounded way to reflect and set intentions for 2026 without the shame-y “new year, new you” pressure. They talk about the biggest blocks that keep people stuck (hello, fake action and learned helplessness), why your diabetes frustrations often come from a values conflict, and how to set goals that actually match the season you’re in. You’ll also get practical tools like the Odyssey Plan exercise, the Five Minute Journal, and a simple gut-check that can change how you treat yourself in the new year. If you want 2026 to feel calmer, more aligned, and more possible this one’s for you. What we cover: Why New Year’s goal-setting can feel heavy and how to take the pressure off “You don’t learn to swim by reading about water” the trap of fake action Parenting with T1D in middle school supporting independence without damaging trust Abby’s 2026 intention Kevin’s Rule (six micro-adventures per year) + Lauren’s 2026 themes presence, time, giving back, and nutrition that supports energy and patterns Tools for reflection Stanford’s Odyssey Plan and the Five Minute Journal Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Pick one thing not ten. Real change doesn’t require intensity. One aligned focus can shift your whole year. 2️⃣ Your diabetes struggles might be a values conflict not a willpower problem. When what you value (freedom, spontaneity, health, nourishment, peace) clashes with diabetes demands, frustration makes perfect sense. Clarity creates strategy. 3️⃣ Stop trying to swim upstream. Acceptance isn’t giving up, it’s working with reality so you can actually build momentum and protect your energy, mood, and relationships. What’s next: 💻 Apply for coaching (1:1 or group) and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve with T1D. 🧠 T1D Strategy Sessions A one-time, 60-minute session with a Risely coach where you’ll audit what’s working, what’s not, and leave with an actionable plan. Note: last day to purchase is December 31 (sessions take place in January). 📧 Join thousands of T1Ds reading our newsletter every Tuesday: T1D tips + encouragement, straight to your inbox.