Reclaim Your Rise
with Lauren Bongiorno

In this final episode of 2024, I’m taking you through my annual reflective journaling process to close out the year and set intentions for 2025. I’ll guide you through five prompts, help you choose a word of the year, and go over three core principles for living with diabetes. We also cover a self-assessment with eight pillars of well-being. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel encouraged to take responsibility for your well-being and make 2025 one for the books! Time Stamps: 05:25 On Journaling 07:21 Prompt 1: Energy Creators and Drainers 11:03 Prompt 2: Greatest Hits and Misses 15:13 Prompt 3: Beliefs 19:10 Prompt 4: Lessons Learned 21:14 Prompt 5: Self-Report: 8 Pillars  23:00 Choosing a Word 26:45 3 Core Principles for Living With Diabetes  36:15 Getting Through the Blocks Together What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.  Get involved with Tk Type 1 foundation for families HERE. Check out the world's smallest, durable automated insulin delivery system, the Tandem Mobi HERE. Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan.

Sit down with me and the Mallia family as they share their journey with their daughter’s Type 1 diagnosis at the age of four. From navigating diagnosis at such a young age, to creating TK Type1, a foundation supporting families like theirs both financially and educationally, we discuss building confidence in kids with diabetes, fostering open communication with your spouse (even when you don’t always agree), managing dietary choices, and empowering independence in your child with diabetes. This episode is packed is a heartfelt guide for families moving through life with diabetes. Time Stamps: 01:14 Introducing the Mallia Family's Journey to Risely  06:13 Navigating the First Hospital Experience 12:20 A Family Affair  15:27 The Birth of a Foundation 18:14 The Ripple Effect of Support: Risely Partners with TK Type1 20:43 Kids Growth in Confidence with Diabetes 23:40 Communication as Parents 25:21 Navigating Dietary Choices for Kids with Diabetes 31:04 Kaylee's Growing Independence in Diabetes Management 35:56 Sleepovers 41:58 Advice for Parents of Newly Diagnosed Children 46:05 Dreams for TK Type1 What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.  Get involved with Tk Type 1 HERE. Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other

In this episode, Joe Solowiejczyk—diabetes nurse educator, family therapist, and type 1 diabetes advocate for 63 years—shares his transformative experience with the iLet bionic pancreas. Joe opens up about how this groundbreaking technology has given him a glimpse of life without the relentless demands of diabetes management. He describes the mental relief and emotional distance the device provides, explaining how it’s reshaped his day-to-day life. Joe addresses common misconceptions, highlighting that the iLet isn’t solely for those facing management challenges—it’s for anyone looking to ease the daily demands of diabetes care. He also explores how the device can empower families, particularly teenagers, by fostering confidence and self-efficacy in managing diabetes together. Whether you're a person with diabetes, a parent, or a healthcare professional, this conversation will change the way you think about diabetes technology and self-care. Time Stamps: 03:01 Joe's Diagnosis and Early Experiences with Diabetes 06:55 The Impact of Family Dynamics on Diabetes Management 12:39 Understanding Family Support and Its Role in Diabetes 18:00 Operating as a Family: The Role of Parents in Managing a Child's Diabetes 20:52 The iLet Bionic Pancreas: A Game Changer 26:50 Daily Life Before & After the iLet Bionic Pancreas 31:37 What the iLet Looks Like 35:00 Whe the iLet is Best For  34:11 The Impact of Technology on Diabetes Care 36:11 Empowering Youth with Diabetes 38:50 Ownership and Acceptance in Diabetes Management 43:28 Understanding Patient Perspectives on New Technology and the Adaptation Curve 48:57 The Balance of Knowledge and Letting Go of Control 50:32 Having Patience in Change, Redefining Perfection, and Surrendering What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.  Find out if the iLet Bionic Pancreas is right for you:  https://bit.ly/iLetReclaimYourRise Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan.

Join me as I chat with Dr. Laurel Messer, Tandem’s Senior Director of Medical Affairs, who brings 20+ years of experience in diabetes care, education, and research. 75% of clients coming to Risely are already using automated insulin delivery systems, which shows us that technology doesn’t necessarily solve all of our problems living with T1D, right? Today’s conversation with Dr. Messer offers insights on why users love Mobi, how to overcome barriers of use to Control IQ technology, what critical mindset shift is needed with automated insulin delivery, plus how to optimize technology and break old, unhelpful habits. With a deep understanding of patient care and technology, Dr. Messer offers a glimpse into the future of diabetes innovation that you can start being a part of now! Time Stamps: (03:58) “I was a nurse first - nurses bear witness to the human experience” (06:25) What Surprised Her the Most About People Living with Diabetes  (08:26) Her Role at Tandem  (09:47) Control IQ Technology  (11:20) User Feedback on Mobi Wearability, Ease of Use, and Control IQ (15:54) Tandem’s Development of Mobi and Overcoming Barriers to Using Tech (17:51) Shifting Mindsets on Automated Insulin Delivery (21:50) Optimizing the Technology and Knowing Your Body’s Patterns (26:08) How Old Habits Block Tech Optimization (31:09) Who is a Good Candidate for Automated Insulin Delivery Systems? (35:05) Where is Tandem and Technology Going? What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop. Doors are open for the January 2025 round of our signature group coaching program. Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.  Check out the world's smallest, durable automated insulin delivery system, the Tandem Mobi HERE. Disclaimer: Nothing you hear on the Reclaim your Rise podcast should be a substitute for personalized professional medical advice. Please always consult your physician or other medical professional before making any changes to your diet, insulin dosages, or healthcare plan.