Six months postpartum, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again, and in this episode, I’m opening up about what it took to get here. This season has been full of challenges, healing, and unexpected lessons. I’m sharing the honest truth about what I’ve learned, what I wish I had known, and how I’ve been navigating this transition. I’ll also walk you through the top five things I believe every new mom and her support team should know during those early months. My hope is that this conversation helps you feel more supported, more prepared, and a little less alone. You are not meant to figure this all out on your own, and you are doing better than you think. Quick Takeaways:The unexpected emotional and physical toll of postpartum, even with strong supportHow breastfeeding affects insulin needs and blood sugar patternsThe shift in diabetes motivation What managing type 1 diabetes REALLY looks like in the newborn trenchesWhy reclaiming time for yourself isn't a luxury but a necessity Timestamps:[02:48] My general experience so far as a new mom: the good, the bad, and the ugly…[05:40] The ‘newborn bubble’[06:34] What made things hard for me [6:45] Reality of breastfeeding [08:25] Postpartum anxiety + the mental load of becoming a mom [14:33] Going back to work [18:55] The 5 things I wish I knew before What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. Want to hear more from Lauren’s pregnancy journey? Catch up on these episodes: 162. Giving birth with T1D: What I didn’t expect and no one warned me about 153. How I'm advocating for my T1D birth plan as a high risk patient
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178. "What If I Didn’t Have T1D?" Exploring the Ambiguous Grief of Chronic Illness
Is it normal to grieve the life you imagined before T1D? In today’s episode, we’re joined by registered psychotherapist, founder of her own private practice, and fellow T1D, Kirsten Davidson, to explore just that. Together, we unpack the emotional layers of type 1 diabetes that often go unspoken. From the quiet grief of “what could’ve been,” to how blood sugars impact our emotional state, to the ways avoidance can quietly shape our relationship with T1D. Kirsten brings both personal insight and professional expertise to this conversation, offering powerful validation for the mental and emotional weight that comes with chronic illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into your journey, this episode is a gentle, much-needed reminder: your emotional experience matters, and you’re not alone in it.Quick Takeaways:Understanding of the interplay between T1D and mental healthThe importance of allowing yourself to grieve your T1D diagnosis and process the emotional weight that often goes unspokenHow trauma, stress, and survival mode responses can shape your relationship with diabetes over timeThe emotional impact of blood sugar fluctuations and how they affect more than just your body BONUS TOPIC: How parents can model emotional awareness and foster empowered, supportive relationships with their T1D childrenTimestamps:[02:50] Blood sugar check to start today’s episode [05:29] Physiological and physical side effects of a high blood sugar [06:13] “What are the symptoms? And then what's the story we tell ourselves about the number?”[06:36] Stress hormones & how they impact blood sugar [10:53] Working through trauma: “I had this one experience. And now anything resembling it is going to equal that experience.”[11:34] “When we're in a moment of survival, we have four options - fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.”[15:19] Allowing yourself time to grieve after your diagnosis [16:00] Rewriting the narratives you are telling yourself [20:51] Being aware of what you are thinking AND why [22:43] Navigating the emotional toll on the relationship between a parent and their T1D child [25:10] Parental modelling & empowering your T1D child [32:27] Learning to ‘sit in the mess’[34:10] “Grieving the life that you would have had without type 1 diabetes”[38:39] The truth about having a 'it is what it is’ mindset What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.Connect with Kirsten: on Instagram @kirsten.davidson or on her website MindTheGaps.coApply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve.
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177. Insulin Sensitivity, Hormones, and the T1D Weight Loss Conversation No One’s Having
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Joelle Cavagnaro for a powerful conversation on what’s really going on with weight loss, insulin sensitivity, PCOS, and GLP-1s, especially for women living with T1D. We dive into the science behind smarter workouts, why more cardio isn’t always better, and how strength training plays a key role in improving blood sugar and hormone balance. With a Master's in Exercise Physiology and a passion for educating & guiding others, Joelle brings a refreshing blend of real-life experience and evidence-based guidance to help you stop chasing quick fixes and start building a sustainable foundation for health. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of trying to “figure it all out,” this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and less alone. Let’s rise above the noise together and talk about what actually works.Quick Takeaways:Navigating hormonal challenges + PCOSThe role nutrition plays in weight loss Understanding insulin sensitivity, exercising + CGMs (and how they all connect) The truth about GLP-1s: How and who they benefit Timestamps:[03:08] Meet Joelle + the beginning of her fitness journey [07:23] Key to finding the right support (for weight loss, exercising, diabetes, etc.) [08:51] Insulin sensitivity and the benefits that weight training has for that [10:53] Most superior workout (in Joelle’s opinion) [16:06] How nutrition + food play a role in reaching body composition goals[16:12] “The rule for weight loss…”[17:08] Making appropriate diet changes[19:49] Joelle’s journey with PCOS + hormones [26:03] “I stepped on the scale and the number went down…without starving or killing myself with cardio.”[29:43] Current era of GLP-1s: Who are they helping? [39:45] Non-diabetics using CGMs [53:59] Rapid-fire: Joelle’s take on what’s trending in the health and fitness spaceWhat to do now: Ready to master your body’s patterns around exercise and support insulin sensitivity + body composition? Download our FREE guide HERE. Apply for coaching with Joelle and/or follow along her journey HERE. Listen to Episode 117: T1D Hormones, Appetite, Insulin Sensitivity, and Weight Loss with Ginger Vieira The Supply Solution I Wish I Had Sooner: After five years of using Byram Healthcare, I can say it’s made managing my supplies one less thing to worry about. Between their reliable and free delivery, seamless reordering, and access to tools like the mybyram app, it’s a total game-changer. Learn more HERE or contact them at: 866-884-0857 Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop
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176. 147 Days in the NICU: A Mother’s Story of Resilience
In today’s powerful episode, I’m joined by Steph Hauser—writer, ultrarunner, and NICU mom of four—whose son Zev was born at just 23 weeks with only a 1% chance of survival. Steph opens up about what it was like to spend 147 days in the NICU, how she turned that pain into purpose through her nonprofit 4Those, and the healing journey that led her to run 147 miles—one for each day her son fought to live. We talk about the emotional toll of medical uncertainty, the unexpected crossover with the T1D community, and how a simple question—“Tell me what’s good?”—can help shift even the darkest moments. Steph’s story is a reflection of what’s possible when we choose to rise, not just for ourselves but for others walking similar paths. Her voice is a reminder that even if it feels like the end, your story still has so much life, strength, and hope left to unfold. Timestamps:[01:19] Introduction to today’s episode and guest [06:08] The NICU journey: Zev’s birth story [07:29] “We can hold both the grief and the joy.” [10:39] Facing the impossible: Decisions in the NICU [13:55] “Tell me what’s good” [20:39] What kept them going & hopeful[49:40] Steph’s next challenge: 1,470 miles for hope [53:09] Running for a cause: The journey of endurance What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. Follow Steph’s Journey: https://www.4those.org/ & on Instagram! To simplify your supply ordering process, learn more about Byram Health HERE or contact them at: 866-884-0857
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175. The Doctor Behind Some of the Biggest T1D Breakthroughs Tells All
In this episode of Reclaim Your Rise, I sit down with the legendary Dr. Jay Skyler, whose six decades of work have profoundly shaped the world of type 1 diabetes care. From challenging outdated pregnancy guidelines in the 1970s to pioneering immune intervention and islet transplantation trials, Dr. Skyler’s story is a living blueprint of how far we’ve come. We discuss the early days of research, the development of insulin dosing algorithms, and the quiet revolutions that transformed the lives of people with T1D. This conversation serves as a poignant reminder of the power of persistence, legacy, and striving for something greater than ourselves.Quick Takeaways:Pioneering some of the most profound research & advancements in T1D: From shifting outdated pregnancy guidelines to developing foundational insulin dosing algorithms.Future directions for the care and management of type 1 diabetes: What’s next in research, treatment, and patient-centered innovation.The closest update we have on a cure: What’s holding us back—and how each of us can play a role in moving the needle forward.What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. Stay connected to Dr. Skyler & DRI’s latest cure-focused research by subscribing to their newsletter HERE.
Sobre Reclaim Your Rise: Type 1 Diabetes with Lauren Bongiorno
Lauren Bongiorno is a Nationally Board Certified Health Coach and the founder and CEO of Risely Health. Featured on the TODAY show and other media outlets, Risely helps people and families impacted by Type 1 Diabetes take ownership over their health so they can transform their life with more freedom and confidence. Lauren has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was 7 years old and has experienced firsthand that when health transforms, so does everything else - our relationships, our time, our career, our families, and, most importantly, ourselves. Each week she will bring you lessons from her own personal diabetes experience, strategies that are key to understanding your body’s patterns, and guests who will speak to everything from advances in technology to all things hormones, exercise, relationships, and mindset. All of this so that over time, you TOO can reclaim your rise.
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