Reclaim Your Rise: Type 1 Diabetes with Lauren Bongiorno

Rachel Smith is an OB-GYN, lifelong mountain-lover, and person with type 1 diabetes who set out to summit Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s tallest peak, in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. After climbs like Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua, she realized the biggest curiosity was not just the summit itself, but the diabetes strategy behind it: insulin safety, altitude, tech failures, and what it takes to navigate unpredictable blood sugars when you are far from help.
In this episode, Rachel takes us into a 13-day Antarctica expedition (8 days on the mountain), where the sun never sets, the cold hits -50°C, and even treating a low can become complicated. You will hear what surprised her most, what she would do differently next time, and the message she wants every person with diabetes to carry with them: progress over perfection, and your goals do not have to shrink because you have T1D.

WHAT WE COVER:
Why Rachel chose Mount Vinson and why she decided to share the diabetes side publicly this time
The realities of climbing in Antarctica: 24-hour daylight, extreme cold, and carrying everything yourself
Managing T1D on Kilimanjaro (manual testing) vs. Aconcagua and Vinson (pump + CGM)
What happens when diabetes tech fails at altitude and in the cold (pump alarms, sensors cutting out)
How Rachel kept insulin from freezing and built in backups (including guide support)
Fueling strategy on long climb days: lower-carb mornings, steady carbs during breaks, and why it mattered
Safety conversations with guides: how hypoglycemia symptoms can mimic altitude sickness

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1️⃣ Your plan needs redundancy. Remote climbs demand extra supplies, backup delivery methods, and contingency plans for freezing, loss, and tech failure.
2️⃣ The environment changes everything. Altitude, cold, disrupted routine, stress hormones, and long-duration exertion can make blood sugars feel unlike your norm. That is not failure, it is data.
3️⃣ Zoom out to rebuild trust. Rachel’s CGM graphs looked more stable in hindsight than they felt in the moment, which is a reminder not to let one chaotic window define your confidence.

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: [email protected]   

IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If Rachel’s story helped you feel more capable, especially if you have been telling yourself “I cannot” because of diabetes, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.

This bonus episode takes you behind the scenes of a moment that made many people with Type 1 diabetes feel truly seen. Lauren visits Breakthrough T1D headquarters in New York City to sit down with Pam Morrisroe and uncover how the T1D Barbie went from an idea to a global symbol of representation. Pam shares her role in bringing community voices into the process and why getting the details right was not just important, it was everything.
What unfolds is a powerful conversation about visibility, confidence, and the emotional weight of representation for kids and adults living with an often invisible condition. This episode is not about perfection or optics. It is about normalizing devices, embracing difference, and shifting the narrative from hiding diabetes to owning it with pride.

WHAT WE COVER:
How Mattel and Breakthrough T1D partnered to create the T1D Barbie
Why community input was essential in the doll’s design
The intentional choices behind the CGM graph, pump number, and devices
Navigating criticism and misconceptions around representation
What visibility means for kids growing up with Type 1 diabetes

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1️⃣ Representation matters, especially for an invisible condition like Type 1 diabetes
2️⃣ Getting it perfect is not the goal. Getting it real is what builds confidence
3️⃣ Embracing what makes you different can change your entire relationship with T1D

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: [email protected]   

IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode made you feel seen or reminded you that you do not have to hide your diabetes, subscribe and leave a review so more people with T1D can find these conversations.

In this solo episode, Lauren breaks down one of the most important skills for navigating Type 1 Diabetes with more confidence: spotting blood sugar patterns without getting trapped in constant data analysis. She speaks to two common experiences, the person who’s already deep in the charts but still feels stuck, and the person who feels overwhelmed and convinced they “don’t have patterns.”
Lauren shares a simple, human approach to pattern recognition that prioritizes curiosity over judgment. You’ll learn how to slow down, identify what’s actually driving your out-of-range numbers, and build awareness in a way that supports your life (instead of taking it over). If you’ve ever felt like diabetes is running the show, this episode will help you shift from reacting in the moment to making decisions with more clarity and calm.

WHAT WE COVER:
How to identify which “group” you fall into: over-analyzing vs. overwhelmed and unsure where to start
Why changing ratios isn’t always the answer and what the graphs don’t show
How to start with awareness first, before trying to “fix” everything
Four practical ways to find patterns without living inside your CGM data
How to build a weekly review habit using curiosity over judgment

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1️⃣ The goal isn’t perfect numbers. It’s clarity and confidence that you can repeat consistently.
2️⃣ Patterns aren’t always in the graphs. Often, the real drivers are beneath the surface: fear of lows, stress, sleep, routines, and habits.
3️⃣ You don’t need to find every pattern. Pick one frustrating context, slow down, and build awareness one bite-sized step at a time.

WHAT’S NEXT:

💻Apply for 1:1 or group coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve with T1D.
📔Get the Diabetic Health Journal: A mindful approach to achieving your best A1C.

📧Join thousands of T1Ds reading our newsletter every Tuesday: T1D tips and encouragement, straight to your inbox.

Stay connected with us: 
Email us at: [email protected]   

IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise 

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode helped you feel less overwhelmed by your data, or gave you a clearer starting point for spotting patterns without burnout, subscribe and leave a review so more people with T1D can find this support.

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: [email protected]   

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: [email protected]   

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.