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.
Reclaim Your Rise: Type 1 Diabetes with Lauren Bongiorno
206. Why “I Have No Patterns” Is Keeping You Stuck With Type 1 Diabetes (ft. Kristin Paulsen)
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.
