Today we are hearing from Laurie Smith, a 2022 graduate from Risely’s T1D group coaching program. Laurie shares the harrowing details of her experience being hospitalized after brain surgery, from the hospitals' rigid insulin dosing protocols that ignored her personal needs, to her struggle for the proper care and advocacy in a system that wasn’t equipped to understand the nuances of T1D. This conversation highlights the critical importance of T1D education for healthcare professionals and the need for more advocacy within hospital settings. Her experience is a powerful reminder that when it comes to chronic conditions, there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach—and patients must be empowered to advocate for themselves. If you’re living with T1D or know someone who is, this episode is a must-listen.
Quick Takeaways:
- The importance of T1D education for ALL healthcare professionals
- Advocating for yourself and your diabetes in a hospital setting
- How to prepare for surgery and/or a hospital stay as a T1D
- What rigid hospital protocols can look like for people with type 1 diabetes
- Advice for somebody who feels overwhelmed by the prospect of managing their diabetes during a hospital stay
Timestamps:
- [00:00] Introduction & the years Laurie spent being improperly diagnosed
- [03:15] Why she was in the hospital to begin with
- [07:25] Blood sugar management pre and post-surgery
- [17:02] The mind-blowing confession she received from her nurses
- [18:20] Fighting for proper care: “This is not acceptable… I am my own life support system right now.”
- [23:35] Advice for somebody who finds themselves in a situation where they have to advocate for themselves with healthcare professionals
- [31:45] Changes that need to be made in hospitals approach to T1D care
Have you had a similar experience to Laurie? Share your story with us by sending us a DM on Instagram (@riselyhealth)
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.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.