Reclaim your Rise Podcast

123. PCOS, bandaid vs root cause health care, and how birth control impacts blood sugar

June 11, 2024

Elisabeth Didonato is a coach on the Risely team and a dietician with an extensive background in holistic health. In this episode, she’s sharing her personal and professional experience with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), PCOS + type one diabetes, inflammation, herbs and much more. If you’ve struggled with symptoms on (or getting off of) birth control or are trying to get to the root cause of your hormonal imbalances, this is a must-listen. 


Time Stamps:  

  • (04:01) Her T1D and PCOS diagnosis stories 
  • (06:16) Mental health & birth control 
  • (07:40) Her deep dive into integrative functional medicine
  • (09:02) Why is birth control used as a bandaid for PCOS?
  • (11:24) Discovering which form of PCOS she has 
  • (14:06) How the pill + PCOS influenced her T1D
  • (18:57) Insulin sensitivity throughout the 4 menstrual cycle phases
  • (21:18) “It took my body time to get here so it will take time to get back to where it’s supposed to be.”
  • (22:06) Getting off birth control + tips + resources 
  • (25:25) How Elisabeth has gotten back to balance
  • (27:23) Listening to your gut/intuition with nutrition 
  • (32:22) Different forms of hunger
  • (36:48) The unseen impact of stress on your period 
  • (39:05) 3 top herbs to support PCOS and hormonal rebalancing 
  • (43:35) Why people diss functional medicine
  • (45:51) The body is a whole 
  • (46:47) Listener question - testosterone and not bulking
  • (51:08) Cardio, exercise, and stress for symptom management 
  • (53:08) Gaining confidence to advocate for holistic medicine with your doctor


What to do now:

  1. Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop for when new episodes drop.
  2. The doors are open for Risely’s Group Coaching Program for T1D women. Apply now and talk to our team HERE.
  3. Learn more about TempMonitor HERE  Buy TempMonitor 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. 

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