T1D ATHLETES – EMPOWER T1D’S TO PLAY SPORTS AND LIVE ACTIVE LIVES

ALEX HESS

My name is Alex Hess, I am 16 years old and have had type one diabetes for 12 years. The one thing my parents told me from the day I was diagnosed was that we would never stop type one from holding me down. During the lockdowns of COVID, I started running for fun and for exercise, it went on and off for a while, until one day in 2021 I decided I wanted to train for and run a half marathon. Learning how to run longer distances while managing type one was very difficult. Both keeping my blood sugar from going low and from going high during my longer runs was not easy, managing carb and insulin intake while running was very hard. Despite that, I finished my first half marathon in November of 2021. At that point, running was a passion, and I refused to let Type One prevent me from doing it. I ran another half marathon in February of 2022 and PR'd by a half hour. After a few weeks of an 'off season', I began training for my first full 26.2 mile marathon in May of this year. I did a 20 week training program, and while managing blood sugars was easier at first, once I started doing 20+ mile long runs regularly, it became a whole different story. You might not guess it, but running that long would frequently cause my blood sugar to spike, probably due to a combination of stress hormones and energy gels. Even after I was done running, it was a challenge to ensure my blood sugar was stable. Despite all the challenges, I ran my first full marathon in September, and finished the 26.2 mile distance in 4:33:32. The most important part of being an athlete with Type One isn't making sure your blood sugars are perfect all the time, it is about refusing to allow the disease to hold you down from what you want to accomplish. Even if managing blood sugars is stressful, which I know from experience it can be, it should not be what defines you.

EMERSON WEIS

My name is Emerson. I am 8 years old and I have had T1D for 5 years. I play soccer for the Broomfield Soccer Club 2014 Girls Premier team. I love soccer and I work really hard to not let diabetes hold me back from scoring goals, being a good teammate, and going beast mode on anyone defending me. Before soccer games, I have to be very smart about what I eat for breakfast to make sure my sugar isn't high. I normally eat eggs, yogurt, or sausage, and a few carbs. I also keep Gatorade in my soccer bag during games in case my sugar starts to go low. My mom and I have a secret code where she makes a hand signal from the side lines if my sugar is going low. Even though I have told my classmates about my diabetes, I was a little nervous to tell my teammates. But once I did, I felt relieved and calm. They are so supportive, they tell me how strong I am, and they want to help me stay healthy so I can play my best. I want everyone to know you can play any sport, be great at it, and play at the Olympics or World Cup if you want to, with T1D!

People with T1D can’t exercise? I wish they had told me that before winning 6 Olympic medals with T1D. Oh, wait. They did. Or something along those lines. Then I went out and became the fastest swimmer in the world, winning the gold medal (and title) in back to back Olympic Games.

For National Diabetes Awareness month I was asked to write a blog on diabetes myths, specifically the one: Type 1’s can’t exercise.

There are so many incredible athletes with T1D. So many have proven that those living with diabetes can exercise and compete at the highest levels of sport, and even be the best in the world.

…I’ve always been a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. And rest my case.

MATTI LEVA

My name is Matti, and I’m a competitive dancer with Revolution Dance Academy. I’m 12 years old, live in Colorado Springs, CO and was diagnosed with T1D a little over a year ago. I’ve been a competitive dancer for five years, and I take 11 classes each week – and I am an apprentice teacher for one as well! My classes range from ballet and jazz to acro and hip hop (my favorites).

When I was diagnosed, I was really worried that I wouldn’t be able to continue dancing. The staff at the Barbara Davis Center reassured me that I’d still be able to dance, but that I’d just have to do things a little bit differently. Some of the things that I have to think about in a different way now include making sure that my sugar is at the right level before I arrive for class; having snacks for lows on hand and drinking plenty of water. I check my levels frequently throughout class to make sure I’m not too low or too high using my Dexcom, which helps me stay on top of things. My family and I also met with the studio owner, Miss Toni, and went over my doctor’s plan for treating highs and lows, and together we agreed on what would work best for my specific schedule. My teachers are aware and know what to look for, and so are some of my fellow dancers.

One of the things that I have to pay closer attention to now is that my activity level changes from class to class. Ballet and lyrical aren’t quite as physically demanding as acro or hip hop, so I may need to prepare for these classes differently. I’m actually doing a science project for the school science fair that will help me explain how the different types of dance classes affect my numbers personally. I’m taking notes on what I eat beforehand, what my levels are before and after each class, and whether I had to treat a high or low along the way. When my project is done, I’ll have a better understanding of how my classes affect me, and hopefully I’ll be able to use that information to spread awareness and manage my personal journey a little bit better.

I’m looking forward to competing this season. Competition season starts in February, and runs through March. This year, I’ll be competing in 4 different events, and dancing a total of 10 dances at each event, including a solo and two duets. Those weekends are really busy, exciting and challenging – and every one of those things may affect my blood sugar. On competition days, I’ll need to pay extra attention to my numbers, how much rest I get, hydration and lots more. I’m grateful to have my Dexcom to help me through those types of things. T1D won't stop me from going and doing my best, and representing my studio with pride. 17

My name is Olivia. I am 14 years old and I love sports. Throughout my life, I have played basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, competed in gymnastics, skied, rock climbed, and even had a ballet career, though that one didn’t last long. When I was 10 years old, I was hospitalized with DKA and diagnosed with Type One Diabetes in the middle of the Colorado ski season. I had been on the mountain with my ski group just days before my diagnosis and got back on the slopes the same week I was released from the hospital. Though my confidence had been shaken, I went with my dad and skied again. Sports were the first thing I returned to after my diagnosis, even before going back to school. Skiing that day with my Dad taught me that although my life would never be the same, I could still do everything I did before, except make insulin of course. My doctors immediately got me set up with the Dexcom G6 blood glucose monitoring system, so that I could run, play soccer, and fly down the mountain again, and with just a glance at my receiver I would know what my sugar was. Now, cross country running is my main focus. I just completed my first high school varsity season. My cross country journey didn’t start until after my diagnosis, so diabetes has pretty much always been a part of my runs. Both of my parents are runners, but running with T1D is a whole different story. It took a lot of trial and error. Running typically makes my sugar drop pretty fast because I am using a lot of energy. However, the list of things that impact my blood sugar is infinite. Stress, excitement, weather and hydration are just a few things that can make me go high or low. You can never do the exact same thing twice and get the same result. It’s a constant battle, from day to day trying to figure out what to set my basal rates to, and how many free carbs to have before the run. For the most part, I have found that going into exercise mode on my T:slim x2 insulin pump about an hour before I start, eating a 15 carb Protein bar and small piece of fruit about a half hour before running is helpful for keeping my sugars in range. I check my blood sugar via my pump once in a while while running. For training, I run with a small sports backpack that has my glucometer and low snacks. For races I stuff my pockets with candy. Being an athlete with Type 1 Diabetes is an extra challenge that sometimes makes me feel like I should have different standards than everyone else. However, the reality is that all runners and all athletes have to take care of their bodies in their own ways. When we do this on an individual level, we can train at our own pace, set out limits, and then push those limits together, no matter our pancreatic function. Despite its challenges, running with Type One Diabetes is also very rewarding. Running is a hard sport, it’s as equally physical as it is mental. Diabetes adds a whole other level and I think diabetic runners can connect with each other on a deeper scale. In one of my first races of the season, another runner came up from behind me and exclaimed “Diabuddies!” We bumped CGMs and ended up running the rest of the race together. Moments like this show me why I run; playing sports has given me so much strength and confidence that I think is crucial to diabetes management. Sports bring me joy, while teaching me discipline. I could not be happier with my team. So now I would like to give a huge shout out to DSST: Byer’s High School Cross Country Team!! I am so blessed to have been welcomed onto the team this year. You all have pushed me to be my best runner and our team culture is truly special. Thank you so much for a genuinely incredible season!! I would also like to thank my parents for all of their support, coaching me through diabetes 24/7, I could not be more grateful. With that, thank you to everyone who took the time to read this- have a great day and a very special diabetes awareness month!!