Admittedly, I’m a bit tardy here in publishing the final installment of my Winter Olympics conversations with cross-country skier Kris Freeman. He has type 1 diabetes and was America’s best hope for a medal in his sport in Vancouver this year — but alas, things did not go well for Kris this time around. He suffered a BG low in the 15k, his best event; fell far behind in the 30k; and ended up dropping out of the 50k last Sunday, as the Olympics came to a close.
I spoke to him on the phone that day, as his driver tried to navigate his way to the airport through throngs of reveling Olympians.
DM) Kris, if there were ever a time when you felt cursed by diabetes, I guess it would be now….?
KF) My whole thing is that you can do anything with diabetes, but sometimes it is harder.
This week one of my races was affected by diabetes, but it’s hard to say how much the others affected by it. I have very little answers about what went wrong right now. I was sitting with my coach for last couple of hours talking it over…
Having diabetes definitely throws another variable in there, but it’s a challenge I’m going to continue to tackle.
It must be really difficult to tell where diabetes issues leave off and other barriers to optimal performance kick in?
Well, (on Sunday) I didn’t have any diabetes issues at all. I just felt like I was running on empty.
I don’t have any regrets about finishing the (15k) race after that low, but I haven’t been feeling the same since.
I’ve been ski racing with diabetes for the last 10 years, and I’ve had the most media attention ever in the last two weeks. And it was the worst time of my career. That’s unfortunate, because that’s not the message I want to send out there — that diabetes makes it impossible.
I messed up my blood glucose once and other than that, I was just flat and bad.
You’ve said you didn’t want a “DNF” (did not finish) in the Olympics, but you didn’t complete the final 50k race on Sunday. What happened?
The reason I stopped that race was not that I couldn’t continue. It was just clear at the halfway point that the chances of scoring a medal were gone, and competing for nothing just made no sense. I felt out of shape — and I was emotionally and physically drained.
What’s next for you then?
My coach and I decided it’s best if I go home now, rather than going on to the World Cup event in Finland. This week has been exhausting. The last three races were so far off the mark for me, we don’t see any point in my continuing right now.
I will go to US Nationals in Maine at the end of March; I believe I can turn the corner and get back into shape by then.
I got a cold after the last race. I feel I’m susceptible to illness at the moment. And I’m not in the best frame of mind right now. Just going home and getting back in shape is best — sleeping in my own bed.
Still, it must have been the experience of a lifetime. What was it like just being in the Olympics?
The organization was great. The Olympic Village was great. It’s always amazing to be around the top athletes from around the world — always a good atmosphere. I just wish I could have added a little more to it.
But Gary Hall Jr. (Olympic swimmer with type 1 diabetes) says the food choices there are especially challenging for diabetics…?
This time around the food was quite good. Anyway I’m used to having to make careful choices with my food. But that was definitely an issue for me in Torino.
It’s always a little frustrating because I’m around hundreds of athletes who’re hungry and don’t have to think a thing of it. They can down a quart of Gatorade all at once and not think twice.
What are some of the particular challenges of being diabetic and training with other athletes who are not?
It is a much different deal. Sometimes I do look over at my teammates with envy when we finish a workout and they whip out a Power Bar and a quart of Gatorade and down that in about three minutes. That’s about 115 carbs right there, and I just can’t do it that way.
What’s really hard is when we’re on the road. The hardest thing is balancing food and insulin needs between racing as hard as I can for 2 days then sitting on airplane going to our next event. The levels of activity are so different and my insulin needs change so rapidly.
Will you be employing some new D-tools when you get racing again later this month?
I realized that most of my training and most of my data is built around the 15k race – which was by far the most disappointing I had here. We’re gonna work up some new tests, and I’ll get my hands on a CGM as soon as possible and use that as best as possible.
What about connecting with other diabetic athletes — like competitive cyclists and triathletes — to share CGM strategies?
I’m open to anything at this point. It really depends on the level at which they’re competing; it’s not just about finishing a race. I want to lead and win races.
So was switching to the OmniPod pump a good choice for you?
Pumping is definitely an easier way of controlling your glucose levels, just because of being able to change the basal rates at any time.
I definitely feel like at this point that I haven’t learned how to use it properly in the 30k and 50k events.
If I made a mistake it was that once I had the 15k figured out, I thought it would just be a variation of that. But twice the distance really changes your insulin needs.
And the Pod stays on without any trouble?
Yes. I always shave the area that I put it on to maximize adhesion. I also always thoroughly alcohol the area to remove any body oils.
I wear it on my chest sometimes, on my upper pecks. I haven’t noticed any differences in absorption between my arms and chest.
You should know that you’re still an inspiration to all of us with diabetes! You should feel good about your efforts…
I do feel good about it, but I try never to think about myself as a ‘diabetic’ person. I don’t ever like to think, ‘I’m doing OK for a diabetic.’
Diabetes is part of who I am, but it’s not the way I identify myself. I have very little doubt that I’ll be back at the Olympics in four years, and I’ll have that much more information next time around.
Will you continue to act as a Goodwill Ambassador for Eli Lilly?
I’d very much like to continue the relationship with Lilly. I love that they send me to diabetes summer camps. They put me in a position to make a difference.
And you use their products?
I’ve been using Humalog insulin for 10 years and I have no plans to change at this point.
I know this is a tough moment for you. Do you have anything special to say to the diabetes community?
I just want to reiterate that having a top result in cross-country skiing involves so many variables, and diabetes is just one of them. I’m not blaming that at all. Other things went awry. Sometimes you do your best and it still just doesn’t happen — and that’s what happened this week.
Thank you again being so candid, Kris. We hope you do know that you truly are an inspiration to PWDs all over this country, and beyond.
We are so proud of Kris Freeman and his accomplishments of just being in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Our staff had been wondering his post-thoughts after disappointing results. It’s good to know that he’s not going to give up and so glad that he’s going to work through this to make himself better for future races and 2014 Olympics. Appreciate your great interview with him and asking all the tough questions that we were asking ourselves after following him during those races. I can understand that the nomination is wonderful for him but to win is the goal. He is definitely a winner with us as well as a role model for Type 1 children. Thank You!
Although I know Kris felt disappointed by the results, I think he’s the epitome of a true olympian – pushing beyond limits and even when things don’t go well, he continues to push forward. Thank you. This is a really inspiring interview and I am grateful to Kris for his perseverance, dedication and commitment. He sets a very very fine example. This was a fantastic interview.
I am so glad that we learned about Kris Freeman and were able to follow him through these Olympics. Kris, you have such an amazing determination and perspective. I soak up your words like a sponge. To say that your story is inspirational really does not capture the impact that it has for us – it’s so much more than that. I look forward to following you through future events. Best of luck to you Kris! (Good luck with the CGM. I think you will be pleased.)
[...] my BS through these runs with no high or lows. This may not insure that all goes well on race day (just look at Kris Freeman’s 30K catastrophe) but it is key to having a chance of a good [...]
I’m really glad you posted this final interview with Kris. I’ve been waiting for it. I hope Kris will speak with some of the folks at the DESA (Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association,) if he hasn’t already done so. This organization used to be called the IDAA (International Diabetic Athletes’ Association,) and I used to volunteer when they had diabetic runners in the New York City Marathon. Unfortunately, so far as I know, they no longer allow diabetic runners (Type I’s) in that race. I recall one time, when I was at a post, outfitted with glucose tablets, juice boxes and a blood glucose meter (with LOTS of strips and fresh lancets – don’t worry!) A guy came and tested his BG. It was somewhere around 60, and he had at least a mile more to run. He was semi-coherent, and we gave him juice or glucose tabs, and I begged him to drink more juice and wait till his BG rose before continuing the race. Another guy at the booth with me told me we must not “force feed” anyone. Well, this guy finished the race, and passed out in convulsions from a low at the finish line. I think that was the beginning of the end for Type I diabetic runners in the New York City marathon! Perhaps, if the CGMS can really accurately spot lows during blood glucose episodes when BG’s are dropping PRECIPITOUSLY, athletes like Kris will benefit from them. In any case, I am so proud of what Kris has accomplished for all of us with Type I. That he even qualified for the Olympics is amazing. I hope he is proud of himself!
Thanks again to Amy & Kris – it is really enlightening for me to see that even an olympic athlete fights the same fights us average folk do around exercise with diabetes.
I totally cannot picture an omnipod on his CHEST?!
I really appreciate Kris’ thoughts. I also try to never think of myself as a “diabetic” person. My A1c should be the same as a that of a person without diabetes and I should be able to finish medical school and move forward with my career just as a non-insulin dependent person would. I have to take care of my diabetes on a day to day basis, but I don’t lower my goals to accomodate it. That mindset really pushes me to do better, maintain ultra-tight control, and avoid making excuses, and I’m glad I’m not alone in feeling this way.
Re: June S
The New York City Marathon does allow type 1 runners. I know of many type 1′s who have finished the NYC marathon without incident (including 2009 and at other national marathons).
I’m waiting on my lottery number to get called this year so I can run the NYC Marathon as a type 1.
RE: Lauren K. and “ultra-tight control.” I applaud Lauren in her pursuit of a medical career. We need more physicians who (themselves) have Type I diabetes, in the same way as it would be nice to have more Type I diabetic athletes involved in the Olympics. As a Type I for close to 38 years, I just hope that Lauren has a fantastic CGM. Ultra-tight control sounds great, in theory, and with an excellent CGM and absolutely no faulty sensors perhaps it can be a possibility. I just happen, in my own experience, to feel lucky to be alive after trying to maintain TOO tight control for a few years. I even know a physician with Type I who told me she gave up on trying to keep her BG between 80 and 120 all the time, after ending up in an ambulance three times with a severe hypoglycemic episode. Another physician I once knew, now long deceased, was so intent on preventing HYPERglycemia that he died of HYPOglycemia. A word to the wise. We can try to have blood glucose levels as normal as those of a non-diabetic, but at the end of the day we are still diabetic, and will be until a cure is found!
Way to go Kris! You’ve inspired me (Type 1) with my new pod. I wish you continued success and hope to hear something great in the near future!!!
Kris you are an insperation! My daughter has T1D and she is almost 5 years old. She was diagnosed 15 months ago, at that time I thought everything was over for her. She would forever be tied down so to speak. It took a while to realize that she wont live her life around diabetes, that diabetes will have to live around her. You are just living proof that she will do whatever she wants to in life and can achieve anything! Thank you!
Good Luck with your training and I hope the best for your future races!!!
Kristy Lariviere ~ Mom to a beautiful type 1 diabetic girl!