We’ve talked to all sorts of athletes over the years, from skiers to swimmers to football players. But today, we are introducing our first-ever BMX racer! Matt Neal is 30 years old and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just a few years ago at age 28. Despite his fairly recent diagnosis, Matt isn’t letting diabetes slow him down. For those who are as unfamiliar with the sport as we are, BMX is short for…
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The topic for this month’s DSMA (Diabetes Social Media Advocacy) blog carnival is all about exercise, which made us laugh. That’s because Allison and I are polar opposites on this topic: we’re two type 1 pumpers who view physical activity as penance and party time, respectively. I wonder which camp most of you are in — or hopefully someplace inbetween…?
Allison and Exercise:
I’m just gonna come out and say it: I hate exercising. It feels…
I’ve interviewed athletes, musicians, artists, and even acrobats with type 1 diabetes. But Nat Strand “takes the cake,” if you’ll excuse the expression. She’s a 31-year-old anesthesiologist who, along with fellow doctor and friend Kat Chang, won the 2010 reality TV Amazing Race competition, which challenges two-person teams to race across the globe in a frenzied international scavenger hunt with just one backpack each and very little money. Contestants travel by bus, hot air balloon…
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People with diabetes have to combat a myriad of myths and misconceptions. Among the most prevalent is the idea that people with type 2 diabetes are “fat and lazy” individuals who “brought it on themselves.” While obesity and lifestyle can certainly contribute to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, it is by no means a catch-all requirement.
That’s why the story of John Anderson, a life-long athlete with type 2 diabetes, is so intriguing. John is…
* Part 3 of a three-part guest series on Diabetes & Exercise*
Diagnosed with Type 1 nine years ago, David Weingard has committed himself to “navigating the challenges of this condition for my health and for the benefit of my family.” He’s a veteran of numerous running events and triathlons (including the infamous Ironman). He’s also committed to supporting the diabetes community by sharing what he’s learned — so much so that he dropped his…