D-Mom Blog

The sweet life with a diabetic child

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D-Kid Interviews IndyCar Driver Charlie Kimball

D-Kid BlogSummary: Charlie Kimball is an IndyCar racer who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 22. I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about racing and diabetes. Read about his diagnosis, what he does when he goes low during a race, and what it’s like to be an Indy driver with diabetes.

My Interview with Charlie Kimball

D-Kid: How were you diagnosed?

CK: While racing in Europe in 2007, I went to the doctor for a routine exam for an unrelated skin rash. During the examination, I mentioned I had been very dehydrated, drinking 7 to 8 bottles of water every night. The doctor put me on the scale, and it turns out I had lost 25 pounds in the week leading up to the doctor’s visit. After a few tests, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. At first I was overwhelmed as I had little understanding of the disease. I decided to put my racing career on hold. After working closely with my doctor to find a treatment plan that kept my diabetes under control on and off the track, I was back in my race car 6 weeks later and even earned a podium finish. Fast forward to late 2010, after a few years in a development series, Novo Nordisk announced that they were sponsoring me as a new entry in the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR® Series, now called the Verizon IndyCar Series. This made me the first licensed driver with type 1 diabetes in the history of IndyCar. Through my partnership with Novo Nordisk, I’m fortunate to travel to events such as CWD Friends For Live to encourage others to manage their diabetes while also pursuing their goals.

D-Kid: What is a day in your life with diabetes like?

CK: Having type 1 diabetes is a full time, 24/7 job. From the moment I wake up, I am aware that I need to make adjustments throughout my day to make sure I am healthy and safe. At the same time, today there are so many great tools and resources available to help me live a normal life—even if it’s a life at 200 miles per hour!

D-Kid: Do you like using a continuous glucose monitor?

CK: The continuous glucose monitor is a great tool for my needs, particularly when I’m in the race car to make sure my body stays on track. I wear a sensor on my body that transmits to a receiver plugged into the car’s data system, so right there on my steering wheel I have speed, lap time, oil pressure, blood sugar and water temperature – my car and body data right there together.

D-Kid: What is being an IndyCar driver like with diabetes?

CK: I honestly think I’m a better athlete because of diabetes rather than despite it because I’m more conscientious about my nutrition, my physical training and my health. I do a better job at managing my health than I ever have before.

Charlie Kimball

Verizon IndyCar Series
Kohler Grand Prix
Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI USA
Saturday 24 June 2017
Charlie Kimball, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams Honda
World Copyright: Geoffrey M. Miller
LAT Images

D-Kid: How do you keep from going low or high during a race?

CK: On race day, my diabetes management begins first thing in the morning. From the second I get up, I’m checking my blood sugar, and then I take Tresiba, a once-daily, long-acting basal insulin that is approved for blood sugar control in adults and children one-year and older with diabetes. Tresiba has a long duration of action that allows people to take it once a day at any time. This is perfect for my racing travel schedule and active lifestyle.

I make sure to manage my food intake all day to stay healthy, which includes monitoring my carbohydrates, proteins, fats and hydration. The last thing I do before I get behind the wheel is check my blood sugar. If all goes as planned, when I’m in the car, all I have to do is focus on driving.

To be on the safe side, I have worked with my team on precautionary measures for managing my diabetes while driving to ensure that I am safe every lap of the race. My pit crew is trained to know what to look out for, but I also monitor my blood sugar continuously through the CGM. I have a specialized helmet system with two drink tubes, one for orange juice if my blood sugar gets too low and one for water to keep me hydrated. I can do all of this without even taking my hands off the steering wheel – which is critical because there are no time-outs in racing. The inside front tire changer on my pit crew has also been trained to give me an insulin injection through my racing suit, if needed.

About Charlie Kimball

(From Novo Nordisk:)

Charlie Kimball was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 22 when he was already established in his professional motorsports career. Since his diagnosis 10 years ago, he has continued to race at higher levels while working to increase diabetes awareness and education.

Charlie currently races in the Verizon IndyCar Series, recently competing in his seventh Indianapolis 500. He wears a wireless blood glucose monitor during races which can be monitored by the pit crew, and carries sugar water in case his levels dip. Born in England and raised in California, he and his wife Kathleen currently live in Indianapolis.

Read more posts about Charlie Kimball, athletes, and celebrities. You can also read more interviews and posts written by D-Kid Blog.

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D-Kid Interviews Country Singer RaeLynn

D-Kid BlogSummary: RaeLynn is an American country singer who was diagnosed with type one diabetes when she was 12. I had the opportunity to interview her. Read about when she was diagnosed, what a day in her life is like, what it’s like being a singer with diabetes, and what she does to keep from being low on stage.

RaeLynn

My Interview with RaeLynn

D-Kid: How were you diagnosed?

RaeLynn: When I was about 12 years old, my mom and I would travel from our home in Texas to Nashville to help my cousin work on his record album. I would always need to frequently use the restroom on these trips, and at the time, I was also losing a lot of weight, which my family thought was normal for a pre-teen.

After one of those drives I really wasn’t feeling well, and at first we thought it was the flu. My mom rushed me to the emergency room, and we found out I was in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). After getting my blood sugar tested, my doctors quickly treated me. My high blood sugar level combined with my other symptoms of frequent urination and weight loss, as well as other blood tests confirmed the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

After that, I was moved to Texas Children’s Hospital for 2 weeks. The staff at Texas Children’s was amazing! They taught me and my family so much about how to live with and manage type 1 diabetes. Most importantly, I learned I can lead a healthy and normal life, which I am so grateful for to this day.

D-Kid: What is a day in your life with diabetes like?

RaeLynn: At first I had to learn how to adjust as I went. It was initially hard to make the required changes to my diet and meal regimen, but it eventually became second nature for me. During my teenage years, I faltered a bit. I wasn’t checking my blood sugar enough, didn’t take care of myself, and was always tired. My doctor told me, “You only have 1 body, and you need to take care of it,” which really hit home for me. From then on, I stayed focused on my diabetes management.

Today, I take NovoLog insulin pump, a fast-acting insulin, at mealtime following my health care team’s advice to help control my blood sugar levels, whether I’m at home or on the road.

D-Kid: What is being a singer with diabetes like?

RaeLynn: My singing career is a huge motivator for me. I work hard to manage my diabetes, and I am so thankful my doctor created a diabetes care plan that is customized to my lifestyle. It has helped me stay healthy, which means I can continue to travel, record, and perform.

My treatment plan has helped teach me how to live a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. My blood sugar numbers are under control. It may sound odd to some, but I actually don’t resent the fact that I was diagnosed with diabetes. Today, I use my role as a diabetes patient advocate to teach people with diabetes that it shouldn’t hinder them from following their dreams. I am living proof that this can happen. I am proud to partner with Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, to show that diabetes management can be integrated into daily life.

D-Kid: What do you do to keep yourself from going high or low when on stage?

RaeLynn: I always check my sugar before I go on stage! If I remember to do that I don’t worry and so far I haven’t had a scare! In addition to my basal insulin, I take NovoLog to help control my blood sugar levels – whether I’m at home or on the road. I also have a diabetic alert dog, a German Shepperd named Jazz, who I absolutely love and is trained alert me in advance of low or high blood sugar events so that I can treat myself as needed. Jazz travels with me everywhere – including on tour!

About RaeLynn

(From Novo Nordisk:)

RaeLynn is an American country singer and songwriter who made a name for herself after finishing third on the second season of The Voice back in 2012. RaeLynn was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 12. Since her diagnosis, she has worked hard to manage her diabetes by watching her diet, exercising and checking her blood sugar regularly. RaeLynn is grateful her diagnosis has taught her how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Today, at age 23, RaeLynn is a successful country singer and a newly minted military wife. She recently released a new album titled Wild Horse, which topped Billboard‘s Country Albums chart in its first week, and has been touring since, most recently alongside her The Voice mentor Blake Shelton.

Read More From D-Kid Blog

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D-Kid Blog: Interview With Musician Crystal Bowersox

D-Kid Blog

D-Kid BlogCrystal Bowersox is a singer songwriter from Nashville. She visited diabetes camps over this past summer. I had the opportunity to interview her. Crystal answers questions like if diabetes ever gets in the way of performing and what a day in her life is like.

-Q

“Ever wonder what a day at diabetes camp is like? Come along with Nashville recording artist and Lilly Diabetes ambassador, Crystal Bowersox, as she visits her hometown diabetes camp in Sylvania, Ohio. The expressions on the kids’ faces tell it all.”


(Email and feed subscribers click over for embedded video.)

My Interview With Crystal

D-Kid: Does diabetes ever get in the way of performing?

CB: Not completely. My blood sugar definitely affects the quality of my performance, which is why it’s important to maintain good control before hand. I aim to start any show at a stable 120. Naturally, the adrenaline rush raises my glucose level, and typically falls back to my target range after the show. I’ve had a low on stage before, which I used as an opportunity to talk to my audience about Type 1 Diabetes while I waited for my blood sugar to rise. T1D presents a challenge sometimes, but will never stand in the way.

D-Kid: Do you know anyone else with diabetes?

CB: I sure do!! Many, many people. I’ve met so many amazing people living with T1D – we’re all in the family.

D-Kid: How were you diagnosed?

CB: I was in second grade. I had the usual suspect symptoms – frequent urination, extreme thirst, weight loss. My doctor ran lots of different tests, but it wasn’t until he tested my blood sugar that we knew.

D-Kid: Do you have any other interests other than being a singer/songwriter.

CB: I love to cook, Kayak, hike, camp, rock climb, knit, garden, draw… and learn new things every day!!

D-Kid: What is a day in your life with diabetes like?

CB: Depends on the day, and where I am in the world! When I’m at home, my routine is easier, more predictable. I like to wake up early and check my CGM first thing. I’ll have some coffee with a light breakfast, and bolus accordingly. My 8 year old son, Tony, keeps me pretty busy throughout the day, so wherever we go, my pump, CGM, and a snack are always with me. I try to eat healthy, and get some form of exercise every day. Yoga is one of my favorite ways to do that.

On tour, things can get a bit hectic! Long drives from city to city, late hours after shows… it takes a little more effort on the road to make sure that I am eating well, sleeping well, and monitoring and correcting as I go, but it is worth it to do what I love for a living!

About Crystal Bowersox

From Lilly Diabetes:

A northwest Ohio native and Nashville resident, singer/songwriter Crystal Bowersox, 30, has been performing for audiences since the age of 10. Her soulful, stirring approach to American music has been met with critical acclaim. Crystal has been described as possessing a voice “incapable of artifice” by the Washington Post, and as “having a keen, finely honed pop instinct all her own” by the New York Times. With collaborations that include legendary talent such as the late Joe Cocker and B.B. King, Alanis Morissette, Jakob Dylan, John Popper of Blues Traveler, Melissa Etheridge, and many more, it is clear that her vocal prowess is recognized and respected among her peers.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 6, Crystal Bowersox understands what it’s like to be a child with diabetes. As an adult, she actively advocates for diabetes awareness. “It’s a lonely disease as a kid, sometimes you feel like you’re the only one,” she says. “I want people to know they are not alone. I am happy to be a voice for people with type 1 diabetes. It brings joy to my world to be able to help.” When away from touring and recording, Crystal visits diabetes summer camps on behalf of Lilly Diabetes to share her story and to serve as an example that, with proper diabetes management, dreams can come true.

Crystal’s new live album, Alive, is now available on iTunes® and Amazon. For more information visit www.crystalbowersox.com. And, follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @crystalbowersox.

About D-Kid Q

D-Kid BlogQ was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 3. Her management tools include an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). She was a 2015 delegate to the JDRF Children’s Congress. She’s active in local musical theatre and film, loves all things Marvel and DC, and enjoys sewing and drawing. Read more D-Kid Blog posts written by Q.