This week I'm very excited to announce the introduction of a new segment on Mastering Me:
One Moment - a series of mini interviews with uplifting Australian Type 1 Diabetics. Whether a professional athlete, author, scientist, or juggler,
One Moment is a quick look into the everyday ups and downs of fellow Type 1s across the nation and how they stay motivated to keep on track.
Even more exciting is that I get to kick the series off with Chris Williams, a pro cyclist with Team Novo Nordisk! Check out the interview below and if you, or some one you know, would be a great candidate for
One Moment please send me an email! I'd love to hear from you.
One Moment with Chris Williams
Vital
Stats
Name: Chris Williams
Age: 32
Years with Type 1 Diabetes? Just over 5 years, at the relatively late
age of 27.
Location: Originally from Brisbane but
currently living in Spain for the racing season.
Career: A High School Teacher in his previous life, Chris is now a professional cyclist for Team Novo Nordisk.
First Chris Shares his Diagnosis Story
'It was only after my diagnosis that I looked back and
realised that I had all of the symptoms of undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes; sudden
weight loss, mood swings, blurry vision, frequent toilet breaks, craving sugary
drinks etc etc. At the time, I didn’t really think anything of it. In fact,
lower body weight is generally conducive to being a better cyclist so I thought
I was actually doing well!
I had travelled to Victoria to participate in a bike race
and had considered myself to be in pretty good form. On stage 1, I could not
keep up and finished well behind the field.
I shrugged it off and put it down to the long travel. Then the next day,
the same thing happened. I struggled to complete the stage and collapsed at the
end of a climb with bad cramps, well after the rest of the field had finished.
I decided that I was probably a bit dehydrated and went to
the hospital to see if I could get a drip to put some fluid back into me. I
told the nurse how I had been feeling and after a few tests and questions, I
was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Of course, I went straight into denial and
asked for the tests to be done again, as something must have been wrong!'
What were the biggest
factors in your life to change now that you are a Type 1 Diabetic?
Before I was diagnosed, my life was always a bit spontaneous
and impulsive. I was always busy at work so I ate when I could fit in and often
just snacked during the day. My schedule was never locked in and things would
always ‘pop up’.
Now that I am a Type 1 Diabetic, I find that a regular
routine helps me better manage my blood sugar levels. Having a healthy diet and
regular meal schedule, regular exercise (not just when competing) and
constantly checking my blood sugar levels makes things a lot more predictable.
When something random is thrown into the mix such as travel or missing a meal,
it makes managing my blood sugar levels that little bit more difficult.
Did you have a role
model or sources of support who made an impression, mentored or helped you
with your initial diagnosis?
When I was diagnosed, I was told that I should stop cycling
for a few months and that endurance sport was a difficult combination with Type
1 diabetes. I was ready to quit the sport and in my mind I had already sold my
bike. Fortunately, I had some good friends and team mates with me that would
not let me quit and within a couple of days of leaving the hospital, they took
me for my first tentative ride. They helped me realise that although managing
type 1 diabetes can be hard work, you don’t have to drastically change the
things in your life to fit in with diabetes; diabetes can fit in with what you
choose to do! If my friends weren’t there, I would probably have stopped
cycling all together.
Have you always been
into living a healthy active lifestyle?
Unfortunately, no! During my teenage years I picked up some
bad habits and became an overweight smoker and did not do much exercise at all.
I relocated to Brisbane (from the small country town of Goondiwindi) to attend
University and one of my house mates was into triathlons. We sat in front of
the television one Saturday morning to watch a triathlon and as Australian
triathlete, Courtney Atkinson, emerged from the water, my girlfriend (now wife)
was quick to remark how 'fit' he was. I replied with, "I could do
that." Within a month, I had sold my car, quit smoking and bought my first
ever road bike. I had many ups and downs along the way but have not looked back
since.
What are your biggest
challenges?
My biggest challenge would have to be my sweet tooth.
Unfortunately, I enjoy cakes, chocolates and anything sweet a little too much.
As a person with Type 1 Diabetes, this is not ideal. As a professional cyclist,
it is also not ideal! On the bright side, denying myself of sweets and desserts
means that they are just that little bit sweeter when I do get to enjoy them.
Other than this, my other big challenge is the amount of
travel that we do, going from race to race. I am away from Australia for months
on end so I need to take enough medication and supplies with me to last the
entire time. On top of this, the constant changes in time zones can really mess
with my blood sugar levels so it keeps me on my toes.
What do you do when
life gets tough, or you need some extra kick to keep on track?
Just after I was diagnosed, I went to see my local doctor.
On my way into the consultation room, an elderly gentleman was exiting in a
wheel chair with only one leg. My doctor told me he had been diagnosed with
Type 1 Diabetes but refused to accept it. Poor management had meant that his
leg had to be amputated and it looked as though he may lose his other leg. From
that moment, I realised that managing my diabetes is simply something that I
have to do to live a normal, healthy life. If I choose not to keep my diabetes
in check, the consequences are dire, so the choice is simple. I need to
exercise regularly, eat healthy, measure my blood sugar levels regularly and of
course, take my medication when necessary. It’s not so different to the healthy
lifestyle that the general population is encouraged to follow! Whenever I need
motivation, I think about that moment. We only have one body and it is not
replaceable (well, most of it), so I would be foolish to not look after it as
best I can!
What words of encouragement would you like to share with fellow Type 1 Diabetics?
Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes is not the end of the
world, even though it may feel like it. A lot of people will try to tell you
all of the things that they think you shouldn’t/can’t do. Instead, focus on all
of the things that you CAN do. That list is definitely a lot longer! You will
find that you will continually add things to the ‘CAN’ list as well. I was told
that I shouldn’t ride a bike or do endurance sport and now I am a professional
cyclist!
A big thank you to Chris and Mindy for helping get One Moment off to a fantastic start!
Life has been getting a bit hard lately. The optimist and little helper in me doesn't want to admit that but realistically its true. And its taken me a while to accept that, and that it is also ok. It is ok to find life tough and admit that you need a bit of help, even if its just to be able to accept advice from others, or to step back and take a break. What's not ok with me is when life gets tough and diabetes takes a back seat, as we all know, that just makes life tougher!
