Type One diabetes and the bike: WHEN A NEEDLE MEANS LIFE
THERE ARE PLENTY OF RIDERS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY eating and drinking while on the bike, especially under fast or hilly race conditions. But imagine being in an event, pedaling and breathing hard as you try to keep up with the peloton, injecting yourself with life-saving medication.
That is the reality for members of the professional road race team, Team Novo Nordisk, as well as any number of club level riders, like Sydney’s Rob Russell. All Type One diabetics, they rely on insulin to keep them alive and well. But they don’t let having diabetes stop them from living normal lives – even when their “normal” means bike racing!
Not only do they take their insulin injections in their stride, but also regular blood sugar finger prick testing – although this has been made easier in recent years by modern technology that constantly monitors their sugar levels and lets them know when they need insulin without finger prick tests.
One step further is technology which actually administers insulin to the riders when
