TeamNovoNordisk Rider interviews

KEVIN DE MESMAEKER

1. What does your morning include before a race? What do you eat for breakfast all the way until race start?
I wake up and immediately check my blood sugar. Then I take my medication and usually go to breakfast. At breakfast, I like to eat oatmeal if it is available, sometimes mixed with some fruits or cereals, but I never eat pasta or rice like some professional cyclists. I always drink lots of coffee. When I eat again depends on my blood sugar, but usually about 3 hours before the race start I’ll have something more. No matter what, my blood sugar always decides if I need to eat more. Sometimes I may need to eat something to ensure I’m my blood glucose is in my target range before I begin a race.

 

2. How do you manage your diabetes during a race? (Explain CGM and what you do to avoid high/low)
All the riders wear a constant glucose monitor (CGM ) and thanks to that device, I can manage my blood sugar while racing. The device has two pieces: one that is inserted under my skin that sends a signal to the second piece – a wireless device that I keep in back pocket. The device tells me my body glucose levels and also tells me if I’m trending up or down. I check the device every 30 minutes or so during a race and adjust accordingly in order to stay in my target range. If I’m above target, I may take some medication and if I’m below target, I eat or drink something.

 

3. What do you do in the hours following a race to recover? What do you eat/drink?
Sometimes, I’ll drink a protein shake. I shower as quickly as possible and then we usually ride on the bus back to the hotel. If it is a long transfer, we may eat some food (rice or panini) made by the soigneurs. Once we get to the hotel, we might eat something again and then have massage. If it is a stage race, I usually try to have my carbohydrates right after the race because that helps me maintain a stable blood sugar. Then at dinner, I focus on lots of protein and vegetables.

4. How are race days different from training days? Do you eat/drink differently?
Race days are very different from training days because of when I ride. When I’m at home, I ride in the morning and during a race, we typically eat breakfast several hours before the race starts. When I’m at home, I think I eat more frequently but smaller meals. When I’m at a race, I eat less frequently but they tend to be bigger.

5. What led to your diabetes diagnosis? How did you handle it mentally?
I lost 10 kg in three weeks. I had the normal symptoms: increased urination and increased thirst. I was drinking 10 liters of water a day. I looked on the Internet and saw that my symptoms looked the same as those for diabetes so we went to the doctor. He did a urine sample and it came back showing that I had diabetes. For me, I think it was easier than it was for my parents. I still felt like the same person. Except for the symptoms and the need for medication, I still felt like me. I still wanted to be a bike racer. It was definitely a bigger shock for my family than for me. I never lost my motivation and now I’m part of the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, showing the world what may be possible with diabetes.

BEN DILLEY

1. What does your morning include before a race? What do you eat for breakfast all the way until race start?
I have a pretty routine schedule I follow on the morning before a race. Breakfast is always the first thing on the list. My go-to pre-race breakfast is oatmeal, typically with some nuts, dried fruit, and a banana. I love to add cinnamon and maple syrup for some extra flavor, sometimes a spoonful of peanut butter as well. For me, that meal is exactly what I need for a long day on the bike. After breakfast, it’s time to prepare for the start and get ready to go. I make sure that I’m checking my blood sugar very frequently so that I am in my optimal range for the start of the race.

2. How do you manage your diabetes during a race? (Explain CGM and what you do to avoid high/low)
During the race, we have to make sure we are staying hydrated and on top of our nutrition, just like every other professional cyclist. As athletes with diabetes, we also have the extra element of keeping our blood sugar levels at an optimal level during the race. We use Continuous Glucose Monitors to get real-time glucose read outs so that we can know how our blood glucose levels are trending during the race. Based on that read out, and the personal game plan I have developed with our fantastic team of nurses and doctors, I can make adjustments with food or insulin to make sure my glucose stays in that optimal level so I can perform my best.

3. What do you do in the hours following a race to recover? What do you eat/drink?
Recovery is crucial to making sure we can perform our best, day in and day out. Refueling after a long stage on the bike is critical. Our team staff is outstanding in this department, making sure we have our recovery meal and shake prepared and ready to go as soon as we finish the stage. Once we have eaten and showered, each rider receives a massage to work out our tired legs and make sure we are ready to go for the next day. Rest and sleep is also a crucial element to recovery, most riders observe an early bed time to make sure their body is fully rested for the race the next day.

4. How are race days different from training days different? Do you eat/drink differently?
Race days and training days have some specific differences, but in most regards, they are very similar. My game plan I use to manage my diabetes is almost exactly the same for training and race days. Nutritionally, we keep most of the same practices for race days that we use for training days. The idea is that if you train like you would race, then come race day you will be completely prepared and ready to go. On race day, we put everything we have been training for into executing the team plan and competing for the win.

5. What led to your diabetes diagnosis? How did you handle it mentally?
I was diagnosed when I was 14 years old. My mom is a nurse and I also had two younger siblings diagnosed with diabetes within a year before me, so I became acutely aware of my symptoms early on. My mom also picked up on my symptoms and one evening we checked my blood sugar and confirmed my worst fears. Mentally it was pretty tough for me. Ever since I could remember, I had a dream of flying fighter jets in the US Air Force. The diagnosis meant that dream wasn’t possible. There was a period of time where I felt lost, without a clear goal or direction for my life. Finding out about Team Novo Nordisk and realizing I could become a professional cyclist with diabetes turned my life around and gave me a new direction and hope. Now, I’m helping inspire, educate and empower people all over the world affected by diabetes just by doing something I love.