Blog - Warrior Stories
Being an Endurance Athlete with T1D with Warrior Sam
In his own words “diabetes is the best thing that’s ever happened to me”, learn how Dexcom Warrior Sam* has harnessed his diabetes to push forward as a professional cyclist and how he uses his platform to inspire other young athletes living with types 1 diabetes (T1D).
Meet professional cyclist, Warrior Sam*
Warrior Sam is a 32-year-old professional cyclist with types 1 diabetes (T1D) based in the Isle of Man. Besides his passion for competing, he enjoys being outdoors with friends and family, and walking his dog. As a ‘numbers guy’, he’s fascinated by how things work, including the effect of glucose on the human body. Having competed in some of the biggest cycling tournaments across the globe, his ultimate dream is racing in the Tour de France with a team solely made up of T1D cyclists.
Learn how diabetes has given him a fire to pursue his passion and how the use of his Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System has given him a sense of security to push even further.
1. When and how were you diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D)?
I was showing all the typical symptoms – increased thirst, needing to go to the bathroom more regularly and weight loss – so I went to get tested. I was diagnosed on the 14th November 2001, at the age of 10. It was actually on World Diabetes Day. It almost feels like it was fate to be diagnosed on that day and gives me a reason to do what I do.
2. Were you already an athlete/cyclist when you were diagnosed?
I’ve been sporty from a very young age, was always into sports and followed international sports religiously. I’m competitive by nature and had to win sports days at school and every event I competed in. But I had not pursued cycling at a competitive level yet when I was diagnosed. Not a professional athlete at that stage but I was definitely on that path already.
3. Did you initially think that you’d be able to pursue a professional sports career with T1D?
Despite my diagnosis, I was never discouraged from doing anything. I always wanted to be a professional athlete and dreamed of playing football for Manchester United. I was never told that I couldn’t do anything. My diabetes care team made sure it was always a positive experience. They guided me in a way that I never saw the negative side which was really great for me and my parents.
4. What convinced you to keep pursuing your dreams?
Not just the support I got but, as someone with T1D, I came across a lot of people who wanted to put me in a box. I used it as a passion to push forward in a way that people don’t really understand. It gave me that little bit of extra fire to prove people wrong and pursue my dreams. No matter what I’ve strived for – sport or anything else – it’s given me even greater determination.
5. Do you find that they’re any stereotypes about people with diabetes competing in sports?
Part of our mission is to use my platform as a type 1 diabetic athlete to help educate people and inspire them. That includes helping people understand what people with diabetes can be capable of with the right diet and lifestyle. For me and my teammates, we’re fortunate that we have knowledge about it. Because, as little as 10 years ago, there was a lack of understanding within professional sports and how an elite athlete with T1D can manage their condition while still physically performing to their capabilities. Overcoming these stereotypes is becoming easier all the time, but we’re still pushing for it to be better with every race.
6. Do you have any sports role models who have T1D?
Not one specific person. It’s nice to see other athletes in general with T1D succeed. People like Henry Slade and all those guys that are at the top level in professional sports. In my opinion, anyone who pushes diabetes in sports is a role model by both excelling and communicating a positive message.
7. Before using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), how did you manage your diabetes, particularly in regard to training and competing?
Regular finger pricking and testing with blood. That’s great but it only gives you an answer in the moment. Before I was a cyclist, I was a triathlete so, for example, I’d have a 2-hour race and was having to test before, in the middle and afterwards. So, there was less understanding as to what was happening during those 2 hours – it was very different to how it is now.
With the Dexcom G7, it’s so informative as I can see my glucose levels in real time – the numbers, trend arrows and patterns to see how glucose fluctuates throughout a race and use this to make better treatment and preparation decisions – it’s absolutely fantastic.
8. As an endurance athlete, what are the ‘extra’ special considerations you need to make with T1D?
For me, the extra special considerations are more based around being a professional athlete. So, being fuelled and prepared as an athlete and the diabetes comes alongside that. I have to keep it in check and manage it. I’m very conscious of diet but that’s more because I want to race as best as I can.
For me it’s less about focusing on the diabetes side of things – it’s making sure that the diabetes will fall in line with that. I do everything to try to stay as healthy as possible and that helps my diabetes management. Knowledge is power!
9. How has using CGM impacted your diabetes management, particularly in regard to training and competing?
It’s great as it gives me a sense of safety knowing that I don’t need to stop and test. It gives me a chance to take that process out of my schedule. Because it’s automated, it adds an ease to my life in that it’s something I don’t need to overly focus on anymore (constantly checking glucose levels). I still focus on the numbers, but I don’t need to add another step to my routine. It adds an ease in terms of preparation and competing.
10. When competing in longer races, are there any ‘extra’ special considerations you need to keep in mind when using your CGM?
Just always being prepared as an athlete. So, if I have a long race, I’ll make sure I have extra supplies. The last race I did was a tour of Poland and each stage is 200km which is about 4-5 hours. So, as long as I charge my devices† in the morning, they’ll last. If I’m there for longer than 10 days, which I was last time, I’ll have spare Dexcom supplies. It’s always about being prepared and making sure I have all the supplies with me, so it’s never been a problem.
11. Are there any other apps/devices you use to help you manage your diabetes?
I really just use the Dexcom app† – it has all the features I need. It also gives me the ability to check back on all my data with Dexcom Clarity‡ which is fantastic. I use multiple daily injections so don’t use an insulin pump or insulin apps but can of course see the effects of my injections with the Dexcom app.†
12. What is your greatest sporting achievement? And did the use of CGM help (if applicable)?
I’ve done three of the biggest races in the world, including the longest 1-day race in the world, which is over 300km. It’s one of the monuments of cycling. As a kid I was dreaming of doing a race like that.
I used Dexcom throughout the race – it made me feel safe and secure, and meant that I could achieve the best that I could possibly achieve. Being without it would have been a challenge. I’m so fortunate that I’m a Warrior with the Dexcom team and can show what’s possible as an athlete with T1D.
13. What was your greatest sporting challenge/disappointment? Would the use of Dexcom CGM Systems have helped (if applicable)?
I’ve had a few setbacks but nothing revolving around diabetes. I probably put so much emphasis on making sure that my diabetes is okay that I would never use that as an excuse. Most disappoints were probably performance based so the use of Dexcom wouldn’t have changed that.
14. What are your favourite features of the Dexcom CGM Systems, especially for athletes?
I’ve started to use the Dexcom G7. With the app* I can now see the Clarity‡ report underneath it so it’s all in one place. I’ve found it so helpful being able to access that data at hand immediately because they’re times in the past when I needed to go back and check on averages. I’m a numbers person so like viewing them easily.
Another great feature is that the Dexcom G7 is a single unit (combined sensor and transmitter). The fact that it’s one piece has made life so much easier for switching in and out, travelling and competing – it takes a step out of the process.
15. What is your ultimate goal/dream in terms of competitive racing? Do you feel like diabetes could hold you back? If not, why?
My ultimate dream would be to race the Tour de France – it’s the biggest cycle race in the world and everyone knows it. To do that with a team solely comprised with athletes with T1D would be the pinnacle. I hope I’d put enough protocol in place to allow diabetes to not hold me back.
The reason that I might not make it will be down to whether I’m good enough or not. I’d like to think that diabetes would only help me pursue that goal because it gives me a fire. Diabetes is the best thing that’s ever happened to me as it’s given me that determination. So, to do the biggest race in the world while championing diabetes is the ultimate dream.
The reason that I might not make it will be down to whether I’m good enough or not. I’d like to think that diabetes would only help me pursue that goal because it gives me a fire. Diabetes is the best thing that’s ever happened to me as it’s given me that determination. So, to do the biggest race in the world while championing diabetes is the ultimate dream.
16. Do you feel like living with diabetes (particularly in regard to competitive sports) has taught you anything/inspired you to excel?
Definitely. I think, being diagnosed at 10 years old, diabetes gave me a routine, it gave me a mission, it gave me something to chase. So, from then I had developed a routine that was beyond that of many people in their mid-20’s. At a young age, I developed a resilience, and a level of determination was well beyond my years.
Living with diabetes put rules in place that most people follow every day, it’s just that I had to develop them a lot earlier. It allowed me to become focused and see things that most other people don’t see – it allowed me to take control of my body, understand my body a bit more and inspired me to push. People assume it’s a weakness, but I used it as a source of strength.
17. What advice would you give to young people with T1D that want to a pursue a career in competitive sports?
Diabetes is often put into this category where it’s seen as a limitation, and I feel that the only thing that should limit a person is themselves. If someone says you can’t do something, use that as determination to prove that you can. My advice would be, don’t stop, keep moving forward.
Diabetes is not a roadblock, and you don’t have to be limited by it, reach for your dreams! If you want to be world champion, they’re ways we can make that happen – you just have to put in the extra work – dream big, keep pushing and they’re ways to make it happen.
18. How do you use your platform to help educate people about living (and excelling) with diabetes?
I’m very outward with my diabetes. I like to see it as something positive as opposed to something negative, so for me it’s making sure that people see the positive side. They’re going to be not so easy days and I want people to see that as well. I use my platform so people can see the power of diabetes and see that the condition can be a friend and an ally, not just an enemy. I hope to use my platform to show what is possible – every day I try to do something positive with diabetes. I use it to help educate and empower and will be something I do as long as I can.
19. Any final thoughts/comments about being a professional athlete with T1D?
Diabetes was the best thing that ever happened to me – it gave me routine, a community, a family, a team and a reason to do what I do. For me, it’s all I’ve ever known. It’s something I have to manage but have been doing that my whole life. I like to show people what I can do with diabetes as opposed to what I can’t do. So, let’s be positive, let’s push forward and show the world what we can do whilst living with diabetes.
Don’t let diabetes hold you back
Learn more about how to manage blood sugar levels during exercise. You can also compare Dexcom products to see which CGM System best suits your needs, so you can have a greater sense of security in your diabetes management, giving you more time to pursue your dreams.
* Warrior Sam is a paid spokesperson for Dexcom
† Display device sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.
‡ An internet connection is required to send data to Dexcom Clarity. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit dexcom.com/compatibility
† Display device sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.
‡ An internet connection is required to send data to Dexcom Clarity. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit dexcom.com/compatibility