Always Hungry, Always Thirsty, Always Going to the Bathroom
When Diagnosed with T1D at the Age of 13 --
Today, Diane Brown Is a Competitive Body-Builder
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Rock Hard and Determined at 51 … by Diane Brown
I have always been interested in working out and eating healthy. A subscription to Oxygen (Women’s Fitness) Magazine really cemented my interest in fitness, body definition and muscles. About 12 years ago, I read an article about someone with T1D who was competing at the professional level in a form of natural body building called Women's Figure. This one article inspired me to ramp-up my weight lifting regimen.
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I decided to take the next step and compete in a natural body building competition. My endocrinologist was not as enthusiastic as I was and actually suggested I find another doctor, which is just what I did. After a little searching, I found a doctor that already worked with T1D athletes. In June 2013, I entered my first natural bodybuilding competition. I ended up winning the Women's Body Building Novice division!
I enjoy hiking, snow skiing, scuba diving and swimming. I check my sugar before an activity, during (if possible) and after I'm finished. Preparation is key. My T1D is like a ballet that continually needs to be choreographed. Knowing how your body reacted in the past to the same activity is critical, it's part of the control aspect. I always have a snack or source of sugar close at hand to give me a boost if my blood glucose reading is low.
When children, teens or adults are diagnosed, they feel it is the end of the world. That is completely wrong. T1D should not hold anyone back from achieving their dreams. I am proving it. I have always said that I will not let this disease take over. I am the one in control. I make the decision to eat healthy. I make the decision to exercise. So much of T1D - diet and hard exercise - is trial and error. Diabetes or not, if you make a commitment to a healthy lifestyle, you can achieve your dream. ####
