My Diabetes "Basics"

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Naturally, a variety of explanations for Type 1 Diabetes are available, but for clarity, I'll provide a simple one here. Our body requires glucose ("sugar") in our blood for energy production. The glucose generally comes from the carbohydrates we consume and directly released to the blood or is stored as Glycogen mainly in muscle cells and the liver. The release of the Glycogen and conversion to Glucose is triggered by the hormones Glucagon, and Adrenalin. To transport this glucose into the cells, our body relies on the hormone Insulin, which is produced in beta cells of the pancreas.

However, if you have Type 1 Diabetes, your immune system has destroyed these beta cells-- which is why it's categorized as an autoimmune disease. There are roughly 400,000 people in Germany with Type 1 Diabetes (roughly 8 million world-wide) and it is yet still unclear what causes it. Without Insulin, the body is unable to process blood glucose, causing the glucose level to escalate. As a result, your blood essentially turns "acidic," which can be fatal within a few weeks if left untreated. Note that there are other types of Diabetes, most notably Type 2 Diabetes, but they do have significant differences.

Treatment typically involves providing the body with the necessary insulin through injections. I will be sharing how I handle this and other challenges in my upcoming blog posts.

How It All Began.

I was 14 when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It happened in the middle of my winter training preparing for the competition season. Over the span of several weeks, I gradually began to feel weaker and began to lose weight. Finally, in mid-January, I was admitted to the hospital where I was promptly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. My hospital stay lasted a week, during which I learned how to measure my blood glucose level, educated myself on the carbohydrate content of different foods, and mastered the art of injecting insulin.

Most importantly, I learned that being diagnosed with Diabetes did NOT signify the end of my dream to become a professional climber and athlete. I drew inspiration from athletes like Matthias Steiner, Timur Oruz and others, who despite managing Diabetes, managed to become successful professional athletes. This revelation was likely the most crucial lesson during the early stages of my life with Diabetes: if they can do it, so can I.

Fast forward four years, and I am immensely proud of my journey thus far; I never gave up and persevered to reach where I am today. I hope that, just as Matthias, Timur, and others were my role models, I too can inspire others – this is also why I am thrilled to be part of the Dexcom Warriors!

I've also started to receive support from the "Challenge D" team a few months ago. It's a project spearheaded by a crew of doctors, nutritionists, and diabetic coaches dedicated to providing professional athletes with Diabetes the best possible resources to remain healthy and successful.

Still, live with Diabetes is a challenge – even more so being an athlete. It makes things more complicated, but not impossible. I learn, and have to learn, a lot about my body and how it works. Take care even more about my health and prepare myself better. And yes, I complain sometimes, and I am frustrated and wish I didn’t have Diabetes – but never for long. Then I look back at what I already achieved and had the honor to experience, and I get even more excited and motivated for the things to come. Pushing my limits😊!

What Do I Do?

As mentioned earlier, if I don't supply my body with insulin, and continue eating, my blood glucose levels rise dramatically, ultimately posing a lethal threat. A high glucose level, even before reaching critical levels, begins to pose problems. Continually high blood glucose levels can start to destroy cells in the liver, eyes, and other vulnerable portions of the body. While it may take years for these effects to become evident, it won't take that long before the blood turns acidic; hence, it's crucial to monitor blood glucose levels diligently.

Being an athlete adds another layer of complication. If my blood glucose level goes significantly above the norm, I start to feel uneasy. It feels like a sense of unease, a bit of gibberish, and lack of concentration. It makes me feel less powerful than what I should be, certainly not how I'd like to be at a competition.

Conversely, there's also the risk of experiencing dangerously low blood glucose levels, known as hypoglycemia – this is the biggest fear for everyone with Type 1 Diabetes. If your blood glucose level drops below a certain mark, your body fails to function correctly, particularly the brain, which begins to falter due to the lack of energy. This "low sugar" can lead to unconsciousness, or worse, severe brain damage or even death if not treated. Fortunately, treating a 'low-sugar' moment is straightforward – you just need to consume some sugar. However, if you can't eat because you've become unconscious, that's a serious problem.

In a hypoglycemia event the body produces the hormones Glucagon and Adrenaline, producing in turn Glucose to stabilize the blood glucose level – however only to a certain extend. As an athlete I have a good muscle mass, so glucose reserves, and a good body conscience (you especially feel the Adrenaline) – both helped me to avoid severe hypoglycemia events so far, being able to re-act myself in time.

Therefore, living with Diabetes is a constant balancing act between maintaining adequate blood glucose levels (caused by consuming sugar and regulated by injecting insulin), and avoiding hypoglycemia (which is caused by an excess of insulin injections and corrected by consuming sugar). The bodies of non-diabetic individuals handle this equilibrium by continually monitoring blood glucose levels and producing the precise quantity of insulin needed to maintain balance.

Thankfully, there are modern advancements emerging that help me personally regulate this. I'll describe these in my subsequent blog.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Naturally, a variety of explanations for Type 1 Diabetes are available, but for clarity, I'll provide a simple one here. Our body requires glucose ("sugar") in our blood for energy production. The glucose generally comes from the carbohydrates we consume and directly released to the blood or is stored as Glycogen mainly in muscle cells and the liver. The release of the Glycogen and conversion to Glucose is triggered by the hormones Glucagon, and Adrenalin. To transport this glucose into the cells, our body relies on the hormone Insulin, which is produced in beta cells of the pancreas.

However, if you have Type 1 Diabetes, your immune system has destroyed these beta cells-- which is why it's categorized as an autoimmune disease. There are roughly 400,000 people in Germany with Type 1 Diabetes (roughly 8 million world-wide) and it is yet still unclear what causes it. Without Insulin, the body is unable to process blood glucose, causing the glucose level to escalate. As a result, your blood essentially turns "acidic," which can be fatal within a few weeks if left untreated. Note that there are other types of Diabetes, most notably Type 2 Diabetes, but they do have significant differences.

Treatment typically involves providing the body with the necessary insulin through injections. I will be sharing how I handle this and other challenges in my upcoming blog posts.

How It All Began.

I was 14 when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It happened in the middle of my winter training preparing for the competition season. Over the span of several weeks, I gradually began to feel weaker and began to lose weight. Finally, in mid-January, I was admitted to the hospital where I was promptly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. My hospital stay lasted a week, during which I learned how to measure my blood glucose level, educated myself on the carbohydrate content of different foods, and mastered the art of injecting insulin.

Most importantly, I learned that being diagnosed with Diabetes did NOT signify the end of my dream to become a professional climber and athlete. I drew inspiration from athletes like Matthias Steiner, Timur Oruz and others, who despite managing Diabetes, managed to become successful professional athletes. This revelation was likely the most crucial lesson during the early stages of my life with Diabetes: if they can do it, so can I.

Fast forward four years, and I am immensely proud of my journey thus far; I never gave up and persevered to reach where I am today. I hope that, just as Matthias, Timur, and others were my role models, I too can inspire others – this is also why I am thrilled to be part of the Dexcom Warriors!

I've also started to receive support from the "Challenge D" team a few months ago. It's a project spearheaded by a crew of doctors, nutritionists, and diabetic coaches dedicated to providing professional athletes with Diabetes the best possible resources to remain healthy and successful.

Still, live with Diabetes is a challenge – even more so being an athlete. It makes things more complicated, but not impossible. I learn, and have to learn, a lot about my body and how it works. Take care even more about my health and prepare myself better. And yes, I complain sometimes, and I am frustrated and wish I didn’t have Diabetes – but never for long. Then I look back at what I already achieved and had the honor to experience, and I get even more excited and motivated for the things to come. Pushing my limits😊!

What Do I Do?

As mentioned earlier, if I don't supply my body with insulin, and continue eating, my blood glucose levels rise dramatically, ultimately posing a lethal threat. A high glucose level, even before reaching critical levels, begins to pose problems. Continually high blood glucose levels can start to destroy cells in the liver, eyes, and other vulnerable portions of the body. While it may take years for these effects to become evident, it won't take that long before the blood turns acidic; hence, it's crucial to monitor blood glucose levels diligently.

Being an athlete adds another layer of complication. If my blood glucose level goes significantly above the norm, I start to feel uneasy. It feels like a sense of unease, a bit of gibberish, and lack of concentration. It makes me feel less powerful than what I should be, certainly not how I'd like to be at a competition.

Conversely, there's also the risk of experiencing dangerously low blood glucose levels, known as hypoglycemia – this is the biggest fear for everyone with Type 1 Diabetes. If your blood glucose level drops below a certain mark, your body fails to function correctly, particularly the brain, which begins to falter due to the lack of energy. This "low sugar" can lead to unconsciousness, or worse, severe brain damage or even death if not treated. Fortunately, treating a 'low-sugar' moment is straightforward – you just need to consume some sugar. However, if you can't eat because you've become unconscious, that's a serious problem.

In a hypoglycemia event the body produces the hormones Glucagon and Adrenaline, producing in turn Glucose to stabilize the blood glucose level – however only to a certain extend. As an athlete I have a good muscle mass, so glucose reserves, and a good body conscience (you especially feel the Adrenaline) – both helped me to avoid severe hypoglycemia events so far, being able to re-act myself in time.

Therefore, living with Diabetes is a constant balancing act between maintaining adequate blood glucose levels (caused by consuming sugar and regulated by injecting insulin), and avoiding hypoglycemia (which is caused by an excess of insulin injections and corrected by consuming sugar). The bodies of non-diabetic individuals handle this equilibrium by continually monitoring blood glucose levels and producing the precise quantity of insulin needed to maintain balance.

Thankfully, there are modern advancements emerging that help me personally regulate this. I'll describe these in my subsequent blog.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Naturally, a variety of explanations for Type 1 Diabetes are available, but for clarity, I'll provide a simple one here. Our body requires glucose ("sugar") in our blood for energy production. The glucose generally comes from the carbohydrates we consume and directly released to the blood or is stored as Glycogen mainly in muscle cells and the liver. The release of the Glycogen and conversion to Glucose is triggered by the hormones Glucagon, and Adrenalin. To transport this glucose into the cells, our body relies on the hormone Insulin, which is produced in beta cells of the pancreas.

However, if you have Type 1 Diabetes, your immune system has destroyed these beta cells-- which is why it's categorized as an autoimmune disease. There are roughly 400,000 people in Germany with Type 1 Diabetes (roughly 8 million world-wide) and it is yet still unclear what causes it. Without Insulin, the body is unable to process blood glucose, causing the glucose level to escalate. As a result, your blood essentially turns "acidic," which can be fatal within a few weeks if left untreated. Note that there are other types of Diabetes, most notably Type 2 Diabetes, but they do have significant differences.

Treatment typically involves providing the body with the necessary insulin through injections. I will be sharing how I handle this and other challenges in my upcoming blog posts.

How It All Began.

I was 14 when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It happened in the middle of my winter training preparing for the competition season. Over the span of several weeks, I gradually began to feel weaker and began to lose weight. Finally, in mid-January, I was admitted to the hospital where I was promptly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. My hospital stay lasted a week, during which I learned how to measure my blood glucose level, educated myself on the carbohydrate content of different foods, and mastered the art of injecting insulin.

Most importantly, I learned that being diagnosed with Diabetes did NOT signify the end of my dream to become a professional climber and athlete. I drew inspiration from athletes like Matthias Steiner, Timur Oruz and others, who despite managing Diabetes, managed to become successful professional athletes. This revelation was likely the most crucial lesson during the early stages of my life with Diabetes: if they can do it, so can I.

Fast forward four years, and I am immensely proud of my journey thus far; I never gave up and persevered to reach where I am today. I hope that, just as Matthias, Timur, and others were my role models, I too can inspire others – this is also why I am thrilled to be part of the Dexcom Warriors!

I've also started to receive support from the "Challenge D" team a few months ago. It's a project spearheaded by a crew of doctors, nutritionists, and diabetic coaches dedicated to providing professional athletes with Diabetes the best possible resources to remain healthy and successful.

Still, live with Diabetes is a challenge – even more so being an athlete. It makes things more complicated, but not impossible. I learn, and have to learn, a lot about my body and how it works. Take care even more about my health and prepare myself better. And yes, I complain sometimes, and I am frustrated and wish I didn’t have Diabetes – but never for long. Then I look back at what I already achieved and had the honor to experience, and I get even more excited and motivated for the things to come. Pushing my limits😊!

What Do I Do?

As mentioned earlier, if I don't supply my body with insulin, and continue eating, my blood glucose levels rise dramatically, ultimately posing a lethal threat. A high glucose level, even before reaching critical levels, begins to pose problems. Continually high blood glucose levels can start to destroy cells in the liver, eyes, and other vulnerable portions of the body. While it may take years for these effects to become evident, it won't take that long before the blood turns acidic; hence, it's crucial to monitor blood glucose levels diligently.

Being an athlete adds another layer of complication. If my blood glucose level goes significantly above the norm, I start to feel uneasy. It feels like a sense of unease, a bit of gibberish, and lack of concentration. It makes me feel less powerful than what I should be, certainly not how I'd like to be at a competition.

Conversely, there's also the risk of experiencing dangerously low blood glucose levels, known as hypoglycemia – this is the biggest fear for everyone with Type 1 Diabetes. If your blood glucose level drops below a certain mark, your body fails to function correctly, particularly the brain, which begins to falter due to the lack of energy. This "low sugar" can lead to unconsciousness, or worse, severe brain damage or even death if not treated. Fortunately, treating a 'low-sugar' moment is straightforward – you just need to consume some sugar. However, if you can't eat because you've become unconscious, that's a serious problem.

In a hypoglycemia event the body produces the hormones Glucagon and Adrenaline, producing in turn Glucose to stabilize the blood glucose level – however only to a certain extend. As an athlete I have a good muscle mass, so glucose reserves, and a good body conscience (you especially feel the Adrenaline) – both helped me to avoid severe hypoglycemia events so far, being able to re-act myself in time.

Therefore, living with Diabetes is a constant balancing act between maintaining adequate blood glucose levels (caused by consuming sugar and regulated by injecting insulin), and avoiding hypoglycemia (which is caused by an excess of insulin injections and corrected by consuming sugar). The bodies of non-diabetic individuals handle this equilibrium by continually monitoring blood glucose levels and producing the precise quantity of insulin needed to maintain balance.

Thankfully, there are modern advancements emerging that help me personally regulate this. I'll describe these in my subsequent blog.