The thrill of hitting a ball out of the park, the relief of scoring a tricky goal, the heady rush of reaching the finish line of a race… we’ve all experienced the euphoria of playing a sport. Be it professional athletics or a friendly neighborhood match, sports activities have the power to boost mental and physical wellbeing, improve competitive skills, equip you for life’s obstacles and build inclusive communities. However, rigorous football or hours of net practice isn’t easy when you need to keep your glucose levels in check. Advances in health tech are helping change the game for people with chronic health conditions like diabetes.
Keeping live score of your glucose numbers
Those who hold sports as a part of their being, understand and know how to manage their schedules and health around it. But what does it look like to continue and excel at their favourite sport for someone managing diabetes? While an active lifestyle helps in glucose management, the exertion remains a huge concern and needs to be regulated to avoid unexpected health complications.
Dwayne Dias, a talented cricketer, faced this quandary when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a latent autoimmune condition. “It felt like my world had come crashing down,” says Dwayne. His health condition affected his weight and stamina. His family, too, was overwhelmed, without clear direction on how Dwayne would continue playing cricket. Being introduced to sensor-based continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology marked a turning point in Dwayne’s health journey.
Tracking glucose levels painlessly and discreetly with a sensor can give you information that lets you make more reasoned choices. The data trends and insights can help you prepare before a sporting event, to avert glucose drops and spikes. This has not only helped Dwayne break boundaries on the cricket pitch, but also empowered him to finish a half marathon! "I'm back to doing all the things I love. My morale is up, my energy levels are up, and most importantly, I get to see my parents completely relieved, which is the best thing ever.”
With a CGM sensor, your eyes are never off the ball
For caregivers, being able to monitor glucose readings remotely, via their smartphones has been a huge breather. This is particularly reassuring for parents of kids with juvenile diabetes.
So, when 10 year old Yug was diagnosed with diabetes, his parents were disheartened and worried to see his physical activity and weight drop due to his health condition. It was CGM technology that helped the family support Yug in managing his diabetes.
Sports activities have a range of benefits for children, including physical growth and development, improved sleep and social skills, and a reduced risk of cardiometabolic disorders. With his sensor-based CGM buddy by his side, Yug can now monitor his glucose levels even in school, and share the readings with his parents. Staying connected with Yug and being aware of his glucose trends round the clock has put his parents at ease. His diet and medication can be tailored based on his glucose numbers.
“This allows me to play all the games I love without having to worry anymore,” smiles Yug, excited to be able to play any sport he likes, just like every other kid.
Sports have a way of bringing out the best in people, binding us together, giving us a sense of belonging and the desire to push past our limits. It is such an essential part of a kid’s life growing up, to be able to build new friendships and personal attributes that last a lifetime. A chronic health condition like diabetes shouldn’t stop you from being a part of this rewarding pursuit. With each health tech innovations, we’re getting closer to leveling the playing field, opening doors for more people to transcend boundaries and discover their true potential, safely.
Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive /for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information.
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