"I never use my diabetes as an excuse for a poor performance on the bike."
Scott Ambrose, 21, from New Zealand, was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago. Last February he won a stage (and the points classification) in the Tour de Philippines, a UCI Asia Tour Event. It was the team’s first-ever victory.
All of Scott’s teammates have type 1 diabetes. They race for Team Novo Nordisk (TNN), a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists, triathletes and runners.
TNN is a UCI Pro Continental team. On March 22, they will take part in their first UCI WorldTour event, the 106th “Milano-Sanremo”, the longest (298km) of all classic cycle races.
“Competing in our first World Tour race is the result of a tenacious and inspirational group of athletes, who are proving every day that they can race alongside the world’s best,” says Team Novo Nordisk CEO Phil Southerland.
And if they can ride, everyone can.
“If you maintain a well-balanced diet and have optimal diabetes management, then cycling should be possible from a recreational level to competing at the highest level of the sport,” says team doctor Rafael Castol.
According to the World Health Organization, at global level 1 in 11 adults have diabetes. Regular physical activity and maintaining a normal body weight can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Cycling is an easy-to-integrate activity to help you reach the recommended levels of physical activity.
“Cycling is also great for managing the disease,” says Dr Castol.
“It has huge benefits at a cardiopulmonary level as well as at a metabolic level. Cycling can improve cardiovascular function, reduce the risk of macro and micro vascular complications and reduce the risk of development of other chronic metabolic conditions like obesity, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.”
Yet before someone with diabetes can think about exercising, they first must have access to the necessary medication and education on how to use it. And here is where the Team Type 1 Foundation, a charitable organisation created by Team Novo Nordisk CEO & co-founder, Phil Southerland, comes into play.
The Foundation is trying to increase survival odds by providing access to medication. To do so, vigorous advocacy and fund-raising activities are in place.
Cycling can also be an ideal fundraising platform. Last year the Type 1 foundation teamed up with the organisers of Haute Route, one of the world’s toughest and most iconic cyclo-sportive series. Riders raised almost $70,000 for the foundation, and the target for 2015 is set at $100,000.
Not only have Team Novo Nordisk laid out a clear development pathway for riders diagnosed with diabetes. They also have an official amateur squad, the Type 2 Team. They are a group of men who decided to make drastic changes to their lives after being diagnosed with diabetes by better managing their health and their condition. T2 Team members compete in cycling and running events (even extreme ones) to show the world what may be possible with diabetes.
To complete the range of their activities in cycling for all, the Team Type 1 Foundation have a life-changing project underway in Rwanda, a country where seven out of eight people with diabetes die before they are even diagnosed.
This year, the Foundation donated 1 million test strips and 900 blood glucose monitors, effectively providing a one-year supply for the entire Rwandan population of individuals with type 1 diabetes.
“We began our work in Rwanda because of the Tour of Rwanda. Thanks to the race, we have been able to help so many people,” says Southerland.
Team Novo Nordisk’s project is a long-term one. “Everyone within this project is dedicated to making sure this programme grows,” declares General Manager Vassili Davidenko.
“All of this will take several years to pay off and for the team to get to the top level, but we have all the tools that we need in our hands.”
Team Novo Nordisk aims to compete in the Tour de France by 2021.