Christian's Race with Diabetes

Q: Have you always loved racing? How did that start?

At age nine, I went to a hire karts place with my dad for a bit of fun on the weekend. Who would have known that weekend would change my world completely!

I kept asking about going back and eventually my dad bought a second-hand Go Kart so I could race it at a club level in Newcastle. Pretty soon we were spending most of our spare weekends practising.

Starting as a cadet, you learn the basics of how to be a racing driver, and at the time I was on top of the world! As a nine year-old kid, 80km/hour is mind blowing! And from there, it was an absolute love for the sport straight away. A few years went past, and I got older, faster and stronger. It was around age 11-13, everything kicked into another gear! I started competing internationally in European and global championships.

But on 06/07/19, my whole life and everything I thought was normal, got flipped on its head completely when I was diagnosed with T1D. At first, I thought I’d never be able to race a kart again, let alone a car. It felt like my dream was coming to an end. But I took it on the chin, and decided that I could master T1D, like I did with racing.

Q. When returning to the track, what tools did you use manage your diabetes?

I figured that I’d been quite fortunate with racing because you always work to a number and the same goes for T1D. In my eyes, I didn’t have a choice, I had to master T1D – there was no other option. So I persisted and remained dedicated to my racing, and learning about diabetes, and it was only three weeks after diagnosis that I jumped back into a kart and started testing how T1D was going to affect my driving.

I received support and guidance from family, friends and the diabetes educators at John Hunter Hospital, which allowed me to race again, so I could be off again and discovering my new normal.

In terms of school, it took a bit of time to get into a routine after diagnosis but the school were very helpful. They’ve assisted me every step of the way though, as I was on a Sports Scholarship program, even before my diagnosis, which allowed me to compete overseas.

I was also very lucky that I was set up with Dexcom only 3-4 weeks after my diagnosis, and really, the rest is history! In those first few weeks, it was constant pricking to test my blood sugar levels, and my fingers hurt. I’m glad I don’t have to do that as much. I still get a bit anxious when it’s time to change the transmitter each week, but I’m getting better. Nowadays, I use Dexcom G6.

Q: Are there any other Dexcom features that helped you on or off the track?

Having Dexcom at school, work, and even a racetrack – it’s a massive helping hand. My personal favourite thing about Dexcom is that it will wake me up at any time of the night to alert me that I’ve gone too high or too low. Even though, I don’t like being woken up in the middle of the night, living with T1D – anything can happen overnight, so this feature is great for me.

I like the Share feature as well. If I’m out with some mates and I’m not looking at my CGM, I can always guarantee that my mum is checking through the Dexcom Follow App, and without that – I’m on my own.

Q: And where are you at now with your racing?

A few years ago, I signed with Carlin Racing Team in the UK and since then I’ve competed in the British Formula 4 Championship which was so exciting! At the time, I was the youngest driver to take the track.

Editor note: Christian got his first official taste of victory in 2021, when he won a race at the F4 British Championship and clocked another 2 wins at the 2021 GB3 Championship! Christian noted he always wanted to race, ever since that first weekend with his dad, karting. When he was diagnosed with T1D, Christian didn’t let this slow him down as he used his ever-positive attitude and Dexcom CGM to keep him on track whilst competing.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Read the warnings available on www.amsldiabetes.com.au/resources before purchasing. Consult your healthcare professional to see which product is right for you.

Christian is an Australian Dexcom Warrior. For more information on the Dexcom Warrior Program, please click here

Testimonial Disclosure
This testimonial relates to an individual’s response to treatment with our products and has been edited to ensure it is consistent with the products’ indication(s). The testimonial does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have to the treatment. Responses to treatment with our products may differ. It is important to consider individual circumstances and consult with your healthcare professional before considering any changes to your diabetes management.

Dexcom, Dexcom G6, Dexcom Share and Dexcom Follow are registered trademarks of Dexcom, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.