{"id":5342,"date":"2019-04-26T15:00:05","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T15:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irun.wales\/?p=5342"},"modified":"2019-04-30T11:31:35","modified_gmt":"2019-04-30T11:31:35","slug":"the-highs-and-lows-of-running-with-type-1-diabetes-gareth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irun.wales\/cy\/news\/the-highs-and-lows-of-running-with-type-1-diabetes-gareth\/","title":{"rendered":"The highs and lows of running with type 1 diabetes – Gareth"},"content":{"rendered":"

GARETH, 39<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"Gareth has been living with type 1 diabetes since the age of 17 years and, like Thomas and Lisa, took up running post diagnosis. \u201cI started running when my best friend died,\u201d Gareth says. \u201cThose of us left behind started looking at how unfit we were and what we could do to leave a memory of ourselves other than \u2018those lazy layabouts!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Gareth also found that the running community brought a wealth of new friends and health benefits that have had a positive impact on all aspects of his life. Gareth says, \u201cRunning has given me a level of calm I never had before, a level of fitness, massive amounts of confidence, and a much improved HbA1C result!\u201d<\/p>\n

The biggest barrier Gareth has faced is discouragement from others and the \u2018you can\u2019t run a marathon, you\u2019re a diabetic\u2019 mentality. Gareth says, \u201cIt\u2019s taken me a long time to turn the doubters around\u2014including healthcare professionals\u2014to believe that \u2018YES I CAN do it!\u2019\u201d Other challenges include the logistics of carrying everything required for a long run: fuel, blood glucose monitor and insulin, in addition to all the usual running paraphernalia; balancing his sugars while running (helped considerably by the flash glucose monitor); and training his body to not think about diabetes while running. Gareth adds, \u201cIf your head is constantly telling you \u2018you\u2019re going low.. you will pass out.. check your sugar..\u2019 you will never get far!\u201d<\/p>\n

For those worried about starting to run, Gareth says, \u201cPut on some trainers and go do it! There is literally nothing stopping you. Diabetes may be scary, but it should never block you from doing what you want. The confidence you will get from doing something that people have said you can’t do can never be beaten, and the added bonus of improvements in your diabetes control and HBA1C cannot be ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gareth has a few top tips<\/strong> to add:<\/p>\n