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• Having a Blast – A FitAlissa Interview with 15 Year Old Champion Whitewater Kayaker/Olympic Hopeful and T1D Sage Donnelly

  I recently met Sage Donnelly while she was training in San Marcos,Tx 45 minutes south of Austin,Tx just before she was to make the 3 day trek with her mom back home to Carson City Nevada, in a comfy van which is their home away from home.  This is the first of a 2 part video interview, where we discuss topics ranging from how she manages her diabetes when training and competing to the 2020 Olympics, to her favorite shopping in Texas!  Find out what makes this up and coming world class athlete tick, and how she manages her diabetes while competing at the highest level.  I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed talking with Sage! Sage Donnelly( image from www.SageDonnelly.com ) Here is a bio of Sage, from her website www.SageDonnelly.com Named Canoe and Kayak Magazine's 2014 Female Paddler of the Year and is currently the World Freestyle Jr. Women's Champion, the US 2014 C1 Women's National Slalom Champion and 3rd in Women's K1 Slalom, at 15, Sage Donnelly is a rising star in the world of whitewater kayaking, ...

• Professional Snowboarder and T1D Sean Busby won’t let Lupus diagnosis slow him down – FitAlissa Interview Part 2

  This is the second and final part of a 2 part interview of Professional Snowboarder and T1D Sean Busby.  Click here to read the first part Professional snowboarder Sean Busby accomplishes his dreams as a Type 1 diabetic (T1D)   Riding On Insulin founder, Sean Busby, is a professional backcountry snowboarder with type 1 diabetes who travels the world exploring remote corners of the globe on snowboarding expeditions. In 2004, while training for the 2010 Olympics, Sean endured a complicated diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Considering leaving snowboarding all together, Sean was inspired by reading stories he found through JDRF’s Children’s Congress. It was the stories of 5- 7- and 13-year-olds that inspired him to keep living his dreams despite living with diabetes. He founded Riding On Insulin—which is now a nonprofit organization—to honor all the kids who inspired him to keep living. Today, Sean’s wife Mollie runs Riding On Insulin and Sean makes appearances at the organization’s global action sports programs (including ski/snowboard camps) for kids, teens and adults living with T1D, while managing his personal backcountry snowboarding career. In February 2014, Sean ...

• My Life as a Diabetic NASCAR driver An Interview with Ryan Reed Part II

  This is the second and final part of Alissa's interview with NASCAR racer Ryan Reed.  Please consider donating to Ryan's charity DriveToStopDiabetes From Ryan’s website: Ryan Reed began his first full NASCAR Xfinity Season at the start of 2014. He finished 9th in overall standings, with 1 top 5 finish and 14 top 15 finishes. His season best took place at Daytona Intentional Speedway, where he finished 4th. He will start his 2nd Season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the No 16 team in 2015. Reed's racing career began at a young age, capturing the Kid's Kart Track Championship at the age of four. The Bakersfield, California native followed that up by becoming the Junior 1 Comer and HPV Karting Track Champion at age eight. You can read the rest of Ryan’s bio on his site DriveToStopDiabetes Alissa:       What team of people do you work with who medically care and support you in your diabetes while you're racing? Ryan:        I’m mostly managing it myself with the help of my doctor. At the racetrack, one of my pit crew is trained to give me an insulin ...

• Diabetes and Pageants: An interview with Miss New Hampshire 2016 and T1D, Caroline Carter

  Miss New Hampshire 2016 and T1D, Caroline Carter You can keep up with Caroline by visiting her official Facebook page, Miss New Hampshire Caroline Carter Alissa:   When were you diagnosed with diabetes? Caroline:  I was diagnosed on November 17th, 2008. I was just about 10 years old. Before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I had been dealing with Mononucleosis.  Then something changed. I lost 13 pounds in one week despite the fact that I was eating a lot. I was urinating frequently, and losing muscle alarmingly fast. Ironically, the day I finally went to the doctor I had eaten a bag of nacho chips and a pint of ice cream to keep my weight up. My blood sugar was 545. Alissa:   Does diabetes run in your family? Caroline:  No, an environmental factor eventually led to my diagnosis of diabetes. No one else in my family has diabetes before me, or after. Alissa:   Being diagnosed as a child must have been challenging. How did you learn to cope with your new norm? Caroline:  When I was diagnosed my mom told me that “Everyone has something.” She ...

• Teenage Athlete Refuses To Let Type 1 Diabetes Slow Him Down - An Interview with Matt Allen

  Matt Allen with his family Matt Allen is a 15 year old stock car racer, snowboarder, football player, straight A student and diabetic. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in July 2006, but he hasn’t let that slow him down. Matt has been racing go-karts for more than half his life through the NRKA (Northern Regional Karting Association) and has been making his way through the ranks.  In the first five years of his racing career he progressed from Kiddie Karts (ages 6-8) to Rookie Karts (ages 8-12).  He won many races and consistently placed in the top three.   In 2011, Matt advanced to World Formula Junior karts (ages 12-15).   He won the NRKA World Formula Junior season championship in flying fashion, finishing first place in 9 out the 16 races.    In 2012, Matt defended his title and won the championship again, this time winning 10 out of the 16 races.  He has been recognized as the NRKA Driver of the year in 2012.  Last season, along with racing my go-kart, he took the next step in racing and ...

• Pageants and Insulin Pumps: An Interview with Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson

  Nicole Johnson, DrPH, MPH, MA  has worked professionally in diabetes for over 17 years and has lived with Type 1 diabetes since 1993. She is most well known for her time as Miss America 1999. In recent years, Nicole has gained a reputation for her engagement in diabetes research focused on quality of life, psychosocial issues, and family dynamics in diabetes.  At the University of South Florida, Nicole serves as the Executive Director of Bringing Science Home, a $6 million diabetes research program that focuses on those very topics.  Nicole is also the Chairman of the Diabetes Empowerment Foundation, an organization focused on adults with Type 1 diabetes. Examples of the foundation’s work include the programs Nicole created Students With Diabetes, Young Adults With Diabetes and Diabetes Partners. Over the years, Nicole has served on many diabetes advisory boards including the JDRF International Board, the American Diabetes Association National Board, the Florida Governor’s Diabetes Advisory Council and the National Institutes of Health Council of Public Representatives. Since 1999, Nicole has helped raise more than $27 million for diabetes research and programs In her journalism career, ...