By Kamal Ali
An international cycling tour, “Tour Azerbaijan 2014”, has kicked off in the country. A team of cyclists suffering from diabetes are attending the tour.
The team, called Novo Nordisk, is being sponsored by the pharmacy company Novo Nordisk.
Mominat Omarova, head of the Diabetics Society of Azerbaijan, warmly welcomed the idea of organizing the tour.
In an interview with ANN.Az, Omarova said the “unprecedented” event once again demonstrates that people with diabetes can not only live normal lives but also do sports.
The team is now headed to the northwestern town of Qabala from Sumqayit.
Below is information about members of the team:
Pro-Cycling Team
1. Stephen Clancy, Ireland
D.O.B: 19/07/1992
Age of diagnosis: 19
Personal story: I always used to take my mountain bike on the family holiday to France and found myself trying to clock up as many miles as possible! I loved the freedom it gave me. It was only when I was 16 that I competed in my first cycling race. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2012 just as I was starting my second season in the senior ranks and was in the best form of my cycling life. I thought my whole world had been turned upside down, but it wasn’t long before I realised it wasn’t the end of the world, just look at where I am now! Cycling is my passion. It was even before I was diagnosed with diabetes so it is amazing that it actually compliments how I control my condition.
Message to people with diabetes: Get to know your condition. Test, test and test again, always aiming to tighten your control. Don't let bad days upset you but learn from your mistakes. You will realise that your lifestyle is not restricted; diabetes does not have to control what you do. Diabetes helps you learn so much about your own body and also about food which has huge benefits. Finally, stay active — in the words of Phil Southerland; “Exercise is that billion dollar drug that nobody ever gets prescribed, and in my experience is the best of them all!”
Cycling dream: I would love to win a big cycling race, I am not fussy which one, just to show what can be done with diabetes. Through cycling and racing on this team, I hope to inspire others and be able to offer advice to other people out there with diabetes.
Life dream: To live an active, happy and healthy life!
2. Paolo Cravanzola, Italy
D.O.B: 10/03/1986
Age of diagnosis: 18
Personal story: After being diagnosed in 2004 I had a hard time accepting my situation. It took me a couple of years to regain confidence in what I could do while having diabetes. Cycling changed my perception of the condition and forced me to improve my control so that I could be a better cyclist. I now have better knowledge about my body, the training process, and nutrition. Now I know diabetes isn't an obstacle at all, and this is a message I try to convey to everyone.
Message to people with diabetes: Do not let your condition slow you down!
Cycling dream: Race a mountain stage in the Giro d'Italia.
Life dream: Travel all around the world seeing every different culture, feeling at home every time I travel.
3. Justin Morris, Australia
D.O.B: 19/06/1986
Age of diagnosis: 10
Personal Story: I used to ride my bike to school; I loved and still love the freedom it grants me. Your senses are so much more alive on a bicycle; the sounds, the smells, the sights; you notice these more on a bike than from a car.
When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was devastated by the news as I had always dreamed of being a jet fighter pilot. However, as I grew older my dreams changed and my focus shifted from what I couldn’t achieve as a person with diabetes to what I could. That opened up the entire world to me. There is so little in life holding people with diabetes back, the world is our oyster! Cycling helps keep me healthy which is crucial to helping me manage my diabetes.
Message to people with diabetes: It takes a hero to deal with diabetes and diabetes only chooses heroes.
Cycling dream: To keep showing that no matter what challenges we have in life, we can all live our dreams. Challenges are just that – challenges, not barriers. I want to keep racing and helping my team achieve great results.
Life dream: Keep having a happy life with a happy wife.
4. Aaron Perry, New Zealand
D.O.B: 06/11/1987
Age of diagnosis: 16
Personal Story: I have been riding since I can remember. My dad bought me my first mountain bike when I was six and since then I have lived to ride. I started road racing aged 13 and was well on my way to professional racing when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I thought I would have to give it all up and ended up taking some time out for a few years. I then found out about this team — it gave me hope that if others were competing to such a high level, then maybe I could do the same and I started riding again. It was the best thing I could have ever done. My diabetes is under control, I am feeling fit and healthy again and I love riding and racing again.
Message to people with diabetes: Do not let it stop you doing whatever you were doing before, and be sure to keep as active as you can.
Cycling dream: To compete to the highest level I can and maybe one day compete in the Tour de France.
Life dream: To be successful at whatever I turn my hand to and give everything 110%.
5. Thomas Raeymaekers, Belgium
D.O.B: 22/05/1993
Age of diagnosis: 17
Personal Story: I started watching cycling on television when I was three years old. My dad and uncle were keen cyclists and I started cycling at the age of ten. I was always one of the top ten riders in Belgium, but in my second year as a junior I couldn’t even finish my races, so I knew something was wrong. I kept fighting and training but every week my condition went down, I lost about 7kg and was thirsty all the time. I was then diagnosed with diabetes. At first I doubted whether I would still be able to cycle, but then I read about this team and realised it was possible to have diabetes and cycle too. It is certainly challenging, but then again cycling is never easy.
Message to people with diabetes: Don’t let diabetes manage your life, manage your diabetes. It's your body and if you do it well, you can still make your dreams come true. Also, try to learn as much as possible and see things as opportunities, not as difficulties! The most important thing is good health, and sport can be such a help. Exercise is a great tool to help manage diabetes.
Cycling dream: Like almost every cyclist, my dream is to be the best, but I also want to build a long career for myself — I hope in fifteen years I can say I have succeeded!
Life dream: My dream in life was always to become a professional cyclist. Since having a son he has become the most important thing in my life, and as long as he is happy then so am I. Also I hope, together with the team, to show the world what can be achieved when you combine diabetes and sport.
6. Chris Williams, Australia
D.O.B: 10/11/1981
Age of diagnosis: 28
Personal Story: I wasn’t always into sport and fitness — 11 years ago I was an overweight smoker! I moved into a house share with a triathlete who convinced me to give up the unhealthy habits and buy a bike — I haven’t looked back since. I started out doing triathlons, but running and swimming did not agree with me. I found that I was spending more and more time on the bike and eventually, it was all I did. There is nothing better than the freedom of getting out on a bike.
Cycling and exercise makes managing diabetes so much easier. It keeps me fit and healthy and my blood glucose levels in check. When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was told by many people that it wouldn’t be a good idea to ride or race my bike but I would be worse off without it!
Message to people with diabetes: Diabetes does not prevent you from doing anything. It does mean that you need to live a healthy life by eating right and exercising, but shouldn’t everyone do that anyway? Don’t ignore it, don’t hate it. Embrace it and make the most of it.
Cycling dream: Lining up on the start line next to guys I watched on television is very surreal, I would love to match them in my ability to prove that diabetes is not an obstacle.
Life dream: I love food and coffee just as much as cycling. I would love to have my own cafe one day, with a cycling theme of course.
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