Olympian sets example for those with diabetes
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-blog/MY01211

- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Feb. 26, 2010
Olympian sets example for those with diabetes
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
The Olympic athlete is an icon of superior physical, mental, spiritual fitness, and discipline. Kris Freeman, 2010 U.S. Olympic cross-country skier, best exemplifies this type of athletic persona. Exercise and type 1 diabetes is a balancing act for the Olympic and non-Olympic athlete that can never be perfected. The feat is challenging for any athlete, let alone an individual with type 1 diabetes.
Long endurance sports such as cross-country skiing, distance cycling, and marathon running can deplete the muscle stores of glucose that may take up to 18-24 hours for the body to replace. If the muscles lose the glucose stores the energy is gone and the race is over (also called hitting the wall). Kris Freeman has trained intensely through trial and error using multiple variables to best determine any situation he may confront and how to balance his diabetes management to pursue the best outcome.
My hat is off to Kris and the many other Olympic and non-Olympic athletes that have pursued how to balance exercise and type 1 diabetes. I have two posters in my office that say:
- Perseverance: Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
- Success: There is no greater reward for a job well done than the personal satisfaction of having done it.
Thank you, Kris Freeman, for demonstrating these attributes, and for your example to all people and especially those with diabetes; that anything is possible with planning, knowledge and perseverance.
Have a good week,
Nancy
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