Diabetes and Sport: My Mission

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Diabetes will be the health challenge of the next millennium. According to the latest data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) more than half a billion people live with diabetes worldwide. In Italy it is estimated that almost five million people suffer from this disease. One million of them are people who do not know that they suffer from diabetes, about 4 million are people who are at risk of developing it and 496 people die every year from it. 

Improving the lifestyle of people with diabetes is the real challenge, alleviating the everyday burden. Data shows how physical activity contributes to weight loss, makes muscles consume glucose and therefore lower blood glucose, increasing insulin sensitivity, correcting one possible cause of diabetes. Physical activity increases HDL cholesterol (the good one) and reduces blood pressure, improving many risk factors for chronic complications.

If you do not know me a little intro:


I’m Eleonora, born in 1995 in the beautiful city of Turin, Italy. With a background in molecular biotechnology and a master’s in oncology from Vrije University of Amsterdam, I’ve dedicated my life to understanding and improving human wellbeing. I work as a consultant engineer in Pharma Amsterdam and I channel my passion for sports as a Swim Director for the Amsterdam Triathlon and Cycling Club. Living with type 1 diabetes since 1999, when I was three, and you know what, I've embraced it as a unique strength that fuels my dedication to triathlons and my quest for optimal health! My journey has led me to become a certified nutritionist and life coach, always striving to inspire and support others in their diabetes management and overall health journey.


My Mission

Diabetes is a full-time challenge, but with the right mindset and lifestyle, it can be managed effectively. My mission is to provide genuine insights and practical guidance to those living with diabetes, enhancing understanding and promoting a healthy lifestyle. By sharing my personal experiences, strategies, and the tools I've developed, I aim to inspire others to take control of their health. Combining cognitive behavioral therapies with medical treatments, my goal is to shift the focus from just insulin and glucose levels to a comprehensive approach that includes nutrition, exercise, and mental wellbeing. Together, we can create a supportive community where everyone can thrive despite the challenges of diabetes.

When I train, I start smiling, transporting myself in a happy and peaceful place where nothing else matters.

Recognize the My Challenge

When I started journaling, it was spring 2022. At the time, I was training in the pool 3 times a week, going to the gym 3 times for strength. Although my conditioning was good, I remember a friend of mine telling me " You train a lot but badly, you should train less but more effectively", after our conversation I started reflecting about it. How should I train to reach great results with Diabetes?

Moreover, I was feeling like my nutrition was good enough, eating a balanced mediterrean diet, lots of greens and seasonal fruits, but I was not managing to lose weight, that was one of my main goals. I did not want to just loose weight, I wanted to loose body fat. 

Last but not least, my body perception was a constant body inflammation. I felt like something was always wrong. My body was always inflamed. The legs and belly tended to be swollen. Unfortunately, I have found myself always prone to sore throats and earaches. Every little virus seemed to attack me from every front. At the end all of this frustration created a with high emotional and mental stress. 

Discover my Solution

My journey with diabetes has always been a maze of frustration and a quest for understanding. There were moments during the last 20 years when I felt like a vital piece of the puzzle was missing. I've encountered doctors who, despite their expertise, couldn't quite capture the intricate challenges between my sport, nutrition, and diabetes. Nutritionists who were fantastic but lacked insight into the impact of sports, and personal trainers who excelled in fitness but were in the dark about diabetes. 

My Mission

This quest for a comprehensive approach sparked a passion within me. I want to be a mentor for other people that I never had. It's important to me because I know firsthand the isolation of feeling misunderstood by those who are meant to guide us. 

My mission is to close these knowledge gaps with the unique set of skills and experiences I've acquired. 

The main change of approach is that Insulin doses, timing etc is not the only factor that helps manage diabetes, reaching optimal HbA1c, there is much more we can do! 

I came across science that explains that avoiding glucose spikes is key!

In my case, as many others do, a low carb diet helped me reduce insulin requirements, improved HbA1c, helped in losing weight over time. My method to reduce insulin response is a combination of low carb balanced and smart nutrition with daily physical activity.

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Science Based Method

My Science based method lead me from 0 to 100%. From training in 2015 once or twice a week with poor results, increasing the training amount in 2018 to an Half Ironman Triathlon competition in 2023. Today I am proud of what I have achieved, and I am proud of the method I used to discover this path.

I am not a doctor and I am not pretending to be one. I am a Molecular Biotechnology scientist and an Oncology Master graduate one. I have spent years in hospital studying and observing cell behavior, metabolism, grow and death. This made me discover the beauty of my own body and empowered myself to be my own scientist. 

Everything I do is science based, strongly supported by my scientific background. Tested carefully on myself, discussed with other and with specialist of the topic. Afterwards, validated with scientific results on performance, body weight and mental health.

What is my detailed therapy for diabetes, the units, and the measurements might be not yours, but the strategy for success might be similar!


Disclaimer:

Beyond every race, even every training that can be run, bike ride, swimming etc.. there is much more. Weeks, months, maybe a years of trainings. Training not only in the sport train the mind and the body to act and react with Diabetes, to feel while pushing, to hold the pain while being aware. Every training is fully planned around nutrition and glucose management, supported by a strong mindset.

My science based method lead me from 0 to 100%. From training in 2015 once or twice a week with poor results, increasing the training amount in 2018 to an Half Ironman Triathlon competition in 2023. Today I am proud of what I have achieved, and I am proud of the method I used to discover this path.

I am not a doctor and I am not pretending to be one. I am a Molecular Biotechnology scientist and an Oncology Master graduate one. I have spent years in hospital studying and observing cell behavior, metabolism, grow and death. This made me discover the beauty of my own body and empowered myself to be my own scientist. 

Everything I do is science based, as I inform myself with proved scientific articles, strongly supported by my scientific background. Tested carefully on myself, discussed with other and with specialist of the topic. Afterwards, validated with scientific results on performance, body weight and mental health.

What is my detailed therapy for diabetes, the units, and the measurements might be not yours, and you do not need to copy or try to replicate the numbers, although The Strategy for success might be similar!


To know more about my challenges and my day to day diabetes management on Instagram 

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