Coaching your child’s coach about T1D
By Mike Evangelis, B.S., P.T.
Mike Evangelis is a bodybuilder who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 16. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from East Stroudsburg University, and he’s a certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. He also has a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certificate in Exercise Nutrition.
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It can be challenging—and even scary—to coach or parent an athlete with type 1 diabetes (T1D). But being properly prepared for an emergency will help alleviate anxiety and decrease potential dangers. Below, I provide some tips that I hope will help you set up your student athlete for a safe and stress-free season.
Know the Plan
One of the keys to success for an athlete with T1D is making sure everyone—including your child, his/her coach, and anyone else that supervises your child during sporting events—is on the same page and knows the signs and symptoms of high and low blood-sugar levels. I think the worst thing you can do is pretend nothing significant will happen because the truth is something can and probably will, unfortunately.
First and foremost, everyone should get together and discuss a plan for when blood-sugar levels spike or plummet. Write down the plan so an adult will have clear directions to follow in the heat of the moment. I recommend that the coaches, trainers, parents, and child with T1D are all involved in this discussion. If you feel it necessary, you can contact your doctor or Certified Diabetes Educator to help educate everyone comprehensively.
Know the Signs
The coaches and trainers should know the warning signs and symptoms of highs and lows and know what to do when they happen. If the child starts acting strangely, they should immediately have the athlete test his or her blood sugar. There should always be proper supplies on hand, including items such as a glucagon kit and Gatorade, glucose tablets or glucose gel in case of a hypoglycemic event. Emergency contact information should be on file, and the person should be contacted immediately if something occurs.
Blood-sugar levels should be tested before the start of a game, during half-time, and immediately after the game and addressed promptly. It’s important for the coach to know the athlete’s optimal blood-sugar range. If blood sugar is too high or too low, the athlete should not be participating in activities until it is within range.
Know the Tech
Devices like a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), including Dexcom, can be very helpful. Dexcom offers a share app where the trainer can have access to CGM data and see child’s blood-sugar levels throughout the game. This is a very important tool to see if the athlete is dropping or rising quickly during the event.
The more you get to know the student and how various activities impact them the better of you will be. Ultimately this takes time to learn and understand, but being prepared is the best way to ensure success when a situation arises. Ultimately, it’s important to understand that diabetes is a moving target and requires constant monitoring, a great support system, and proper preparation.
I wish everyone a safe and healthy school year. Feel free to contact me or follow me for tips:
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You can learn more about Mike, his life as an athlete and trainer with T1D, and his Northeast PA One Walk team here.