BRANDEN RUSSELL

Ravensdale, WA
Age: 20
Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 16

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

4 year letter winner and captain of Track and Field
3 year letter winner and captain of Cross Country
Completing a Marathon as a Diabetic, 6 months after diagnoses
Upgrading from CAT5 to CAT2 in 5 weeks.
Running for Washington in USA vs. Australia Track meet in the summer of 2009

MEET BRANDEN RUSSELL

When were you diagnosed with diabetes?

I was diagnosed in May of 2009, two days before I was to compete in the Washington State Track and Field district meet in order to qualify for state.

How did you and your family feel about diabetes when you were first diagnosed?

When I was first diagnosed I was very angry for about 5 minutes, then my competitive side kicked in. I decided that I was not going to let this ruin my life, and committed myself to managing it. As far as my family - Growing up we were close to a couple of families whose children had diabetes so my family knew a little about the disease. My family, like most, was worried but they were very supportive. I really appreciated that after diagnosis my family treated me like the same old Branden.

How do you feel about diabetes now?

That’s a complicated question. Obviously I don’t like it - Diabetes is a significant chronic illness, right!?. Diabetes is apart of my life now and I have accepted that and do my best so I can live a normal life. This disease, along with its challenges, has brought me some great stuff too. There are many major life experiences, many that I most highly value, that would not have been in my life if not for diabetes. Diabetes has also brought friends and a community into my life that I am thankful for.

Why is exercise and competition a part of your life?

Growing up with two older brothers everything was a competition so that is just bred into me. If I don’t exercise I get really cranky. Now that I have diabetes exercise is even more important in that it makes achieving good blood sugar control much easier. The competition is something that keeps me focused; I need a goal, something to work for.

What drew you to Team Type 1?

As an athlete all through high school the first thing I did, even before the results were in, was to go online and look up athletes with diabetes. The result that kept coming up was TT1. I have always followed bike racing and liked the sport so they were an inspiration to me.

Tell us about an athletic achievement that you find especially significant.

The athletic achievement that will always stand out to me is qualifying for the state meet my Junior year. The reason that this was such an important achievement to me is two days before the first 4x400 meter relay prelim at the district meet I was diagnosed with diabetes. In the moment I was diagnosed I told myself that I was not going to let this ruin my life. I was going to take control and be even better then I was before. I was told that I should go to the hospital where I would be held for three days while they taught me how to control my blood sugars. I told them that I was not going to miss the district meet. The next day I saw my endocrinologist for the first time and had my first shot of insulin. The day after that I ran my seasons best 400 meter time and qualified for state.

If there is one piece of advice you could give to someone who was newly diagnosed with diabetes– what would it be?

Don’t let diabetes change who you are or who you want to be. Check your blood sugars often. Take an active role in managing your diabetes. Know that you can achieve good diabetes control and it is worth your effort.

Are there any ways which you have found diabetes to be a benefit in your life?

Diabetes has given me the determination to work hard to achieve my goals and not let anything stand in the way. It has also taught me to be extremely aware of what is going on in my body at all times.

Are there any areas of your diabetes management that you are currently targeting to improve?

Right now I am transitioning from shots to an insulin pump. It means beginning a new learning curve and walking away from the familiar. I am confident that once I complete the fine-tuning, the insulin pump will allow better bg control and schedule flexibility.

Tell us about an athletic goal you have for the short term – say less than one year from now.

I would like to have a strong finish in the U23 National Championships and by the end of the season I would like to achieve CAT1 classification.

How about an athletic goal that you have for the long term?

I would like to be racing for TT1 in Europe and one-day ride the Tour as a diabetic.