Dr. Charlotte Rowley from Diabetes WA looks at how elite athletes with Type 1 diabetes – like Alexander Zverev who competed in the Australian Open – prepare for competition at the highest levels. 

There’s a common misconception that Type 1 diabetes has a limiting effect on a person’s life.

“With the right team around you, anything is possible, whether you have diabetes or not. And Alexander Zverev is a wonderful ambassador for that message.”

Blood Sugar

There are many precautions those living with diabetes should take, but it should never become an obstacle, said Dr. Charlotte.

“When we exercise, it means that we’re using up energy and taking more sugar out of the blood. If we are taking insulin, it means that we have a much greater risk of going too low.” 

There are adjustments that need to be made when it comes to insulin and carbohydrate intake. 

“It’s through trial and error that we’re going to figure out what works for each person and sport,” she said.

The Insight on Insulin

Insulin is a medication that is injected. If you have type 1 diabetes, there is a great chance you will need it.

“Insulin helps the body to use the sugar that is in the blood. Instead of just sitting in the blood, the insulin moves it into the muscles that we can then use it for energy. If we’re then exercising, we’re using that a lot more. So that’s why we have to be very cautious,” said Dr. Charlotte.

Fuel in the Car

When you are diabetic, sugar becomes the product that fuels you and can determine what you are able to accomplish in a day.

“Sugar is like the fuel in the car, but if you’ve got some faulty wiring and it needs a bit of extra help, then that’s what goes wrong in diabetes and insulin helps that work better.”

Be in Control

It is important for those who live with it to feel comfortable about their treatments.

“Make sure that you’re comfortable with your healthcare team. So that usually starts with your GP. So if you’re a bit concerned that you might be developing diabetes, for example, then we should be getting regular checkups, at least yearly, to make sure our blood sugar levels are looking okay, looking in the right range.” 

From there, the people you want to discuss it with are those, such as, a dietician, diabetes educator and exercise physiologist, according to Dr. Charlotte. 

“So it’s not just about knowing what to do but also putting that into action which is where people usually struggle and your health team should be able to help you to make that transition from knowledge to doing.”

Myths on Diabetes 

Myth 1: Type 2 diabetes develops because you eat too much and aren’t active

“That’s a huge one that we really need to pull that down because it’s really unhelpful and it means people actually aren’t getting the best care because there’s a lot of assumptions being made about their lifestyle. So actually diabetes can happen to anyone. Yes, Type 2 diabetes usually happens more in adults. 

Myth 2: If it is found later in life, it is only Type 2 diabetes

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing that trend for people actually getting diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes younger and younger. It used to be more of like an older person’s condition. Now it’s getting younger and younger, even into 20s. But conversely, we’re also seeing more and more people getting diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in adulthood, even in their 60s and 70s.” 

Dr. Charlotte continued, “People can assume it’s Type 2, and when they’re not responding to treatment in the way that we expect, we realise it’s Type 1.”

She noted that although your GP is a great source of information and AI can sometimes be helpful, DiabetesWA has a helpline number. You can speak directly to a diabetes educator, such as her who can best help a person dealing with diabetes to understand what is going on and point people in the right direction.

She encouraged those needing assistance to call 1300 001 880.

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Canva

The last decade has seen chaplains at both elite and grassroots levels become commonplace, helping athletes and support staff tackle life’s other challenges.

It’s been a massive couple of weeks for Brisbane footy fans of all persuasions. 

With the Brisbane Lions demolishing Geelong in the second half of the AFL Grand Final, and the Broncos taking out the NRL Premiership against the Melbourne Storm. 

For many footballers, success at the highest level defines who they are. But what about away from the bright lights, the packed stadiums and hordes of adoring fans? 

Who’s there for them when they struggle with not just the pressure of their jobs, but the normal things we all go through? 

The numbers of sports chaplains, serving not just football clubs, but all sports at both elite and grassroots levels have increased dramatically over the past decade. 

These days chaplains are common place, but it wasn’t always that way. 

In a 2015 column for ‘The Australian’, Melbourne Storm coach and former Canberra Raiders player Craig Bellamy encouraged all clubs to consider appointing a chaplain. 

He spoke of Father John Woods who has served the Raiders since Bellamy’s playing days in the eighties, and of the Melbourne Storm chaplain Grant Stewart – describing them as ‘two of the finest men I have ever met’. 

Such is the respect that John Woods, now a Monsignor, holds with the Canberra Raiders for his almost 40 years of voluntary service, that they bestowed him with life membership of the club in 2022. Monsignor Woods was only the tenth life member of the Raiders at the time.

Even ten years ago Bellamy saw the benefits that chaplains brought to a footy club, especially in the areas of mental health. 

“I believe chaplains are a much needed resource in our game,” Bellamy wrote in that column. “I think a lot of clubs don’t even realise the value they bring.” 

Clearly, much has changed over the past decade.  Someone who has seen the role of the sports chaplain elevated over that time is Paul Reis, who has been chaplain to the Brisbane Lions for sixteen years. 

Originally a state level representative player and coach in Squash, Paul got his start in the space with a two-year stint at the Gold Coast Suns, as they gained entry into the AFL. 

Paul gushes with pride as he speaks of the Lions taking out a second straight AFL premiership flag at the MCG. 

Having been involved with AFL clubs for almost two decades, Paul has seen the growth of chaplaincy first hand. 

“ There was some older, established chaplains that had been in their AFL clubs for some time, but a number of clubs still didn’t have chaplains. 

“That’s now been remedied with chaplaincy represented across all AFL clubs, as well as at the AFLW level and VFL level.  There’s now also many chaplains at community level so we’ve seen chaplaincy recognised at all levels of the sport.”  

Paul’s role at the Lions sits in the wellbeing team, which compromises a wellbeing manager and an assistant, a psychologist and the indigenous officer. 

At the heart of his role, Paul sees building relationships and investing time as key to supporting the Lions’ players and support staff. 

“ I’ve always worked to two things in my chaplaincy; one is to be visible and the other is to be available,” Paul says. 

Another sports chaplain who has seen footy chaplaincy go from strength to strength is Warren Crank, whose first involvement was with the Rugby League World Cup in 2008. 

He subsequently spent five years as chaplain with the NRL’s North Queensland Cowboys, as well as serving in the Queensland Cup with the Townsville Blackhawks. 

Warren is currently chaplain with Brisbane based North’s Devils, who also compete in the Queensland Cup. 

“It’s a great hashtag – chaplain to the Devils,” laughs Warren, who agrees that an investment of time is paramount. 

“What we learn as chaplains is that being around a lot is how relationships best form and how chaplaincy really thrives. 

“With the Cowboys, I was there for a couple of years and then there was a very sad event, which I was called into immediately and asked to be around the club all the next day. And suddenly they thought this is why we have a chaplain here.” 

Warren said that his role is to support players holistically and not just as professional athletes. 

Like Paul, Warren has also seen the leadership of elite competitions become increasingly open to chaplaincy. 

“In rugby league, especially with the Pasifika involvement,  spirituality is increasingly understood as part of human flourishing and important in a club.  

“I did the NRL wellbeing course a couple of years ago, and of the eight slices of the wellbeing pie, spirituality is one of them. 

“Chaplaincy featured in a day long discussion about, for what many coaches and players can be that mysterious dimension of us called spirituality.” 

“ I was on a recent NRL and Queensland Cup chaplain Zoom call, and one of the key wellbeing people from the NRL was on it too. Not necessarily a person of faith, but they said this is good – we want to encourage you in this.  

“And they see that impact that you’re having on the teams, on the individuals. Everyone knows that what happens outside of footy affects what happens on the park.” 

If you’re considering serving in a sports chaplaincy role, Warren’s book ‘Unofficial Chaplain’ is a great place to start. 

There’s also plenty of information available at Sports Chaplaincy Australia’s website. 

Paul says that it’s a great way to impact your community outside of the four walls of the church. 

“When you consider the number of Aussies that play sport, to be able to walk into a sporting community and be that person of light, hope and support is invaluable.  

“It’s a great opportunity to be able to be the right person at the right time, in those places.” 

Article supplied with thanks to 96five.

Feature image: Supplied

Parents of athletic kids know: supporting kids and teens’ emotional and psychological development can be challenging.

In a recent interview, sports psychologist Dr. Jay-Lee Nair chatted with adolescent psychologist Collett Smart , about parents strategies for dealing with performance anxiety and fostering a supportive environment for young athletes.

1. Offer non-verbal encouragement

Young athletes often grapple with overthinking their performance, and unfortunately, verbal communication from parents can contribute to their stress.

“What athletes really want from parents and coaches is what we call attentional silence or silent encouragement,” Dr. Nair said, and explained that gestures like nods and smiles are great examples of non-verbal support.

“It’s a gesture of support, encouragement and it’s completely non verbal,” she said.

Young athletes often look to their parents for reassurance, particularly during difficult or challenging moments. This means maintaining positive facial expressions are vital.

“Athletes can interpret [facial expressions] as ambiguous,” she said. “So, they often say, are they mad at me? I can’t tell – what are they thinking?”

2. Reinterpret mistakes

Avoiding mistakes is the main goal for most young athletes, leading to what Dr Nair calls “performance hesitance”. However, she explains, elite athletes distinguish themselves by their ability to recover from errors efficiently.

“What we perceive when we watch elite athletes is we perceive that there’s perfection… but they are still making mistakes.”

By reminding them of the value of mistakes, you’re empowering them to stretch themselves.

And the way we respond in the moment has a huge impact.

“The number one element would be [to have] good reactions to mistakes,” she said. “We need to help our young athletes develop [this skill] over and above everything else when it comes to competition in early days.”

3. Develop positive reactions to mistakes

In a similar way to above, working on the way athletes respond internally to mistakes is crucial.

Dr Nair encourages young athletes to visualise possible errors, and to plan constructive responses in advance.

“They visualize good reactions to it and moving on and refocusing on the next point,” she said.

By embracing mistakes as a natural and necessary part of development, performance anxiety is reduced, fostering resilience.

4. Create a positive environment

A positive environment is vital, particularly when it comes to helping teenage girls stay in sport.

According to Dr Nair, girls are particularly motivated by relationships within their teams and the community around them.

“As girls progress, they actually prioritize relationships… this is something that’s so important to them,” she said.

For parents, nurturing a positive environment that emphasises the team bond and mutual support rather than competitive pressure, can make a huge difference.

5. Be consistently positive

Using the “Good, Better, How” methodology in post-game conversations can help fortify a positive sporting culture. By focusing first on what they did well, you can then (very carefully) touch on areas for improvement – providing constructive feedback without being overwhelming.

“Let’s look at three things you did well today, one thing that you can improve and do better in your next match,” Dr Nair suggests.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Photo by Fotos on Unsplash

About the Author: Joni Boyd is a writer, based in the Hawkesbury Region of NSW. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.