I have joined the Diabetes Liga Running Team!

Today’s blog post is a different one. No nutrition strategies, no deep reflections, no long text-walls. I will simply share the joy in my heart of having finally become a partner of the Diabetes Liga!

When I started The Curious Diabetic project, my goal was to create and grow a platform where I document all my ups and downs as a type 1 diabetic runner, and to inspire others to pursue an active lifestyle, diabetic or not. Hopefully, all my sharing would help other fellow diabetics who can see and avoid my mistakes and perhaps learn from my successes.
In other words, I wanted to create a place where people could read about the real life experiences and tips that a visit at the doctor will hardly address.

“Sharing is caring”, they say.

And recently I was lucky enough to elevate the meaning of this adage by joining a community of amazing people committed to share, exercise and care for one another. The Diabetes Liga, a team of overall exercise enthusiasts, walkers, runners and cyclists gave me the opportunity to become one of their ambassadors.
What I truly love about this group is its commitment to spread the same message I am trying to spread:

a healthy and active lifestyle could and should be the standard for people living with diabetes, no matter their background, age or level of fitness. It is never too late to get healthier, and an active lifestyle is one of the best time and energy investments a person can possibly do!

We met during a two-day outdoor camping retreat, dedicated to one of Us, Dirk, who passed away while out on the road riding his beloved bycicle.
The camp was all centred on walking, running, cycling and sharing.
For me, running is usually a solo activity, a form of “meditation” space that I like to keep for myself. But these two days showed me how powerful it is to get to do that with others from time to time: every activity involved the entier group, and that somehow made each step count ten times more than normal.
Nothing beats the energy unleashed by a a community of people inspired by the same principles and aligned towards the same goals.

In fact, for how much I love running, meeting and talking to the other members of the team was by far the real treasure of the weekend.

Whether preparing marathons, ultramarathons, crazy cycling competitions or simply enjoying the magic of a walk in the woods, each member of the Liga added immense value for me. Not only have I learned a ton of practical and useful tips related to sport and diabetes, but I come home extremely energized and with a big smile on my face.

They say you should surround yourself with people who elevate you, and that you are the average of those people.
Well, I feel elevated, and that “average” is definitely higher now! I can’t wait to do my part to help grow this Team even more, and we always prefer actions to words. That is why we get back on the streets now, there’s an important date on the calendar.
The Diabetes Liga will participate to the Marathon of Bruges, on the 15 October 2023!

We’ll represent the community of diabetic athletes, and do our best to inspire as many people as possible to take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle, the first step their own marathon.
This will be not only my first marathon with the Diabetes Liga, but my first marathon ever…twice as much honor, twice as much responsibility and twice as much motivation.

Let’s go!

A rare example of a Curious Diabetic in its habitat. Now representing the Diabetes Liga!