HELEN SPRIGGS: RUNNING AGAINST DIABETES

Photo: portrait. Caption: Helen Spriggs

Artwork: NFB logo at end of article

Helen Spriggs, from London, England, has been a type 1, insulin dependent diabetic for 13 years. She also regularly competes in the marathon, the 26.2 mile foot race. How does she do this? More important--why?

"I had always been interested in the marathon," she says. "What a great, inspiring thing to watch people do that; the kind of passion people had about it; the whole atmosphere. At age 13 or 14 I thought there was no way a person with diabetes could ever do that. When you're first diagnosed...you feel you can't achieve the things other people can. Ten years later, I decided I want to do this, to prove to myself...that I can apply the skills and perseverance I've got from managing my diabetes to anything."

Helen's doctors were not initially supportive. "There is no way we can control your diabetes, I've not had another patient that's run a marathon, I have no experience with this..." they told her.

"It appeared they were very negative...rather than adopting a can-do attitude, kind of saying 'no, don't do it,' rather than 'we don't know, but we can work with you.' So that made me far more determined..."

"The first marathon I did was on April the 14th, 1997, which was also my 24th birthday," Helen explains, "so it just seemed like a good way to celebrate it. It was really just to prove to myself that I can control diabetes; that diabetes is not going to get control of me. Diabetes is not going to win this race--I am."

Helen points out that there is not a lot of information about diabetes and extended exercise. She had to evolve her own routines: different types and amounts of insulin, injection frequencies, when and what to eat on the way, and the right glucose monitor for testing while running.

Some details are easy: She uses a pen filled with quick-acting Humalog insulin, and Bayer's unique Glucometer Dex:

"I tested about eight times while I was actually running. With the Dex there is no need to actually stop (to do the test). Because it is pre-loaded with the strips (10 tests per load), and the way in which it gets the blood sample, the Dex just sucks the blood in, you can run and move about. This has been a huge improvement for me, and it's helped me reduce my time from previous runs."

While Helen runs, she carries fluids, glucose tablets, Gatorade energy drink, and fruit-flavored candies, and, because she can carry only so much in her pack, periodically stops at stands along the way for fluids. Many of these stands are operated by the International Diabetic Athletes Association (IDAA), and they even offer blood glucose testing--but Helen has her Dex.

Last November 7, Helen ran the New York City Marathon, along with about 30,000 other brave souls. She finished it in five hours, 37 minutes, and four seconds. Her average blood glucose, during the race, was about 100mg/Dl. Although she didn't win this race, she competed and finished without difficulty.

Try running a mile, or five miles. Then imagine running more than 26 miles, and you'll see that even without diabetes, running marathon races takes a very special degree of commitment and dedication. Why does Helen run?

"It's about me taking control, and managing it through the 26.2 miles. And, I think as well...if I can change just one person's outlook on diabetes, if I can make a difference to one person, make them sit up and listen, take control of their diabetes instead of their diabetes controlling them, then I've won the greatest race. It didn't matter that I didn't come first in the race, out of all the runners; to myself I came in first if I change one person's perception of diabetes. If I change one person's views by running it, that's a win--I've won."

When not in training for the next marathon (she has competed in six), Helen works as a counselor and fund-raiser, for the British Diabetes Association's Youth and Family Services Team. By serving as an example and role model for young people with diabetes, Helen Spriggs is indeed a winner!