#857 Four Time Olympian

Training Strategy

Kris Freeman, a four-time Olympian, shares his meticulous approach to managing diabetes while training. He emphasizes the importance of preparation, noting that he uses the Dexcom G6 to monitor his blood sugar levels constantly. This allows him to adjust his insulin and diet to maintain optimal performance. Freeman explains, "It's not a spontaneous thing. There's a prep from a few hours beforehand to make sure that the sugars are right, that I'm eating the right thing, that I don't have too much insulin on board."

Either that, or I want to have very little active insulin in. Okay. I can't live my life completely revolved around training anymore with a four year old and other obligations anymore. So if I want to train in the morning, I would get up and eat a breakfast very high on protein, take a small bolus so that there isn't bolus driving me down when I go out 30 minutes later and carry some carb with me while I'm going. That kind of finishes the meal as I'm out there and offsets the insulin on board.

--- Kris Freeman

He stresses that managing blood sugar starts with a good diet, avoiding processed foods to maintain stable glucose levels 1 2.

   

Diet Approach

Freeman views food primarily as fuel, a perspective shaped by his diabetes management. He avoids processed foods, opting for natural options to ensure predictable blood sugar levels. "I very much view food as fuel," he says, emphasizing the importance of eating clean to support his athletic performance 3.

Diabetes definitely changed my relationship to food. And I don't know that this is relatable for anybody, but I very much view food as fuel. And obviously there are certain foods that I enjoy eating, but I enjoy being able to do the things I want to do in my day more than eating that food. And if eating that food is going to impact the rest of my day in a negative way or impact my blood sugars in a negative way, it's just not worth it to me. I hear people say a term used in diabetes is I get to eat this many carbohydrates today, and I guess I try to steer away from viewing food as a reward and more as a means to an end.

--- Kris Freeman

Freeman also highlights the need to understand insulin's impact on carbohydrates, advocating for a balanced approach to diet and insulin management to achieve optimal health outcomes 4.

   

Tech and Challenges

Freeman discusses the technology he uses to manage his diabetes, including insulin pumps and glucose monitors. He transitioned to using the Omnipod in 2008, after years of managing his condition with multiple daily injections. "I was taking probably at least a dozen shots a day," he recalls, highlighting the complexity of his regimen before adopting pump technology 5.

I was diagnosed in 2000 and I switched to Omnipod in 2008.

--- Kris Freeman

His journey with diabetes began just before his 20th birthday, during a critical time in his athletic career as he prepared for the 2002 Olympics. Despite the challenges, Freeman's commitment to his sport and health has allowed him to maintain a high level of performance 6.