Onbrand

In 2006, at 11 years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It changed everything, not just for me, but for my whole family. We had to relearn our diet, count every carb, and figure out a new version of normal. I had to step away from racing, and outside the track, most of my friends had no idea what Type 1 Diabetes even was, let alone why I suddenly couldn't eat what they were eating. It was isolating, and it was the hardest stretch of my life to that point.

About a year later, I got back on track, now managing insulin and blood sugar on top of everything else racing demands physically. It didn't slow me down. I went on to win four karting championships. At 16, I turned pro and signed with a Mazda team. The next year, I moved to BMW, racing in events like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Years later, I signed with Lamborghini as a Junior Driver, competing in endurance races around the world, including the 24 Hours of Spa, proof that Type 1 Diabetes doesn't have to be a limit.

Endurance racing adds its own layer of difficulty on top of managing diabetes. I'll go to bed at 11 pm and wake up at 2 am to get back in the car, all while keeping my blood sugar steady with the right snacks at the right time. That used to be a lot harder before the technology caught up. Tools like the Dexcom now give me live glucose data around the clock that I can share with my team in real time, and modern insulin makes it far easier to stay in range. My hope is that sharing this story shows the diabetic community that this condition doesn't have to stand between you and your dream.