Stephen Clancy has always been passionate about cycling so when he was diagnosed in 2011 with type 1 diabetes at the age of 19, it was a double whammy. Stephen was a member of the U-23 national development cycling squad and they had ended the 2011 season with a stage win and overall victory in the Charleville 2-Day. Stephen had gone from third category to first category in his first year as a senior rider and was awarded Domestic Cyclist of the Year by Cycling Ireland. “Initially I thought, oh no this is the worst news in the world,” said Stephen, who is from Dooradoyle, Co Limerick.

When diagnosed Stephen was told that cycling would complicate things and that it would be difficult to maintain his cycling with his diabetes.  “For me to be told that my sport could be in danger – the diagnosis was pretty shocking. But it opened up fantastic doors and opportunities,” said Stephen who six months later signed with Team Novo Nordisk.Stephen had emailed Phil Southerland, Co-founder and CEO, Team Novo Nordisk, for hints and tips. “While I was contacting him looking for information, the team was already reaching out for cyclists with type 1 diabetes. So it all came together from both avenues,” said Stephen. US cycling trials “They took me over to America for what I thought was only a trial. I thought I was coming back home to college and my part-time work in a bike shop. But I signed this important piece of paper, the contract, before I left. I was only diagnosed six months before signing the contract. Then within a year of diagnosis I had joined this team. It really transformed my life.

Stephen Clancy: “For me to be told that my sport could be in danger – the diagnosis was pretty shocking. But it opened up fantastic doors and opportunities”. “I was studying PE and maths teaching in University of Limerick. I had done two out of my four years, I’ve put that on hold for the moment. I had not even moved out of home for college. I was still living here in Limerick with the odd family holiday to France and that was it. I hadn’t even done much travelling. So it’s incredible.I think I’ve visited nearly every continent in the world now,”said Stephen. Shortly after signing the contract, Stephen was delighted to be asked to be an ambassador for Diabetes Ireland. He was anxious to show people that if he could achieve his dream of being a pro-cyclist, other people could achieve their sporting ambitions too.

Stephen says it is very important to have the right attitude and to avoid viewing diabetes as a negative thing. Stephen and his teammates compete in major professional races around the world on the International Cycling Union (UCI) Professional Continental tour. This is one level below Pro Tour teams that take part in Grand Tour races such as the Tour de France. They aim to take part in the Tour de France by 2021, the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of insulin. The team’s first official race was the Trofeo Laigueglia, Italy, in February 2013. To date, they have achieved more than 10 top 20 finishes including third place for Italian rider, Andrea Peron, in the first stage of the Tour de Beauce in Canada, the team’s first podium finish.

Not only do Stephen and his teammates have to manage their diabetes alongside their endurance sport, but the nature of the sport means there is constant long distance travel and crossing time zones. “At the moment, I’m home for one week, then I have to go to Taiwan for a week for a race. Then I’ll be back for another week and then it’s off to France for a race, probably home for a week and then probably move to the US for a while. I’ll be moving around there racing, so it’s always on the go,” said Stephen.

Stephen uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), and insulin pens. “I had to learn all the tricky bits of diabetes management – exercise, travel, time zones, new food cultures – quite early on. I found that all the exercise really makes my insulin work better. I can even notice that if I have a sick period during the year, or even if I’m just not training, I can see my control is not quite as good. Exercise definitely helps,” said Stephen.

“One thing that really shocked me was how everyone manages their diabetes differently. Everyone has different preferences. But even if I was to eat the same
thing as my teammate, it could work great for him but terrible for me. It’s phenomenal, there is no rulebook as such. There are a few hints that apply across 
the board. “I adjust my insulin doses a lot every day. Each day can be between no training or a six-hour training session.
So your breakfast, lunch, dinner, while being different sizes, are always at different times of the day. On the bike you’re snacking, it’s constant adjustments. Definitely carb counting really helps,” said Stephen. Team Novo Nordisk takes a systematic approach to achieving tight glycaemic control.

This includes:
• Monitoring and analysis of blood glucose levels before, during and after training and competition
• A structured and balanced nutrition and race management plan.

On race days Stephen eats a good carbohydrate meal in advance of the race. “You don’t want to have too much insulin actively acting when you start the exercise. And then continuously monitoring your glucose throughout the event as much as possible. The more you test the better your control is going to be,” said Stephen. “You have lads racing alongside you in the race [who don’t have diabetes] and your blood glucose might go high during the race, and you might need to eat some glucose. So I might have to take an insulin injection on the bike while cycling next to these top guys. Their faces, the shock, they always seem impressed. ‘Wow you guys’. It’s a cool aspect of it,” said Stephen. “Our goal is to show that people with diabetes can compete with the best and show what is possible. Once you get things under control you can achieve your goal,” said Stephen.

JOIN STEPHEN THIS SUMMER AT THE CHANGING DIABETES CYCLE. DETAILS HERE