Road Bike Racing - Is there any rule out there...

... that states if you are diabetic you cannot race? I started racing this year and I have not told anyone that I am diabetic, I try not to let this stop me from doing what I want to do, although sometimes my training is hard because of my condition but never a danger while I am riding (I have a pretty good handle on my diabetes due to some really effective drugs).

I am not aware of any special rules regarding diabetics and cycle racing. Steve Redgrave from the United Kingdom won 5 gold medals in his olympic rowing career, and he is diabetic, so that goes to show that this does not have to slow you down.

Go for it. If your diabetes is under control, and you feel great, ride on dude.

I dont think there are any rules like that... that would be sort of discriminatory.

I am not aware of any rule in this situation either. You better make sure that you carry a candy bar or some sort of sugary drink with you every time you ride. Bonking for non-diabetics is no big deal from a safety standpoint. Our blood sugar may drop a bit, but enough to be a concern. Diabetics, on the other hand, and as you are probably well aware, can drop their sugar extremely low if a combination of exercise and insulin chews up the circulating glucose. Don't let yourself bonk. If you feel like you are, you need to let your pride go and slow down/stop then eat/drink something sugary to stop your blood glucose from plummeting. If you just play it a little more conservative than non-diabetics, you'll do great!

one of the guys on one of the top local teams here is type-1. he has documentation to support his insulin use [duh!] and he eats a whole lot in longer races. nope. no rule. the form you sign to get your license absolves race organizers of any responsibility in the event of an acident, so why not? besides, these guys (http://www.teamdiabetic.org/) race, so why not you?

just eat lots on longer races and try not to crash.

Talk to your doctor. I have no idea how advanced your diabetes is. I carry some hard candy or glucose tablets when I ride. The glucose tabs work well and are pretty cheap. The glucose tubes work good also and you may want to get some if your doctor thinks there is a good chance of an insulin reaction. Talk to your doctor. One Insta-Glucose tube will give you 24 grams of glucose. I don’t know if you ever had an insulin reaction, if not so you may want to discuss the warning signs with your doctor or another diabetic who has experienced a sugar crash.

If you are not on insulin but are taking oral medication remember your medicine works whether you eat and exercise or not. You may be managing your blood sugar levels well within a certain physical routine but if you increase the intensity of your physical exercise your blood sugar levels will drop. You may have make some adjustments., Get some glucose tabs.

Myself, as long as I eat good meals and have a piece of candy or glucose tab if I am working out hard I do fine. I have never had an insulin crash while riding. Continue to do the correct things and you should have no problems if you are managing your blood sugar well. If racing is a major changing to your physical routine and life style then you may want to run it by your doctor, but I haven’t had any problems with physical exercise. I think an important consideration is that your train for racing with enough intensity that when you do race it isn’t a shock to your system. YMMV. Good luck.

Tell all the people you ride with that you are a diabetic. Then they will know how to help if you have an insulin reaction. Its no problem if treated immediately, but delays can be serious.