Diabetes doesn't slow Kimball down

CEDAR RAPIDS - Charlie Kimball wasn't about to apply the brakes to his racing career.

Sure, he had to slow down briefly when he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes in 2007, when his career was revving up, but the 26-year-old has accelerated a return to the top level of open-wheel racing.

Kimball became the first licensed IZOD IndyCar Series driver with diabetes when he signed on with Chip Ganassi Racing this season. He personifies the idea that diabetes doesn't have to be a roadblock while pursuing dreams. Kimball conveyed that message while meeting with local children from the Eastern Iowa Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on Wednesday at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

"That's one of the great things about, not only my partnership with Novo Nordisk but, my racing program in the IZOD IndyCar Series is that I'm helping to prove diabetes doesn't have to slow you down," said Kimball, who has been associated with Novo Nordisk, an organization dedicated to diabetes care and technology, for a few years. "You can do anything you want in life."

Watch KCRG-TV's Scott Saville feature Kimball at the JDRF event Wednesday.

Kimball, the son of Formula One designer and engineer Gordon Kimball, began racing go-karts at 9 and tested his first open-wheel car at 16. He won his very first open-wheel race in 2002.

He is 19th in the season points standings, earning a 10th-place finish at the Grand Prix of Alabama and will compete in the Iowa Corn Indy 250 Saturday at the Iowa Speedway in Newton. It is his ninth start this season and he will be trying for his second top 10 and fifth top 20 performance of the season. The race is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.

"It's going really well," Kimball said. "We're within shooting distance for Rookie of the Year points. We're hitting our stride.

"I expect a real (barn burner). The track is challenging."

Kimball also obliged us by appearing on The Sports Desk. Check it out here  http://www.kcrg.com/sports/sportsdesk/Charity-Event-at-Hawkeye-Downs-Holds-Special-Meaning-for-IndyCar-Racer-124443384.html

Challenges are nothing new to Kimball, who has to monitor and manage his blood sugar levels during races. His cockpit is different from his competitors. He wears a "continuous glucose monitor" throughout the race with a display on his steering wheel, so he can check that gauge along with water temperature, oil pressure and his speed.

Like most drivers, Kimball has a drinking system to keep hydrated during the race. He has an additional mounted bottle filled with sugar water. When the monitor alerts him of low blood sugar levels, he can push a button to activate a drink to reach proper levels.

"I can sip on that," Kimball said. "The tube runs right into my helmet. I don't have to take my hands off the wheel and I don't have to stop."

Stopping is Plan B. If the mixture doesn't regulate his levels, he will have to pull into the pit area and receive a poke with a FlexPen through his suit.

"Absolute worst case is I have to stop," said Kimball, noting that it would double his normal pit time. "The second line of defense is an injection of glucagon from a team member."

Kimball has yet to need the sugar water in his previous starts, including when he placed 13th at the 100th Indianapolis 500 when he became the first licensed diabetic to qualify, start and finish the marquee open-wheel event. He credits his preparation, working with a doctor to make sure his levels are at the desired levels to stay within a normal range as a result of proper nutrition throughout the day of the race.

"It is a lot more conscientious beforehand," Kimball said. "The idea is if I do my job right before I get in the race car all I have to focus on is driving."

Kimball's career took the major turn when he was diagnosed with diabetes about four years ago. He visited a doctor for a skin rash and further examination exposed symptoms of diabetes, including a 25-pound weight loss in seven days after a race in Europe. It was later verified he had diabetes.

"It was a big surprise, because I had no family history," Kimball said. "I was very ignorant about what diabetes was at first. I had to figure out what it meant for me as a person, me as an athlete and then finally me as a racing driver."

One of Kimball's first questions after learning of his condition was if he would be able to race. The doctor said it would be tough but possible, so Kimball focused on a return to the track. It only took one year to get back behind the wheel. He did have doubters.

"Nobody that I listened to," Kimball said. "Racing was too important to me to have that door closed. I needed to find somebody that was going to give me the support that I needed to go racing."

Gracie Shaw, 11, of Cedar Rapids, attended the JDRF event and listened to Kimball's message. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes March 4. The discovery was a surprise, especially at her young age. Shaw was able to relate to Kimball, who has gained a new fan who never watched auto racing until trying to spot him in last Sunday's race in Milwaukee, Wis.

"I don't usually watch it," said Shaw. "I might start now."

Shaw, who is active taking ballet, tap and jazz dance classes, showed her excitement after having Kimball sign a bag and her diabetic supply kit, which includes essentials like an insulin pen, needles, blood sugar meters, test strips and snacks and juice box to help regulate her levels. Shaw also left with some inspiration with her autographs.

"It makes me feel like I can do whatever I set out to do," Shaw said. "Just because I have Type 1 diabetes I can do whatever I set out to do."

Kimball said it is a dream come true to be able to mesh his love of racing and the ability to impact those with diabetes. He has become a trail blazer, showing children and their families dealing with diabetes anything is possible. Shaw's response to his message struck a chord with the professional athlete.

"It gives me goose bumps," Kimball said. "It's really special."

Diabetes has also adjusted his focus. Kimball said it is important to do well, so that the door remains open for other diabetics to follow. He is serious about his role and is devoted to do it safely, allowing others the same chance in the future.

"For so long, racing was very self-centric," Kimball said. "It was all about me, my results, my team (and) my winning. Now, it's still very much about winning, but it's also bigger than that. I know that I'm representing, not just myself, my team and partners, but the whole diabetes community.”