Q. Age 26
Q. Where are you from? South Florida, USA
Q. What do you do with your time? (Job, Pastimes, Family life etc.)
I am a competitive powerlifter, professional speaker, and online fitness & nutrition consultant for mostly type 1 and type 2 diabetics. I love working ever since I started working for myself over a year ago!
Q. Tell us about your diagnosis? How did you know something was wrong?
I was diagnosed at 19 when I started using the bathroom 17+ times a day and was always thirsty.
Q. Pens or Pump? Any preference?
I am on a pump and dexcom but I occasionally switch off the pump to shots for flexibility and to feel not bound to any one modality of treatment.
Q. How often do you check your blood glucose?
2-4x a day with dexcom, 4-8 without dexcom
Q. Recent A1C? 6.8
Q. How often do you train? 5 days a week
Q. What is your daily calorie and macro breakdown? My macros currently are 200/200/100 carbs/protein/fat
Q. What food do you love, but messes with your blood sugar the most? DONUTS! I have to pre-bolus, bolus after eating and set a 2-hour temp basal.
Q. Have you any body composition or performance goals over the next 12 months?
I think I want to try and earn my Pro Card in physique or classic physique which is weird to say as a powerlifter. I want to conquer more goals and that is definitely one of them since I am diabetic and disabled.
Q. 3 Things diabetes has taught you in life?
It is not what happens but how you react to what happens. Unforeseen circumstances can help get you where you want to be– even if you can’t see it at the time. And self-awareness in general of food, diet, body, and mind-set.
Q. Top 3 tips for managing diabetes? Look for trends in blood sugar management so that you can improve in the future. Learn from an endo/CDE how to pre-bolus and use different dosing methods. Educate yourself on basic physiology so you know how different factors affect blood sugar.
Q. Biggest fitness myth dispelled? Carbs do not make you fat. Overconsumption of food and low activity level make you fat.
Q. What is the single best piece of mind-set advice you could give someone who’s been newly diagnosed with diabetes? Limitations are self-imposed. Your diagnosis is not a death sentence but it is a new responsibility. Learn to live with it not fight it. You’d be surprised where it takes you and who you may help along the ride.
Chris Ruden
Instagram.com/ChrisRuden
Youtube.com/ChirsRuden