In November 2003 I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. At that time I was 32 years old and a professional volleyball player. Not being familiar with diabetes, I feared for my career. Soon after being diagnosed, I tried to find out as much as possible about diabetes and the possibilities of continuing to play sport. One of the first athletes with diabetes that I came across on the internet was Steve Redgrave. Sir Steve Redgrave is a five time Olympic gold medal winner and his last gold medal was won with diabetes.
This was good news, excellent news in fact. He showed me that diabetes doesn't stop you from performing at a top level. Within a month after being diagnosed I was back on the court playing my first match again. I played without problems for another year and a half before retiring due to injuries.
Then came the bad news. Not being active the next two months due to rest and work, my blood glucose levels started to go up and down. My insulin intake nearly doubled and I felt tired a lot. I decided to start running. Soon my sugar levels were becoming better but still not as they were before. I decided to run the 2006 New York City Marathon. In the meantime, I discovered a lot of people with diabetes are fearful of being too active because of possible hypo's. Because of my positive experience of managing diabetes and sports, I'd like to share this experience with other people. That's why I started the Bas van de Goor Foundation.
Mission
The Bas van de Goor Foundation wants to enhance the quality of life for people with diabetes through exercise and sport.
Who are we?
The idea of starting the Foundation was not solely mine. I work together with Petra Seegers. Let me provide you with a short introduction of us:
Bas van de Goor: was born on September 4 1971. At the age of 22, he chose to play professional volleyball. The 2.09-meter tall Dutch guy quickly entered the national team. He was a member of the Olympic gold medal Dutch volleyball team. Besides the Olympic gold medal his team also won the European Championship and the World League. During his eight year stay in Italy he played for Modena and Treviso. His last three years he played in Apeldoorn, Netherlands for Piet Zoomers/D. At the conclusion of his playing career, he joined the technical staff for half a year before dedicating himself to his Foundation.
Petra Seegers: After studying Business Administration, Petra worked as a sponsor manager and team captain of the Dutch snowboard team. She obtained her masters degree in the USA. She joined Advantage International (now Octagon) in Paris beginning in the division 'emerging sports'. In '96 she started working for Cinevideogroep, an audiovisual facility company specialised in big sport productions and events. From '98 till '04 she worked for the KNVB, the Dutch soccer federation, as a sponsor manager. She started Terga management, sport sponsoring and media consulting before going to work for Talpa (TV station). She is currently studying Chinese.
What do we do?
We want to inform people about sports and diabetes through our sportclinics. Through our sport camps we want to let kids with diabetes experience how they can manage their glucose levels while playing sports. Finally, we want to inspire people with diabetes by taking part in (extreme) sport events. Let me give you a short introduction:
Sport clinics: Six times a year we organise a sportclinic for kids with diabetes ranging in age from 6 to 12 years old. During a big sport event, we ask a professional trainer to introduce these kids into this sport. The trainer will be assisted by a medical team to ensure optimum support and Bas himself will take part in the clinic. There will also be ambassadors of the Bas van de Goor Foundation present. Ambassadors are people with Type 1 diabetes who have been practicing this sport for many years, sometimes at the highest level. They teach the tips and tricks needed to be well prepared for this particular sport. The main purpose for these clinics is to raise awareness for diabetes and sport through newspapers, magazines, websites and TV.
Sport camp: In 2007 we will organise one camp for kids with diabetes from the age of 13 to 16. Our main goal is to let the children experience how a lot of physical activity affects your blood glucose levels. When you play sports once a week, your blood glucose levels behave differently from when you exercise 4 times per week. Also, different types of sport require different approaches to blood sugar management. During this camp we do not tell them what happens but we let them feel what happens.
Sport events: Twice a year Bas will show no physical activity is impossible for people with diabetes. In 2006 he ran the New York City Marathon in 4 hours and 25 minutes. In 2007 he would like to improve his time to under 4 hours at the Beijing pre-Olympic Marathon. Walking 200 km (125 miles) in 4 days at the Nijmegen wandelvierdaagse is his other goal. If people would like to join him, please contact him at info@bvdgf.org
Links athletes with diabetes.
Please feel free to notify me if you know other athletes with diabetes.