Christian Mansell marks first podium as milestone for those with diabetes
Christian Mansell has used his first podium in FIA Formula 3 to send a message of support to people with diabetes.
Christian Mansell (right) has used his first podium to send a message of support to those with diabetes. (Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images / Formula Motorsport Limited)
The 18-year-old was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was just 14, shortly after beginning his racing career.
Four years later, almost to the day, Mansell has achieved his first podium in a global motorsport series, a high water mark in his Formula 3 career so far.
"It’s a significant milestone," says Mansell.
"I'm the only one who's doing it [with diabetes]."
"This goes to show you can definitely do anything, and I know anyone is going to say that when you're in my position, but you can."
"You can do anything, nothing is holding you back, apart from your mind. I think it's a pretty good example, if you really, really want it, you can have it."
Christian Mansell in the podium press conference after the FIA Formula 3 sprint race. (Joe Portlock / Getty Images / Formula Motorsport Limited)
The young Australian opened up on how diabetes adds to his workload in professional motorsport.
It is a concern, for example, that his blood glucose level could drop while he is in the car.
"This is a very real reality, and this is the life that I live," he says.
"Bad things do happen, but I honestly can't remember the last time anything bad happened in the car with diabetes, it was when I was first starting, back in Formula 4."
"I think the way I approach it, I have a constant glucose monitor that is with me at all times, that is connected to me, that monitors my blood sugar."
Mansell uses a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor to stay in control of his blood glucose level, but the work is not that simple.
"We prepare on the Wednesday, I have to start preparing myself, eating the right foods, and that we're in the right window."
"I do insulin injections, six times a day, to keep myself at a stable level, so that's six needles a day. It's tough, because sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days."
"The one saving grace is that F3 is so action-packed is that when I have an adrenalin spike, that tends to bring my sugars up, so my risk of my blood sugar dropping is much lower than it normally would be on a day to day basis."
"But I'm preparing my blood sugar three hours before I get in the car. From the moment I wake up, I'm on that straight away, I have a separate phone, I'm on that checking my numbers."
He jokes that it makes his workload higher than that of his competitors, pointing to his rivals on the podium.
"It's a constant battle, trying to nail it and trying to put yourself in the window, it's one less thing you boys have to deal with, but I manage."
"It's just one of those things."
