tisdag 17 februari 2015

Diabetic Warrior - Adam climbs more obstacles than diabetes



He was eight years old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and was at the time convinced his active life would be over: "I wouldn't be able to swim or eat any food, I imagined back then, all wrong." says Adam Egerblom, who today is 41 years old and a participant in the show "Ninja Warrior" on Swedish Channel 5. At 8 PM this Thursday (19th of Feb), this veteran T1D will face the world's toughest obstacle course on national television.

(FÖR TEXT PÅ SVENSKA, VÄNLIGEN SE NEDAN)

I found an article featuring Adam on Facebook the other day and was immediately both impressed and interested. How on earth does he manage his diabetes in combination with sports that empties your body on energy? I had to find out more, get to know the entire story behind this 'Diabetic Warrior'.

When Adam was diagnosed he had been a swimmer for four years already, and continued being so for another 17 years after the diagnose - of which nine in the Swedish national team of fin swimming. Throughout the years he has been trying a whole lot of sports: swimming, soccer, ice hockey, land hockey, badminton, free diving, athletics, gymnastics, inlines, multisport, triathlon, bungee jumping, running, water polo and fin swimming. He has swum half way around Gotland (a Swedish island), been running from sunrise to sunset and received National Championship medals in a few different sports. "I have been sporting in weather conditions of - 43°C and +45°C. I've been swimming in hurricane winds and run down mountain sides in sunshine." he says. "My friend Johan Lampén and I once swam around the island Lidingö in Stockholm, which took us 9 hours and is about 30 km. An article in the magazine the day after, read: 26 000 ran the 'Lidingö race', 2 swam".

Adam at an obstacle course.

Adam injects his insulin with insulin pens since he thinks that way makes it easier to fend with his varied lifestyle: "I have tried using an insulin pump but I couldn't get the numbers right. It's hard to fend work on a soft day and then 100 km cycling the next. My pens makes it easier for me. Also, I got a small rash from the plaster. I'm a sensitive guy. When I'm competing or working out long shifts, I take a lot less basal insulin and it works for me."
Since the beginning of 2013, Adam's main focus has been on training and competing in OCR (Obstacle Course Racing) such as 'Tough Viking' and 'Superior Race'. And his fighting spirit has really paid off: "My love for the sport has played a part in the fact that I'm now representing the national team in a second sport and that's amazing! Competing in the blue and yellow colors at the World Championships of OCR in October 2014 made me extremely proud.".


Having diabetes is a problem, Adam admits. But he doesn't let it stop him: "Whenever I'm working out or competing it affects my diabetes. The adrenaline rush takes my blood sugar high, and sometimes I go really low. I beat that by eating, mostly dextrose or energy gel. Dextrosol (a dextrose brand) gets sticky and hard to handle when I swim a lot. I often get a recoil, but then I just let the blood sugar stay high for a while. The effects of sporting are really long-lasting."

Three and a half years after the birth of Adam's son Dante, the son got the same diagnose as his father. Adam's main focus was then to take as good care ass possible of Dante, while trying to communicate his own positive attitude towards diabetes. "All my three children had been practicing to prick my fingers and giving me my insulin. Now my son got his own equipment which he was very proud about. (...) He gladly tells his friends that he's got diabetes and shows his meter and insulin pump."

Adam with his son Dante, taken around the time of Dantes T1D diagnose.

When asking why he performs these extreme sports, the answer was: "I wanted to become a fire fighter when I was 23. But because of my diabetes I wasn't even allowed to apply. That made me so mad at the system, because if I had been a fire fighter once diagnosed with diabetes I would have been allowed to go on. So then I started my big projects to show that I can do anything even though I have diabetes. (...) Today I perform the sports to show my son and my daughters that they can do anything they want. It's all about the attitude. Everyone benefits from working out and it comes with some really nice life experiences."

This Thursday, on Swedish Channel 5, the fourth episode of the show 'Ninja Warrior' will be airing. It's Swedish athletics taking on the world's toughest obstacle course, 'The Beast'. Thousands of people in the USA and in Japan have been trying, but only three have managed getting through the entire course.

How have you been preparing for this challenge, Adam?
"To prepare for 'Ninja Warrior' I went to a private boot camp in the USA. I practiced obstacles I'd seen on the 'Ninja Warrior' show in Japan and USA. I also built my own salmon ladder in the woods at home. During the summer I practiced along with what would come to be friends of mine, just as me they were about to enter the show."

Your diabetes, was it ever a problem during the competition?
"The show was shot during four days and one night. The food on site was limited, so I had to bring my own. That was never a problem, though. All my kids were there, cheering for me, and it was an amazing feeling to hear them shout my name while taking on the obstacles!"

Adam taking on the obstacles of 'The Beast', and his three children cheering on.

Adam would like to send out a message to those who today feel restricted from performing their sports because of their diabetes: "If you want to do sports, just go for it. Everyone suffers from muscle soreness when working out. If you start carefully and get a hold of the techniques, you'll be making progress. It's the same thing with diabetes for me! I've learned what happens to my body when working out. It has taken a while, and I've had my highs and lows along the way. That's fine. I tell my friends, colleagues and family that I'm diabetic, which leads to curious questions on how to act if something would happen. I consider that being a strength. Dare to try!!!"


Text: Sofia Larsson-Stern
Content Marketing and Social Media consult at AnnaPS

- DON'T FORGET: Thursday Feb 19th, Channel 5, 8 PM. Go, Adam, GO!


Adam and his son Dante are two of the diabetics who has been trying and loving the AnnaPS products. "The quality of the AnnaPS clothes is great! I've tried the tank top and boxers and they're super comfy with a perfect fit. The design of the boxers was cool and the side pockets on the tank top made it look cool! My son who is a tall 6 year old loved his tank top and boxers. He was supposed to just try them on, but ended up sleeping in the outfit all night. If you're a diabetic you'll find these clothes making your every day life easier. And if you're a 'normal' person you'll find the garments super comfy and would want to buy them!"


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Han var åtta år gammal när han drabbades av typ 1-diabetes, och var då övertygad om att det aktiva livet var över. “Jag skulle inte få simma eller äta någon mat, trodde jag, helt felaktigt.” säger Adam Egerblom, som idag är 41 år och högaktuell som deltagare i Kanal 5:s program Ninja Warrior. Klockan 20.00 på torsdag (19 februari) tar den erfarne diabetikern sig an världens tuffaste hinderbana på nationell TV.

Jag ramlade över en artikel om Adam på Facebook och blev genast både imponerad och intresserad. Hur i hela världen klarar han av att balansera sin diabetes med sporter som tömmer kroppen på varenda energireserv? Jag var tvungen att ta reda på mer, få veta hela historien bakom denna “Diabetic Warrior”.

När Adam fick sin diagnos hade han simmat i fyra år redan, och fortsatte efter diabetesdebuten i ytterligare 17 år - varav de sista nio som landslagsmedlem i fensim. Genom sina år har han testat på det mesta: simning, fotboll, hockey, bandy, badminton, fridykning, friidrott, gymnastik, inlines, multisport, triathlon, pendelhopp, bungeejump, löpning, vattenpolo och fensim. Han har simmat halva Gotland runt, sprungit löprace från soluppgång till solnedgång, och mottagit SM-medaljer i diverse sporter. “Jag har utövat aktiviteter i minus 43 grader och plus 45. Jag har simmat i 37 sekundmeter i orkanvindar och sprungit ner för berg i stiltje med gassande sol.” säger han. “Min kompis Johan Lampén och jag simmade runt Lidingö i Stockholm, det tog 9 timmar och är ca 30 km. I tidningen dagen efter stod det: 26 000 sprang Lindingöloppet, 2 simmade.”

Adam tar sitt insulin med pennor då han tycker att det är lättare att parera för hans varierade livsstil: “Jag har testat pump ett tag men fick inte till värdena. Det är krångligt att parera ett lugnt jobb ena dagen och att cykla 10 mil nästa dag. Med pennorna är det mycket enklare för mig. Jag fick även utslag av klistret för nålarna. Jag är en känslig kille. När jag ska tävla eller träna långa pass justerar jag ner mitt basinsulin rätt ordentligt och det funkar bra.”
Sedan början av 2013 har hans huvudfokus legat vid träning och tävling i OCR (Obstacle Course Racing) så som Tough Viking och Superior Race. Och hans kämpaglöd har verkligen gett resultat: “Min glädje till idrott har nu bidragit till att jag representerar landslaget i en andra sport och det är fantastiskt! Att få tävla i de blågula färgerna på OCR-VM i oktober 2014 gör mig oerhört stolt.”.

Att ha diabetes medger Adam är ett hinder i sig, men låter sig inte av den anledningen stoppas: “När jag tränar eller tävlar så påverkar det diabetesen bl.a. med adrenalin, som jag får ett högt, tomt blodsocker av och att jag ibland blir lite väl låg. Det motverkar jag genom att äta, oftast Dextrosol eller det som jag tar mest nu, energigel, som många cyklister använder då de kommer i en liten plastförpackning. Dextrosol blir så kletigt och svårhanterligt när jag badar mycket. Ofta kommer en rekyl men jag låter sockret vara högre en period för att effekterna av idrotten sitter i så länge.”

Tre och ett halvt år efter att Adams son Dante kom till världen, drabbades sonen av samma diagnos som sin far. Adams fokus låg då på att ta bästa möjliga hand om Dante, och samtidigt försöka föra över den positiva inställning till sjukdomen som han själv besitter. “Alla mina tre barn hade övat att ta blodprov och ge mig sprutor. Sonen fick nu egen utrustning som han blev väldigt stolt över. (...) Han berättar glatt att han har diabetes för kompisar och visar upp sin mätare och pump.”

På frågan varför han sysslar med dessa extremsporter, fick jag följande till svar: “Jag ville bli brandman när jag var 23 år. P.g.a. min diabetes fick jag inte ens söka. Det gjorde mig arg på systemet för om jag redan hade varit brandman när jag fick diabetes hade jag fått fortsätta. Då drog jag igång mina långa projekt för att visa att jag kan göra vad som helst även fast jag har diabetes. (...) Idag idrottar jag för att visa min son och mina döttrar att de kan göra allt de vill. Det handlar bara om inställning. Alla mår bra av att röra på sig och det ger fina upplevelser.“

Nu på fredag, på svenska Kanal 5, sänds fjärde avsnittet av programmet “Ninja Warrior”. Det går ut på att svenska atleter tar sig an världens tuffaste hinderbana, “The Beast”. Tusentals personer i USA och Japan har gett sig på utmaningen, men endast tre stycken har klarat hela banan.

Hur har du laddat upp inför den här utmaningen, Adam?
“Inför Ninja Warrior så var jag på ett eget träningsläger i USA. Jag övade på hinder som jag bara sett i de japanska och amerikanska programmen. Jag byggde även en laxtrappa i skogen hemma. Under sommaren innan tränade jag med vad som kom att bli vänner som också skulle vara med i programmet.”

Var din diabetes någon gång ett problem under tävlingen?
“Inspelningarna varade i 4 dagar och en natt. Det var begränsat med mat på plats så jag fick ordna egen mat att ta med. Det var aldrig något problem. Alla barnen var och hejade på och det var en fantastisk känsla att höra dem skrika mitt namn när jag tog mig förbi hinder som jag bara sett på TV!”

Avslutningsvis vill Adam skicka ut en hälsning till alla som idag hålls tillbaka från sina idrottsdrömmar på grund av sin diabetesdiagnos: “Om du vill hålla på med en sport så är det bara att köra. Alla får träningsvärk av idrott. Om man börjar försiktigt och lär sig teknikerna så går det successivt framåt. Det är likadant med diabetes för mig! Jag har lärt mig vad som händer i kroppen när jag idrottar. Det har tagit ett tag och jag har blivit både hög och låg på vägen. Det är inte farligt. Jag berättar för mina vänner, kollegor & bekanta att jag har diabetes. Det blir alltid frågor om vad de kan göra om något händer och det ser jag som en styrka. Våga testa!!!”




Text: Sofia Larsson-Stern
Content Marketing and Social Media consult at AnnaPS

- GLÖM INTE: Torsdag 19 februari, kanal 5, klockan 20.00. Heja Adam!



Adam och hans son Dante är två av de diabetiker som har testat och tyckt bra om AnnaPS-produkterna. “Kvalitén på Anna PS kläder är kanonbra. Jag har testat linne och boxerkalsonger och de är fantastiskt sköna med utmärkt passform. Designen på kalsongerna var häftig och linnets sidopaneler gjorde att det såg tufft ut! Min son som är en lång 6-åring tyckte om sitt linne och boxer massor, han skulle bara prova dem men det blev att han sov hela natten med dem. Om du är diabetiker är dessa plagg något som underlättar vardagen. Om du är en "vanlig" människa kommer du tycka att plaggen är jättesköna och vill ha dem!”

fredag 6 februari 2015

The news and changes that comes with a new year - we welcome 2015!

A new year normally provides people with all kinds of changes; new year resolutions of improved eating habits, better HbA1c's, getting gym card or maybe just maintaining a cleaner kitchen. At AnnaPS we too have made some changes for 2015. Except for new and exciting products and designs in our collection - we are now welcoming a new member in our AnnaPS crew!

From the beginning of January and forward, Sofia Larsson-Stern will be a Content Marketing and Social Media Consult in the company, working side by side with me. Sofia will be in charge of the social media channels, as well as this blog, the news letter and of course being a reliable contact to our costumers. You can get a hold of her at sofia@annaps.com. I'll step aside here - letting Sofia introduce herself more properly:

Sofia and Anna during their first creative meeting a week ago.

Hi you guys!

I'm Sofia, or better known as Sia. I'm 21 y/o, living in Gothenburg and have been type 1 diabetic since 2008. Some of you might think 'Oh, but I recognize this girl!'. And well, some of you may be right. I have been blogging about my life with diabetes since March last year, at www.diabetesia.se. My interest of spreading knowledge about T1D has been booming ever since, and today my blog is one of the biggest in Scandinavia. 

Up until the beginning of 2015 I was studying to become an architect at a university in Gothenburg. But then I decided to take a sabbatical year to explore my opportunities of working with diabetes on full time. Anna had been a good friend and I had been trying on (and absolutely loved!) her products for a few months when I got the offer to work as a consult in her company. It was absolutely perfect, and today I'm working part time here, and part time with my own company - which includes my blog. 

I went to Östhammar just outside of Uppsala in Sweden a week ago, where Anna lives, to get introduced in the company. It was a couple of really intense days, but I got so much out of them! We spoke about goals and ambitions, future collaborations, I shared my thoughts and ideas, and I was given a chance to explore the entire collection too. 

Working with social media isn't something completely new to me, but still very developing. I therefore welcome all opinions, suggestions and ideas you as customers may have - and take them into consideration. Our goal is to work with you as much as ever possible, in that way we can be sure to give you more of what you want. 

Work in progress.

And since it's my job to keep this blog updated from now on, I might as well continue this blog post by telling you about Anna's recent trip to Hanoi in Vietnam.

After our introduction days in Östhammar, Anna went to Hanoi to visit the plant in which the clothes are being sewn. At AnnaPS we are very strict with the way our clothes are being produced. The working conditions has to be healthy, and the sewing process environmentally friendly. This is what Anna was keeping an eye on in Hanoi - as well as providing the plant employees with ideas of new designs and prints... So much going on!

Hanoi, Vietnam.

Anna and the plant employees making sure everything's correct on the briefs.

Anna outside the plant in Hanoi, Vietnam.

She wrote me an email: "My CGM has been my savior a few times during this trip. Eating food I'm not used to has consequences.  It's difficult to estimate the amount of carbs, and I end up too high in glucose. With my CGM I can detect this in an early stage and correct the doses right away. Within a few hours I have been back on normal levels again. This would have been so much harder without the CGM!"


So - it has been a kick start to the new year for us. We are now looking forward to a year filled with spreading knowledge, helping diabetics make their days a little easier, and giving everyone the opportunity of feeling free. And most of all we hope you will enjoy 2015 with us!

/Anna & Sofia