Winning team member from Oxford and Cambridge boat race tells of serious health condition

8 November 2010

In February this year, keen rower Fred Gill proudly lifted the trophy after winning the famous Oxford versus Cambridge boat race with his team mates. But just two years ago, this goal couldn’t have been further from his dreams.

In November 2007, Fred noticed that his performance and stamina when playing sports and training wasn’t as high as it used to be and after being encouraged to have a blood test, was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic.

“It’s the last thing any sportsman wants to hear”, says Fred. “But after my diagnosis, I was told how to live with my condition and was really surprised at how quickly I could start training again”.

After losing the 2008/9 reserve boat race and struggling with his energy levels, Fred attended a consultation session with diabetic sports specialist at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Dr Ian Gallen, which Fred admits he didn’t take very well.

“I went along to what felt like an enormous inconvenience and had my life transformed in 30 minutes. Dr Gallen, who had been instrumental in advising Sir Steve Redgrave to his fifth Olympic Gold, explained all the mistakes I had been making”, Fred recalls.

Dr Gallen talked through an insulin regime with Fred that would complement his training and one which later transformed his racing effectiveness, giving him the boost he needed to embark on a fresh new season of rowing in 2009/10.

“Our experience with athletes who have diabetes helped us to identify some areas which Fred could use to help him manage his diabetes more effectively and improve his performance”, says Dr Gallen.

“At Buckinghamshire Healthcare, we offer a number of specialist services and clinics designed to empower patients to self-manage their diabetes by providing knowledge and skills to make this possible”.

Dr Gallen continues: “As a Trust, we hold a specialist sports clinic once a month, which is supported by specialist nurses and dietitians and caters for athletes and sports people of all abilities and levels”.

After his consultation and making some simple changes to his way of life, the new regime saw Fred improve his rowing technique and put him in the best fitness to take part in 2010 Xchanging boat race. After initially feeling very nervous, the team managed a solid start, crossing the finishing line. After months of training and dedication, the team had won.

“My lesson to young diabetics in sport is that there is a lot of help available and I’d encourage anyone to take as much advice as they can get – whatever goals you have are still achievable.”

World diabetes day falls on 14 November each year.

ENDS.

Notes to editors:

•   Symptoms of diabetes include: increased thirst, needing to go to the toilet more frequently - especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision and slow healing of wounds.

•   Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust provide a wide range of high quality acute and community services from three acute hospital sites in Amersham, Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe, five community hospitals at Thame, Marlow, Buckingham, Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross and Waterside, and a number of community sites across the county. Details of these can be found here: http://www.buckinghamshirehospitals.nhs.uk/community-health-services.htm,

•   Specialist services include our regional dermatology, allergy and skin cancer centre, burns care and plastics sub-regional centre, cardiac services and the National Spinal Injuries Centre

•   More than 6,000 staff serve residents across Buckinghamshire, Thame (Oxfordshire), Tring (Hertfordshire) and Leighton Buzzard (Bedfordshire) - a combined population of 500,000. It serves a much larger population, 1.5m, for burns and plastic services and 14m for spinal injuries

For further information, contact the communications team on 01494 734959 or at communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk.