Courtesy of Charlie Kimball
Like all professional Indianapolis 500 drivers, racer Charlie Kimball is tech-focused. His car is full of engineering achievements that allow him to monitor nearly every aspect of the machine. But unlike other drivers, Kimball also uses that same technology to monitor his health, because he is the first Indy 500 driver with diabetes.
Kimball grew up with racing, as his father was a mechanical engineer who built race cars. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes while racing in Europe at age 22. To help manage the disease, his car has a variety of custom additions—but most of the work comes before he steps onto the track, he says.
“From the moment I get up in the morning I’m taking my insulin, I’m managing my nutrition, I’m managing my hydration, and aiming to get my blood sugar where I want it so that when I get in the car my diabetes is—pardon the pun here—along for the ride, not behind the wheel,” says Kimball.
While preparation is key, Kimball’s car is equipped with precautionary tools for blood sugar monitoring. “My IndyCar is different than everyone else’s because my body is different.” He explains he wears a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with a minor tweak: Its display connects to the car so his information is visible on the dashboard.
“I have speed, lap time, oil pressure, blood sugar, water temperature, gear—quite literally my car and my body data right there together,” says Kimball.
Courtesy of Charlie Kimball
While the CGM is a product available to the public, a few modifications and products have been custom made my Kimball’s team. This includes connecting the car data system to the CGM, he explains, as well as valve (designed by his father) that allows him to switch from water to orange juice mid-race if needed.
Kimball credits today’s technological and medical advances for allowing him to manage the disease, but still fulfill his aspirations. “You may have to change how you go about it, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to live your dream [with diabetes]. The tools and medications have gotten to a point where there’s almost nothing you can’t do by overcoming that challenge of diabetes,” says Kimball.
Kimball will be in the St. Louis area for a race at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill., on Aug. 26.
