*Disclaimer: All content and information in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only.

Briana Kuta has been living with type 1 diabetes for 16 years and has never let her diagnosis stop her from trying new things. When she met her now-husband who was an avid cycler back in 2019, she absolutely fell in love with the sport. Briana has participated in many races– even participating in races of 100 miles! Briana shared with us some of her best tips for managing blood sugars while cycling:

Have Blood Sugars Easily Accessible

While cycling, it can be helpful to see how blood sugar levels are trending throughout the ride. Rather than having to constantly stop and unbuckle, she has a phone holder that she places on her front handle bars so her blood sugars are in clear view when riding.

Medical ID

Wearing a medical ID is always a must for Briana. Medical IDs can provide emergency and/or medical information first responders need in case of an emergency in order to provide appropriate care.

Low Snacks And Glucagon

Finding a combination of low snacks that didn’t melt in the sun or make her digestion queasy required some trial and error. Briana states that she prefers to use Nuun tablets because they have carbs, sugar and electrolytes. She finds that she can take a few sips here and there if she sees her blood sugar going down and it will keep her nice and steady. And of course, she always keeps a glucagon kit close by just in case!

From participating in a century ride to your local JDRF ride, it is 100% possible to cycle fearlessly with T1D. To learn more about Briana’s cycling journey, listen to Keeping it 100 Radio: Uncensored Diabetes Conversations: Episode 49: Empowered Voices with Val- Going the Distance with T1D. Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.