Luxury Cars
Living In The Fast Lane With Diabetes
Living life in the fast lane with diabetes the story of Charlie Kimball, race car driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
(ARA) – In 1933, a driver at the famed Indianapolis 500 was pulled off the starting line and not allowed to compete because he had diabetes. Now, in the 100th year of this iconic race, Charlie Kimball is making history as the first licensed driver with type 1 diabetes to race in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“Racing at the highest level of the series is a dream come true in every sense of the word,” says Kimball, who was diagnosed in 2007 while racing in Europe. “It’s a culmination of years of hard work and support from my family and friends.”
With no family history of diabetes and little understanding of the disease, Kimball was overwhelmed when he was first diagnosed. Even worse, he was forced to put his racing career on hold until he could get his diabetes under control.
Kimball quickly learned that people with type 1 diabetes do not produce the insulin their bodies need to properly control blood sugar levels. As a result, people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin. Despite available treatments, it still can be difficult to achieve optimal blood sugar goals. The resulting “highs” and “lows” can cause serious side effects, and for someone behind the wheel of a race car, the consequences could be deadly.
But Kimball, just 23 at the time, decided diabetes wouldn’t be the end to his career. He worked with his doctor to find a treatment regimen that kept his diabetes under control on and off the track. He uses the Levemir FlexPen (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) and NovoLog (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) to help manage his diabetes. Kimball’s team fit his race car with a continuous glucose monitor that provides real-time updates on his blood sugar levels and fashioned a special helmet system that enables Kimball to take a sip of sugar-rich orange juice if levels get too low while he’s racing. With these changes in place, Kimball was back in the the No. 83 Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen car race car six weeks later and earned a triumphant podium finish in his first race since his diagnosis.
As the only licensed race car driver with diabetes in INDYCAR, Kimball is in the unique position to share his inspiring story with hospitals in the cities where he races, as well as at diabetes patient expos nationwide.
“I am so grateful to everyone at Novo Nordisk for standing beside me and encouraging me along the way,” says Kimball, now 26. “Not only do they make the insulins I take every day to manage my diabetes, but together we’ve partnered to show that diabetes doesn’t have to stop you from achieving your goals.”
“Charlie Kimball is a role model for people living with diabetes,” says Dr. Anne Peters, Charlie’s endocrinologist and one of his biggest fans. “He works hard on and off the track to properly manage his condition and shows people that nothing, not even diabetes, should prevent them from pursuing their dreams.”
Kimball is currently in his rookie season in the IZOD IndyCar Series and drives for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing.
Follow Kimball and his work with Novo Nordisk on Twitter @racewithinsulin or www.novonordisk-us.com. Please see www.novolog.com for NovoLog complete Prescribing Information.
Levemir and NovoLog are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S.
Alternative Fuels: Biodiesel
Alternative fuels are in the forefront of many in today’s world.
We are concerned over rising fuel prices, our carbon footprint, and saving the environment.
With all of the alternative fuels out there right now, it is easy to become confused over which is which.
Biodiesel is used to fuel compression-ignition engines such as diesel requiring cars and trucks.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from different vegetable oils and animal fats. Unadulterated Biodiesel or Biodiesel mixed with petroleum diesel can both be used to fuel diesel vehicles, alleviating dependence on foreign fuels, improving emissions and being a generally safer fuel.
It is made from both new or used vegetable oils and animal fats. These oils and fats are combined with alcohol to create a chemical reaction to produce fatty acid methyl esters, which is basically a name given to the compound if it is intended to be used for fuel.
The fatty substances are filtered and processed to get rid of water and contaminants. Once the free fatty acids are found, they can be removed or changed into Biodiesel using pretreatment technologies.
These fatty acids are then combined with alcohol and a catalyst such as sodium hydroxide. Next oil molecules are broken up and changed into methyl esters and glycerin (a by-product) which are then purified further.
This process sounds complicated, but it is simple enough that it can be produced by individuals for individual use.
Biodiesel is made in America. This is important because as much as 60% of America’s petroleum is found in foreign countries, and with foreign relations being shaky in many of these countries, security of supply continuance is a concern.
Biodiesel produces substantially less emissions than petroleum diesel; as much as an 11% carbon monoxide reduction, a 10% particulate matter deduction, and unburned Biodiesel by 75% compared to petroleum diesel, and carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 15%.
Biodiesel is nontoxic and biodegradable, so it is safer for the environment. It causes less damage than petroleum diesel in case of a spill or other exposure; it is also less combustible, meaning that it takes a far higher temperature to ignite and catch on fire compared to petroleum diesel. Due to its non-toxicity, Biodiesel is also safer to process, store, and transport.
Biodiesel provides a very real alternative to the petroleum-based problem facing today’s society.