As you know, at Baouw, the well-being of athletes is our priority. Through our healthy products, made exclusively from natural ingredients, we are able to cater to all athletes. As we will demonstrate with Charles' story. What makes him unique in the peloton? He has type 1 diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease that entered his life during childhood. So do the ten or so members of his cycling team. This is an exception in the world of cycling. The team was created with a specific goal in mind: to raise awareness and support diabetics in their pursuit of high-level sport without the disease being considered a barrier to performance. Charles is now one of the team's leading figures.
CYCLING FROM THE CRADLE
Originally from the Vosges region and raised on the roads of Moselle, Charles has been crazy about cycling since his earliest childhood.
“I have been cycling since I was very young. I joined my first club, which is still my current club, Remiremont VTT, at the age of 8. I started competing in junior competitions thanks to my father. I originally come from mountain biking. It is the discipline that taught me the basics of cycling, in which I competed at regional, national and international level. I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 10, but that didn't slow down my development and progress at all. It just meant that I had to pay attention to my diet from a very young age. I climbed the ranks to become French mountain biking champion in the relay with Julien Absalon in 2013 and Lorraine mountain biking and cyclo-cross champion. These titles gave me confidence and showed me that I could aim higher."
AMERICAN DREAM
With his determined character, Charles left himself no choice but to succeed, regardless of the obstacles he had to overcome.
“Then I left for the USA in 2013 after a series of circumstances. I discovered the existence of the Novo Nordisk team, which only recruits athletes with diabetes. Without a moment's hesitation, I decided to send them an email, never imagining that I would receive a positive response and that they would take me on for a two-month trial period.”
From then on, the crazy adventure began.
“ The two months went very well thanks to my successful integration and excellent results, such as my victory in a criterium in Georgia and my 5th place overall in the Georgia Cycling Grand Prix, a six-day stage race. These results allowed me to extend my American adventure and sign my first professional contract in 2014 with Novo Nordisk. It was a real crowning achievement."
Charles takes his place within a close-knit group, united by illness.
“It’s a team where we’re all type 1 diabetics, and the concept of the team goes far beyond performance. The goal is also to inspire all people suffering from this disease around the world. I have spent my entire professional career with this team because it has given me so much, both in terms of sport and in terms of my personal development as a man. It really is my second family. There have been many moments when we have been able to share our experience as professional cyclists with diabetes with people who were completely unaware of the issue. This has undoubtedly strengthened our bonds.”
But in practical terms, what does it mean to have type 1 diabetes?
“In practical terms, my pancreas no longer works, so I have to self-regulate. This requires me to focus on managing the food I eat, which will cause insulin to be secreted, and to be aware well in advance of the type of effort I will be making, because depending on the profile of the race, I will not have to regulate my blood sugar in the same way. Fortunately, thanks to advances in medicine, managing the disease has become very smooth and sometimes it even feels like I'm no longer diabetic. It's much easier to manage today. The difference from when I started is enormous. For example, when I started cycling, blood glucose sensors didn't exist. Back then, we had to prick ourselves all the time! Today, we can even display our blood sugar levels in real time on our bike computers and watches, so we can monitor them very accurately to avoid hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia."
As he likes to point out, for Charles, illness is not a barrier to performance, far from it.
“It can sometimes be difficult to break away from the image of a diabetic and show that you are just like everyone else. Of course, today I have over 20 years of experience behind me, so it has become such a part of who I am that I find it completely normal. I would say that I live my life in the same way as an athlete who does not have diabetes, because I eat the same things, drink the same things and live the same life. I just have this little extra thing, which is the almost constant management of my blood sugar levels. You can be diabetic and still reach the very highest level. That said, you're never safe from failure. Many of my former opponents could testify to this, because in my younger years, I've been in the lead and had to drop out after mismanaging my refuelling. This allowed me and forced me to learn very quickly from my mistakes, because with diabetes, when you make mistakes, you pay for them immediately. During our efforts, we have to manage our food intake and, in extreme cases, inject ourselves with insulin, either using a pump or a pen, all of which is administered subcutaneously. It also relies heavily on the athlete's feelings and accumulated experience."
A taboo subject in the peloton?
“Not at all! People are really respectful, even admiring when they learn that you are a top athlete and diabetic.”
What about food?
“As a diabetic, I have never deprived myself of anything, because it is diabetes that has to adapt to me and not the other way around. That is how I feel happy and free, and it works very well for me. Of course, at the beginning, it was a real challenge to learn how it all worked. Diet is one of the key factors in performance, so I tried lots of things before, during and after exercise, such as establishing a routine and, above all, taking a step back to avoid repeating mistakes. From a very young age, my diabetes pushed me to pay attention to my diet and realise how important it was to reach the highest level. Looking back, diabetes helped me to optimise and take this factor into account, probably more than others. Throughout my career, I have turned my diabetes into a real strength."
Baouw products, a real asset for regulating blood sugar levels.
“When we are competing, it is extremely important to prioritise natural, healthy foods, that are rich in fibre and have a low or moderate glycaemic index to allow our blood sugar levels to regulate properly. In this context, Baouw products are ideal allies because, in addition to being delicious and tasty, they have a positive effect on blood sugar management. How? By avoiding increased spikes linked to insulin secretion, which could cause hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia. The big advantage of Baouw products is that they can be consumed throughout the year, even outside of competition periods.
THE END OF A CHAPTER
All good things must come to an end, although when it happens prematurely, it is always more difficult to accept.
“I am ending my career at the end of the year due to a serious accident in 2022, which left me in a wheelchair for several months. I questioned my practice a lot, and psychologically I realised that I hadn't completely recovered, with a very strong fear still present when skiing downhill. Despite a lot of work, I have lost enjoyment and my performance has steadily declined. I now feel the need to work on another chapter of my life. I have a few ideas at the moment, although the idea is to take the time to find a new passion, something that inspires me and a project that will enliven my life as cycling has done for so long. I hope to continue with other sports, particularly long-distance trail running."
A beautiful lesson in life and humility.
“What I take away from my career is that every story is different, but what I do know is that I never felt inferior or that barriers were put in my way because of my illness. I have always felt normal and have always wanted to be treated as such. I am very happy with the life I have had and the paths I have taken to get where I am today. My struggle over the years has been to prove that I belong among the professionals through my sporting achievements.”
Charles is one of those people who turns life's little hiccups into lessons and inspiration. He managed to find what worked for him and his condition, notably by using the Baouw that suited him perfectly throughout his classes and in his daily life.
Products tailored to everyone, enabling better management of blood sugar levels and physical exertion.
Now retired from his career as a professional cyclist, he is still full of dreams and plans, seeking to inspire himself while inspiring others.
To follow Charles's next adventures: Instagram
©Charles Planet
