Diabetes cycling team saddle up for tour

The first all-diabetes professional cycling team will be competing on British roads for the first time later this month in the country’s leading race.

Team Novo Nordisk will be taking part in The Tour of Britain between September 7 and 14 in a bid to help inspire, educate and empower the 3.2 million people affected by diabetes in the UK.

It is a global sports team with more than 100 cyclists, triathletes and runners who live with diabetes, spearheaded by the professional cycling team. This unique team of cyclists all have Type 1 diabetes, and manage their condition while training and competing in one of the toughest endurance sports.

Phil Southerland, co-founder and CEO of Team Novo Nordisk, said: “When diagnosed with diabetes, many people think it means they won’t be able to live life the way they’d hoped. Team Novo Nordisk is racing to inspire people with diabetes to set and achieve their goals, whatever they may be, and show that the first step towards this is good diabetes control.”

Co-founder Phil Southerland: Team Novo Nordisk is racing to inspire people with diabetes to set and achieve their goals

Regular physical activity has been shown to have both short- and long-term health benefits for people with diabetes, including improved blood glucose control, reduced body-fat, and reduced risk of cardiovascular complications.

Dr Rafael Castol, Team Novo Nordisk Medical Director, said: “Good control can be achieved through diet and exercise, in combination with medication in many cases. Stepping up levels of exercise doesn’t have to be off limits for people with diabetes, provided it is discussed and planned with the individual’s healthcare team.”

Rachel Cummings, Head of External Relations and Policy, Novo Nordisk UK and Ireland, said: “Novo Nordisk is proud to support Team Novo Nordisk as they race across the UK to raise awareness of diabetes, and encourage those who have diabetes that it should not prevent them from reaching their goals. This initiative is part of the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes^® campaign that aims to bring attention to the need for earlier detection and better management of diabetes so that people can live full lives without suffering complications that can result from poor management.”

Racing through nine stages across the country, over eight days, The Tour of Britain will begin in Liverpool, and advance through UK towns and cities such as Worcester and Brighton, towards the finish line in London for a time trial and circuit race. Everyone, whether affected by diabetes or not, is welcome to come and support Team Novo Nordisk at any of the race stages.

Details of the Tour of Britain race stages can be found at www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages.