Tiana Cooks, Garmin ambassador and Dexcom champion, pairs her Dexcom G6 with her Garmin Venu 2S to closely monitor her blood glucose levels as she trains.
It’s convenient and critical for people with diabetes to check their glucose levels quickly.
Tiana Cooks was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2014 and says she needs to maintain her glucose levels in a specific range to feel at her best. Cooks monitor her glucose levels with a Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which pairs with her Garmin smartwatch1. Cooks says that this integration helps her through the difficult days. But you don’t need to take our word on it. Cooks answers some questions below about how her Garmin smartwatch and glucose monitor have changed her life.
What Garmin smartwatch have you got? What features do you like best?
Venu(r), 2S is my watch of choice! This watch is fantastic. My favorite features are the battery life, heart rate monitor2, and Body Battery (TM) energy tracking. Having another item I don’t need to worry about is great. It’s great that I don’t have to remove the watch from my wrist for charging.
What does it mean to you that you can check your blood glucose levels by just looking at your wrists? How did you check them before?
To live with diabetes, I must know my glucose levels all day. I must keep my glucose within a specific range to feel best and stay alive. I must remain between 80 and 150 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL) for my ideal range. I used to test my blood sugar seven to nine times a day when I was first detected. With the Dexcom G6, it is no longer necessary to prick your finger to test your glucose. The Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor uses Bluetooth(r) technology to send readings to my watch and phone. It is easy to check my blood glucose by looking at my wrist. I’m so grateful for my Garmin. Technology is a luxury I’ll never take for granted.
Do you closely monitor your glucose level during an activity? What are some other metrics that you pay attention to closely?
My glucose levels are the most volatile when I am doing an activity and change rapidly. To exercise correctly, I must pay attention to how much carbs, insulin, and intensity I consume. All of these things can affect my activity and glucose levels. My Garmin smartwatch allows me to track how much energy I expend during an activity. This helps predict where my glucose level will go.
Why is it so important to be able to view the trend of your glucose level and the three-hour history?
The ability to track my glucose and see its direction has allowed me to enjoy more active days, laugh, and explore without worrying about my glucose. The ability to correct my glucose levels before I start feeling terrible has allowed me to save a lot of stress and given me a great deal of freedom.
What was it like to train for a half-marathon while having diabetes? How has your Dexcom-integrated watch impacted your training?
It is hard to train for a marathon. It is harder to prepare for a marathon when you have diabetes. When I exercise, my body burns more glucose. This causes my blood glucose levels to drop. The Dexcom-Garmin integration allows me to track my carb intake and monitor it as necessary without stopping my training. The integration is a great help when diabetes can be challenging. It’s easy to give up.
Are you interested in finding out more about health work? Here is her Instagram account. Want to set up your Dexcom smartwatch on your Garmin watch? Find out more.
The Dexcom apps are designed to display secondary data from the Dexcom CGM System. They are intended for passive monitoring only. Dexcom apps for Connect IQ do not replace the Dexcom CGM System or self-monitoring as your physician recommends. The data displayed by the Dexcom app on Connect IQ should not be used to make therapeutic decisions. This includes calculating insulin doses or other drugs.
Team Dynamics
Understanding the mental health of teammates is crucial in team sports. Fostering a positive culture within a team is also essential. Supporting each other’s mental well-being can make a couple more cohesive and successful.
Seeking support: Athletes can get mental health help from the same coaches they use for their physical training. Sports psychologists help athletes cope with stress and improve their performance by assisting them to develop mental resilience.
Work-Life-Balance: Achieving a good work-life balance is crucial for an athlete’s mental health. A good rest, social contacts, and time spent away from sports are all critical for mental freshness.
Post-Retirement Transition
Athletes’ mental health is affected by their preparation for life after retiring from competitive sports. A plan is essential when transitioning into a new lifestyle or career.
Reduce Stigma: Athletes have a role in reducing stigma around mental health issues. Openly sharing their experiences and getting help when necessary can inspire others.
Performance Anxiety: Many athletes are under intense pressure to perform their best at competitions. Performance anxiety can be caused by the fear of failing and the desire to achieve expectations. Athletes can experience symptoms like racing thoughts, physical tension, and panic attacks. Sports psychologists help athletes learn how to cope with performance anxiety.
Injury and Rehabilitation: Athletes are often injured during their careers. These injuries can be very mentally demanding. Athletes can experience frustration, anger, and depression during the rehab process. Maintaining a positive attitude and staying motivated when sidelined due to an injury can be challenging. It is essential to provide mental health support during this time to help athletes deal with the emotional side of recovery.
Burnout: Athletes train for long periods, which can cause physical and mental exhaustion. Burnout is an issue in the sports world. Athletes can lose their passion for sports, fatigue, or even develop depression symptoms. Burnout can be prevented by implementing proper recovery and rest strategies and seeking psychological support.
Body Image and Eating Disorders
Specific sports that place a high emphasis on weight control and body image can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Athletes can adopt unhealthy eating habits to maintain a specific body type or weight class. Sports organizations and coaches must promote a healthy body image and offer resources to athletes with eating disorders.
