Anglo-American race car driver edges out diabetes

Charlie Kimball's world stopped.

"It was like someone had hit pause," said Kimball, now 25, remembering how he waited for a British doctor -- who had just diagnosed him with Type 1 Diabetes -- to tell him if he would ever sit in a race car again. "That answer would set the rest of my life."

Based on Kimball's record in the Firestone Indy Lights series -- he ranked fourth before today's race in Sonoma, Calif. -- it's apparent that the doctor gave the British-born racer good news. And he did.

"I don't see any reason why not," Kimball remembers the doctor saying.

After a brief hiatus to get his body healthy and to modify his routine, so managing his diabetes would be a natural part of daily life, Kimball got back in the car. He won second place in his first race after the diagnosis.

Race fans and diabetes patients will have the opportunity to see Kimball race when he takes the track Aug. 28 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. for the Chicagoland 100.

Kimball grew up with racing in his blood. His father was a mechanical engineer who designed race cars, and Kimball began racing go-karts when he was 9 to spend time with father.

As he grew up, he moved on to bigger, more powerful machines. He even decided not to attend Stanford University after being accepted to the mechanical engineering program to pursue his racing career.

But in October 2007, Kimball went to the doctor for a skin rash and  happened to mention he was constantly thirsty.

"I was very ignorant about what (diabetes) was and meant. There were very clear signs there, but I didn't know to look out for them," he said.

Once the doctor said Kimball would race again, he began the process of making sure he could race safely. In a conversation with his parents and his endocrinologist, the group figured out how to modify his cars.

The doctor would throw out a need, and his father would come up with a solution. They needed to continuously monitor his glucose levels. His father suggested a display added to his steering wheel.

They needed to make sure he had a way to quickly increase his blood sugar. So, he filled a bottle with orange juice and attached it to his helmet.

His first day back in the race car reminded him why he fought so hard to continue racing, how much he loved racing and how much he missed it.

Since then, he has found a sponsor in Norvo Nordisk, a global company that specializes in diabetes care. He travels to speak about living and excelling with Type 1 Diabetes

He likes to inspire people with diabetes that they can do anything they put their mind to.

"If you can figure out how to make diabetes management a part of your routine, like brushing your teeth... there's nothing you shouldn't be able to do," he said.

It's been three years since Kimball's diagnosis, and before the next three years are up, he plans to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series, which would allow him to race in the Indianapolis 500.

"(Diabetes) makes me unique, but it doesn't change who I am in the race car."