‘You’re just trying to make the balance of your decisions move in the right direction, and you don’t get them all right.’

Those are the words of competitive yachtsman Jack Trigger, who is the first guest of this brand new series! You'd be forgiven for thinking that Jack is referring to type 1 diabetes here, but in fact he’s referring to ocean racing - his sport, his profession, and his first love.

Jack was hooked from the second he stepped into his first boat at the age of 6, and by the age of 8 he was already competing. Not even a type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 2015 could throw his fledging career into doubt. Just three years later Jack became the first person with type 1 diabetes to compete in any solo ocean race, traversing 3,500 nautical miles managing a 40 foot yacht alone across the Atlantic - all with his condition in tow.

We discuss the parallels between sailing and type 1 diabetes (there are more than you might think!), going from racing with a crew to the physical and mental challenge of crossing oceans alone, the limits of preparation, trying to inject insulin while being thrown about by the waves, and how his analytical mind has helped him manage his unique lifestyle as well as his condition. Oh, and his plans to race across the entire planet...

I learnt a lot from this chat, and I love Jack's mix of unwavering determination and relaxed, practical attitude to life. It's good to be back!

Say hi to Jack on Instagram.
Check out Jack's website.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Dexcom.
Pioneer and leader in Real-Time continuous glucose monitors, Dexcom's goal is to simplify and improve diabetes management for every possible person with diabetes.
They have a choice of systems, so you can find the right one for your lifestyle at https://www.dexcom.com/