All Things Endurance Episode 40: Variables to Consider When Working with Diabetic Athletes with Guest Dr. Sam Scott
Oct 3, 2025
Dr. Sam Scott, an exercise physiologist and diabetes researcher, shares his expertise on managing diabetes in athletes. He discusses the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, highlighting their unique challenges during exercise. Sam debunks common misconceptions and emphasizes the importance of individualized exercise plans for diabetic athletes. He also explores how coaches can support these athletes and what non-diabetic athletes can learn about nutrition and metabolic homeostasis. Lastly, he discusses the role of AI in interpreting complex diabetes data.
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Working With Team Novo Nordisk
- Sam spent five to six years working with Team Novo Nordisk, a pro cycling team of athletes with type 1 diabetes.
- He used that experience to study how elite diabetics manage training, travel, and competition.
Fundamental Differences And Why Control Matters
- Type 1 is autoimmune and destroys insulin-producing beta cells; type 2 is mostly metabolic and develops over years.
- Tight glucose control matters because small circulating glucose amounts fuel the brain and long-term excess damages small vessels.
Prepare For Exercise-Induced Glucose Variability
- Expect exercise to affect glucose unpredictably; consider intensity, timing of food/insulin, environment, and stress.
- Monitor continuously and plan for variability rather than assuming a single pattern will hold.
