diabetes - Anja Renfordt

At the age of almost two years my diabetes type 1 became manifested. It is only based on the responsible handling of the disease, intensive controls and ideal ‘groundwork’ done by my parents during my childhood and youth that I could put my sportive performance into practice.

Throughout the years I could particularly profit from the increasing flexibility regarding diabetes therapy and the technical improvements that were made. Since April 2006 I am wearing an insulin pump, from time to time in combination with a CGM system.
It’s incredible how many decisions I have to take every day and every night in order to keep myself on such a health level that I can live a normal life.
I strictly avoid stating that diabetes ‘limits’ me in any way. I describe my life with the disease as special ‘living conditions’ with which I have come to terms successfully. A good proof for my way of dealing with this situation is that up to now I have not been effected by any health consequences or complications resulting from diabetes.
With the help of my personal adaptations in regards to the therapy – which were not always in line with the recommendations of the specialists – I have been able to use my experience in such an adequate way that until today, I have achieved everything that I got to my head, and even more…
I am aware of the fact that not everybody suffering from diabetes was and is blessed with such a good and strong familiar and social environment like me.
Some people are afraid of the disease, other people’s reactions, so they lose confidence or feel alone with their problems.
This is the point where I would like to motivate you!
In other areas affected I let the specialists take part in my therapy methods and give answers in questions and answers sessions as a part of interesting discussions all about diabetes, sport, motivation…

In my workshops therapy is put into practice. Kickboxing with the world champion or individual workout sessions motivate, deliver unexpected power and offer the possibility to everybody to go beyond oneself. Here the focus lies absolutely on having fun! For many participants it is a completely new experience to get to know other diabetic people. Experiencing such a collective event and the shared enthusiasm among the participants makes it a special moment and helps strengthening the self-confidence.

Personally I am very happy and appreciate the fact that with the help of my activities I have in the meantime acquired a certain status in public which makes it possible for me to really get things moving.
I would like to thank everyone for the positive feedback, enthusiasm, recognition and the trust put in my person during the last years – all of you and all the positive feedback were my motivation to get back in the ring last year as I was tired of reporting about the past but wanted to let my actions do the talking again.