Devlin Chiffings lives with type 1 diabetes and is looking forward to advocating for the diabetes community on 25 May as our Diabetes WA HBF Run for a Reason Ambassador. We caught up with him to find out more about his love of endurance sport and why he’s running again this year.
This is your third year taking on the HBF Half Marathon. What do you enjoy most about endurance running as a sport?
I’m not entirely sure sometimes! I’ve always played basketball and ran triathlons as a junior athlete. I started running with a couple of friends and just fell in love with it. I find endurance sports are a good way to challenge myself and see what I can do.
When I was diagnosed in 2020 the first thing I did was search for professional athletes with type 1 diabetes, because I wanted to see that it could still be done.
HBF Run for a Reason is an event close to my heart – it’s about inspiring others and showing that diabetes doesn’t have to be a barrier to achieving success in sport.
Are you hoping to achieve a particular time this year?
My personal best is 78 minutes and I’m hoping to shave a minute off that. When I first started running, I’d get some big personal bests, but the longer you run, the smaller they become!
How have you educated yourself around sport and diabetes?
Back when I was first diagnosed, I went to a Diabetes WA information session about type 1 diabetes and sport that really sparked my interest in the topic.
It was great to talk to other people about how they managed things like exercise, and I had a chat with someone who was going surfing in Bali with type 1 diabetes. I remember that event really fondly, because it made me realise I wasn’t alone and I could still participate in sport if I wanted to.
These days, I might chat to someone if I notice that they are wearing a CGM, or I reach out to people on social media who post about living with diabetes. I also have friends who are living with diabetes, so I talk to them, too.
What do you do when you’re not running?
I work for the West Coast Eagles, which keeps me very busy, especially on game day. Otherwise, I’m with my fiancée or my family, and I’ve got a good community of friends. I also attend church and have a great community there that has supported me through my diagnosis, they’ve made a massive difference in my journey.
Has your diabetes management changed over time?
When I was first diagnosed at the age of 20, I was hesitant to go on a pump as I didn’t want something attached to me. Now I don’t even think about it, and it’s made such a difference with training.
One thing I don’t think people realise is how all the expenses add up, from the batteries to the insulin and even the products you need to protect your skin. It’s something I want to raise awareness around in the future.
What would you say to young people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?
Don’t blame yourself and don’t blame the people around you. It does suck, but taking good care of yourself now will make a big difference. I’m healthier now than I was before I had diabetes, because it’s made me think about everything from wearing sunscreen to what I eat, getting enough sleep and managing my stress levels.
Even in the time since I was diagnosed there have been incredible advances in the technology and understanding of diabetes. It gives me hope that there will be a cure, or it will at least become a lot easier to manage.
Find out more about Devlin and support him with a donation.
Here at Diabetes WA our Clinical Services Manager Jessica Weiss is running the Specsavers 12km and Brooks Half Marathon. You can also visit her fundraising page to donate to Diabetes WA.
