by Ellie Hampton

Like my mother and my grandmother before me, I started tumbling when I was 3. Throughout pre-diagnosis, I was just like any other kid without a care in the world. I was making new friends and learning a new hobby that I have grown to love. Tumbling for me has become a part of my life that makes me very happy and excited but has also had its challenges throughout my diagnosis. Diabetes is a struggle with normal daily activities but even more so with any type of physical activity. My experience with it is that if my blood sugar is low I feel shaky, my vision changes and I have a lack of energy and if I am too high I have a hard time focusing and feel exhausted. This makes it more of a challenge when I am tumbling or playing any sport. Due to my current skill level at tumbling which involves back flips and no handed tricks, I really have to listen to my body and my Dexcom to not put myself at risk for injury. My supplies are always with me and are a constant in my life. These are necessary, especially with these types of activities. I am fortunate to have teachers and coaches who support and educate themselves to help me be successful in a sport that I love. Tumbling has taught me that I can do anything that I put my mind to regardless of my diagnosis. No matter how my blood sugar has affected me that day, I continue to participate and give it my all. Tumbling for me is an escape that allows me to fly through the air and be free of challenges if only for a short time.

Coach Reshea: Having Ellie in the gym has been an absolute joy. She does not let the fact that she is diabetic stop her from achieving her goals. If anything, it pushes her even more. She is open and honest with her Flipside peers when they ask questions about her devices and now when Dexcom beeps everyone tells Ellie to “chug a juice and get back to work.” Even during competitions, I have seen her step out of her shell and explain to kids, and coaches, who she’s never met what her devices are or why she is drinking a juice box before doing backflips down the mat! Her confidence and energy is contagious! I know I speak for all of us at Flipside when I say that this young lady is going places, and we are beyond proud of her and humbled to be part of her journey!