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by Myzone on Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Understanding individual health needs of members and clients, such as diabetes, is the difference-maker for success in the fitness industry.
Coaches and personal trainers that can embrace technology tools along with empathy and other soft skills have so much more of an impact within their community than anyone using cookie-cutter trainer techniques.
This is the story of how Alejandro is proving that Myzone can be more than just a heart rate monitor on his journey to stay active amid the challenges of diabetes – even walking and running over 600 miles for charity.
Exercising with an ongoing medical condition
We all know that exercise is good for us. Being active improves our physical health and is a great boost for our minds too, releasing all of those mood-enhancing endorphins.
Exercising when you have a medical condition can be even more beneficial, helping you to manage your symptoms, but often means you need to take extra steps to keep safe.
This is the case for Alejandro Samper Jara. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13, Alejandro hasn’t let the chronic disease impact his passion for fitness – in particular for obstacle course racing.
Not for the faint hearted, Alejandro has competed in these intense events for more than 10 years to raise awareness about diabetes and the benefits of exercise.
Testing your limits despite diabetes
Alejandro’s passion has seen him travel across Europe and the world, putting both his mental and physical strength and endurance to the test, while managing his blood sugar levels to avoid them spiking (hyperglycaemia) or dropping (hypoglycaemia), both of which can be harmful.
Some activities can cause your blood glucose levels to rise, while others might cause them to drop. Alejandro uses Myzone to monitor his blood glucose levels during his workouts to keep them in a healthy range.
Myzone for understanding your body
“I started using Myzone when preparing for a Madrid Spartan Trifecta Weekend. I love measuring my heart rate while training. It lets me know if I’m working out in the aerobic or anaerobic zone and how that affects my performance and blood sugar levels.”
Alejandro combines indoor workouts at his local gym – Gimnasio Central Sport in Sagunto, Spain – with outdoor sessions.
“I use the chest strap the most, when I work out in the gym during the winter. But I love the arm band and wear it in the summer and for the workouts where I take my shirt off.”
Blood sugar levels and heart rate zones
Competing in such gruelling events means Alejandro needs to be extra vigilant about his blood sugars and being able to accurately track his heart rate zones, in real time, helps him to achieve that fine balance.
“Training at higher heart rates causes my blood glucose levels to rise more at the start of exercise, making the type of workout I choose crucial for adjusting insulin levels. Tracking my heart rate with Myzone helps me manage them effectively.”
Running 671 miles for diabetes awareness
In his quest to educate people about type 1 diabetes, Alejandro has just completed what must surely be one of his most punishing challenges to date.
He ran and walked from his home town of Sagunto to Santiago, a distance spanning some 1080 km or 671 miles.
The challenge took 35 days to complete and took its toll. It was more than two weeks before Alejandro recovered and his blood sugars stabilised.
“All of these fitness challenges have helped me to face the difficulties of living with type 1 diabetes. The condition impacts people and families across the world, and by highlighting the importance of physical activity in managing the disease I hope I can make a difference to their lives, too.”
Find out how your fitness network can benefit from using Myzone to better understand members and personal training clients, in and out of the gym – get in touch.