KITLIVING
M
alin lives in
Dorset. He was
diagnosed Type
1 in July 2004 at
the age of four.
Now 19 (he turns 20 in March 2020),
he's definitely in the driving seat not only
when it comes to competitive driving but
in terms of making sure his diabetes is
under control too.
"I can't remember much about what
happened when I was diagnosed," says
Malin, "as I was so young. However, I do
remember that very shortly after I was
at a check-up having been diagnosed a
few months earlier and a diabetes nurse
asked me what I wanted to do when I
grew up. I immediately said I wanted to
be a racing driver. She pretty much said
that this wasn't going to be possible."
In the beginning Malin was on multiple
Josh Malin has been racing on track for three years, having
raced on simulators before then. It's clear from his results
that he is talented. In the season just gone, he entered a
competitive national championship and exceeded expectations.
He's tipped to win next year.
continued over
daily injections (MDI). "I clearly remember
that I had an Abbott Freestyle meter
- the flat, round one where we didn't
need to have separate lancets. I think it
was designed for children. I remember
a butterfly being part of the marketing. I
was initially on two injections a day then,
by the age of eight or nine, I was put on
basal bolus regime, so had a long-acting
insulin and took short-acting doses at
mealtimes. At this point I was attending
Poole Hospital and had a dietician called
Kirsty who helped us to learn about carb
counting. I say 'we' as it involved the
whole family."
Malin is lucky to have had an
enduringly good experience at his
diabetes clinic. "My memories of visiting
Poole Hospital was that it was great for
kids. My consultants and nurses were so
supportive and helped me and my family
manage my diabetes well. Even what
was called 'transition', when I moved to
the adult clinic, was flawless. By the age
of 17/18 I was going to clinic my own. At
that point I was learning to drive, passed
my test, and found that driving a normal
car is easy. Just like others with Type I
diabetes I have to do the usual three-year
license renewal."
Boy Racer
Malin now works at a local independent
motor factors which has outlets across
Dorset and Wiltshire. But how come he
ended up racing? "One of our neighbours
runs a race championship. I had spent
quite a lot of time on racing simulators
and when I beat him on mine he said he'd
put me in an actual car! Before anyone