Karting, unlike many forms of motorsports, centers on the driver. The various equipment for the chassis and engine in today’s karting are very similar to one another. The difference between a victory and finishing off the podium is in the hands, the mind, and the body of the driver. Training a driver’s mind, physical strength, and endurance are big factors in success or failure. Unlike 99% of karters out there, 17-year-old Collin Lloyd of Pembroke Pines, Florida, must closely monitor his body to be successful in racing and life.

Collin Lloyd is using his passion for karting and motorsports to help spread awareness for Type 1 Diabetes (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Lloyd was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2015 at the age of seven. During a trip from Georgia back home to the Miami area, Collin found himself with a constant need to use the restroom and this unusual behavior led to a visit to the doctor’s office, and eventually the diagnosis.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas makes little to no insulin, which allows sugar to enter cells to produce energy. Roughly two million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, including over 300,000 children, according to the American Diabetes Association. Those with Type 1 diabetes must take lab-made insulin multiple times a day while constantly monitoring their blood sugar levels.

For athletes, monitoring their blood sugar levels and taking insulin are key to ensuring their body can maintain peak performance.

One NFL athlete helped bring attention to Type 1 Diabates through the recent Hard Knocks series. Baltimore Ravens Tight End Mark Andrews is among the athletes with T1D, and during an episode of the show, he provided a look into how he monitors his levels during practice and games.

Lloyd utilizes an app on his phone called Dexcom. With it, he has a sensor attached to his body, and for the Superkarts! USA Winter Series second weekend in Orlando, it was attached near his hip. It will check his blood sugar regularly, and within the app, he’s able to share his numbers with those in his family or whoever he wants to share it with.

“With his Type 1 Diabates and racing, it comes down to body prep before the weekend,” stated Collin’s father Ryan Lloyd. “The focus is on a lot of hydration and a lot of protein. That’s what helps keep him stable. Days before a race, we’re making sure he’s had a ton of water, and it’s steak, chicken, and a lot of protein to help him keep stable over the course of the race weekend.”

It wasn’t until Collin was almost 10 years old that they began karting, starting their venture into the sport with a Briggs 206 Cadet ride, calling the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex their karting home. He eventually moved up to the Junior ranks in both 2-cycle and 4-cycle categories before entering the Senior level at 14. His breakout season came in 2023, finishing second in the SKUSA Winter Series KA100 Senior standings with two wins at his home track in Homestead. Lloyd followed that up with a runner-up in the SKUSA Pro Tour championship, garnering his first series victory at the SpringNationals in Utah.

Through their participation in karting, the Lloyd family established ‘T1D Racers’, a non-profit organization that allows children and young adults with and without Type 1 Diabetes to experience high level competitive karting. Youth mentoring, health education, family support, and experience racing is the mission statement for the organization based in southern Florida.

“We found racing and karting after he was diagnosed with diabetes,” stated Ryan. “Being in the kart and around the sport built up his confidence. At first, he was really down on himself when he was diagnosed. He would wear long sleeve shirts to hide his pump or anything that showed he had diabetes. When it came to racing, that need to hide went away. Then it became ‘how do we share this with the world?’ And that’s where T1D Racers was created off of.”

“I felt more comfortable on and at the race track during those early years,” added Collin. “It’s still, even now, sometimes a little awkward when it when my alarm goes off or I’m always on my phone checking my levels. But I feel more comfortable here around the karting paddock.”

Type 1 Diabetes is not something new to motorsports. IndyCar drivers Charlie Kimball and Conor Daly are living with T1D and have been spokesman for bringing awareness to diabetes.

“Since we launched T1D Racers, we’ve been able to connect more with people who live with diabetes,” stated Collin. “There are a few people at school that have it but not many. It’s at conventions for diabetes that we meet most of the people we know living with it. Thanks to social media and the internet, we can stay connected with those not in the area to offer support and advise.”

Lloyd is a former SKUSA Winter Series and SKUSA Pro Tour race winner (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Ryan added, “The conventions helped us to stabilize our mind and get a better feeling of not being alone. With us being able to create a motorsports program for kids with diabetes, we can help them with supplies, building confidence and talking to parents about how the adrenaline effects the body and how to prepare before and during a race weekend.”

One aspect that living with Type 1 Diabetes that is similar to karting is breaking down the data. The Lloyd family monitors Collin’s levels pre-race, during race weekend, and post-race to make sure they understand what food, amount of sleep, and physical exertion impacts his levels.

“It’s almost like looking at the data from the MyChron,” Collin said showing EKN the numbers on the app. “We typically see a trend where it depends on the temperature outside. Whether it’s cold or hot, your blood sugar will change. Depending on whether you are healthy or fighting a cold, the numbers will be different. The numbers are a moving target. Once you get in tune with it and you have confidence with it, you tackle it as you lead versus letting it control you.”

Looking to the future, Collin wants to be part of motorsports in the future. The 17-year-old is finishing up his Junior year in high school, and is looking ahead to enter his college years. While he would obviously like to be in the seat as a driver, Collin understands the other side of the sport, working either as a coach or an engineer. In recent years, he’s served as his own mechanic as well, including the two events at the SKUSA Winter Series in the Pro X30 class.

Success at the top level of the sport takes commitment and you must have every component firing at 100% to stand on top of the podium. For Collin Lloyd, the addition of necessary dedication to his Type 1 Diabetes makes all his successes even more impressive.

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