HIGHLIGHTS
- A balancing act: Pippa's reality as an aesthetic nurse and competitive Hyrox athlete
- The business cost of a low: How unpredictable hypos impact a packed clinic schedule and revenue
- Beyond the numbers: The hidden mental load of staying stable while performing at the highest level
Welcome back to the Klario Hypo Diaries, where we share the stories of inspiring individuals within our community.
Recently, we spoke with Pippa, an aesthetic nurse and competitive athlete who shares her life with Type 1 Diabetes on Instagram at @lowstolifts.
In our chat, Pippa opens up about the reality of balancing a high-precision, client-facing medical career with high-intensity training like Hyrox. She gives us an honest look at the unpredictable nature of hypos in the clinic, the pressure of managing a business schedule when your blood sugar drops, and the real-world impact of hypo recovery on a busy working day.
To start, could you tell us a bit about your journey with Type 1 Diabetes and what a normal day looks like for you balancing aesthetic nursing and your athletic training?
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 12, with no family history of the condition, so it came as a complete shock to both me and my family. One minute I was a healthy, active child and the next I was learning how to count carbohydrates, inject insulin, and manage a condition that would be with me for life.
As challenging as that was, it taught me resilience from a young age. Over the years, I've learned that diabetes isn't something you can put on autopilot; it requires constant decision-making and adaptation, especially when you're trying to perform at a high level both professionally and physically.
A typical day starts with checking my glucose levels and looking at the trends from my continuous glucose monitor. I wear a Medtronic 780G insulin pump alongside the Guardian 4 CGM, which has been a huge support in helping me manage my diabetes day-to-day. The technology gives me valuable insights and helps automate some of the decision-making, but it still requires constant input and awareness from me, particularly when I'm training or working long clinic days.
As an aesthetic nurse, I'm focused on delivering safe, precise treatments and making sure every client feels looked after. Outside of work, I'm usually strength training or preparing for Hyrox and ATHX competitions, which bring their own unique challenges when it comes to managing blood sugars. Every day is a balancing act between being an athlete, a business owner, and someone managing a chronic condition, but I've learned to be incredibly organised and proactive.
This diagnosis has never stopped me pursuing the things I love; it has just meant I've had to work a little harder and plan a little more than most people realise.
How does managing your blood sugars change between doing an intense exercise vs. doing treatments for your clients?
They're almost opposite situations in terms of how diabetes behaves. During intense strength training and Hyrox-style sessions, my blood sugars can be incredibly unpredictable. High-intensity exercise, competition stress, and adrenaline can sometimes push my levels up, while longer sessions or the recovery period afterwards can cause them to drop unexpectedly. I'm constantly monitoring trends and making adjustments before, during, and after training.
In the clinic, my goal is stability. When I'm treating clients, I need to be fully focused, steady-handed, and mentally sharp. There's no opportunity to step away in the middle of a treatment because my glucose is fluctuating. Before a busy clinic day, I'm often thinking ahead about where my blood sugar is heading rather than just where it is at that moment. Managing diabetes in those two environments requires very different strategies, but both demand constant awareness and planning.
You’ve mentioned previously how stressful it can be to manage a hypo in a client-facing role. What does it actually feel like when you start shaking or getting cloudy-headed while you're in the middle of treating a client?
It's incredibly unsettling. For me, a hypo can start with subtle signs like feeling shaky, sweaty, or suddenly finding it harder to concentrate. Then there's the mental side; it's almost like a fog comes over you. Tasks that would normally feel completely routine suddenly require more effort and concentration.
The difficult part is that while you're experiencing those symptoms, you're also trying to remain calm and professional for the person sitting in front of you. As an aesthetic nurse, precision and attention to detail are everything, so the moment I feel a hypo developing, my priority becomes making sure the treatment remains safe. It's not just physically uncomfortable; there's also the stress of knowing that you need to act quickly before symptoms progress further.
You mentioned before that dealing with a hypo can sometimes mean cancelling appointments and losing revenue. What is it like trying to balance running a busy clinic with the unpredictable nature of hypos?
I think that's one of the less visible aspects of living with Type 1 Diabetes as a business owner. Most people see the clinical side of what I do, but they don't always see the behind-the-scenes planning that goes into making sure I'm fit to work.
The reality is that if I'm experiencing a significant hypo, I have to put safety first, even if that means delaying or cancelling appointments. That can impact revenue, disrupt schedules, and create additional stress on an already busy day. It's frustrating because diabetes doesn't care how organised your diary is. Between running a clinic, managing clients, and training for events like Hyrox and ATHX, there's already a lot to juggle. Diabetes adds another layer of unpredictability that requires constant attention. Technology and preparation help, but there are still days where you have to adapt quickly and put your health first.
As an aesthetic nurse and an athlete, what do you think workplaces or current hypo treatments are missing right now that would make life so much easier for people trying to balance a busy career and T1D?
For me, speed and convenience are huge. When you're in the middle of a packed clinic or training session, you need a hypo treatment that works quickly, is easy to carry, and doesn't require a lot of thought or preparation. The faster you can recover and get back to functioning normally, the less disruption there is to your work, performance, and confidence.
Technology has come a long way, and devices like my insulin pump and CGM have transformed how I manage my diabetes. They provide incredible support and help reduce a lot of the day-to-day burden, but they can't completely remove the risk or impact of hypos. Even with the best technology available, there are still moments where blood sugars can drop unexpectedly, particularly when balancing long clinic days, strength training, and preparing for Hyrox and ATHX competitions.
More broadly, I think greater awareness is still needed. People often understand that someone with Type 1 Diabetes takes insulin, but they don't always appreciate the mental load that comes with constantly monitoring, predicting, and managing blood glucose levels. Better education, more workplace flexibility, and hypo treatments that work quickly and predictably would make a real difference.
Ultimately, whether I'm treating patients in a clinic or competing on the Hyrox or ATHX race floor, I want to be focused on performing at my best; not worrying about whether a hypo is going to interrupt what I'm doing. Anything that helps people with Type 1 Diabetes recover faster and get back to their day with confidence would be a huge step forward.
TAKEAWAY
Pippa’s story highlights a side of Type 1 Diabetes that isn't always visible from the outside; the mental load of keeping your body stable so you can perform your best, whether you're using equipment in the clinic or competing in a race. Managing T1D around a busy career and an athletic lifestyle is a 24/7 job with no breaks.
Thank you to Pippa for sharing her story with us. Stay tuned for our next Hypo Diaries interview!