When you fuel your body right, you will go faster.
I empower endurance athletes with diabetes (and prediabetes) to fuel their bodies for both optimal blood sugar control and peak performance. Through evidence-based nutrition guidance, you’ll gain the knowledge and tools to train confidently, race safely, and achieve goals you thought might be impossible.
Specialized diabetes and endurance sports nutrition for athletes who refuse to choose between their health and their performance goals.
Always feeling tired during training despite putting in the work, unable to sustain energy levels needed for long workouts.
Getting injured repeatedly during training cycles due to under-fueling, preventing you from reaching the starting line of your goal race.
Unable to hit personal records or finish races strong, experiencing energy crashes or “hitting the wall” during events.
(For athletes with diabetes) Struggling to keep blood sugars stable during long training sessions and races, creating dangerous highs and lows.
Experiencing GI problems, nausea, or stomach distress during longer races, especially marathons, half-Ironmans, and Ironmans.
Feeling constantly hungry but not knowing how to properly fuel before, during, and after workouts without sabotaging health goals.
Training for an endurance event with diabetes feels impossible when you’re getting conflicting advice from every direction. Keto for diabetes control, but carbs for performance? Restrict eating, but fuel your workouts?
Following this conflicting advice is exactly what’s keeping you injured, exhausted, and far from your potential.
I’m Courtney Smith, and I’ve spent 13 years specializing in diabetes management and working with endurance athletes. As a certified diabetes educator AND Ironman finisher, I understand both the science and the reality of what you’re facing.
You don’t have to choose between your health and your performance goals.
Carbs are the devil and will sabotage your goals
Carbs are your body's preferred fuel source for endurance activities. Restricting them tanks your energy, recovery, and race-day performance.
Train harder and longer to get skinnier and faster
Under-fueling leads to injuries, stress fractures, and slower times. Proper nutrition actually improves your power-to-weight ratio and performance.
You need to "earn" your food through training
Food is fuel, not a reward system. Your body needs consistent energy to perform, recover, and stay healthy regardless of your workout schedule.
Lighter always equals faster
Optimal performance comes from being properly fueled and strong, not from being as light as possible. Many athletes perform better at higher weights when properly nourished.
Missing your period means you're training hard enough
Loss of menstruation signals serious under-fueling and puts you at risk for stress fractures, bone loss, and long-term health issues.
Stress fractures and constant injuries are just part of endurance sports
Frequent injuries usually indicate inadequate nutrition, not "toughness." Proper fueling prevents most training-related injuries.
When we work together, I’ll provide you with strategies and support around these three areas:
- Event-Specific Protocols
- Training Nutrition
- Race Day Planning
Event-Specific Protocols: Detailed nutrition plans for marathons, half-Ironmans, Ironmans, and ultra-distance events
Training Nutrition: Pre-workout, during-workout, and post-workout fueling strategies that maintain stable blood sugars
Race Day Planning: Specific recommendations for type, amount, and timing of nutrition during long events
- Meal & Snack Planning
- Meal Frequency Optimization
- Personalized Supplementation Guidance
Meal & Snack Planning: Diabetes-friendly options that support your training demands
Meal Frequency Optimization: Adjusting when and how often you eat based on your schedule and blood sugar patterns
Personalized Supplementation Guidance: Evidence-based recommendations when applicable
- CGM Data Review
- Blood Sugar Pattern Recognition
- Food Journal Assessment
CGM Data Review: Detailed analysis of your Dexcom Clarity or LibreView data to identify patterns and optimize timing
Blood Sugar Pattern Recognition: Understanding how different foods, training intensities, and timing affect your glucose levels
Food Journal Assessment: Complete review of your baseline diet with personalized recommendations
I’m a certified diabetes care and education specialist as well as an endurance athlete with 23 years of experience and a former NCAA Division I college athlete who has since completed four marathons and an Ironman.
I understand both the science and the reality of managing nutrition while pursuing ambitious athletic goals. My mission is to empower athletes to fuel their bodies properly, achieve peak performance, and prove that having diabetes doesn’t mean limiting your dreams. It just means fueling them differently.
Fueling your body the right way can make all the difference. Here are my top snacks to help athletes with diabetes and prediabetes train strong while keeping blood sugar steady.
Nail your race day nutrition and diabetes management with this essential checklist. Everything you need to prepare, fuel, and finish strong, all in one place.
The specialized guidance you’ve been searching for. From pre-workout fueling to race day strategies for athletes with diabetes.
