ALLENTOWN - Charlie Kimball has had plenty of success on the racetrack.

But it’s what Kimball has done out of the car that has been his biggest accomplishment.

The 34-year-old is the first licensed driver with diabetes to win a race in the NTT IndyCar Series.

In 2007, Kimball was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes and was forced to abandon his racing program, After the diagnosis, Kimball returned to the car in 2008 and earned a podium finish in his first race back.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (Cedar Crest) hosted Kimball on Thursday to talk about living with diabetes and how he has worked to achieve his racing dreams.

“For me. having IndyCar as a vehicle for that message, if you’ll pardon my pun, is extremely valuable,” Kimball said. “And partnering with Novo Nordisk for now our 11th season together with the Race with Insulin Program, being able to share that message of empowerment to the diabetes community is awesome. Because if it’s those kids that are thinking about what they want to achieve, and what dreams they want to chase in life, or if it’s the parents that are struggling with the burden of helping their child manage diabetes, if I can give them some tools, give them some perspective. or even just give them 45 minutes as an escape to think, in this room, everyone has diabetes, one way or another.

“So that’s normal. And to me, it’s extremely fulfilling, and I feel that responsibility to do a good job for the diabetes community when I put that firesuit on and when I put that helmet on this weekend and go racing at Pocono Raceway, it’s about being successful for not just myself and my team and my sponsors, but for the diabetes community, too.”

Kimball will compete in the ABC Supply 500 this Sunday at Pocono Raceway for Carlin Motorsports, Previously, Kimball drove the No. 83 entry for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He won his first IndyCar race in 2013 at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

While racing is his passion, the opportunity to continue to educate and learn about diabetes is something that is equally exciting for Kimball.

“I learn every day, from the people I talk to, from health car professionals, from families, about the tools they use, how they manage, the successes, the challenges they face, what works for them, what doesn’t work,” said Kimball. “I learn every time I talk to people, and every time I interact within the diabetes community. I have friends all over the country who have diabetes, and we’ve been able to be connected through racing. Meeting them in the autograph line at the racetrack, or meeting them at a community outreach event like this. And then seeing them at the racetrack again.

“I know Brandon is coming up to the race on Sunday. A couple of the other young ladies and gentlemen were talking about coming up either Saturday or Sunday, and it will always put a smile on my face. No matter how well, or how poorly, or how challenging the race weekend is, it gives me a moment to get out of my own head, and not be so focused on that two-and-a-half mile triangle, but to really appreciate the community that I’m a part of.”

Kimball knows he can’t change his situation. And he likely would never want to.

“One of the questions at the end, a young lady came up and she said, ‘Do you ever want to give diabetes back?’” Kimball recalled. “And I told her I would every day. And I wish I could. And yet at the same time, I know if I gave diabetes back tomorrow, I would miss being a part of this incredible community.

“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t understand how special being a part of this cool kids club was going to be, and what it would mean to me personally, and to me professionally. And being able to share that story through the Race with Insulin Program, working with Novo Nordisk, and take insulin brands on the race car, insulin delivery devices on a race car at 200-plus mph, is pretty neat.”