ESPN Profiles Vegan Rock Climber

A recent online feature in sports media network ESPN profiled vegan rock climber Maggie Crawford. The athlete told ESPN that she opted for a vegan diet after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to help her regulate her blood sugar. “The vegan part wasn’t too hard,” Crawford said, “just because I was going through a massive life change, too.” The rock climber shared a recipe for one of her favorite meals—a vegan take on Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza—with ESPN, urging readers to use nut-based vegan cheese in place of more processed versions. Crawford was also recently profiled in outdoor magazine REI where she spoke about the challenges of being a diabetic athlete, stating that she manages the illness by eating plenty of fresh vegetables and peanut butter for protein. Studies have shown that the vegan diet can combat type 2 diabetes, and Crawford confirmed that it is an effective tool to alleviate symptoms of type 1 diabetes as well.