Racing competitively is all about numbers for diabetic IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball

Charlie Kimball pulls off his balaclava following a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Tuesday, May 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (The Associated Press)

In this May 14, 2015, photo, the steering wheel of Charlie Kimball is seen during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 14, 2015. Kimball checks the special monitor on his steering wheel during a race to monitor his blood-glucose level. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (The Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS – Charlie Kimball will check his blood-glucose numbers constantly before, during and after Sunday's Indianapolis 500.

He doesn't have a choice.

The California native was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2007, and the only way he can win is to keep those numbers at the proper level.

His team understands, allowing him to take practice breaks when necessary and tracking his sugar levels throughout races with a special monitor inside the cockpit of his No. 83 car. And if he needs something to help him during the race, Kimball can switch a specially designed valve to drink orange juice instead of water.

IndyCar officials and team members say Kimball has never had a problem during a race.