"I Struggle Every Day": Ironman Triathlon Champion on Being an Athlete with Diabetes

[Northerner]

When I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 36, I wasn’t a triathlete yet—as a matter of fact, I had never done a triathlon, I didn’t own a bike and I didn’t know how to swim. So there were a few other things I feared would hold me back athletically; diabetes wasn’t atop the list. All kidding aside, I knew I was taking on a lot by striving to finish an Ironman with all the obstacles I had in front of me, but that was exactly why I took on so much—I wanted to do something extraordinary that would inspire and motivate others. That was my main goal. It had nothing to do with winning races or getting medals. Finishing an Ironman in the face of diabetes was a platform, an opportunity, to show people that you can do anything if you have a positive attitude.

http://www.demoshealth.com/w/i-stru...on-champion-on-being-an-athlete-with-diabetes