Ryan's Story

My Type 1 Diabetes story starts at age 20, basically the latest juvenile onset diagnosis I have ever heard.  I had always been involved in athletics and had begun really getting into running.  One of my earliest goals was to complete and Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run) and for some reason that was the first thing I thought of when I was told I had diabetes.  Given that this was in 1996, the resources available were limited, so when I arrived at a local hospital to meet with a nurse, I took everything she said as absolute.  She gave me some needles and a vial of fast acting insulin and that was really about it.  I remember asking her about long distance events and she suggested that it might not be a good idea given that low blood sugar reactions we not something to mess around with.  Looking back, I should have been more aggressive in looking for other answers and opinions, but I didn’t.  Fast forward 10 years and I found myself reading a story about a Type 1 Diabetic who was on the USAtriathlon team (Jay Hewitt.)  I immediately reached out to him and began asking him all kinds of questions about what limitations were in front of me.  Jay explained to me that he had done many triathlons, including the full Ironman, and that I could do anything I put my mind to.  He provided me with several resources and a few professionals at a Harvard hospital (Joslin Diabetes Center.)  In no time, I had worked my way up to a ½ Ironman and signed up to run my first full Ironman in Panama City, FL.  I ran on behalf of Team Joslin and raised a little over $35,000 for Joslin.  Is was a tough day, but after a little more than 13hrs, I crossed the finish line and completed my first full Ironman!!  Since then I have completed 2 more Ironman races, many ½ Ironman races, and both the Boston and Chicago marathons.  At then end of the day, Jay’s simple advice is something I apply everyday, not just in athletics, but in every part of my life.  Type 1 diabetes is not something I would wish on anyone, but living with it is all about your approach.  I have Type 1 Diabetes, but it does NOT have me.

Ryan Phillips