TeamWILD: Women with Diabetes Compete in Endurance Athletics

Run, Bike, Swim

Competing in an athletic endurance event for 17 straight hours would be daunting for anyone. But throw in glucose sensors, insulin pumps, carb-loading, and blood sugar checks, and you may start thinking even the label Ironman is too wimpy for this team of women.

At Ironman Wisconsin 2011 in Madison, a team of 11 women from four states and New Zealand came together to individually swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and then run 26.2 miles. All but one live with type 1 diabetes, chalking up more than 178 years of experience living with diabetes.