Bill Carlson Diabetic Ironman

Bill is committed to encourage people with diabetes to live better with physical activity, to use modern medical technologies and research, and to have enthusiasm and desire to get the most out of life. His devotion to this goal as a top masters amateur athlete, healthcare practitioner, media role model, and public speaker, will help to eradicate the sedentary undisciplined lifestyle that challenges people with diabetes, which leads to disease. By restoring the need for physical activity in the lives of our community members, diabetes and its related diseases as well as obesity, will come under control.

Bill Carlson was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes February 11, 1977.  Bill knew he was different because very few people with diabetes excelled in endurance sports in the early 1980’s. Bill found that the endurance lifestyle drastically improved his diabetic health condition. Bill made medical history as being the first insulin dependent diabetic to complete the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon World Championship in 1983, as seen on ABC’s Wide World of Sports  (www.YouTube.com search: Bill Carlson, Diabetic Ironman, Pioneer).  

And today Bill has done the unimaginable. In September 2015, Bill qualified for a coveted spot in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii, October, 2016 with his third place age group finish at the Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon. At the age of 55, 33 years after being the first diabetic to complete the  Hawaii Ironman triathlon, Bill has proven that through continuous management of diabetes, even while working full-time as a physical therapist for Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA, studying for his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and training for the upcoming Ironman, his athleticism and devoted management of his diabetic condition has enabled him to overcome complications from Type 1 diabetes.  
           
Bill has achieved international acclaim for his work in supporting diabetic health. In the 1980’s, Bill became the American Diabetes Association’s International Physical Fitness Chairman. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation named Bill their National Fitness Spokesman. Sharing his advice of proper diet, frequent blood sugar monitoring and insulin dosing, and regular daily exercise, Bill has encouraged thousands. This message has grown to influence now hundreds of thousands to live better by using improved diabetes management tools and practices. Bill continues to encourage people to live better every day and remain devoted to their body’s good health.

Taking this message to the public as a role model and public speaker has been Bill’s quest since he completed the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon World Championship in 1983. With your support,  you will be able to help Bill to continue encouraging better health practices among the 30 million Americans with diabetes. The “Live Better, Live Intelligently, Go For All You Can Be” message not only encourages people with diabetes, but also gets millions more off the couch to fight sedentary lifestyle and add excitement by building more fit bodies everywhere this message is heard.