At age 36, Andy Holder was a working dad, the father of two young boys, and a body builder. But during a routine physical, Andy learned he was diabetic. Andy was stunned. "I was in excellent shape," he says. "I ate right; exercised. I certainly didn't fit the profile that most people think of for...diabetes."
Andy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a disease in which his body is no longer able to produce the insulin that allows his body to metabolize food. The diagnosis dampened the spirits of the normally upbeat Andy, but only for a short time. "I had a few fleeting moments of asking, 'why me.' But then I turned it into an opportunity."
What he did was turn himself into a triathlete. Despite not being a runner or a very good swimmer or even owning a bicycle, and despite a medical condition that requires him to wear an insulin pump, Andy set a goal for himself of competing in a triathlon, a grueling race combining cycling, swimming and distance running.
Since his diagnosis, Andy has completed seven triathlons and now serves as a spokesman for the Good Neighbor Pharmacy chain. He visits pharmacies across the country, talking with people about living with diabetes and living healthily. His hope is to inspire others with chronic illness to manage their health and live well.
Andy's tour, "Managing Diabetes: Living Without Limits," will stop at the Poquoson Pharmacy on Wythe Creek Road this Thursday, May 26th, from 2pm to 7pm.
You can listen to my interview with "Iron Andy" Holder below.
Links:
Andy Holder's website
Map to Poquoson Pharmacy
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