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Linda Demma
Great Floridian Ironman

Age: 29

Age diagnosed: 17 

Most vivid memory of your diagnosis?
I was a senior in high school, and was trying out for the US Rowing national team training camp. I was training more than usual and was utterly exhausted. In school I could not get through a single class period without having to go to the bathroom at least twice. I was losing weight, but craving food. At night I would go to bed with a 2-liter bottle of lemonade. All of these were classic signs, but I kept thinking they were all the result of increased training.

On the day before my diagnosis I had gone Christmas shopping with my best friend. I went to McDonalds and got a huge strawberry milkshake which I drank so fast I became sick. Thinking I was sick from the milkshake, my friend drove me home where I promptly passed out on the couch. The next day at the doctor’s office, they started immediately talking about blood sugar, insulin, etc. I thought they were crazy – I didn’t have diabetes, other people got that… When they took a syringe out and started teA1Ching me how to inject an orange, it began to sink in.

Family: -  Married with three furry feline-children.

Current A1C: 6.9

Goal for next A1C: 6.8

Riding Experience:
I’ve been riding since 1999, and started RACing in 2005.

• 2000 AIDS ride from Fairbanks to AnchorAge:, Alaska (500 miles)
• 200 AIDS ride from Montreal to Maine (500 miles)
• 2002 1st place Athena, Gulf Coast ½ Ironman
• 2002 1st place Age:-group, Great Floridian Ironman
• 20031 st place Age:-group, Great Floridian ½ Ironman
• 2005 Bicycle Ride AcrossGA (600 miles)
• 2005 1st place Union City Time Trial (Cat3/4)
• 2005 3rd place Aaron’s Dog Days Crit, 4th place Senoia Speedway Crit (Cat3/4)
• 2005 4th place Bishop Classic RR (Cat 4)
• 2005 GAP series Beginner Sr. Women: st place Ft. Yargo, st place Gainesville, st place Dausset

Training Regime / Racing regime:
Endurance events are my forte, but RAAM will be more anaerobic if we will be doing hour long stretches.  So, I am trying to do more workouts that push my AT. My schedule also includes a lot of cross-training. I try to do about 2-5 hours per week, 6-8 riding (3-4 hour rides at least once on the weekends), and 3-5 swimming, lifting (with core work) twice a week, and 2 hours jogging.

Job/employer:  
Centers for Disease Control – Senior Epidemiologist and Public Health Scientist 

School attending/attended:
Attended Cornell University for Undergraduate and Emory University for Doctoral degree 

What do you enjoy most about being a diabetic?
I most enjoy the camaraderie I feel when meeting other athletes with diabetes. I am also proud of the fA1Ct that I understand much more about nutrition and physiology than most other people, including most other athletes. 

Most memorable event (pre- or post-diagnosis), sporting or personal:
My most memorable event was the 2002 Great Floridian Ironman.  I had trained very hard since getting the insulin pump in October 2001, and had to pay close attention to nutrition and hydration, learning every detail of physiology for this event.  It was my greatest personal Achievement, made even more wonderful with my fiancé watching in support, my best friend right behind me, and knowing that very few people can accomplishsuch a thing, let alone with a mechanical pancreas. 

Give us a few words of wisdom, some personal advice...
Try not to let diabetes slow you down – it shouldn’t slow you down and it won’t. However, be strong enough to admit when you need help, a shoulder to cry on, an extra granola bar. It’s OK to be special (!)

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"Curing Diabetes One Mile at a Time"