Name: Jay Hewitt RACED IN RAAM 2006 Location:Greenville, SC Age: 39 Age diagnosed: 24

Most Vivid Memory of Diagnosis:Waking up in the E.R. with tubes in my nose and IV in my arm, with medical students my age around my bed looking down at me like I was some sort of lab experiment. The doctor told me I had diabetes, and I said “what’s that?” When she told me I ask “is there a cure?” and she said “no, there is no cure right now.” I asked “Am I going to die?” “No,” she said, “but your life will be a little different.” From then I knew that my cure was up to me.

Family: Wife Anna, and daughter due May 17

Current A1C: 6.3

Goal for next A1C: 6.0

Riding Experience:13 Ironman triathlons, 3-time member of US National Team for Long Course Tri, World Championships 2004-2006, RAAM Team Type 1 2006

Training Regime/Racing Regime: Race 2-3 Ironman triathlons per year, train 15-18 hours per week, swim, bike and run except the month before RAAM when I focus on high intensity bike workouts for the team strategy.
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Job/Employer:
Lawyer and professional motivational speaker, www.jayhewitt.com

School Attending/Attended: Wake Forest University and Univ. of South Carolina Law

Fastest speed ever gone on a bicycle? 56 mph in Arizona in RAAM 2006, tailwind down a hill on a wide open highway with my hair on fire

Having diabetes has caused me to: healthy lifestyle I lead and inspiring others to overcome and achieve.

Most memorable event per or post diagnosis, sporting or personal: Ironman Florida 2004 finishing 9 hours, 47 minutes; climbing Colorado mountain at sunrise in RAAM 2006 riding alone while my teammates waited to change riders ahead at base of Wolf Creek Pass; racing Long Course Tri World Championship in Australia 2006

Words of wisdom, some personal advice… The bad thing that happens to you is the best thing that happens to you. Diabetes is the best thing that ever happened to me. Use it as motivation to prove that you are stronger than it is. Always check your blood sugar multiple times a day, and especially before and during long workouts. Don’t cure low blood sugar with candy and sweets and glucose tablets – use healthy sport bars, OJ and healthy carbohydrates. Call your mom, thank your wife for all she does for you, and tell your kids that you are proud of them. You are stronger than diabetes and you will reach the finish line

Email: jay@jayhewitt.com