TOM GROSSMAN



  • Midland, MI
  • Age: 39
  • Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 9

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS


  • Cote Dame Marie 15k Cross Country Ski Race – 2nd Place (Overall)
  • Detroit Free Press Marathon 3:39 - Top 20%
  • Autumn Colors Duathlon – 1st Place (Overall)
  • Mackinaw MultiSport Duathlon – 1st Place (Age Group)
  • Sanford and Sun Duathlon – 1st Place (Age Group)
  • Delta 5k Race – 1st Place (Age Group) , 3rd Place Overall
  • Three Rivers Olympic Distance Duathlon – 2nd Place (Age Group)
  • Burns Park Ann Arbor 5k – 3rd Place (Age Group)
  • Barefoot Sprint Triathlon – 4th Place (Age Group)
  • MSU Sprint Triathlon – 5th Place (Age Group)

MEET TOM GROSSMAN


When were you diagnosed with diabetes?

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April of 1982 - at age 9.


How did you feel about diabetes when you were first diagnosed?

When first diagnosed I wasn’t bothered at all by it. It involved a week stay at the hospital, use of interesting new things (test tubes and Clinitest tabs for urine testing, syringes etc). I remember it as being kind of a cross between an being on an exciting adventure where you didn’t know what was going to happen next and being at a really cool science camp. May sound strange I know, but that was how my nine year old brain processed the whole thing. It wasn’t until I got home from the hospital that I realized that diabetes wasn’t going away and now my life had to be made to work around it. That was the beginning of the diabetes balancing act that continues to this day. (It is so much easier now though.) I was also given access to the diabetes management books of the day. I remember reading the chapters on potential complications that I found just thoroughly scary and demotivating. I remember specifically being shocked by the listed percentage likelihoods of each complication. Ughh. What I didn’t know then was that I was diagnosed at the advent of some truly awesome technology and pharmacologic developments. These developments would change what can be expected and achieved in our life with diabetes. If I had those books now I would read them and laugh. Then I would recycle them to get them out of our house!


Has your feeling about diabetes changed over the years?

Yes – most definitely. I spent much of my childhood, through most of high school really, just wanting to “blend” with the rest of the kids. Diabetes, in my mind anyway, challenged my ability to blend in. It was really for this reason that it most bothered me. Yet, at some point near the end of high school I began to realize that I did not need to view this difference (diabetes) as a weakness, instead it could be a source of strength. I stopped trying to “bury” it and became more confident, and happier, as a result. After high school I came to realize that my experience with diabetes can be helpful to others. I began to work at Camp Midicha (Michigan’s camp for kids with diabetes) as a counselor. Working at the camp was a really great experience and one that I continued for many years. In 1998 I met my wife at diabetes camp. She does not have diabetes herself. Due to the guy she married though she lives with diabetes as well. I am also happy to work in the diabetes industry. My work requires me to inform and encourage people with diabetes and their health care providers. It is a job I love and find personally significant.


Tell us about your life at home.

Life at home is always interesting and fun most of the time -we have four kids (ages 9, 7, 5, and 3) that keep us busy.


Why is exercise and competition a part of your life?

My wife Jennifer (a runner and triathlete herself) and I have made exercise part of the daily routine. It really didn’t take long to become a habit. In addition to exercise for its own sake, I really enjoy the physical and mental challenge of participating in running and multisport events. In addition to endurance running events, I enjoy participating in triathlon, duathlon, and cross country ski events as well.


What drew you to Team Type 1?

I feel that Team Type 1 is uniquely effective at communicating a message that is desperately needed. Think of it this way: you were just told that you (or your child) has diabetes – where did your mind go? How did you determine what this means to you, your child, your family, your future?” For many parents or people with diabetes the reaction to the diagnosis is just overwhelmingly negative due largely to misperceptions about diabetes. Many of the ideas that people have about diabetes are very inaccurate. This misinformation often results in attitudes about diabetes that are highly demotivating and depressing to a person or family living with diabetes”. I believe that the Team Type 1 Run Team will cause some people to “rethink” what they thought they knew about diabetes. His hope is that the Team Type 1 running team and Run Across America will reach the “hearts then minds” of those families and individuals affected by diabetes. I feel that TT1 does the kind of work that causes those with diabetes to become better engaged in diabetes self care. TT1 brings new hope and power to those affected by diabetes. They also just happen to have some of the most accomplished athletes in their respective sports. I am very happy to be a part of this team!


If there is one piece of advice you could give to someone who was newly diagnosed with diabetes– what would it be?

Good diabetes control is worth your effort. Perhaps more importantly, regardless of the circumstances in your life, good diabetes control is achievable for you. It is also probably easier than you think. And one more that I feel I have to mention: don’t be discouraged by information you hear from friends and family about diabetes. There is a good chance that information they are telling you about diabetes is no longer accurate. Do your own research and carefully consider the source.


Are there any areas of your diabetes management that you are currently targeting to improve?

I am currently working to resolve night time low blood sugars that occur after higher intensity exercise. I am getting closer, but have not yet found that perfect basal rate (rate of insulin delivery) on my insulin pump for those days.


What is an athletic goal you have for the short term – say less than one year from now?

Set new PR at either Bayshore or Chicago Marathon this year.