BOB CHAISSON

• Severna Park, MD
• Age: 49
• Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at age 46

MEET BOB CHAISSON

Tell us about your diagnosis with diabetes.

In January 2007 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after frequent flu and sinus infections. No realization prior that there could even be an issue.

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

Initially I felt like diabetes was a death sentence, a slow and painful death sentence.

How do you feel about diabetes now?

I feel much differently about diabetes now. Type 2 Diabetes is considered by many to be a deadly illness that I causes awful health issues. I have come to realize that this is not the case. It is not diabetes, but poorly managed diabetes, that leads to awful health consequences. It is up to each of us with diabetes to manage it well to avoid health issues.

Tell us about your life at home.

Married 26 years to an amazing women and we have 5 children: Keely 23, Robert 21, Savannah 19, Olivia 16, Pierse 14.

Why is exercise and competition a part of your life?

Because it has to be. In order to effectively control my diabetes I really have to exercise. Competition gives me a goal to encourage ongoing exercise.

What drew you to Team Type 2?

I was impressed by founder Phil Southerland and his mission. I had the good fortune to meet him at a Diabetic Educators meeting in 2008. I want to live the mission.

The Mission: “Team Type 2 is fueled by a passion to improve the lives of others. Through athletic accomplishment and public presentations, TT1 inspires those with diabetes to become more engaged and effective in their diabetes self-care in order to live a life uncompromised by diabetes”. This is a message that inspired me to the degree that I wanted to personally be a part of the team.

Tell us about a personal Achievement that is highly significant to you.

I achieved a HBA1C of 6.0 with no medications. It is the hard way to get there and I achieved it.

How about an athletic achievement that you find especially significant?

RAAM 2009 with TT2. When you tell regular people about it they can’t fathom it. When you tell cyclists about it they know what an accomplishment it is.

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

Commit yourself to managing your diabetes well. My personal motto is Ride or be Ridden: you either take control or it controls you. To meet the commitment requires education and some experimentation but everyone can do it. If you will not do what it takes to commit then get on the right meds, including insulin, as soon as possible because control is still the key point.

What has been your favorite TT2 event to date?

RAAM. It is the ultimate endurance event just like life is.

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

I am working to improve elevated mornings glucose levels.

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

Earn the R12, which is 12 months in a row of riding a 200k ride per month. Also ride a 300k in one day.

How about an athletic goal that you have for the long term?

My long term goal is to complete a century distance ride in under 5 hours.