Saul Zuckman



  • Columbia, MD
  • Age: 72
  • Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at age 51

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS


  • 1st place age group - 2009 Novo Nordisk 5K@ADA
  • 2nd place age group - 2010 Novo Nordisk 5K@ADA
  • 6th place age group - 2010 El Tour de Tuscon 40 mile bicycle event
  • Race Across America Finisher

MEET SAUL ZUCKMAN


Tell us about your diagnosis with diabetes.

I was, in part, diagnosed with diabetes by a circus clown in the food court of a shopping mall. A local health care organization was providing free diabetes screening at the food court. I really did not want to be screened and went about my business. A circus clown, who was hired to encourage visitors to be screened, coaxed me to go to one of the testing stations. They drew a blood sample and sent the test results to my HCP. My doctor phoned me and said that it was important that he see me soon without much other discussion. When I visited him he ordered additional tests and confirmed the lab data. Diabetes is not a funny business but I do appreciate the clown’s efforts.


How did you/your family feel about diabetes when you were first diagnosed?

I was really scared and feared that my useful life was at an end. My wife said that we were going to learn all that there is about this disease and do the best that we can to control it.


How do you feel about diabetes now?

I respect my disease but no longer fear it.


Tell us about your life at home. Are you married? children? grandchildren?

I am married and have two children and two grand children. We have a close family. In December we will have been married for 49 years.


Why is exercise and competition a part of your life?

It is well known that exercise makes significant contributions to a healthy life style. The benefits are still being studied and documented. In short, it is all good. Competition gives us another reason to do our sessions and provides additional motivation to work out when we really do not feel like doing it. However, we feel better after exercise and it makes us fell glad that we did it.


What drew you to Team Type 2?

The opportunity to be associated with other people with type 2 diabetes and who share similar goals of controlling their diabetes and helping/motivating others to do the same. I am in strong support of the team’s mission statement and like to help in anyway possible.


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

I was selected by Diabetes Forecast magazine (December 2010) to be featured as one of twelve people who are doing well in the control of their diabetes and helping others to do the same. This validates the mission of Team Type 2. I have also participated in the production of two videos about exercise and diabetes. These are part of an educational and motivational project produced for the AADE and under a grant awarded to Johns Hopkins Medical. The themes are consistent with the mission of Team Type 2.


How about an athletic achievement that you find especially significant?

I placed 6th out of 102 in my age classification in the 2010 El Tour de Tuscon 40 mile bicycle event. Overall this was 205th in a field of 1,154 (all categories). My most significant achievement was winning the 2009 Novo Nordisk 5K@ADA road race in my age category in Atlanta. I am not a runner and this was my first try. I placed second in the same event in 2010.


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

Diabetes, at this time, cannot be cured, but certainly can be controlled. It is the out of control high blood sugars which damages our bodies and not necessarily the diabetes. Your decision to take control and actively partnering with your health care team will lead to better outcomes. These decisions are yours to make and embrace. Do not leave control solely in the hands of others.


What has been your favorite TT2 event to date?

Participating in the 2010 Race Across America. We were a team of 8 racers and 21 people in crew all working together to demonstrate that diabetes may be an obstacle, but certainly not a limiter. Through team work we completed the race and eventually another team will find a cure for diabetes.


Are there any ways that you have found that diabetes has been a benefit in your life?

Being diagnosed with diabetes has been a personal “wake-up call” to do a better job monitoring and improving my overall health. It provided the motivation to lose excess weight (about 70 pounds), exercise more and to be a member of Team Type 2.


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

Currently my control challenge is to adjust my basal and bolus insulin intakes in order to avoid lows after exercise. I have adjusted my exercise regime to include weight training and this seems to have a different effect than pure aerobic based. I have had 9 lows this week to deal with. That is better than the 14 lows a few weeks ago. It is still a bit off-but is getting better.


Tell us about an athletic goal that you have.

To participate and compete in TT2 events the best that I can for as long as I can.