Episode 13: Eric Tozer, Type 1 Diabetes Ambassador Achieves 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days

Welcome to Health Interrupted hosted by Celebrity Personal Trainer, Gina Lombardi and Former Miss America, Laura Kaeppeler.

Today’s guest is Eric Tozer. Eric Tozer is a TYPE 1 diabetes ambassador who inspires the community through sports and utilizes his athletic accomplishments as a platform to be a role model in the diabetes community. Eric was diagnosed with T1D in 2006, while traveling in Europe. He had the classic symptoms of diabetes including constant thirst, increased appetite, frequent urination, blurred vision, lethargy, and weight loss. Eric had always lived a very active and healthy lifestyle, so the sudden 20-pound weight loss made him aware that something was seriously wrong. Upon returning home, a visit to his doctor revealed the devastating and life changing news of his diagnosis. Eric’s life was quickly turned upside down: checking his blood sugar levels up to 10 times a day, calculating carbohydrate intake and taking varying units of insulin shots with every meal.  But Eric wasn’t going to let diabetes control his life and decided to take charge. Soon after his diagnosis, he completed his first half Ironman and hasn’t stopped since. He co-founded the non-profit organization, Diabetes Sports Project, comprised of hundreds of T1D athletes around the globe, demonstrating how through proper diet, exercise, a positive outlook and effective blood glucose management, dreams can be achieved. 

 

00:49 Gina & Laura give us Eric Tozer’s backstory

2:24 Visit www.healthinterruptedpodcast.com

2:41 Our Sponsor for this episode is Body of Harmony www.bodyofharmony.com

3:30 Gina & Laura talk about Diabetes and the testing that is required for a proper diagnosis. Resources www.Diabetes.org and www.jdrf.org

5:14 Gina Welcomes Eric. Eric tells the story about how he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and how he didn’t realize something was wrong at first.

10:15 Eric describes what a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is and what it does. He uses a www.Dexcom.com

11:06 Gina recalls a friend whose son has Type 1 and what his parents endure daily to keep him safe.

15:35 Eric describes what it was like to take on 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days as a Type 1 Diabetic.

19:12 Eric has a message for newly diagnosed children and their parents about how important exercise is and that its ok to participate in sports with your physician’s blessing.

19:50 Eric explains that different types of exercise & sports affect your blood sugar differently.

22:06 Eric breaks down his process as to how he learned so much about how exercise affected his own blood sugar by going to a track.

23:29 Eric speaks to teenagers & what they can do to stay on top of their blood sugar numbers especially during school & during exercise.

28:10 Eric’s blood sugar trended down while asleep and he had a seizure

29:00 Eric gives us a day in the life of a T1D

32:15 Gina poses a question to Eric about weight training & blood sugar levels

34:45 Eric describes an Ironman race he did and how his blood sugar swiftly changed after completed the swim portion of the race. A correction dose of insulin brought it back down.

37:22 Eric tells a story of a 6 yr. old T1D boy and the cool way he and his parents communicate during a soccer game if his blood sugar shifts.

38:18 Gina poses the question to Eric as to whether there will be a cure in our lifetime. Eric gives his take on it.

39:50 Eric gives us insight on doing Multiple Daily Injections vs. his Tandem Insulin Pump, along with a CGM vs. 188 finger pricks a day PLUS the future of Glucagon.

42:10 Eric sits in the