Triabetes is composed of a talented assembly of athletes, trainers, researchers, and professionals.

• The athletes – The team includes ethnically diverse members from coast to coast, men and women, ages 25 to 60, students and professionals, experienced triathletes and committed rookies, all united by their desire to inspire and educate the diabetes community by achievement and example.

• The trainers – Dr. Matthew Corcoran, MD, CDE, and founder of Diabetes Training Camp, is the team’s primary training physician and is joined by his experienced colleagues in providing consistent medical and training support specific to diabetes and exercise. The team also benefits from the guidance of Bill Carlson, MPT, the first ever Ironman with diabetes.

• The researchers – Prominent scientists and clinicians from institutes across the country are collaborating with Dr. Corcoran to evaluate the effects of extreme training on the athletes and their diabetes. The findings will be published as a resource for clinicians, physical trainers, and aspiring athletes in the diabetes community.

• The documentary – Andiamo Production, an Emmy award-winning film company in Madison, WI, has begun collecting footage for use in a film documentary that chronicles the athletes through their Ironman training and competition from September 2007 to September 2008. The documentary will be available to the diabetes community and for presentation on educational television networks.

• The infrastructure – Communications, operations, marketing, legal matters, and finances of Triabetes are managed by Insulindependence, Inc., a non-profit diabetes advocacy organization. Insulindependence is developing online tools for athlete training, communication, data collection, and fundraising. These utilities will be offered to the diabetes community as part of an innovative online social network.

Triabetes is different from other previous ventures. Triabetes is, to our knowledge, the first project integrating an expertly managed training and competition curriculum, an inspirational documentary, a scientifically sound data collection and clinical research program, and the development of an interactive online educational resource for the diabetes community. These synergies establish the unprecedented impact that Triabetes will have on people with diabetes and the community at large.