Diabetes Shoppe and

Ironman Team Up

AmerisourceBergen’s Diabetes Shoppe program has teamed up with Andy “Iron Andy” Holder to help motivate people to properly manage their disease so they can live fulfilling lives. As part of the “Managing Diabetes: Living Without Limits” campaign, Holder has embarked on an inspirational tour, participating in athletic events throughout the U.S. and speaking about living with diabetes as an Ironman competitor.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2005 at age 36, Holder was determined not to let the disease hold him back. An athlete all his life, he decided to take control of his condition and inspire others by becoming a competitor in the Ironman triathlon program. A full-fledged Ironman event involves swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running a full marathon of 26.2 miles. Holder’s endocrinologist, Certified Diabetes Educator and local Diabetes Shoppe pharmacist help him safely manage his disease during extreme training and competition.

 “With the support of my health-care team, I am able to manage a disease that could have limited my ability to live my life the way I wanted,” Holder says.

“Because I am dealing with diabetes around the clock and learning new things every day about managing the disease, I could not train successfully for the Ironman without the knowledge, accessibility and emotional support of my Diabetes Shoppe pharmacist.”

Diabetes Shoppes, located in over 1,100 independent community pharmacies across the U.S., offer education, products, and daily support for people with the disease, including access to trained professionals. The Diabetes Shoppes are primarily located in pharmacies that participate in AmerisourceBergen’s Good Neighbor Pharmacies program.

“Poor diabetes management can put patients at a greater risk for serious complications such as kidney disease, blindness and stroke or premature death. Patients should work with a health-care team to control the disease and lower their risk of complications,” says Jerry Meece, Diabetes Shoppe pharmacist, Plaza Pharmacy and Wellness Center.

“Andy is a great role model to remind diabetes patients that disease management is not only important to staying healthy and active, but is key to reaching lifestyle goals,” Meece adds.

Holder completed his first Ironman last July in Lake Placid, N.Y., and he competed in the Miami Man Half Triathlon in November. Additional competitions, scheduled for March through October of this year, include events in Nashville; Orlando, Fla.; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Kansas City, Mo.; Benton Harbor, Mich.; Asheville, N.C.; Los Angeles; and Austin, Texas.

For more information on the “Managing Diabetes: Living Without Limits” campaign or Diabetes Shoppe, visit www.diabetes-shoppe.com