Mark Suprenant

“Don’t give up and don’t let it limit your hopes and dreams. Just remember – you can still do anything you want to if you put your mind to it.”

When he was 22 years old and just out of college, Mark Suprenant was misdiagnosed and was treated for Type 2 diabetes. After he was losing so much weight, he was taken to Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston where they said he had one of the lowest lipid counts on record. He was subsequently put on insulin treatment.

Six years later, Suprenant was racing – and winning – bicycle races. He also began to compete in cyclocross – a mix of mountain biking and road cycling, combined with a touch of steeplechase. A chance encounter with Phil Southerland led to his recruitment for Team Type 1’s defense of its RAAM corporate team title.

“The whole thing is very impressive and so organized,” he says. “It’s like a dream.”

His goal for 2008 is to keep four aspects of his life in balance: bicycle riding, family, work, and diabetes.

Career Highlight

“My career highlight with cycling is riding and racing cyclocross with my boys.”

Diabetes Details

Age Diagnosed: 22 years

Current A1C: At goal

Years On A Pump: 1

Insulin Requirements
When Training:
30 units per day

Insulin Requirements
When Not Training:
40 units per day