The Endurance of Adaptation: Living, Racing, and Thriving with Diabetes
Check out the conversation with the full interview at The 99% Podcast!
In this special edition of “The 99%,” I sit down with two longtime friends, athletes, and training partners—Eddie Fishman and Gary Allen—to talk about endurance sport, diabetes, and the delicate balance between performance and health. What unfolds is a raw, insightful, and powerful conversation that transcends diagnosis and dives deep into self-awareness, adaptation, and the athlete’s mindset.
Meet the Athletes
Eddie Fishman – A lifelong athlete, Eddie played elite level squash before diving into triathlon over a decade ago. Since then, he’s qualified for nearly every major World Championship, including Kona and St. George. He recently completed Challenge Roth in 10:26 with a 3:26 marathon. In 2021, he recorded a remarkable 9:16 Ironman at Cozumel, making him the second-fastest known Type 1 diabetic Ironman athlete.
Gary Allen – Also a lifetime athlete, Gary raced BMX from age 11, competed internationally as a runner and duathlete, and went to the 1992 Olympic Trials for track cycling in the 1km event—a brutal, anaerobic discipline. In December 2024, Gary was unexpectedly diagnosed with diabetes, currently undergoing testing to confirm Type 1. His perspective as someone in the early stages of diagnosis is deeply insightful.
Late-Onset Type 1: When the Diagnosis Comes Later in Life
“Most Type 1 diabetics are diagnosed as kids. But for both Gary and me, it happened later in life—which is rare.” – Eddie Fishman
Type 1 diabetes is often seen as a childhood-onset condition, formerly known as juvenile diabetes. But both Gary and Eddie were diagnosed well into adulthood. Type 1 is primarily genetic, but often an environmental trigger—like a virus or infection—must “switch it on.” For Gary, that trigger may have been a serious infection that hospitalized him last winter.
As an elite track athlete, Gary spent his life doing highly anaerobic work—zone 4 and 5 training, the kind that may contribute to long-term insulin resistance. Now, as he works with Mayo Clinic to determine the type and cause of his condition, he’s also reflecting on decades of high-intensity training—and what that might mean for others.
Lessons Beyond Diagnosis: What All Athletes Can Learn
“Insulin resistance isn’t just a diabetic problem. You can be perfectly healthy and still train yourself into it.” – Gary Allen
Both athletes emphasized that glucose control matters—whether or not you’re diabetic. Gary’s brother, a nutritionist and endurance athlete, maintained long-term metabolic health through an enormous base of zone 2 training. This reinforces something many endurance coaches have been preaching for years: aerobic capacity protects your future.
High-intensity racing is powerful—but sustained, excessive anaerobic work without balance can lead to metabolic dysfunction, burnout, or worse. The lesson? Train for longevity as well as performance.
Fueling Performance with Diabetes
“I joke that I might be mediocre at swim, bike, and run—but I’m an elite eater.” – Eddie Fishman
Nutrition is one of the five pillars Eddie uses to manage his diabetes (the others being insulin, training, stress, and hormones). His day-to-day eating is focused on low glycemic impact, avoiding spikes in blood sugar by sticking to lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats, and a small amount of fruit or complex carbs.
Here’s a look at Eddie’s typical daily fueling:
• Breakfast: Non-dairy yogurt (nut-based), nuts, seeds, cinnamon, and fruit
• Lunch: Large salad with protein (chicken, fish, or tofu), nuts or cheese
• Dinner: Protein with vegetables and occasionally sweet potatoes or rice
• Training Fuel: Real food—fruit, nuts—for ~70–80% of sessions
• High-Intensity/Back-to-Back Sessions: Sports nutrition (gels, mixes) to ensure recovery and performance
He also emphasized that he often fuels not just for the session he’s in, but for the next session—to keep recovery and blood sugar steady.
Chasing the Pointy End Comes at a Cost
“Trying to get from 8/10 to 10/10 in performance starts to conflict with diabetic health. That’s the trade-off.” – Eddie Fishman
This was one of the most powerful truths in the conversation.
For many athletes, squeezing out that final edge—qualifying for Kona, setting a personal best—requires increased intensity, volume, and carbohydrate intake. But for diabetic athletes, those performance goals can create tension with blood sugar control.
Still, both Gary and Eddie agree: with smart training, grounded lifestyle habits, and radical self-awareness, it’s possible to push hard while honoring your health.
Diabetes & Diagnosis
• Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed later in life, not just in childhood.
• It’s often triggered by an environmental factor (infection, virus), especially in genetically predisposed individuals.
• A1C testing is a key diagnostic tool—monitor it if you’re experiencing unexplained symptoms.
Training Wisdom
• Long-term high-intensity training (zone 4/5) may contribute to insulin resistance—even in non-diabetics.
• A strong aerobic base (zone 2) can protect metabolic and cardiovascular health.
• Monitor your body’s signals—not just performance metrics.
Fueling for Endurance
• Most training can be fueled with real food if you build metabolic efficiency.
• Eddie uses:
• Yogurt + seeds + fruit for breakfast
• Giant salads with lean protein for lunch
• Fish and veggies with small carbs for dinner
• Cinnamon, nuts, and fiber-rich foods help reduce blood sugar spikes.
Performance vs. Health
• Elite performance often requires increased carbs and tighter session stacking.
• This may challenge blood sugar control and overall health—especially for diabetic athletes.
• Know when you’re pushing for longevity and when you’re pushing for results.
Practical Coaching Tips
• Fuel for the next session, not just the current one.
• Build up “gut toughness” over time—practice fueling strategies in training.
• Watch for performance trade-offs when aiming for peak outcomes.
This conversation wasn’t just about diabetes. It was about the 99%—the work we do outside of race day. The life behind the numbers. The process of adjusting, learning, and evolving.
Whether you’re diabetic or not, every endurance athlete can learn from Gary and Eddie’s approach:
• Build a strong aerobic base
• Avoid chasing intensity at the expense of long-term health
• Learn your body
• Fuel with purpose
• And above all, never stop adapting.
Top Quotes from our conversation to take with you;
“I might be mediocre at swim, bike, and run—but I’m an elite eater.”
– Eddie Fishman
“Trying to get from 8/10 to 10/10 in performance starts to conflict with diabetic health. That’s the trade-off.”
– Eddie Fishman
“Insulin resistance isn’t just a diabetic problem. You can be perfectly healthy and still train yourself into it.”
– Gary Allen
“The faster I want to go, the more carbs I need—and the harder it is to manage blood sugar.”
– Eddie Fishman
“My brother trained mostly in zone 2. No heart issues. No diabetes. There’s a lesson in that.”
– Gary Allen
“Endurance sport isn’t just about performance. It’s about adaptation, self-awareness, and health.”
– Marilyn Chychota
“For most of the year, I fuel 70–80% of my sessions with real food—not sports nutrition.”
– Eddie Fishman
Have questions or want to connect? I’d love to hear from you.
Cheers,
Marilyn