Worrying about which goblin or ghoul you’re going to be is oftentimes the only worry 4-year-olds have on Halloween. For Glen Ellyn resident Carolyn Friedman, her Halloween at 4 years-old was a lot more worrisome.

Friedman was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This form of diabetes can be summarized as a chronic issue of one’s pancreas not producing enough insulin.

Throughout her childhood, Friedman was always active. Basketball was her favorite pastime for years, and she made sure her diabetes didn’t interfere with her active lifestyle.

“My parents always encouraged me to play sports, and always told me diabetes could not prevent me from doing anything I want to in life,” said Friedman.

Once college came around, Friedman made two big decisions. She traded a basketball for more running shoes, and brought an insulin pump into her life.

These two things have led Friedman to where she is today: a Global Heroes runner.

Friedman took up running after being inspired by her brother, Jeff, who consistently ran in high school and took his passion to college with him. With his inspiration, Friedman challenged herself with longer distances.

Global Heroes is sponsored by Medtronic, the same company who makes Friedman’s insulin pump. Global Heroes is a team comprised of passionate runners who each benefit from medical technology in some way. The goal is to share inspiration among the world through the 12 team members, each chosen from groups of applicants to run a marathon together on Oct. 7 to 9 in Minneapolis.

Initially, Friedman was hesitant to apply for the  Global Heroes team due to personal doubt. Her request to join only followed a last-minute decision to apply the night before the deadline. For Friedman, her insulin pump brings her a world more of opportunities than before. Whether a 2-mile run or a 22-mile run, she takes it with her wherever.

“I have much better control of my blood sugars with the pump,” said Friedman. “You program the pump to give you a certain amount of insulin throughout the day.  When you eat a meal or a snack, you tell your pump how many carbohydrates you ate and it uses the information you programmed in it to give you insulin to cover what you just consumed.”

“Running for a person with a fully-functioning pancreas is a bit different than those with diabetes,” Friedman continued. “Diabetes is a tricky condition, as you can do the exact same thing multiple days and get a different result each time.”

For others, worrying about a pump and a serious medical condition can close doors on opportunities, especially with activities like running, but Friedman scoffs at that mindset with six marathons behind her and two in the near future.

Friedman has run over 60 races throughout her career and logs roughly 2,000 miles a year.

“I love how running makes me feel,” said Friedman.  “No matter what kind of day I am having, running always puts me in a better mood.  I like that you can have time goals and other goals.”

Running has not only given Friedman hope with her diabetes, but it has provided her with an intense love and a strongly knit community.

“I trained for the [Chicago Marathon] with the Glen Ellyn Runners and have been a member ever since,” said Friedman. “Training with the Glen Ellyn Runners has been incredibly beneficial to me.  I run with them twice per week and have met a ton of people through the group.  It is a supportive group of people and I know I would not be the runner I am today without the group.”

As a Global Hero, Friedman will meet her other inspirational team members in their race next week. For tradition, each Global Hero chooses a running mate and Friedman is bringing along the one who started the love: her brother.
“I firmly believe that diabetes does not hold you back from what you want to do in life.  It may take extra work or a few different times to succeed, but if a person wants to achieve the goal bad enough it will happen.”