Blazing a trail to a cure:

Bill Setzer takes on the Appalachian

Recently, Bill Setzer decided to fulfill a longtime dream: to hike the 2,168 arduous miles of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin, Maine. Although less than 500 of the 3,000 people who start this odyssey each year actually complete it, he is supremely confident he will be able to do so. There’s just one catch: Bill Setzer was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes ten years ago.

Since his diagnosis, Bill has been a patient at the Strelitz Diabetes Institutes under the care of Dr. Leon-Paul Georges. With encouragement from Dr. Georges and through careful planning, Bill feels he is ready for this difficult journey. In addition to meeting the physical and mental challenge of the hike, Bill is taking to the trail to raise money for the Institutes-his way of thanking Dr. Georges and SDI’s team of medical professionals.

Bill has to contend with more than just the rigors of this long and demanding hike. Diabetes-related issues—such as packing insulin supplies and maintaining his insulin levels, as well as struggling with neuropathy, a condition that primarily affects his legs and feet—present additional challenges along his way.

To avoid exacerbating any of his diabetes–related complications, Bill is following several safety procedures. He will carry medic-alerts on his shoe, neck, and wrist. He will also check his blood sugar frequently, and combat rapid insulin drops with Gatorade and carbohydrate gels.

Bill expects his journey to last about six months. He has reached out to his friends, family and business associates to sponsor his hike by making donations to the Diabetes Institutes Foundation. Bill’s goal is to raise at least $2,168: one dollar per mile of the trail.

Bill was motivated to start hiking again when Dr. Georges’s warned him that he would only live a few more years if he did not lose some weight and start exercising. After struggling with diabetes for ten years, Bill was having difficultly working and eventually went on disability. He gained about 80 pounds and became very sedentary. Eventually, Bill fell into a depression.

“I saw my wife, children, and friends moving up in their lives—their careers, school, etc.—while I sat in my house and did nothing. Dr. Georges woke me up!” Bill was also tired of feeling embarrassed about his size. “I volunteer to take photographs for the Coast Guard and was very uncomfortable being around so many fit, healthy people when I was so overweight and out of shape.”

After a major attitude adjustment, Bill began hiking again and lost 30 pounds through Weight Watchers. “You can either have diabetes at home sitting on your couch or have diabetes and be out enjoying life.” He now walks between eight to ten miles per day to prepare for the Trail.

The Appalachian Trail “Class of 2003” begins at Springer Mountain, Georgia on March 1. All of this year’s hikers start this day in order to finish the hike by October 15, the day that Katahdin State Park closes for the winter.

Bill found his hiking partners on the Internet. They plan to begin their hike covering about eight to ten miles per day, working up eventually to 15 miles per day. Once the weather turns warmer and they switch out of their heavy-duty winter gear, their goal will increase to 20-25 miles per day.

Bill hopes that this hike is just the beginning of his new life plan. He plans to lose another 30-40 pounds on the Appalachian Trail and hopes to soon be able to manage his diabetes through diet and exercise, not insulin. He is also thinking ahead to two even more challenging hikes in his future.

Join Bill’s Trailblazing Adventure! Print, complete, and mail in the sponsorship form. To receive email updates of Bill’s progress, go to guest book and under the comments section, write “Send me updates on Bill’s Hike.”

Be a part of Bill’s journey as he takes on two formidable challenges: the Appalachian Trail and diabetes!