EP147: What It Really Takes to Manage Diabetes with David Weingard, Founder & CEO of Fit4D

Founder and CEO of Fit4D, David Weingard David is a diabetes patient who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 36 while training for a survival race. A veteran of numerous running and triathlon races (including Ironman triathlons consisting of a 2.4M swim, 112M bike and 26.2M run), David committed to rebuild his life and provide positive energy to the diabetes community while coping with the condition on a 24/7 basis. Beginning with shorter races, he gradually learned how to successfully race triathlons with diabetes and within a year, completed the famous Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco Bay.  He then began racing Ironman triathlons again – though this time, working through the delicate balance between insulin, food, nutrition and exercise. Through these races, David has fundraised extensively on behalf of the Juvenile diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) New York City Chapter. David's personal experience receiving meaningful education and support from a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) sparked the idea for Fit4D to leverage technology to scale the patient reach of adherence and outcome improvement programs for pharmaceutical, payer and provider organizations.   In 2008, David left Microsoft to found Fit4D, building on his career as an executive in the technology sector.   As the founder and CEO of Fit4D, David received the PM360 Elite Entrepreneur award for transforming the diabetes landscape. Under David's leadership PM360 also named Fit4D one of the top innovative healthcare startups in 2015, while ePharma named Fit4D its 2016 audience winner of the Disruptive Technology Showcase and Innovations Challenge.  David is transforming the diabetes landscape and improving people's health in the real world every day. David was selected as the Keynote Speaker for the American Diabetes Association's largest fundraising event, Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, 2016. David has given back to the diabetes community by coaching the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association's Tour De Cure many times, and gives back to the entrepreneur community by guiding emerging health technology founders. As a chosen finalist for the Novo Nordisk-Lyfebulb Patient Entrepreneur award, David participated in a panel on patient-centric innovation, sharing his message of hope to an international audience.  Most recently, David was the recipient of the first-ever Kate Granger Compassionate Care Award, spotlighting individual contributions to high-tech/high-touch care and awarded to those who demonstrate compassionate care in this area. You can find out more at www.fit4d.com or email [email protected]