David Panofsky is an athlete, mountaineer, and adventure seeker with experience as a diabetic reaching top level amateur cycling competition, leading and participating in numerous high altitude expeditions, and climbing and trekking extensively throughout Mexico, the Sierra Nevada, Rockies, Alps, Pyrenees, Andes, and Pamirs.
Diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes in 1984, David accepted his diagnosis as a new challenge to educate himself about the disease, to explore medical technologies and treatment offering improved glycemic control, and most importantly, to live life to its fullest. In December of 2000 David was leader of the International Diabetic Expedition to Aconcagua which placed seven Type 1 diabetics on the 22,834 ft (6959 m) summit and raised nearly $100,000 for projects helping diabetics in Latin America and diabetes research. This expedition served as a successful model and springboard for other diabetic adventures around the globe. David’s leadership in the IDEA 2000 project reflected an evolution from waging a personal battle with the disease to reaching out to educate, to fight the perceptions many have regarding diabetes and to help diabetics who are in need. This long-term vision lives on and is at the heart of the non-profit all-volunteer operated organization led by David and based in the USA, IDEA 200, Inc. --- inspiring, networking, and sharing information on living a full life with diabetes.
For more than 10 years, as a diabetic, David raced road bicycles with top amateurs and professionals in the US and abroad, participating in the 1988 Olympic Trials in Spokane. In 1994, David recognized a challenge and beauty he deeply missed and returned to a pre-diabetes passion of mountains - trekking, climbing and mountaineering. His love for high places has brought him to many of the great mountain ranges of the world - the Alps, Pyrenees, Tatras, Rockies, Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Andes, and Pamirs. In addition to leading the IDEA 2000 expedition to Aconcagua, David has reached, through expeditions he led, the summit of the third highest peak in North America, Pico de Orizaba (18,800 ft, 5700m) in Mexico (twice) and the summits of the two highest mountains in the Ecuadoran Andes, Cotopaxi (19,370 ft, 5900m) and Chimborazo (20,700 ft, 6300m). In July 2005 David reached the summit of Pik Lenin (23,406 ft, 7134 m) in Kyrgyzstan’s Pamir Alai via the Razdelnay Route as member of the ISLET 2005 expedition. Notable trekking accomplishments include England's 200-mile northern coast-to-coast trek, a 110-mile traverse of Italy's Graian Alps, Spain's rugged 500-mile GR-11traverse of the Pyrenees, and a coast-to-coast trek across Corsica.
David is also an avid rock and ice climber, sea kayaker, cross-country skier, and cyclist. In July of 2000 he was honored with the LifeScan Lifetime Athletic Achievement Award and donated the $5000 award to off-set group expenses for the Aconcagua expedition. Featured in numerous US regional and national publications, television, radio, as well as international media outlets, David continues to speak about and show pictures of diabetics doing what they love to do – climb mountains - to wide-ranging audiences including the general public, families with children with diabetes, newly diagnosed diabetics, and health care professionals.
Originally from Evanston, Illinois, USA, David moved to Madison, Wisconsin to complete his undergraduate studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin and now works for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He lives with his wife Pat, son Martin and daughter Sylvie. David’s fluency in Italian and French have afforded him friends and adventures in far-away corners of the world. David is fortunate to be healthy and free of any complications from diabetes.
His diabetes self-management skills and resulting control are considered excellent by his diabetes health care team. In April 1999, Mr. Panofsky switched from MDI therapy to insulin pump therapy, with excellent results.
Insulindependence is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
