Sometimes diabetes can be filled with good hassles. For example:
Exercise - Whether I exercise for 30 minutes or 6 hours (like I did Saturday), controlling BG afterward, can be a hassle. I haven't been above 120 since...Thursday? I've suspended my pump 4 times in the last 4 days. How have I been treating the lows? Orange juice and granola bars.
Lows (hypoglycemia) - As mentioned above, when working out and suddenly see the dreaded, "spots", I know to stop, test, and treat. Whenever and wherever I exercise, I make sure I have juice and bars at the ready. I also carry Sport Beans for emergencies.
Insulin - When constantly exercising, insulin usage becomes a guessing game. I don't dare suspend my pump for a long time (longer than 1 hour), so I generally set a temp basal rate. Now add food to the equation and...well you get the picture.
Well, sorry for the short post, but off to exercise land... :D
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Great Friends; Great Places
Even though I just met Tim and Alison, over at Shoot Up or Put Up, I feel as though I've known them for a long time. They are much like close family who you wish you could see every day. Yes, we are also diabetics who enjoy humor while having good discussions on living with this darn disease.
Tim is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, [Note: it's not pronounced, "edinburg"] while Alison is in Liverpool, England.
Diabetes isn't just an "American" disease or a United Kingdom disease. No, there are diabetics all over the world. I've met diabetics as far away as Egypt!
Please visit Tim and Alison's blog and enjoy the goodness.
Cheers!
Tim is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, [Note: it's not pronounced, "edinburg"] while Alison is in Liverpool, England.
Diabetes isn't just an "American" disease or a United Kingdom disease. No, there are diabetics all over the world. I've met diabetics as far away as Egypt!
Please visit Tim and Alison's blog and enjoy the goodness.
Cheers!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The Lows and Highs
This past Sunday afternoon, I had a rude interuption of the hypoglycemia sort. In my opinion, "lows"--as we diabetics like to call them--are more manageable than "highs" or hyperglycemia. Case in point: my BG was a 43. I immediately suspended my insulin pump (for 30 minutes) and ate a handful of mountain trail mix to get a boost. Twenty minutes later and I'm sitting at a comfortable 130.
Not that the low slowed me down, but, it was recognizing the low that kept me out of trouble. You see, we were starting our way home from a family member's house when the "drunken master" reared it's ugly head. Before getting in to the car, I handed over the keys to my wife, sat in the back seat next to my youngest son, and tested. He announced the results to my wife. Thankfully, we were only 5 minutes from home and I really did not want the Sour Patch wormy thingies my sons wanted me to eat. Give me chocolate or give me death! Nothing else will do. (Okay yes, other things will do, but I prefer chocolate. :) ]
Highs, on the other hand, just simply suck. Imagine taking anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours to combat high blood sugar. No thanks, I'll take a low any day! Sure, both come with their own set of "baggage", e.g. energy drain, headaches, various bodily pains, but I'll take the ability to eat/drink to treat a low than not with a high (hyperglycemia is usually treated with insulin first, then you can do as you please).
All in all, neither prevent me from enjoying life, especially with an active family. Diabetes is an active disease. We can't pause it, stop it, or will it to go away. So, we must stay on it and do our best every day.
"Dad, are you sure you don't want a sour gummy worm? They're a little warm from being in the car..."
"Uh, no, really, I'll be just fine..." Yuck. :D Our boys are truly awesome...
Not that the low slowed me down, but, it was recognizing the low that kept me out of trouble. You see, we were starting our way home from a family member's house when the "drunken master" reared it's ugly head. Before getting in to the car, I handed over the keys to my wife, sat in the back seat next to my youngest son, and tested. He announced the results to my wife. Thankfully, we were only 5 minutes from home and I really did not want the Sour Patch wormy thingies my sons wanted me to eat. Give me chocolate or give me death! Nothing else will do. (Okay yes, other things will do, but I prefer chocolate. :) ]
Highs, on the other hand, just simply suck. Imagine taking anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours to combat high blood sugar. No thanks, I'll take a low any day! Sure, both come with their own set of "baggage", e.g. energy drain, headaches, various bodily pains, but I'll take the ability to eat/drink to treat a low than not with a high (hyperglycemia is usually treated with insulin first, then you can do as you please).
All in all, neither prevent me from enjoying life, especially with an active family. Diabetes is an active disease. We can't pause it, stop it, or will it to go away. So, we must stay on it and do our best every day.
"Dad, are you sure you don't want a sour gummy worm? They're a little warm from being in the car..."
"Uh, no, really, I'll be just fine..." Yuck. :D Our boys are truly awesome...
Monday, June 29, 2009
It's the End of the World
As a type 1 diabetic, I sometimes find it dismal to search the latest headlines on diabetes. If I stare long enough, I'll find articles that relate to information that could easily cause depression. Not something I particularly want. I'm mentally unstable enough as it is. :D
So in light of the goofy diabetes-related headlines, here's a little video for you:
R.E.M. - It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine)
So in light of the goofy diabetes-related headlines, here's a little video for you:
R.E.M. - It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday Wrap-Up
It's time for a Friday wrap-up!
1. A BIG congratulations to Team Type 1 for winning this year's Race Across America. The 8-man squad finished the 3,021-mile race in a record time of 5 days, 9 hours, and 5 minutes. Talk about a great inspiration for all of us living with diabetes. Way to go Team Type 1!
2. Had dinner last night with volunteer members of the Atlanta chapter of the JDRF. We shared stories and similar experiences. I always find it amazing to meet great people who are doing their best to manage this disease.
3. I'm honored to meet (in person or vitually) a number of diabetics who write almost every day of their experiences with diabetes. I highly enjoy their blogs for inspiration with a dose of humor. They are:
Kerri Sparling author of Six Until Me and dLife Editor
George Simmons author of The Born-Again-Diabetic Blog
There are many others in the d-world that I would love to virtually meet as well (or in person if you're ever in Atlanta). If you get a chance, try these sites:
dLife
Diabetes Mine
Tu Diabetes
Diabetes Daily
Have a great weekend!
1. A BIG congratulations to Team Type 1 for winning this year's Race Across America. The 8-man squad finished the 3,021-mile race in a record time of 5 days, 9 hours, and 5 minutes. Talk about a great inspiration for all of us living with diabetes. Way to go Team Type 1!
2. Had dinner last night with volunteer members of the Atlanta chapter of the JDRF. We shared stories and similar experiences. I always find it amazing to meet great people who are doing their best to manage this disease.
3. I'm honored to meet (in person or vitually) a number of diabetics who write almost every day of their experiences with diabetes. I highly enjoy their blogs for inspiration with a dose of humor. They are:
Kerri Sparling author of Six Until Me and dLife Editor
George Simmons author of The Born-Again-Diabetic Blog
There are many others in the d-world that I would love to virtually meet as well (or in person if you're ever in Atlanta). If you get a chance, try these sites:
dLife
Diabetes Mine
Tu Diabetes
Diabetes Daily
Have a great weekend!
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