I’m a very superstitious person, if I’m wearing my broncos hat and they happen to win while I have it on you better believe I will be wearing it for every game until they lose. Not sure if this one makes me weird or superstitious but when I set my alarm it can never end in 0 or 5. That’s right, my alarm is usually set for 4:47 so I can get to the gym by 5:30.

My worst superstition happens every night before I go to sleep. I will test my blood sugar and if my blood sugar is sub 180 I must eat something!! Why? I’m afraid if I don’t I may not wake up. The odds of that happening are probably one in a million but that fear has been with me since my diagnosis almost thirty years ago. I have amazing diabetes technology and an amazing wife that will wake me if I don’t respond to the alarm from my insulin pump or cgm.

Over time I have gotten a lot better at avoiding this bedtime snack but if my blood sugar is around 110 you better believe I’m grabbing a granola bar. If it is the 150 range a handful of triscuits or a few saltines. I will continue to work on this superstition and learn to trust my insulin pump a little bit more.

We all have our moments when it comes to our lives with diabetes. We have a great days, every blood sugar is in range and our body reacts as we think it should when it comes to our blood sugar. We also have our bad days, the days that drive us crazy because whatever we do doesn’t work. It’s those bad days that take their toll, when a bad day turns into a bad week we begin to question if what we’re doing is right and often times depression follows.

For years I have been lucky and have avoided stretches of challenging times with diabetes. This past month however has been a little difficult. A malfunctioning pump and a cold didn’t help but I was getting angry and was afraid to test because I didn’t want to see a high blood sugar.

Then Christmas came and I got the most thoughtful and amazing gift from my six year old daughter. For a couple weeks she and Kate were talking about daddy’s gift to one another. I didn’t think much of it, until now I was always given a blanket of my favorite sports teams. On Christmas she came running up to me with my gift and explained how she thought of it all on her own and that kate just bought the stuff. I smiled looked at kate and saw her nodding with a big smile. As I opened the gift I saw her amazing artistic skills on the outside. As I opened the box I saw four pictures of this amazing young lady and was told “You can put things that mean a lot to you inside it and think of me when you open it.” The tears came flowing after that!!

The next day in when my meter, strips and pricker. I’ve had low and high blood sugars since then but not one has caused anger or has caused me to get upset. Seeing Kristina’s smiling face every time I test tells me I have to keep fighting, I have to be the best I can be for this amazing young lady. Diabetes will not ruin my day because I have so much too be thankful for.

The Team Type 1 Foundation means so much to me, I love the scholarship that they offer and what the foundation stands for. I may not have been the best athlete in my high school but if the Team Type 1 Foundation were around I would have done all that I could to earn a scholarship. The foundation is lead by the most inspirational athlete living with diabetes, Mr. Phil Southerland and his amazing wife Biljana Southerland. Everyone at the Team Type 1 Foundation has brought diabetes and athletics to the forefront, proving that anyone living with diabetes can compete at any level in any sport.

This morning I was very happy to see posts on social media saying that Team Type 1 is now accepting applications for their storied Global Ambassador program.  I always say that the next generation of diabetics learns from the current generation.  For any child living with diabetes, seeing a successful college student-athlete thriving with diabetes is all that it takes to change that "I can't" to "I CAN"  I can only share my own story but know that so many have the same story as myself when it comes to life with diabetes.  I never had a diabetes role model until I was almost thirty.  Once I got that role model I turned into an endurance athlete and I can't thank that person enough for walking around a horse track with me for an hour just talking about diabetes and running.

Established in 2005, the Team Type 1 Foundation has bestowed a total of 271 college scholarships to athletes with type 1 diabetes who compete in a NCAA or NAIA sport worth approximately $400,000 through its Global Ambassador Program, which launched in 2014.  Team Type 1 has a Global Ambassador, playing football in the ACC.  Another ambassador competes in sailing at an Ivy League school and another that plays baseball in the SEC!!  Those are only three of the global ambassadors, it would take me all night to highlight each and everyone of these amazing young men and women, each of whom is changing diabetes and the world in their own unique way. 

With the monthly cost of diabetes care approaching $1,000 and tuition prices going through the roof, it is great to see a foundation that looks for applicants that change diabetes and the world.  I encourage the next generation to be a role model for those that will be diagnosed with diabetes in the years ahead.  Show them that diabetes will not stop you or anyone living with diabetes.  To learn more and fill out an application please click here 

Four weeks from now is Super Bowl Sunday, a lot of people are interested in the game but even more are interested in the commercials. The commercials if good live forever, for instance the Budweiser commercial from 2001, a classic that gives anyone goosebumps!! Doritos commercials and movie commercials also make a lasting impression.

In the fifty two year history of the Super Bowl a diabetes Super Bowl ad has not been made. Why?? Look at the advancements in the care for diabetes in fifty one years, how can that be put into a thirty second commercial. People are fed up with drug companies and the price of insulin, all it will take is one commercial during the Super Bowl for people living with diabetes to see that the drug companies care.

I will be putting together my own diabetes commercial this weekend and will post it on the website Monday. Will it be as great as some of the Super Bowl ads you will see tomorrow, probably not but if I don't do it who will? It's time for diabetes to be Super!!

This list is full of suggestions, the suggestions are things that have worked for me, this does not mean that they will necessarily work for you.  As always consult your doctor to find what will work best for you.

1:Stay positive!!  It amazes me how many athletes have such negative thoughts minutes before a race.  No matter what your blood sugar is STAY POSITIVE.  If I'm at 250 before a race I know that the number will go down.  I know that I will have a great race, no matter what the situation always say that to yourself.

2:Find your comfort blood sugar.  I know that I can race with a blood sugar between 90 and 180, when I'm in that range I will race at the best of my ability.  I also know that I need to be around 170 when I start any race.  That's me, I know athletes that can start a race at 120 and have no problems.  As always do what works for you and not what works for someone else.  

3:You can never have to much food.  During a race I always make sure that all of my pockets have plenty of energy gel, quick carbs and Nuun.  I will often finish a race with a lot of leftovers, I would much rather have leftovers than not enough.

4:Don't rely solely on the CGM.  I have made this mistake way to much!!  Take a meter with you!!!  Yes the CGM is great but sometimes it will give you a reading that is not accurate.  You may look odd testing as you run or cycle but it is your life.  The better you know your body the better you will do.

5:Know what works best for you.  I have switched to the pump because that allows me to race at my best.  I did very well racing with injections but outside of training and races my blood sugar was all over.  It takes a lot of exploration but you need to find what works best for you.
​
6:Know what your body likes when it comes to food.  Every race day I eat the same thing for breakfast, it doesn't matter if I'm running or cycling, I always have two pieces of wheat toast and two scrambled eggs.  I eat this two hours before the race, that allows me to take a little bit of insulin and have plenty of time for it to wear off.  This also goes for what you keep in your pockets during a race!!  I don't care if you eat Fruit by the Foot while training, if it works for you use it when you race!!  Don't change anything on race day, doing so can cause big problems!!

7:HAVE FUN!!  No matter what you're doing, you are doing something amazing with diabetes!!!  Enjoy every second of it!! I hate that I'm so competitive, I love to race don't get me wrong but I hate that at the finish line I'm usually upset that I didn't finish in a faster time.  During the race and five minutes after the race I always have a smile on my face.  I love what I'm doing, I enjoy every step or every turn of the pedals.  If you're not having fun then what is the point?  

After an amazing Christmas Eve and Christmas I quickly jumped back to reality today.  A few months back I thought it would be a good idea to schedule an endocrinologist appointment three days after Christmas.  At the time I thought it would be a good idea to go to the endocrinologist after Christmas so that I put pressure on myself to keep my blood sugars in range during the holidays.  Yes, the plan worked but now comes the nerves the day before heading to a doctors appointment.  I'm asking myself all the normal questions, did I do enough to keep my A1C where I want it to be?  Did I test enough?  Are my blood sugars respectable when I'm on the bike or running?  I know the answers to each of those questions so I have nothing to worry about, that's like saying don't eat the cookies, no matter what you're going to eat the cookies!!!  Therefore I'm going to worry until my appointment at 5pm.

The funny thing is that I have put in the work and I have a very good idea of what my A1C will be tomorrow.  I'm just hoping that the number is what I expect, I like to put pressure on myself to be the best in anything that I do and after making the switch from the pump to injections and now back to the pump, a higher than normal number will not be acceptable.  The funny thing is even if my A1C is lower than what I expect I will push myself to be better.  The same thing happens after races, I always feel that I could do more.  I also put some more pressure on myself with all of the races that I have planned for 2019, if my A1C is a little high I will allow a little bit of doubt creep in.  The mind of an athlete living with diabetes is an interesting place sometimes.

At the end of the day however I can't complain, I'm living my dream and have never been happier.  The goals and dreams I have for the days, months and years ahead will not change because of my A1C tomorrow.  No matter the number I will be happy and will probably cry on the drive home because of where I am.  Coming up on twenty-nine years with diabetes will have me reflecting and realizing what I have done to get to this point.  My dreams never changed from the day I was diagnosed until now, it just took me a little while to figure out how to reach my dream. 

Sometimes things go wrong and we have no clue why. The past couple of months have been that way when it comes to my blood sugars. Two months back I went to injections and got better numbers for a couple weeks.


After that an odd bug got me, I could still workout and have a normal day but my blood sugars were out of range a lot. I was also dizzy and extremely tired for a couple weeks.


After that passed it was business as usual but the blood sugars weren’t where they need to be. I keep myself on a very tight blood sugar range, but having blood sugars out of range still isn’t good. I’m missing the consistency that I once had, I’m also nervous to take more insulin because of severe low blood sugars. One day I take more and I’m fine, the next I take more and I’m down around 50.


The thing is this is diabetes, it is a chess match. I can’t just get pissed and not care. Diabetes will always challenge you and has been challenging me since my diagnosis in 1990. Like anything it’s back to the drawing board and hard work. I will win!!

As the holidays approach I’m worried what my mothers amazing coconut macaroons will do to my blood sugar!! Not really, as I sit next to Kate at the doctor the thoughts of diabetes and our soon to be born son are on my mind. Kate is having her glucose test this morning, diabetes is on our minds more than ever today. Kate’s doctor doesn’t see any reason why she would have gestational diabetes but the worry is still there.

The question I’m asking myself is why am I worried. I know kate/we can handle it if she has gestational diabetes. We can also handle if Coconut is ever diagnosed with diabetes. The thing is I worry about it a lot more then I should. I mean everything I write on this website are truth and not cleaned up in any way to make things sound better then they actually are.

All i I know is living with diabetes, I know that I love it and I know that I can handle everything it throws at me. Out of range blood sugars in the middle of the nightor the run down feeling after a night of lower then average blood sugars. I know that I can handle all of it, I can tell my parents and Kate not to worry because I’m in control. They still worry and I can’t change that, they worry when I’m asleep or alone in Atlanta.

I worry that if Coconut ever has diabetes how will he handle it. I mean that is life, you can teach your child all of the right things to do, that doesn’t mean it will happen. The same goes for diabetes, my parents and many parents have done everything right but kids rebel. I didn’t want diabetes for years and didn’t take care of myself. I worry if Coconut has diabetes and gets picked on for it at school. I have been there, I know about the pain when you can’t have a piece of cake at a party because your blood sugar is out of range. People also try to over protect me and say “oh you can’t have that, it has to much sugar” even at 36 that comment hurts and brings some anger.

Again its life, Coconut will be dealing with stuff like that even if he doesn’t have diabetes. He will be fine, I’m just worried because all I know is life with diabetes. I don’t know how to care for someone with diabetes, I know how to motivate them and help them take control of their diabetes but not when it comes to a son or daughter. At the end of all of this all I can is that I have the best support group to help kate and I if Coconut has diabetes. The diabetes community is amazing and has the best caregivers ever. I know that I can always turn to them for help if we need it!!

In closing Coconut has been passing everything with flying colors so far and is a very healthy boy!! He will have a real name in a week, Coconut is a great name picked by Minnie and Sharky. Coconut will be his stage name!

The diabetes family is one that unlike any other in the world.  We complain together, we share our accomplishments with each other and we are always welcoming new family members with open arms.  When people reach out to the diabetes family for help the number of people that spring into action is phenomenal.  Social media has helped so many with diabetes, whenever I see a post or tweet asking for help I know that the person needing a helping hand is being well taken care of.  The greatness of the diabetes family was in full effect when the tweet below hit twitter..

What followed this tweet were almost two hundred messages supporting and willing to do all that they could to help this young man.  Currently the post has almost one hundred retweets and over one thousand likes.  Sure it is simple to hit a couple buttons to like or retweet something but that is the greatness of social media.  If no one cared enough to like or retweet this message no one would then go the extra mile to reach out and help this young man. 

Right around the same age I was in the same position as this young man and I took the wrong road.  I didn't ask for help, thinking I could live my life and put diabetes on the back burner.  It almost cost me my life, fifteen years later when I was almost thirty one person changed how I look at myself and my life with diabetes.  This person has been changing diabetes for people all over the world.  When I saw Phil Southerlands tweet to this young mans family I knew he was in great hands.  I then saw member after member of Team Novo Nordisk send their support to this young man and his family.

Sitting here, reflecting on these tweets and thinking about what will be in the future for this young man brings a big lump into my throat.  Diabetes will change your life and make you a better person because of it.  Diabetes teaches you that to be successful that you have to work your butt off, it's easy to say "I'll study for that test tomorrow" or "I can clean the house tomorrow" but diabetes teaches you that you can go that extra mile and do what you have too.  Diabetes doesn't let you wait or put something off until tomorrow.  That will help you so much when you're older and will help you now with whatever your love is.  I love running or being on the bike, it's easy to do that when it is 70 degrees and sunny outside.  When it is 20 degrees and I can only train from 530am to 630am I'd much rather be in bed sleeping then at the gym or out doing hill repeats.  The thing is, I do it.  You know why, diabetes has taught me that excuses are for losers because if you make excuses with diabetes you lose.  Phil Southerland says it best "Diabetes only chooses the champions"  

My message to this amazing young man with diabetes is "I have been where you are.  It is okay to say that it sucks and you hate it.  Get back up and keep fighting, we all have bad days.  I have had diabetes for almost thirty years, I still throw my meter when I don't like the blood sugar.  I swear when my blood sugar goes out of range on a run.  That lasts at most a minute, I know that diabetes is challenging me.  Always fight back, you are stronger then you know and nothing will ever stop you from achieving your goals!!  We are here for you and will take the time to answer any question that you have, you are not alone.  Together we can show diabetes whats possible and that we are champions!!"

If I had a dollar for every time that I was asked "How do you run and bike long distances with diabetes?" I'd be a rich rich man. The answer unfortunately is easy to answer but also isn't an answer. I can't tell you, the truth is that each person is different. What I do to run a 50k or bike 200 miles is totally different than what you would need to do.

I can provide tips however. Being an endurance athlete takes a lot of trial and error for someone that is not living with diabetes. For someone living with diabetes it is the exact same thing. I started to ride a road bike almost seven years ago. I thought there was nothing to when it came to my blood sugar. I jumped on my bike and twenty minutes later I was on the side of the road with a blood sugar that was below my set range. From there I was performing experiments, one day it worked the next day it didn't. I started small and didn't graduate to longer distances until I mastered the short rides. One secret I do have is that a one hour ride is a lot like a four hour ride for me. As long as I eat and drink every ten minutes I'm in good shape. That doesn't mean I'm riding with a perfect blood sugar at all times but it does mean my body can work to the best of its ability and my blood sugars are in range.

Another lesson I've learned is that what works on the bike doesn't work when I'm running. Three years ago I thought it would and now I have my own unique running game plan when it comes to running with diabetes. The truth is I have a lot of long distance races in 2017 and to be honest I don't know what to do. Yes I've done a 30k but what about the next 20k how will my body change. For many that's annoying, for me it's the challenge and that's what I love. If it were easy I'd be bored and wouldn't want to do it. For anyone looking to run or bike with diabetes you will be challenged, it's not for everyone but if you want it bad enough you'll find a way.

On a warm and blustery early December evening I sit at my desk pondering what the 2019 Racing Schedule will look like.  As the temperature sits at 40 degrees but with highs not getting above 40 the rest of the week all I can think about is being on trails next spring.  Below you will notice nothing but running events, the diabetic cyclist is still a cyclist but is learning he is a little more competitive at trail/endurance running.  Does that mean I have a career as runner?  I have no idea, I know I love the trails, the pain, and the mental workout that endurance running brings me before, during and after any race.  

I feel the strongest I have ever been even though I now look like I might blow away on night when winds are gusting up to 50mph.  Gone is the extra weight in my midsection and with that I now look like a runner/cyclist.  I can feel the difference running and on the bike.  I have learned how to breath and what true pain really is, any trail race that has you collapse at the end will do wonders for your mind.  Below I have broken the races down in to three categories, the usuals and the crazy races, and I've Lost It.  As always all of these races being run depend on my health as an athlete and as a diabetic.  Oh and life plays a tiny part in if I'm able to race as well, Coconut comes first and over the next week or so you will learn more about him!!

Clamdigger 5 Mile Race
Rhode Island State Police 5k
Mystic Half Marathon
The Oceans Run Half Marathon
Twilight Trail Run

Kettletown State Park 50k
Charfield Hollow Trail Challenge 30k
The North Face Endurance Challenge 50k
Bank of America Chicago Marathon

JFK 50 MILE

I can't put into words how great Thanksgiving was, what made it even better were blood sugars that stayed in range a majority of the Thanksgiving weekend.  Two weeks ago I snapped and decided to take a break from the pump, for whatever reason it just wasn't working.  My blood sugars were shooting up to around 400 after meals and hanging out around 190 all day.  This was going on for almost two weeks, it wasn't a bad site or a cold.  It wasn't a change in work or a new workout.  The pump just wasn't cutting it.

I'm very thankful that I have the ability to take a break from the pump without any problems.  In a world where insulin prices are through the roof and getting access to both pens and vials for a pump is tougher and tougher because of insurance I'm lucky.  

It took me a couple days to get in the injections groove but once I did things have been great!  Thats the good news, the bad news is that I'm enjoying the injections to much.  It has me thinking about going back to them full time, the weird part is that I want to get it figured out before the new year.  With a little boy on the way I want to make sure my diabetes is dialed in when he arrives in March.  The last thing I need is blood sugars that are all over the place with a newborn.  I want to worry about him and not myself.  With injections I have been able to live and my blood sugars take a back seat because everything is going so well.  Time will tell what happens but no matter what I will be thankful that I have options!!

I believe that it is very important to go in to any food holiday with a game plan.  When you have a game plan you are more likely to stick it, sounds simple but I bit of planning does go in to it.  I believe you need a very detailed plan.  It is very simple to say I will only have one helping of stuffing and only one dessert.  The problem with that is you will probably forget your plan or my exceptions when it comes down to chow time.

I believe a detailed plan with a goal is best.  I will share my plan, obviously yours can differ.  My goal, as always is to keep my CGM in my set range all day long, I want to show Thanksgiving that I'm in charge.  I want my Thanksgiving to be as close to a normal day as possible.  I will wake up around 6 and have a small breakfast before heading up north for some football.  From there it is a train ride to Brooklyn, NY for Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm not a big eater but my weakness is apple and pumpkin pie.  I will have a small lunch and will have a small piece of pie.  I know that I can take four units of insulin and be safe.  That is if my blood sugar is in range, anything above that and the piece of pie may not happen.  That is my game plan, it may not seem to crazy but I have a plan and that makes me very confident.

Why am I so dead set on having a game plan and keeping my blood sugar in range, why don't I just relax for one day and enjoy myself.  The truth is my relaxing day will be Friday when I go for a run in Central park or over the Brooklyn Bridge, without proper blood sugar management on Thursday the run will be tough on Friday, my body will be off.  I know that sounds crazy but I can't wait to go for a run in the best city in the world!!

For those that don't know me, I'm a huge fan of sports that I can't do very well.  I coach basketball, played baseball forever, run, and ride a bike very well but if I had to choose one sport to watch it would be hockey.  It doesn't matter what part of the season it is I'll have an NHL game on before going to bed.  Thanks to two amazing children I have learned how to skate but not very well.  I love the hour skates that I have with my children although it does a number on my blood sugars.  I can't imagine paying in the NHL with diabetes and for the longest time have been looking for an NHL player with diabetes.

Last night as I watched the Kings versus the Predators I saw the video below during the first intermission.... (The 1:21 mark is the best)

It's not the lighthouse tattoo, although Kate and I got engaged on a lighthouse so that is cool.  I was not expecting to see a diabetes tattoo but as soon as I did I found my new favorite NHL player.  At the time I was half asleep but I instantly woke-up when I heard that and looked up Max and must say that he is one heck of a guy when it comes to living with diabetes.  Unlike Jay Cutler he embraces his life with diabetes and is doing so much to change diabetes!!  Here are a few amazing articles on Max 

www.personalhealthnews.ca/patient-perspective/max-domis-success-depends-on-accuracy
​https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/max-domi-undaunted-by-diabetes-its-actually-been-a-blessing-in-disguise/article22454630/​
https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2018/06/07/max-domi-says-dealing-with-diabetes-helped-make-him-an-nhl-player.html

Being an Islanders fan I'm not sure if I can root for the Canadians but no matter where Max is I will be rooting for him and what he does for diabetes.  He is open and honest about his life with diabetes and I respect that!!  Max is a great role model for anyone living with diabetes and will be a great role model for any child just diagnosed with diabetes.  

It is no secret that I like to keep my blood sugars a little lower than I should.  Personally I believe this allows me to have tighter control, wanting to stay between 80 and 130 is a little crazy but I that is what I aim for.  I know that as a husband, son and father I perform my best in this range.  I'm more attentive and I'm myself, it is not until I hit the 200 mark that I become tired or a different person. 

You will notice that I didn't talk about lows at all in that first paragraph.  I have a lot of lows, too many for my wife, nurses and doctors.  I'm not afraid of being low and that is not the right mindset to have.  My line of work induces a lot of the lows but again that is not an excuse, I should be able to control my blood sugar no matter the situation.  For the past six years I have put the bad side of low blood sugars in the back of mind, I know what they can do but tend not to think about the bad.  A couple weeks ago I received an email from a worker at Heathline that talked about low blood sugars.  This email opened my eyes to what low blood sugars are all about and what they can do to ones body.

The 15 effects of Low Blood Sugar webpage at Heathline is a great website for anyone that has diabetes, or for anyone that cares for a person living with diabetes.  I encourage everyone to take a look at the webpage, I also encourage everyone to share the website with people that they know, knowledge is power, the more we share and the more we make people aware about diabetes the better off we will be. 

​I don't believe I say this enough but I love my diabetes.  I hate reading on the internet how diabetes has taken away so much from someone.  How it is unfair that because we have diabetes we have to go through so much trouble at the airport or how a high or low blood sugar didn't allow us to enjoy a dinner with friends.  Those things happen don't get me wrong but why do we have to focus on the negative?  People without diabetes do it, they complain about traffic or a bad day at work, it is part of our nature.  

Tonight I want people that read this to not think about the negative side of diabetes for the day.  If it is late in the day make it a point to not bad mouth your diabetes tomorrow.  Diabetes has given me so much, it has allowed me to setup partnerships with a pro franchise, meet with members of Congress, meet pro athletes living with diabetes, it has made me an endurance athlete, and has made me a better person.  Diabetes has given me friends that I would have never met if it weren't for diabetes.  I love that I'm attempting to run a second ultra marathon and I have at least three pro athletes with diabetes that are ultra runners that I can call, text or email whenever I need help.  I also have countless friends that reach out to me for advice when it comes to diabetes.

I'm lucky to have people like this all over the country, a lot in New England, one in New York and a few in Florida but this website has connected me with diabetics all over the world.  I love getting emails from people living in England, Spain, and Australia.  We often don't thank our diabetes for all that it does, I ask you again to take the negative feelings that you feel towards your diabetes away for a day, you will have a great day and have a new appreciation for all that it has done for anyone living with the amazing disease!!