My dream has always been to be a cyclist in the Tour de France, when I was about six or seven I would ride my bike for hours in our small neighborhood dreaming of racing my bike.  Fast-forward thirty years and I'm teaching Minnie and Sharky about the Tour de France and enjoying each second that they learn how to ride a bike.  Minnie has taken some interest in the Tour this past weekend as she watched a little of the Tour with me.  She had some great questions, which included "Where are your friends, you know your team?" 

I'm not sure if it was the low blood sugar or hours watching the tour but as I was working today I listened to a cycling podcast and got taken away.  I was mowing my third of four greens and all of a sudden I felt low and just raised my hand like I was in the Tour signaling to the team car or teammates that I needed some more water bottles.  I suddenly stopped my mower and walked over to my cart to grab my Gatorade and something to eat to fix my low blood sugar.

If a low blood sugar has me thinking I'm in the Tour does that earn me the green sprinters jersey because I ran to fix the blood sugar?

Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a very competitive person.  When it comes to my life with diabetes, I'm always competing to keep my blood sugars within a certain range that works best for me.  I try my best to keep my blood sugars between 76-139, unfortunately my blood sugar often goes out of that range.  When my blood sugar goes above 200, I have a shorter temper and things bother me.  For example someone clicking a pen will drive me crazy when my blood sugar is out of range.

A few weeks back, my blood sugar was out of range while Sharky and Minnie were doing their homework.  Neither was very interested as the weather was nice and the last thing they wanted to do was homework.  With my blood sugar out of range I was notin the mood for their games and just wanted them to do their homework so then they could play and I could make dinner.  Making dinner ran into helping with homework and I hit a breaking point.  With an angry tone I said "That's it, put it away.  Go downstairs and color or play with legos."  I was asked by Sharky, "Why are you angry?" and it hit me.  It was the blood sugar.  I said "I'm just mad, go play" . I tested and was 241, I felt like an ass and thought of how I could fix what I had just done.  

That weekend I explained what had happened.  I did my best to explain to a 5 and 7yr old what I was feeling and why.  I then pulled out two solo cups and a bag of M&Ms.  I labeled one cup BAD and the other GOOD.  I explained that any blood sugar that was above 200 or below 80 meant an M&M in the bad cup anything else meant an M&M cup.  Once the bad cup (their cup) reached ten M&Ms they got a special snack (candy, ice cream) they could then risk those ten and try to get to 20 for a bigger present.  The catch is once my cup, the good cup got to ten theirs would go to 0.

I'm happy and sad to report that they got to ten before me.  Sharky got his pretzel and Minnie got her ice cream. I also emptied their cup once so this is a very even battle.  This might sound like a silly game, and I honestly thought it was.  I thought that they would forget about it and wouldn't care.  They haven't in fact they have learned more about me than some of my friends know when it comes to diabetes.  Stopping to get an apple juice now consists of them asking if I'm okay and asking if I need anything else and offering me their after school snack.

The fact that they know when I need insulin and when I need sugar makes me smile ear to ear.  I love that if I'm having a tough day they ask if my sugar is okay, I also love that I can tell them that I'm low and need a minute because I'm angry.  Diabetes has taught me a lot in thirty years, the fact that Sharky and Minnie know so much about diabetes makes me so happy!!

​We all know how much work goes into managing diabetes, from carb counts to insulin ratios, diabetes is a never ending math equation.  From figuring out the appropriate amount of carbohydrates to fix an out of range blood sugar to insulin for an ice cream sundae it makes us analyze anything we eat or drink.  One area that I have over looked for the past few weeks has been the timing.  From cycling and running all the time I'm often grabbing protein bars or fruit quickly to keep my blood sugar from falling out of range while training.  That has carried over to a snack when I'm home and relaxing, I'll grab a rice cake or two and not take insulin because I'm so use to eating small snacks and not needing insulin because I'm so active.  

Over the past few weeks I have made some minor tweaks and a lot of it is time based.  I will now plan my snack or make sure I know when my meal will be and do all that I can to take my insulin fifteen to twenty minutes before eating.  When my blood sugar is in range this plan works perfectly, I will take my insulin fifteen minutes before and nine out of ten times my blood sugar will stay in range.  The challenge comes when my blood sugar is just out of range, if it is above the set range do I take the extra unit or two and hope it isn't to much or if it is below my set range do I have some fruit snacks to get it in range and take my normal insulin dose.  

Diabetes is knowing your body, life and being educated to know how everything works together.  Yes, I take some risks when taking my insulin before a meal with my blood sugar at the lower end of my range but everything is monitored very closely and I always make sure to have all of the supplies I need in case anything does happen.  Diabetes is always forcing us to change, our body is always changing and to keep our blood sugars in range we must make small tweaks to be the best that we can be!!

A blood sugar below a set range has so many symptoms that it is tough to know when you're in or out of range.  From yawning to being hyper I always wonder if it is my blood sugar or am I just being human.  For the most part I'm a very active person, I love jumping out of bed as soon as the alarm sounds and love the excitement of each and everyday.  I'm also human, I like a nap on a rainy day and like to sit on the couch and watch football on Sunday afternoons. 

Today while at work, I started to think about my plans this evening.  A trip to a local restaurant for dinner with friends and a couple adult beverages, it doesn't get any better than that!!  All of sudden I was thinking about it and thought, "I woke up at 4:47 this morning and I'm tired.  Do I really want to go?"  I began thinking about it and I was thinking what is wrong with me.  I love being with Kate and our friends why would I want to stay home? 

My blood sugar was slowly creeping out of range!!!  I had a snack and got my blood sugar back in range.  All of a sudden I couldn't wait to get out of work and head to dinner!!  Crazy, this is a newer symptom of a blood sugar falling out of range but one that I will be aware of moving forward.  

It is amazing seeing what some people will eat and drink before a race. Be it a bike race or a running race, I will always see people with Red Bull or some kind of candy bar. Having diabetes and being an "athlete" is one of the best things in life. By having diabetes I have learned just how bad certain foods can be for you.

My pre-race routine starts when I wake up the day of the race. I will have a couple eggs, toast and fruit to start the day. I will be getting my protein and some carbs with that meal. With most races beginning around 9am my breakfast is very important. The bowl of pasta a couple nights before is my gasoline to get me through any race but the meal before a race starts my engine. I will often eat a handful of almonds and some blueberries to get me pumped up before a race. The energy drinks and candy bars have no nutritional value. It is all caffeine and garbage. My body does not need that pre-race.

I call it my little diabetes secret but natural foods are the best for natural energy. I'm clearly not a top tier athlete but eating healthy and training correctly help me beat a few people that may be more physically gifted than myself.

The past three months have not seen a lot of running or cycling, it has seen a lot of odd pains however.  Right now my right shoulder and arm are causing a lot of problems, from numbness to dropping things that I'm holding it has been confusing.  I have seen the doctor that performed the surgery on my shoulder that removed my first rib.  After a number of tests he said everything looked very good but was thinking my neck could be the cause of the pain.  I then went to an orthopedic thinking that it could be my rotator cuff, again a number of tests but no answer.  The doctor however thought it was my neck which could also cause pain that feels like it is coming from the rotator cuff.  Finally I went to the neurosurgeon that fused C4-C5 over a year ago.  After a number of tests, an MRI and a few X-rays everything looked good but she passed me on to a neurologist thinking it could be related to a nerve.

That's where I'm at right now, my visit with the neurologist is in a couple weeks which hopefully gives me some answers.  In this time I have tried my best to be on the bike or to run.  The bike is torture as the pain while riding and trying to look up is bad.  I have tried turning to running and had mixed results, one day is good and the next is bad.  A lot more bad than good but without any answers I will keep going and have been cleared by doctors to do so.

The thing that is weighing heavily on my mind is that it could be nerve damage and I did this to myself.  Maybe this is what I get for fifteen years of not taking care of myself or my diabetes.  I have known for years that it would eventually catch up to me.  The funny thing is that I'm not the only one that knew this would happen, in a very honest conversation with Kate and my brother this past weekend my brother pointed to my diabetes management in the past.  Although it was tough to hear I believe he is right, the body is like a car if you don't take care of it you're in trouble.  It will run but over time the performance will suffer.

Until I get a clear answer I will do my best to live my normal active life.  I will do my best to race and try pulling out the bike now and again just because I need it in my life.

It has been a few months since I have been blogging on a daily or bi-daily basis.  I'm happy to say that I will be doing my best to do so again, the past three months have been amazing and everyone is doing very well.  As with diabetes it has been a roller coaster ride with a new born but an amazing wife/mother and teamwork go a long way.  For those that want more information on that will have to find our other blog, this is a diabetes blog.

Diabetes wise it has been a roller coaster as well, I'm currently searching for a new endocrinologist after a couple of bad visits with my current endocrinologist.  I have been doing my best to avoid blood sugars that drop below 80, I get short tempered when that happens and that isn't fair to anyone.  If I can avoid that and keep my blood sugars below 180 I will be happy.  That will also make sure that everything else in my life is good.  Everything from work, running and family life depends on my blood sugar.  That is where my endocrinologist and I don't see eye to eye.  My A1C has crept above 7 for the first time in years and I got the "You're not doing" speech.  I won't sit here and bad mouth my endo, I know how my body works and what I need to do, it is a bit of a transition right now and if that means a little higher A1C I'm okay with it.

A change in endocrinologists means that I will leave the five minute ride to see the doctor but with so many options I'm willing to make the hour drive to  New Haven for better care.  If anyone in the New Haven area knows of any great endocrinologists that know a thing or two about cycling and endurance running with diabetes please let me know.  

Often times in life we forget where we started and just how much work we put in to come so far.  I can jump on a bike and go for a forty mile ride with no problems, sure it might not be at the same speed as two years ago but I have only lost a half mile an hour or so.  I can also do that ride with not a lot of blood sugar worry, don't get me wrong I will have low or high from time to time but I have confidence which goes a long way.  

Today my social media feeds were nothing but information on World Bicycle Day and Team Novo Nordisk at the United Nations with Phil Southerland as the primary speaker at the event.  As I scrolled through my feeds around 9am I got a chill as I started thinking about Team Novo Nordisks long road.  The day the team was formed I knew it was something special and my life changed, yes my diabetes life but my life changed as well.  Team Novo Nordisk taught me how to dream and to work my butt off for my dream.  Team Novo Nordisk taught me to do everything I can and take the jump when you're going after your dream.  If Phil Southerland and Team Novo Nordisk had listened to their doubters than the team would not be.  I can't tell you the number of doubters I have talked to while at team events.  If I  had a dollar for every time I have heard "Good story but they can't compete with the best in the world" I'd have a beach house in Florida.

The bike and Team Novo Nordisk saved my life.  On World Bicycle Day I ask that people give the bike a chance, not only will it change your world but it will change the world in which you live.  Besides the physical befits I can't imagine how much money I have saved on gas from riding my bike to work over the past eight years.  The bike isn't the past it is the future.  In a world that is facing fossil fuel concerns the bike is there and has no emissions.

ATLANTA, Ga., May 10, 2019 --Global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, announced Friday its extended commitment to Team Novo Nordisk through 2020. The commitment will take the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team through its eighth season, making it the longest-running continued title sponsorship for any current US-registered UCI professional team, including all World Tour, Professional Continental, and Continental squads.
“Sponsorship is challenging for any team and we are honored to now have the longest-running title sponsor of any current American-registered professional team,” said Phil Southerland, CEO and Co-Founder of Team Novo Nordisk. “We believe this is a testament to our mission, the multi-faceted approach we’ve taken through successes at races, global media exposure across endemic and non-endemic outlets, an unmatched social media presence and extensive community activities."
Team Novo Nordisk’s partnership with the Danish pharmaceutical company began in December 2012 based on the shared goals to inspire, educate and empower people around the world affected by diabetes. Before Team Novo Nordisk, the squad raced as Team Type 1 for five seasons with a mix of riders with and without type 1 diabetes.
“We are thankful to Novo Nordisk for this ongoing opportunity and look forward to the future. Over the past seven years, we have grown together with a long-term vision of identifying and developing athletes with type 1 diabetes. This partnership has allowed us not only to help them grow into amazing bike racers but also to be heroes for every person with diabetes around the world,” said Southerland. “In the first half of 2019, we have showcased our Changing Diabetes jersey aggressively at World Tour races by wearing the Intermediate Spring jersey for four consecutive days at the UAE Tour and placing a historic four riders in the breakaway at the iconic Milan-San Remo.”
Team Novo Nordisk is part of the Novo Nordisk’s Changing Diabetes initiative, a global commitment to improving conditions for the 425 million people living with diabetes today and those at risk of developing diabetes.
“We are proud to continue the partnership, Team Novo Nordisk is truly showcasing that when managed well, diabetes does not have to hold you back,” said Camilla Sylvest, Executive Vice President, Commercial Strategy & Corporate Affairs at Novo Nordisk.
Racing on the International Cycling Union (UCI) Professional Continental Tour, the team aims to increase awareness of diabetes with the world’s passionate cycling fans while also bringing a new audience to cycling through the extensive diabetes community.
With title sponsorship secured through 2020, Southerland emphasized that the team’s objectives remain focused on investing and developing athletes with type 1 diabetes.
“As Team Novo Nordisk and Novo Nordisk approach the 100thanniversary since the discovery of insulin as dedicated partners, I am proud to continue changing diabetes together. We keep setting the bar higher and are driven to see how far our athletes can take this dream. We are determined to change the world one individual at a time.”
Since its launch, Team Novo Nordisk has built one of the largest fan bases in both professional cycling and diabetes. As of May 2019, the team has more than 8.4 million fans across its social media platforms.
“We are grateful for our millions of fans who follow our athletes daily along with the growing interest from physicians and journalists,” said Southerland. “Last year, we reached nearly four billion people through the media, and we are extremely motivated to keep growing this number. Together with Novo Nordisk, we are truly changing diabetes.”


About Team Novo Nordisk
Team Novo Nordisk is a global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists spearheaded by the world’s first all-diabetes UCI Professional Continental cycling team. In 2012, Phil Southerland, co-founder and CEO of the team, and global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, came together to create Team Novo Nordisk, based on a shared vision to inspire, educate and empower people around the world affected by diabetes. For more information, go to www.teamnovonordisk.com. 
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 95 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat obesity, haemophilia, growth disorders and other serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 43,200 people in 80 countries and markets its products in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.

For the past couple of months I have been looking in to the glycemic index diet.  For people living with diabetes we are taught to go off of the carbohydrates in a food to determine the amount of insulin that we need.  Each person living with diabetes carb ratios are different.  For example for breakfast my carb ratio is 18 grams of carbohydrate equal one unit of insulin.  Using this morning as my example, I had a bowl of Chex which had 36 grams of carbohydrate which equals 2.0 units of insulin.  Easy enough, it also helps that I can enter the number of carbs I'm eating and my amazing insulin pump does the math for me.  Now comes the curve ball, not all carbohydrates are the same.  The carbohydrates in a regular soda are far different then those of a bowl of pasta.  Soda carbohydrates are "garbage" carbs, they act quickly and are gone in about 30 minutes.  Carbohydrates in pasta are released a lot slower, the carbohydrates in pasta kick in a couple hours after one consumes pasta.  As diabetics it takes a little while to figure out how each food reacts and how to cover it with insulin, if you then throw in being active it makes the process a little trickier.  That's why I believe that a person living with diabetes should receive some kind of medal for having an A1C under 7.0 for a set amount of time.

Back to the glycemic index, if you click here, you can read about the glycemic index and how it works.  Basically the glycemic index would make sure that I stick to my healthy diet and that it may help controlling my blood sugars a little easier.  The problem is finding the glycemic value of a food.  The website that explained the glycemic index has a very handy search feature, type in any food and the site will show you the glycemic index.  What I have yet to figure out is how to use the glycemic index to figure out the amount of insulin I would need to cover a food or meal.  Then I found the Insulin Index and now my brain hurts!!!  Obviously when I decided to write about the glycemic index I didn't think it would involve so much.  For those living with diabetes I will be in contact with my favorite diabetes friend, she is amazing and a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and a Certified Diabetes Educator so she will probably know a lot more about the subject than I.  For those without diabetes I suggest using the glycemic index so you have more information on the food that is entering your body.  Also, I promise that this subject will be covered again and when I do that post will come with answers for people living with diabetes.

The questions and answers below are answered honestly and are done so to give everyone an idea of who I am as a person living with diabetes.  Most of these questions have been asked by other people, I just have never shared them publicly.

1) When your blood sugar is above your set range, what is the best way your friends and family could support you? 

When my blood sugar is out of range I become very unhappy, I have no motivation and want to be left alone.  The best thing for someone to do to make me feel better is to act normally.  Talking about anything but my blood sugar will do just fine, I have taken insulin to fix my blood sugar the last thing I would like to talk about is my blood sugar.

2) If you didn't have diabetes what kind of person would you be?

I would not be anything like the person you see in front of you today.  Diabetes is the reason I work so hard at work, cycling and being the best boyfriend that I can.  Without diabetes I feel that I would have nothing to prove to anyone.  This is just me but I feel that I have to prove myself because of my diabetes.  If I didn't have diabetes I would be fifty pounds heavier, not working out, and not have the job I have today.  With diabetes I feel that I have to prove myself, I feel that when people hear that I have diabetes they automatically assume that I can't do what someone living without diabetes can do.

3) Other than Kate and family, what one person has been your support on a daily basis?

This is a tough question but honestly the members of Team Novo Nordisk are my support specifically Stephen England.  All of the team members are great and are always supporting me and my dreams.  Seeing a post on social media liked by a team member makes my day.  These men and women are role models for me and to see that I help them in some way is great.  Stephen England goes that extra mile though, to be able to contact him whenever I have a running question or any running diabetes question is great.  

4)  What would you tell a person just diagnosed with diabetes?

This is easy to say but is true, everything may seem very tough right now but trust me when I say things will get better and easier.  Taking insulin, testing your blood sugar, and your diet are all things that are very tough to do right now, I understand that.  Go back to the first time you had your permit to drive a car, you didn't know what to do or what to expect.  Driving on the highway was never a thought but you kept working at it and now you have no trouble driving.  The same goes for diabetes, you're scared of all the change and what it will do to your life.  If you expect the best you will be just fine.  A lot of people are living amazing lives with diabetes there is no reason that you can't.  Take it day by day and enjoy the ride.

5) Can you eat ice cream and other high sugar desserts or foods?

Yes I can, as long as I take the appropriate amount of insulin to cover the food that I just ate.  Personally I use high sugar foods as a reward.  I will use my A1C as the way to reward myself, if my A1c is below a certain number I will get ice cream if it is not I don't get to enjoy a sundae.  I don't want to miss out on a sundae!!  I'm human I love brownies, ice cream, cake and any dessert you can think of.  The athlete in me helps me stay away from these foods as well, but if my A1C is where I want it you can bet that I will have a sundae in front of me that night!!

Sometimes it is the kind of low blood sugars that cause the most interesting situations.  When my blood sugar is around 70 I feel low but my brain disappears and makes the low seem a lot worse than it actually is.  For instance I have forgot my phone password, atm code and what I'm doing before when my blood sugar is around 70.

With an amazing baby boy in the house those things now happen without a low blood sugar.  All jokes aside I have been trying to keep my blood sugar above 100 so that I'm the best I can be when I'm home and helping Kate or caring for D on my own.  On Friday one of those freak kind of low blood sugars happened.  Kate and other family members were home so it was okay but I'm still pissed about what happened.

D was in need of a bottle and we are mixing so preparing a bottle takes a little thought but has been done a seven year old so it isn't that difficult.  I told Kate I would put the bottle together so that she could feed him.  After a few minutes she came in to the kitchen to find me scratching my head and angry.  I tried to explain to her what was going but I was quickly sent to the penalty box aka the dinner table to fix the low.  I grabbed my fruit snacks and sat at the table where our five year old son asked if I was taking medicine to feel better.  I laughed and explained that daddy need the sugar to feel better.

Kate and I have a tremendous system in place for the children and for my diabetes.  As always I wish this would never happen but I love that I have pieces in place to make it okay when it does happen.  

Yesterday I spoke about how great my insulin pump was during the birth of our son.  If I lived a sedentary life an insulin pump would be perfect for me.  Thankfully I can't sit still, in fact I will often find something to clean or wash when I do have down time.  Don't get me wrong I have my lazy moments but for the most part I have to be doing something.

From a job that has me on my feet from eight to twelve hours a day to a love for trail running and road cycling I love being on the go.  For a longtime I would make the appropriate adjustments on my insulin pump so that I could go for a run or be on the bike.  Now time is at a premium and the ability to schedule a run or bike ride is harder to come bye.  If I can find an hour to ride or go for a run then I need to just go and not have to suspend my pump and wait an hour.

Yesterday just after 1pm my blood sugar was at 140, the little guy was asleep and I had some time to go for a run.  I had no insulin on board and decided a half of peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some water would be all I needed to make sure my blood sugar stayed in range while I went running.  I would of course bring a snack with me just in case but I  could just go and not think.  

This setup isn't for everyone, it is important that you do what works for you.  Right now what works best for me is to be on injections.  It gives me a lot more freedom and my A1C stays the same, for me it is a win win.  

Before I start talking about myself and the work I had to do during the birth of our amazing son I have to say that Kate is the real hero here.  After a nearly forty-five hour labor she deserves all of the credit!!

I must say that I thought I had control of my diabetes before the birth of our son and I do.  Nothing prepared me for the adrenaline rush of childbirth however.  I learned that adrenaline is not nice to those that live with diabetes, I had known this before but my mind went to other places while in the labor room.  I also made some rookie mistakes, my blood sugar shot up to 300 three times while Kate was in different stages of delivery.  Each time I took a little bit of insulin and when our baby was not born my blood sugar would crash and I would have a low of about 60 that would need attention.  

What I learned was that I can go almost two days without food and my blood sugar would be fine.  I owe that to accomplishment to my insulin pump.  Paired with my CGM the insulin pump did all of the work and kept me in range.  I overreacted when I saw my blood sugar start climbing but for the most part I was hanging out in my normal range while waiting for the little guy to enter the world.

A special thank you to a close friend for all of the help and suggestions before, during, and after the birth of our son.  Your words of wisdom helped so much.  A note to anyone living with diabetes that is helping their wife, always have a snack bag with you!!  The last thing you want to worry about is a low or high blood sugar during the birth of a son or daughter.

Twenty-eight years ago I was brought to Westerly Hospital by my father so that they could figure out what was wrong with me.  I had been urinating a lot, sleeping more than I ever did, and had an attitude.  My mother knew something was up and had my father bring me in, an hour later I was being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and in an ambulance that would bring me to Rhode Island hospital.  

My life with diabetes is nothing special, I unintentionally tried to kill myself because I didn't care, I didn't test my blood sugar and did whatever I wanted.  This went on for fifteen years, how I survived I don't know.  A freak blood clot and a cycling team would save my life and teach me how to dream.  In that time I also learned that I love diabetes, it makes me a better person and athlete.  

Twenty-eight years is all well and good but today I found myself leaving Rhode Island Hospital yet again.  This time I had the biggest smile on my face as Kate and I put "Coconut" in to the car to head home for the first time.  I don't know how this all happened on the same day but it is amazing.  I mean it has been a long few days but when our hospital room looked right at the building where I stayed for a week when I was diagnosed with diabetes I knew something special was happening.  I could even see the basketball hoop that my brother and I played at as my parents probably sat inside crying as their sons diabetes diagnosis had changed their world.

Twenty-eight years later Kate I have had our world changed and are so in love with this amazing baby boy.  With that said I'm not sure how often I will be sitting down to write but I will do my best.  I have a good long post planned that will detail the entire week.  Having a CGM and a pump was the best thing for childbirth.

Thank you in advance for all the well wishes, everyone is doing well.  

 My Grandfather loved The Price is Right, as a child I loved to be with my grandfather around lunchtime so I could have a bologna and cheese sandwich, chips, whole milk and watch The Price is Right.  I was a child of five or six but loved the games on the show, little did I know one of those games would be my life.  The Range Game is the game that anyone living with diabetes "plays" everyday.  

Diabetes management is all about keeping your blood sugar in a set range.  When our blood sugar is in that range we are at our best, we don't win a new car like on The Price is Right but we win at life.  If our blood sugar is below that set range we get angry and need something to get our blood sugar back in range.  When our blood sugar is above the set range we again get angry and people think we are a little crazy, just like on the show.  

Last night I learned just how difficult it is to stay in that range.  After a very refreshing hour long bike ride my blood sugar was in range.  I felt as though I won that new car (or bike) on The Price is right.  I was having my post ride protein snack and had taken my insulin to cover my snack and the time my pump was in a temp basal.  That is when the range game really begins, for me the bike ride is like bidding on a prize to get to play the range game (if you're not a Price is Right fan I have lost you!!)  An hour after my ride I was starting to lose at the range game, I was that guy that was above the price of the car.

Over time my blood sugar came back in to range.  The whole point of this totally random and weird post is that you need to have fun when it comes to blood sugar management.  If you're not having fun then it is very unlikely that you will enjoy living with diabetes.  For me relating blood sugar management to a childhood memory makes me smile and makes me love my diabetes.  I remember sitting with my grandfather watching the Price is Right and I know the he would love that I related his favorite game show to blood sugar management.  “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” ~ Willie Nelson

Just over eight years ago when I first started to ride a road bike I had a lot of difficulty with my blood sugar falling out of range while riding.  I had no idea that I needed to set a temporary basal or that I would need to eat up to twenty grams of carbohydrates every twenty minutes.  Luckily I was able to connect with some of the best road cyclists with diabetes to help me control my diabetes while doing physical activities.

One member of my support team has been simply amazing, Delaine Wright has always been the one that I turn to when I have any questions or concerns when it comes to cycling or running.  Eight years ago when just after my surgery I sat down with Delaine and her husband to learn about diabetes.  At that time I had no clue about insulin pumps or how to cover any food that I would eat.  Her support in the months after my surgery were amazing, Delaine is the one who taught me all about my Medtronic insulin pump.  I can't imagine where  I would be without the help that Delaine provided.

As I started to become an athlete living with diabetes, Dealine told me that I needed to buy the Diabetic Athlete's Handbook written by Sheri R. Colberg.  Delaine spoke about how the book was a great guide for any athletic sport that I would do.  When I purchased the book  I was amazed at all of the information, the book talks about aerobic and anaerobic exercise and how each effect ones blood sugar.  I felt that I had earned a PhD in diabetes management after reading the first few chapters, I learned how to hydrate and how to eat to be a successful athlete with diabetes.  Since reading the book I have been in control of my diabetes while running or cycling, yes I have had a number of blood sugars out of range but those have been caused by not following instructions that the book has given.  The Diabetic Athlete's Handbook is a must for anyone with diabetes!!  It doesn't matter if you walk for fun or if you ride your bike across the country, this book helps with all of it.  

The Diabetic Athlete's Handbook can be purchase on Amazon by clicking this link