For the past six days Team Novo Nordisk has been celebrating Diabetes Week in the UK with Pedal for 7, a weeklong bike ride from Newcastle to the Novo Nordisk diabetes research center in Oxford. Part of me is very very upset that I wasn’t in the UK this week, the past week has been so inspirational as TNN team members have joined the average rider like me as they participate in Pedal For 7!! I mean talk about living my dream!!

The other part of me is so happy to see how much work TNN and Novo Nordisk are putting in to change diabetes!! Just like the photo diabetes is about getting help from those that love us. We need friends with diabetes, we need to talk diabetes and help one another. Not one person with diabetes has all of the answers!! Together however we can help each other and change diabetes.

​Novo Nordisk is putting in the work to make living with diabetes a little easier. They understand that diabetes is a team game. They have sponsored a team that is changing the world and are showing the world that diabetes will not stop us!!

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 next generation often gets a bad rap, no matter what or how they things the generation before can find fault in it. When it comes to the diabetes, the next generation is changing everything about diabetes!! From software, speaking publicly, and showing what can be done with diabetes the next generation is changing how the world views diabetes.

The photo above is my motivation on this Monday evening!! Alec Andrews a Team Type 1 Global Ambassador is determined to change the diabetes world. He is not the only one, each and every global ambassador is changing the diabetes world. They are showing what’s possible when it comes to life with diabetes!!

July 9th has special meaning over the past two years. Last year on July 9th I was running in my first 50k and beyond excited for the challenge. Blood sugar wise I dominated 90 percent of the day, mile 25 I asked for a blood sugar test from the emt and a blood sugar towards the low end of my range made the emt keep me there until I was above 100.

Today I’m not running a 50k but having to keep my blood sugar in range is important. Going to Boston for my bachelor party with some amazing guys is going to be a blood sugar challenge. Between beers and food that I don’t usually eat I’m happy that my Medtronic cgm will be doing it all it can to keep my blood sugars in range.

The two days are totally different but just like each day you live with diabetes you put pressure on yourself to be in range. If I’m running a 50k or if I’m going to a Red Sox game and drinking I need to be in range to be the best that I can be!!

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When you start a new job does that mean that you have to start a new diabetes chapter in your life as well? When the job is one that you have had before it shouldn’t be that difficult or should it? I’m at a new course and in a position that is a lot more taxing mentally but also has the physical demands just like the last job. This will make blood sugar management a little more difficult. I’m lucky enough to have the Medtronic 670 on my hip which does an amazing job of keeping my blood sugars in range. I will have days where I need to set a temporary basal, I will have days where I miss calculate.

Two days in and my blood sugars have been spot on. That’s the good news, the bad news is the past two days have been rainy. That means I have been sitting in the office and not running around the golf course. Those days will come. I have stocked the office with Gatorade, fruit snacks, and the last option a Mountain Dew. The soda is a last resort, I’m hoping it goes out of code before I need to drink it.

I have been working closely with my endocrinologist to set my pump for the job. I have also explained just how unpredictable the job can be. I can text her whenever I have a problem and getting a text from her that asks how everything is going is great as well!!

Happy World Bicycle Day to all!!! Today was one of those days that changed the world and was done by a man and a team that has and is changing diabetes!! Members of Team Novo Nordisk were in New York City today to celebrate the day at the United Nations.

For years i have written about the impact that this team has had on me and my life with diabetes. They saved my life and I can’t thank them enough for that. The truth is it was one man that had a dream and believed in me that saved my life. Today that man gave a speech that brought me to tears, taught the world about diabetes and how a bike can change the world.

I have studied public speakers and how they relate to a crowd and how they get everyone interested in what they are saying. I love listening to Martin Luther King speak, I will listen to Les Brown speeches while driving to work and I listen to Phil Southerland speak. The last speaker is a little tougher to find when searching YouTube but today he gave the speech of a lifetime. I encourage everyone to go on Facebook search Team Novo Nordisk and watch the video. This speech will teach you to dream and get you believing that anything is possible. The speech is truth and right from Phil’s heart, it was not written by some speech writer and delivered by Phil. This speech is Phil, he has dreamed about changing the world with a bike and today he reached another dream.

On this first World Bicycle Day I put on the Team Novo Nordisk kit and smiled. Phil Southerland and Team Novo Nordisk saved my life and everyday I get on the bike I smile because I got a second chance at life. I get to live my dream because Phil and the team taught me how to dream and how to fight for what is right in life. It’s not very often that we get to meet our heroes in life. I’m honored that my hero is never to busy to stop and talk. The best thing is that my hero is a hero to so many across the globe and those people have the same relationship with him because Phil takes the time for everyone and encourages everyone that anything is possible!!

My neck is back to normal, my strength is slowly coming back and I’m back to doing what I love. This past weekend I went back to my roots and jumped on my bike for a lengthy bike ride. Right now a lengthy bike ride is just under 50 miles.

Ill talk about the ride first, my legs are slowly coming back. My first 22 miles were into a head wind that tested me mentally and physically!! A 15-20mph wind made me feel like I should turn around, the truth is I’m better then that and I’m mad at myself for even thinking about turning around. To only have 15 miles in my legs for the entire year up to this ride I was impressed with how great my body and legs felt. Yes my breathing and heart rate is not where it should be but that is all stuff that will come back with time and more rides and runs.

The best part of my ride, other then seeing kate at the halfway mark was my blood sugar. This ride was my fort long distance activity with my Medtronic 670!! I woke up at 5am to use the bathroom and set my pumps temp target for the next seven hours. I woke up at 630am and my blood sugar was at 157 and I could jump on the bike without any worries. An hour later I was having coffee with Kate and not thinking about my blood sugar. I was feeling great and my blood sugar was safely in range. After a half bagel, I jumped back on the bike and headed home. Once home my blood sugar was perfect and I started my recovery and cancelled my temp target. I took insulin to cover my post ride snack and enjoyed the rest of my Sunday!!

I have never taken anything from any diabetes company to help hype a product. As always I’m honest and share my true experience. Medtronic has won me over with the 670G!! I had great reviews from people that mean a lot to me but at the end of the day it’s up to me. This pump fits my life and makes riding “easier” yes I still have to eat and drink at the right times. I have to test but I can focus on my ride and if I feel good I know that it’s because the pump is working and keeping my blood sugar in range. I can’t wait to get back on the bike this weekend and see the pump do it’s work!!

Team Novo Nordisk is the cycling leader when it comes to social media!! With over seven million followers TNN is head and shoulder any other cycling team on social media. TNN knows the importance on fan interaction and their fans know how much they mean to the riders. Together TNN and their fans are changing the diabetes world!!

On June 3, 2018, the first official World Bicycle Day will be celebrated. TNN is joining the United Nations to help celebrate!! To learn more please visit www.teamnovonordisk.com/press/team-novo-nordisk-joins-the-united-nations-in-celebration-of-inaugural-world-bicycle-day/

Quietly Team Novo Nordisk is putting together a very strong 2018 season. With a new contract I expected the team to put less pressure on themselves and that the results would be much improved over the 2017 season. A new approach to the racing season also would preserve the riders strength and allow them to perform to their best of their ability for each and every race they participate in.

Today Andrea Peron and the team showed what they are capable of while on the bike. Andrea Peron would finish the first stage of the Tour of Estonia in fifth place!! Peron gets the attention but this top five finish shows how this team is growing with each mile that they ride together. This is a young squad that is making a name for itself as they race against the best in the world.

For the past two years I have been saying the future looks bright for Team Novo Nordisk, the future is now and it is brighter then I expected!!

For the past two weeks or so I have been taking Endurox Excel and have seen amazing results.  I feel stronger on the bike and while running, I also have a lot more energy throughout the day.  With such a great product what could the problem be?  The effect that the product is having on my blood sugars is a challenge right now.  My blood sugars have crept out of range more often in the past two weeks, nothing crazy but just enough to be taking five more units of insulin per day.

This is not the first product that has done this to my blood sugars.  From daily vitamins to hydration products all of been a little bit of a challenge when it comes to keeping my blood sugar in range.  Obviously I'm not a doctor, I don't know why my blood sugars are just of range more consistently but like any problem that diabetes presents I just go on with my business and adjust my insulin rates.  In 25 years of living with diabetes that is all I have ever done, what I do know is that I feel stronger and better than ever when it comes to cardio exercise.  For that reason I will continue to take Enduro Excel, I have been a believer in Pacific Health products for years and to have a doctor tell me that she fully supports the product makes me use it day in and day out.

Tomorrow morning I will get on the bike and go for an intense 20 mile time trial ride and feel amazing!!  I will prepare for the ride like any other ride I have done in the past six years.  Post ride I will be anxiously monitoring my blood sugar to stay in range and to get a better understanding of my body and how it will react to the food, drink and supplements that go in to my body.

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.  

I often come up with some crazy ideas, some of these ideas are very far fetched while others have seemed crazy but became a reality.  For that reason I have never stopped dreaming, over the past few months I have come up with a few crazy ideas.  As always the ideas focus on raising diabetes awareness and showing the diabetes community that anything is possible.

My latest dream is to have an ultra marathon to raise diabetes awareness.  Obviously you don't simply wake up and say "I'm going to put on an ultra marathon" the amount of planning and work that goes into such an event is crazy.  Think about, you have to find a state park to run a 50k, you need at least 100 people that would be interested in running and you need a location that is appealing to the runner.  You also need something that makes the event unique, many ultra marathons have lotteries for runners because the race has something special.  

The Diabetes Ultra (preliminary name) is slated to be run somewhere in Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine.  Personally that is very attractive for an Ultra, it has the mountains, amazing scenery, and is close to a major city/airport.  I also believe that the Northeast has a large number of ultra runners but has yet to have an ultra marathon that an Ultra runner in Europe or Asia would be interested in.

After the route and location what is left to make an Ultra special, especially The Diabetes Ultra.  The Diabetes Ultra would have a diabetic champion!!  Any person running with diabetes is automatically put into this field, the winner could win an all expenses trip to Friends for Life where they will share their story with everyone that attends Friends for Life.  (Obviously this has yet to be worked out but I love the idea)  That is just one idea that I have, obviously I'd love to workout something with my favorite pro team but I'll save that for when The Diabetes Ultra becomes a reality.

If this is all a dream why would I write about it?  This dream just like all of my dreams isn't about money or being acknowledged for my work but it would be used to not only raise diabetes awareness but to save lives.  At the end of the race, I don't want to walk away with any money in my pocket.  After everything has been paid for the money left will be used to purchase diabetes supplies.  Those supplies in turn will be donated to a family in need.  If the money raised is able to buy more supplies then they will be donated to more than one family.  We are living in a time where many people can not afford diabetes supplies, that is tough to read day in and day out on social media.  I don't know how to fix that problem but I can do all that I can to raise money to help someone in need.   

It is hard to believe but pro cycling is a job for the members of Team Novo Nordisk. They are on their bikes everyday and motivating anyone living with diabetes. Part of this job is speaking publicly to the diabetes community, for each and every member of the team the diabetes work that they do means more to them then what they do on the bike.

I have had the luxury of meeting the Team Novo Nordisk members while they are training and while they are inspiring. I love cycling and love watching them race across the globe on my computer. Watching them speak to children living with diabetes is ten times more inspiring however. They are genuine and truly care about each and every person they meet.

What happens when they reach a certain age and can no longer ride a bike at the top level in the world. It’s not like team members are sixty and can live the rest of their lives with loved ones. Team members are between the ages of thirty and forty when they retire, some are even younger. That’s pro cycling, a career is over before it begins. Some former Team Novo Nordisk members head back to college and get their degrees, others get “real jobs”.

Being fanatical about Team Novo Nordisk I have a majority of the team members as friends on social media. Many of the former team members have stayed in touch since leaving the team. I can’t tell you how much that means to me because they truly care and send me messages after a race or when they see a major life moment.

The best east thing about following them on social media is seeing the work they do for the diabetes community after they retire. Team Novo Nordisk gave them a chance to change the world and that doesn’t stop once they stop racing for Team Novo Nordisk. They take time out of their life to speak at schools and hospitals about their life with diabetes, they are changing diabetes. Why would someone do this? It all comes back to one man.

Phil Southerland has been teaching the diabetes world how to dream his entire life. Anyone that has the honor of meeting Phil comes away a better person. Speak with Phil for five minutes and you will do anything you can to be a better person living with diabetes because Phil sees the greatness in everyone. He knows what diabetes can do to someones self confidence. He knows the amount of work it takes to live a successful life with diabetes. He knows that not everyone has access to supplies and does all that he can to share that with the members of Team Novo Nordisk.

Team Novo Nordisk is a part of everyone living with diabetes. The team is showing what is possible and showing that they truly care. They are showing the world what’s possible with diabetes and by doing so they are changing diabetes.

This seems to be a yearly post for me but once again dehydration is the topic. For whatever reason I always get dehydrated, I could understand if my diet was bad and I drank soda everyday but for the most part my diet is great and I carry around a three liter jug of Poland Spring!! It will usually take me about two days to finish the three liter jug at home and about four days for me to finish the three liter jug while working. That equates to about 2.5 liters a day, according to the Mayo clinic 3 liters of FLUIDS are sufficent per day. That leads me to believe that I'm getting at least another half liter from the foods that I eat each day. (vegetables, and fruit)

I understand that I lose a lot of fluids while working out but I believe my hydration while running or cycling is spot on. I'm always eating or drinking every ten minutes. Which is why I don't understand the dark urine, weakness and feeling light headed when I go from squatting to standing up. (being light headed happens a few times a week) Is there more I could be doing to stay hydrated? I don't know but I know that being dehydrated is making it tougher to keep my blood sugars in range. The signs of a blood sugar that is below range are the same symptoms as being dehydrated. I will often get the two confused and rush for a juice box because I feel that it is my blood sugar being below my set range. I will have a few sips of the juice my testing my blood sugar and see that my blood sugar is in range and not close to falling below the set range.

As the spring turns to summer I need to get ahead of my dehydration to be at my best. This is always a difficult battle but any suggestions on staying hydrated are welcome. I have begun to bring extra water bottles while training on the bike and even bring my trail running backpack with me on any run over five miles so I have fluids with me. I'm not sure what could help but as always I will be exploring and trying my best to keep my blood sugars in range while staying hydrated.

Its weird how a fortune cookie can make you think. Below is a picture of the fortune cookie I got on Friday night. As soon as I read the fortune I said “wow that’s great!!” I quickly put the fortune in my car near my speedometer so I would see it everyday. It is so simple but attitude is everything, we have two choices in life, we can complain or we can enjoy life!!

Blood sugars that fall below a set range always bring with them a bunch of food challenges. Some low blood sugars bring with them a hunger that is unheard of and has me looking like a competitive eater. I can drink and eat anything, obviously this does not work. Over eating for a low blood sugar only causes a blood sugar out of range and that’s not something I’m looking for.

How do I fix a low blood sugar and then keep my blood sugars in range? It seems tough to find something that is filling and able to keep my blood sugar in range. A childhood fruit snack does just that however, Welch’s fruit snacks are low in calories and pack 20 grams of quick carbs that get my blood sugar right back in range. These snacks are perfect anytime, they also do the job while running or on the bike!! It’s crazy but it works and I couldn’t ask for a better quick fix.

A few years back I was given this secret from a bunch of great bike riders and I’m just now using it to my advantage!! I encourage everyone to give it a shot, be careful though one bag is often enough!!

The start of May will bring with it some warmer temperatures which means the trails will be beautiful. What is not beautiful right now is the shape that I’m in. The start of the year has been very difficult, from surgery to an an unfortunate accident on a run I can’t get in a groove.

Exactly one week ago I left the trails crying thinking I had broken something in my left shoulder or my back. I thought my 2018 racing season was over before it even began. A dog took out my legs and I fell almost ten feet on a bunch of rocks. My neck was and is fine, I can’t lift anything but running is okay as long as I don’t feel any pain. My back is still sore but I need to get back to the trails.

The only good news has been my blood sugars!! Things are a little easier diabetes wise when you’re not doing anything. Getting back in shape and keeping my blood sugars in range will be a challenge but I’m excited to get back to training and racing.

I believe that people living with diabetes question a lot in their life. Personally, I wonder how many of my coworkers truly understand what it is like to live with diabetes. On a daily basis I will be asked if I can eat that. I’m not going to lie it does get a little old but every time I’m asked it is a chance to teach someone about diabetes.

While at work the other day someone that I would call a good friend extended the olive branch and asked some meaningful questions. While working with him I excused myself and said I needed to go get something to eat or I’d be in trouble. I returned a minute later with a Mountain Dew and a cliff bar. I was asked “so soda and not juice? Why?” I explained that I would need that very quick fix and that soda does that where as juice will raise it and keep it higher longer.” I then explained that I’d probably be falling out of range right before lunch because I didn’t get a juice. He then asked about what I was feeling. I told him my lips were numb and that getting sugar was the only thing on my mind. As I walked back to have my snack in his office I asked “what happened to everything I was working on?” Twenty minutes later I walked out of his office and said thanks and went and grab the cart that I was working on.

When he yelled out “are you serious!!” I didn’t know what was going on. He said “you went and got that cart without thinking, you knew where it was the whole time!!” I explained I had no clue when I came back but once my blood sugar was back in range my brain came back and everything was normal. He laughed and said “you make it look to easy. I had no idea that’s what you go through when you get a soda”

After three months I have made my return to running! It wasn’t pretty but it felt great to be back on the trails. I began very cautiously and was waiting for my neck to give me some pain. I was only a few hundred yards in and yelled at myself “Your on the trails and fell in love with them because you relax while running, don’t think just do!” With that and some awesome county music I was off. I walked more hills then I would have liked but this was first run in months, I had to remind myself of that a lot.

The best part of the run was finding myself as I always do while running the trails. I love the self exploration while on the trails, for example today I was running in our “soon to be” new hometown. This is a town just miles away from where I grew up but is in a different state and a lot more country. I never imagined my life being in this town but I can’t describe how happy I am to call it home! Kate and I will explore our new country town via the trails weekly and we can’t wait.

Diabetes wise starting my run at 130 was perfect. A temp basal was set for the three mile run but was probably not necessary. A thirty minute run is nothing, when it comes to suspending insulin. I just wanted to play it safe and did well as my blood sugar was at 112 when I finished. I’m hoping this continues but as the miles increase it will become more of a challenge to keeps sugars in my perfect range.