Team Novo Nordisk will start the 2019 season tomorrow in the Tour de Rwanda. Team Novo Nordisk is coming off a very focused and demanding team camp in Altea, Spain towards the end of January. Phil Southerland the teams CEO and cofounder was kind enough to sit down for a phone interview as camp came to a close and share his thoughts about the team and camp. “Camp has been very demanding for the riders this year, we have very high expectations going into this season and wanted to test the team. Everyone is very fit, that just shows the dedication and work the riders have put in during the off season.” The Tour of Rwanda will show how strong the team is, starting the season with a very difficult stage race will challenge the team and show the fans of Team Novo Nordisk how the early part of 2019 will play out.  If the team performs like they did last year at the Tour de Rwanda the 2019 version should be very exciting.

Fans of Team Novo Nordisk have a new reason to get excited for each and every race as Team Novo Nordisk will be dedicating the stage or single day race they are competing in to one of the fans of Team Novo Nordisk. Phil Southerland shared in the excitement of the dedication “Our fans mean so much to us. They are why we fight so hard to change diabetes. They are our motivation and this is our way to say thank you to the millions of fans that support us.”  Dedicating the race to a fan of the team will personalize the race for team members.  From photos of the fan to initials on team apparel the fan of the race will be with each and every team member as they race to change diabetes.  To learn more about the "Fan of the Race" and enter to be the fan of the race please click here

One major part of the Team Novo Nordisk that you may not see while they're racing against cyclists in the world is that each team member will be wearing a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).  This technology is so helpful to the cyclist as well as the team as both can see the riders blood sugar before, during and after the days stage.  This will help team doctors keep the riders closer to their best blood sugars that will help them perform their best.  As CGM technology has gotten better the blood sugar accuracy has increased.  As a cyclist myself I see this improvement in technology on a daily basis as my blood sugars on my CGM are almost in sync with my actual blood sugar.  Just five short years ago my blood sugar might be at 130 and my CGM might read 180.  Technology within diabetes is always changing and as it continues to grow it will not only help Team Novo Nordisk but each and every person living with diabetes.

One Team Novo Nordisk rider that is a personal favorite of mine is Sam Brand.  Sam also was kind enough to sit down with me while at camp and talk diabetes and cycling.  One spot where Sam and I are similar on the bike is when it comes to time trials.  A time trial is a true guts race and if you are willing to put it all on the line and suffer you will succeed.  Sam improved in every race that he competed in last season and had a great season when it came to the time trial.  "My cycling journey really began just two years ago, before that I competed in triathlons.  I learned so much from the development team, the team helped me learn how to race at the highest level."  In fact last year was Sam's first full season as a pro and the fans have taken to him.  Sams hard work and honesty make him a rider that anyone can relate too.  If he has a bad day on the bike, he will not make excuses, you will get the real reason why he struggled and you will also see a side of Sam that intimidates riders.  He will get angry and say that tomorrow is a new day and that he will do all that he can do do better.  That is Sam and Team Novo Nordisk, never settling and always fighting to be better.

The 2019 season will be a very special season for Team Novo Nordisk and their fans.  One quote from Phil Southerland that still has me puzzled is what he said before the end of our interview, "The game is about to change, stay tuned"  I have done all that I can to try and figure out what Phil meant but I have had no luck so far.  All I can is that for years Team Novo Nordisk has been changing diabetes, they are inspiring, educating and empowering those affected by diabetes.  Every day Team Novo Nordisk challenges me to be a better person living with diabetes.  If they can race against the best in the world then whatever challenge I have during my day is nothing.  Team Novo Nordisk will be traveling the globe racing against the best in the world and that's great but it is the moments before and after each race that mean the most to me.  It is at those times that the team does all that it can for the diabetes community.  If you can go see the team race, before or after the race find the team bus or tent and go talk to the riders and staff.  It will change your life and it will change their life.  We are all a part of Team Novo Nordisk!!

This past weekend Kate and I headed to the hospital to get a tour of where our little guy will be born. Now this hour long tour of everything that we could think of while welcoming our baby was covered. Does that take away some of my nerves? It does but how is this going to happen? No one has that answer but it could be the middle of the night, while we are at work or when we are out to eat dinner, time will tell.

Before we even began our tour Kate and I were thinking alike, we saw a bistro, smiled at each other and said that will come in handy. It’s the unspoken diabetes part of our marriage. What wasn’t said was that I’m not leaving the birth of our son to fix my blood sugar. As we headed to the birthing floor we were both very happy to see a vending machine. Another blood sugar fix if needed.

The thing is I don’t want to worry about myself while our son is being born. The odds are my blood sugar will be on the higher end because of adrenaline but again I have no idea. My pump and cgm will be working to keep me in range as always. I will also have my own bag packed just in case my blood sugar dips below my range.

The best thing is that I have a great diabetes community helping me. From a surprising heart to heart conversation about diabetes and being the husband during child birth too emails I have been so thankful for all of the help and can’t wait for the joy of our son.

Ryan,

When you were diagnosed with diabetes and sat in Rhode Island hospital you feared for your life. You sat there terrified of a disease that you and your family knew nothing about. For the first time in your life you saw your father crying because he was so scared. You sat in a hospital room for a week and saw your mother cry each and everyday. You learned about a disease that could be managed but would probably never be cured. With the diabetes diagnosis came a lot of fear and rightfully so. I'm here to tell you that it turned out just fine and has been one of the best things that has ever happened in your life.

I'm here to tell you that it won't always be easy. In fact you will have ten years of your life wasted because of your dislike for diabetes. The good news is you have nobody but yourself to blame for not taking care of yourself. You saw your parents cry when you were diagnosed but what you didn't see were them crying when you stopped caring for yourself. Later in life you will be mad at them for not helping you but you were to immature to realize that they were trying to help but you turned them and everyone else away.

You will fail a lot before you realize that the key to life with diabetes is taking responsibility for the choices you make. It is also how you view our life. People will make you feel like you don't matter and try to make you feel useless but you will keep fighting and doing amazing with diabetes.

Once you have control of your diabetes and of your life you will do amazing things. You will motivate people with your ability to share your story. You will be a role model for people that you never meet. You will have dreams that you will reach but you will always want more. You will be an inspiration for pro athletes. Diabetes will give you the opportunity to ride your bike in Europe. I'm here to tell you that if you truly want something than do it. Don't be afraid, you have the talent and are more powerful than you will ever know.

Diabetes is your life and I know that sounds scary but it is the best gift you have ever received. I don't know why you have diabetes but you are better because of it. It will teach you to love life and the people in your life that truly love you. It will make you the most amazing father because you have been through so much in life. That will give you a gift. Don't ever forget that you can do anything.

It has been almost ten years since my life changed for the better.  A blood clot that caused my right arm to be three times the size brought me to the hospital for what I thought would be a quick visit.  It turned out to be an almost two week stay at the hospital.  Two surgeries would be performed, one to break up the clot and one to remove my first rib, the muscle in my right breast was pushing a vein into that rib, thanks again to probably over fifteen years of pitching.  

The staff at the hospital where I had the surgery was amazing.  One doctor was a complete jerk but told me the truth and has been my motivation to do amazing things for those with diabetes.  When a doctor says you should be dead and that I was the worst patient he has ever seen with diabetes it motivates you.  He indirectly told me he would not be my endocrinologist, that day I said to myself I'd get better and that I would never give up on someone that needs help in anyway.

The other doctor became a friend, this doctor would remove my rib and be by my bedside every night for a week.  I mean he's a doctor and that's his job but his job isn't to talk sports and keep my spirits up.  A month later as he removed my staples he asked to speak to me personally.  His daughter was diagnosed with diabetes a week earlier, he asked me what life with diabetes was like.  He asked why I didn't care for myself for so long.  It was a very honest an emotional conversation.  I would email this doctor from time to time but had lost touch with him for about eight years.

Yesterday we were reunited.  My right shoulder has been giving me problems yet again, I can't hold anything out straight with that arm, my right hand often goes numb, a sharp pain will shoot from the right shoulder down to my thumb, index and middle finger.  Thanks to my amazing wife Kate, we started to investigate what could be wrong with the man that knows me best.  Joking as we sat in the room waiting for this amazing man I said to Kate " I want to yell happy anniversary when he walks in!!"  With a smile she said "Might be a little odd but do what you want"  I decided against that because what kind of doctor would remember a man after ten years.  The best doctor in the world thats who.  He walked in and said "long time no see, how have you been"  He spoke about the week he performed the surgery and started to examine me.  He would see my CGM and insulin pump and asked if it was a Medtronic and if I was using Dexcom.  We talked about my setup and I asked "How's your daughter?"  That could've been the weirdest question I have ever asked someone I don't really know.  He would smile, and say "good" and smile again, words weren't needed but I could tell she was living a great life with diabetes.

As for my shoulder, tests were ordered and I will be seeing an orthopedic specialist, a neurologist, and the doctor who fused my neck a year ago to figure out exactly what is going on.  The good news is in a month I get to go see the doctor that saved my life again and can't wait, I have never felt more comfortable with my life in the hands of a doctor until I met this amazing man.

ATLANTA, Ga., February 07, 2019 – Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, and Italian-based Veloflex announced a partnership naming Veloflex as the official tire for Team Novo Nordisk.
Based out of Italy’s Bergamo region, Veloflex is a small company that specializes in racing tubulars and bicycle tires for training and racing. Veloflex’s product line includes both traditional and "open" tubular tires, which are also known as clinchers. All of Veloflex’s products are handmade through an artisan process.
“Veloflex is a high-end boutique brand that creates some of the top tires in the world and we are honored to have them join Team Novo Nordisk as an official partner,” Team Novo Nordisk Senior Vice President of Athletics Vassili Davidenko said. “Their tires standout against the competition because they are handmade using a special compound that creates an unbeatable, durable tire that is highly responsive while still being able to take on the various conditions that we race and train in as professional cyclists.”
The name Veloflex is a blend of the word ‘velo,’ which stands for bicycle and cycling in French and the word ‘flexible,’ which the company feels showcases how their tubulars and tires adapt to any race or road surface.
“Veloflex is very proud to partner with Team Novo Nordisk’s men’s professional team for the 2019 season. This wonderful team races to show the world that diabetes shouldn’t serve as an obstacle in life. Instead, these riders show how they can turn a challenge like diabetes into a motivator,” Veloflex CEO Roberto Colleoni said. “We support Team Novo Nordisk in their mission to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes as they compete against the best cyclists in the world.”
Veloflex’s meticulous production technique was discovered more than 70 years ago. The 35-step process begins with raw materials and a variety of components--yarn, latex, rubber, glue, and valves--to produce a competition level tire. Veloflex’s tubulars take three times longer to produce than a clincher.
To learn more about Veloflex, please visit https://www.veloflex.it/en/about-us
Team Novo Nordisk’s men’s professional team will race the 2019 season on:

• Arenberg tubulars: an all-purpose tubular that is ideal for cobblestone racing and most rough road surfaces. The tires were named after the famed Trouée of Arenberg, a famous cobblestone road that serves as one of the toughest and most spectacular stretches of road during the Monument Paris-Roubaix.

• Corsa 25 open tubulars: designed for training and racing. The light (220 gram) all-purpose tire offers greater sensations than a traditional clincher.

About Veloflex
Founded in 1981, Veloflex is small Italian company specialized in racing tubulars and bicycle tires for competition and training. All tubulars and "open tubular" tires are made by hand in a laboratory in Presezzo in the province of Bergamo, Italy and are produced individually through artisan processes.
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

Lately I have had a lot of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics and parents of newly diagnosed children contacting me.  I have met many of them at diabetes events and have also been contacted via email.  I often forget how hard it was in those first few years because I was younger and not to concerned about my disease.  As I have gotten older and have gotten control of my diabetes I can't imagine the difficulties of raising a child under 7 with diabetes.  It can clearly be done but it takes a tremendous amount of work and is very stressful.  When the parent of a newly diagnosed child approaches me I always try to keep the conversation upbeat, the last thing someone needs to hear is the negative side of diabetes.  

It bothers me that in this day and age that parents are given books about diabetes, the books are great but do not cover the fears and questions that many patients have.  For example I remember my parents being terrified when I was diagnosed because they didn't know how I could play baseball with diabetes.  Each parent or patient has different concerns and different questions, we have amazing websites, blogs, and forums that answer questions but I believe we should have more.  I would love to get a list of people in Rhode Island that live with diabetes and do so successfully.  The one requirement of being on this list would be the ability to answer an email within twenty-four hours.  Each person on this list would be listed under their specific diabetes trait.  For example, a 19 year old child that runs track in college, he could look at this list and under athletics see my information.  All that would be listed is my name, email address, a short bio explaining my expertise in the area and my diabetes history.

The one problem with this idea is HIPPA, everyone that would be on the list would have to sign a contract saying that they agree to make their diabetes information public.  After that the program would have to work with the hospitals to get this list handed out to every newly diagnosed patient.  I don't believe that this idea is impossible but like anything it would take a bit of work.  I ask anyone that is in the state of Rhode Island living with diabetes and is interested in joining the list to contact me.  The easiest way to contact me would be by going to this page.  I look forward to hearing from people and hope to make progress with this idea.

Sometimes you need that little kick in the ass.  It doesn't matter how fast your mile time was, how far you rode on the bike, what your blood sugar was, what you did right or wrong during the day.  No matter how good or how bad things are realizing and looking at everything and how you got to where you are now makes a difference.  

Living with diabetes we often focus on what is wrong, that takes a toll on you and everyone in your life.  As athletes with diabetes we double that focus on perfection.  We want the perfect blood sugars and the perfect times in whatever race we are prepping for.  It isn't easy to realize when we are hurting ourselves but when we do realize that we must take a moment to step back and see what we have accomplished in life.

Personally I use motivational speeches to get myself to that point.  For me listening to a speech allows me to let my brain go to where I was a year ago, five years ago or even when I was a child.  I then look at where I am today and I can smile because I have learned and bettered myself.  What I'm doing today is more impressive than what I was doing a week ago, a year ago and definitley more than five and ten years ago.  I'm a better athlete living with diabetes today, I'm happy about that but will be looking back in a year and realizing I haven't reached my true potential!!  I can always be better!!!

To often as diabetics we forget about the mental strain that diabetes puts us through on a daily basis.  It is tough to explain to those that don't have diabetes but I believe that mental stress is one of the toughest parts of the disease.  The mental strain comes from more than just a high or low blood sugar, it comes from a bad A1C reading or from forgetting to take insulin to cover a meal or snack.  It also comes from everyday life, often times decisions have to be made while working so that I can keep my blood sugar in range incase my lunch is later than normal.

That doesn't sound like much but something like that takes its toll day after day.  Talking with others that have diabetes I'm shocked that so many say they have gotten diabetes burnout and have not tested or taken care of themselves the way they should for a day, a week, a month or in my case years.  That is very hard to hear, I was in that state for far too long and to hear that others felt the same way is really tough.  The diabetes community is very strong and we do have people to turn to when we get down but we still don't want the disease everyday.  I can only speak for myself but taking a moment to look around and see the amazing people I have in my life gives me that kick in the butt to suck it up and keep fighting.  That does help a lot but I still have those mental battles inside of my head.  Lying awake in bed some nights, hoping that you wake up the next morning is tough but it comes with the disease.

The mental strain of diabetes will always be present.  Personally I believe that sharing your diabetes fears or stresses are the best remedy.  For someone that deals with so much internally it is odd to say that you should talk but talking about my fears is what has made me love my diabetes so much for the past six years.  Diabetes will always be challenging,  it won't always be easy but when we are able to come together and share our stories and our remedies to help each other that is what makes diabetes so unique and so great.  

For twenty eight years I have been living with diabetes. Twenty eight years of insulin injections, finger pricks, and carbohydrate counting. It has been twenty eight years of bliss, in fact my diabetes story is probably one that would be told to newly diagnosed patients to let them know about the difficulties that the disease presents to patients.

Over time I have learned to love my diabetes and the challenges that it presents each and everyday. My love for diabetes is at an all time high and now my Facebook is littered with articles about a bionic pancreas and a possible cure. I may be all by myself when I say this but "without diabetes who am I?"

If a cure does come along how do I go from living with diabetes for twenty eight years to not having to care for a condition that made me who I am today. I have a feeling that I would be the Brett Favre of diabetes, I love this condition and would be lost without it. I can't imagine my life without diabetes and that scares me a little. Yes I would love all of the good that came with a cure.  Kate and my parents could finally sleep when I'm away, they could relax when I'm out training . That's all well and good but what about me? What about my diet, the cycling and the endurance athlete I have become, does all of that go away as soon as a cure comes along? Without diabetes would I care about what food I eat, would I care about hydration and how my body responds to certain foods. Would I be excited about an hour lunch because it means I could get a run in?

For twenty eight years I have been hearing about a cure, until this year I never paid attention to the articles about a cure. The truth is we are getting closer, will a cure be found in five, ten or fifty years, I don't know. All I can do is take it one day at a time and live my life with diabetes to the best of my ability. I will enjoy each day, I will smile when I wake because I have another day to live, I will smile when I have a good blood sugar and I will enjoy my life. With or without diabetes this life is all I have, I might as well enjoy it!!

Although a dusting of snow is on the ground and temperatures are around ten degrees here in Connecticut, the 2019 cycling season is here.  This morning as I stayed in bed to keep warm I did my usual email and social media check, I quickly forgot all about the snow and cold as I saw an email from Team Novo Nordisk and a very interesting post on Facebook.  It's weird how an email from a cycling team that saved your life can change your entire outlook on the day.  Now don't think I'm some special inside member that gets emails from riders or inside information from the people that run the logistics of the team.  

The email was an invite to meet the 2019 team, learn about new advancements in technology and meet new sponsors.  The joy of this event is that anyone can do it, no expensive plane tickets or hotel fees.  All you need is an internet connection and Facebook.  Here is the official release from the team "Team Novo Nordisk, the world's first all-diabetes pro cycling team, will present its 2019 squad to fans and the press on Friday, January 25th at 3 pm CET/9am EST as part of its training camp in Altea, Spain. The event will be lead by Team Novo Nordisk's CEO and Co-Founder Phil Southerland who will introduce new riders, unveil advancements in data and technology, and highlight some new 2019 team sponsors."  That is amazing but what if I told you that wasn't the best part!!

Since the teams inception they have been changing diabetes and the world.  Team Novo Nordisk saved my life and so many others by showing whats possible when it comes to life with diabetes.  It is no secret that the fans of Team Novo Nordisk inspire the riders.  If you can go to any stage of a race that the team rides and it will change your life.  Yes this is a team that wants to ride in the Tour de France but when I say it's not about the bike it isn't a joke.  You can ask any rider that has ever been a member of Team Novo Nordisk what they remember the most about racing with the team and the answer is the same, the supporters.  Each rider has diabetes and knows what it is like to have a blood sugar that is out range.  How that blood sugar makes them feel, their family and their friends.  They know the worry that parents feel for their children when one is living with diabetes.  Before and after any stage they will take the time to educate, inspire and empower a fan that wants to talk about diabetes.  It's not about the bike, it's about changing diabetes. 

That is why this year Team Novo Nordisk will be dedicating each race to a fan of Team Novo Nordisk.  Think about that, we think they inspire us but it is us that inspire professional  cyclists that race against the best in the world and cyclists that will be racing in the Tour de France.  I can't put into words what that would mean to me, I'm 36 and have been living with diabetes for twenty-eight years and I'm going to inspire the guys that saved my life?  Imagine a nine year old child that was diagnosed a few months back and is so scared of diabetes and thinks that their life is over and that he or she can't do something because of diabetes.  A professional cycling team will forever change their life!!  In turn the life that was changed because of Team Novo Nordisk will change the life of others that are living with diabetes, it is a domino effect that is making the world a better place. 

I encourage each and every person that reads this to get on Facebook Friday morning and meet this amazing team that is changing the world and saving lives in the process.  Thank you Team Novo Nordisk and best of luck this season the diabetes community is behind you and can't thank you enough for changing diabetes and saving so many lives across the globe!! ​

Before I get in to the main points of my post this afternoon I would like to start by saying that I understand that the diabetes world has many issues.  From people living with diabetes that can not afford supplies, doctor visits, or have out of date medicine the list of diabetes issues is extensive.  What I am going to talk about in the paragraphs ahead in no way is diminishing the need to solve the many problems that the diabetes world has.

I start with my own story, I lived in denial of my diabetes for almost fifteen years, I didn't test my blood sugar, took insulin when I felt it was needed and never told anyone about my disease.  Today I share my story with as many people as I can, I have spoken at schools, businesses and at local hospitals.  I leave nothing out when i share my story, I talk about everything and how bad it really was.  I tell of how I feel I shouldn't be alive and how I have been told that numerous times by doctors and nurses.  Each time I share my story with groups I get at least one person that stays after to talk to me.  After trading pleasantries the people will open up and tell me that what I spoke about is what they are going through right now.  They want to know more, they want to know how I turned my diabetes around.  I hear about the testing three times a day for a week or so and then it is back to not testing and not caring.

My dream is to one day have diabetes rehabilitation centers across the United States.  We have facilities for drug, alcohol, and behavioral disorders, why not diabetes?  In doing research for this post I did find a number of diabetes outpatient programs.  Here is the link to the program that Joslin Diabetes Center has.  This program is great and I encourage people to look at what it does offer.  You learn about the newest advancements and how to mange diabetes, one example is how to respond to high blood sugar levels.  That is great but what if you're not testing and don't know what your blood sugar is.  What if you don't want to test, what if you don't want to have a healthy diet because you want to be like your friends and eat ice cream.  We know that is possible with diabetes but you need to know how to cover that ice cream with insulin.

By no means would the diabetes rehabilitation center that I'm dreaming of be a place for everyone, it will be like being having Bob Knight taking care of you.  I know that it would work but it would break people down and that isn't for everyone.  For example I wish I had someone in my face telling me that I was killing myself when I was 20, if someone had laid it all out and broke me down I would have responded.  I needed to hear that I would be an amputee if I continued my ways.  I would have cried for days if a person living with diabetes amputee had spoken to me.  That may sound like putting a guilt trip on someone but I strongly believe that you have to understand the patients psyche to understand how to get them to take care of themselves.

How is this different than hearing information from your endocrinologist, parents or significant other?  Like any rehabilitation the time spent at a facility is not predetermined.  It may take me 45 days and it might take others two weeks or a year.  Just like drug rehab each patient is different.  The key would be to understand the patient, why aren't they taking care of themselves, that would be found out at classes and meetings.  The rehabilitation centers would be families, and patients would live together in hopes of forming relationships and having someone to talk to once they leave the facility.

For far to long i have heard about people not taking care of their diabetes and not caring about their diabetes.  It is very tough to hear, many have all of the resources that they need but still refuse to care for themselves.  My dream is to one day start a diabetes rehabilitation center to start helping those that are suffering from diabetes denial.

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.
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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.