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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JFK 50 MILE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Halloween is one of the toughest days of the year for anyone living with diabetes, especially children with diabetes.  When I was little and would go trick or treating, my parents did the best they could to keep the amount of candy I ate down on Halloween night.  I would be allowed five pieces that I would have to cover with insulin and the rest of my candy would be eaten over the following weeks.  I would get a piece or two with lunch and dinner, nothing crazy but enough to feed my sweet tooth.  As I got older putting restrictions on the amount of candy I ate became a lot tougher.  I would trick or treat with my friends and could eat the candy as soon as it went in to my pillow case, I was a teenager and thought I knew it all, hours later I'd be feeling like crap because of a high blood sugar.

Being a little bit older and wiser (don't laugh) I have a few suggestions that I hope help parents and children living with diabetes.  For the child with diabetes, when you go trick or treating don't be afraid to have a couple pieces of candy, just make sure to cover it with insulin!!!  This webpage has every candy you can think of and has the carb count for all of them, familiarize yourself with it now so you can quickly count the carbs while trick or treating.  (I know I linked the same site three times, I have a method to my madness)  My next suggestion is one that I'd love to use if I was a kid, hold your candy hostage!!!  Use your candy as a way to get what you really want, candy is good but when your friends or siblings eat all of theirs say you will give them all of the candy you have for a video game or something that you really want.  Parents also love candy, give them the candy and in return you can stay up late to watch a movie or game.  That may sound a little weird but trust me when I say that it works.

For parents my only suggestion is to try and not make Halloween such a big ordeal.  The more restrictions you put on a child that has diabetes the more upset they will become.  That is coming from my own experience, it may not be true for each diabetic but I believe most will react the same way as I did when I was a child.  Treat your son or daughter normal, if they want a few pieces let them have them, it will not kill them.  If you make a rule about how much candy they can have make sure that rule goes for everyone.  My suggestion for children that are anywhere from 10-14 is that if they hate Halloween and don't want to go trick or treating take them to dinner or a movie, don't allow them to sit at home and be upset.  For the high school age children make sure to trust them, they're at that age that is very tough.  They hate being yelled at and hate rules, they believe they know it all.  If you trust them when they're out with friends they will remember all of the information you taught them when they were little.  All of my suggestions are from my own experiences, my suggestions may not work but in closing all I can say is to have fun and enjoy Halloween. Diabetics have bad blood sugars all the time don't get all upset because of a high number on a day that revolves around sugar!!

This weeks motivational video comes from a commencement speech given at Carnegie Mellon University.  The speech is given by Randy Pausch, I have read the "Last Lecture" book and have watched the last lecture video numerous times.  Both are very motivating and I have taken a lot away from both.  I encourage everyone to watch the last lecture video.  I just found the video below and was moved the first time that I watched it.  Remember that I share a motivational video every Monday to encourage readers to look at whatever challenges they have in a different way.  I believe that if we find things that motivate us we will realize our dreams no matter how difficult that dream may be.  

For whatever reason I'm very weird when it comes to my weight and allowing myself to indulge in good food.  This could be from being over 200lbs while in college and eating whatever I felt like.  I'm now very healthy and hanging out right around the 165lb mark.  To get to that point I made sure to change my diet and stick to this meal plan.  The one thing that keeps me sane is that I allow myself to eat "crap" one meal a month.  Crap=fast food.

Next week I have a meet up with a bunch of guys that are in the fantasy football league, this meetup usually means a lot of wings, and beer.  That is a lot of empty calories and if I don't do anything the day before I will limit myself on what I eat.  This may sound crazy but I can't stuff my face without earning it.  I'm not sure if this was because I was overweight at one point or because of my diabetes.  I honestly think it is the "athlete" in me, I know far to much about the body and know what a day of wings and beer will do.  I want to burn 2,000 calories the day before so I can enjoy myself while being bad.

The perfect way to do this is to find a half marathon.  I have found one for next Saturday and have set a time limit for myself, if I don't finish before that time then I will make sure that I don't eat or drink, I will only get half of my reward.  Sounds crazy but that is my mind and I want to earn my reward.

This is a great question, I will preface my answer by saying that this answer is what works for me.  Obviously continuing to exercise with a low blood sugar is very dangerous.  For the best answer and advice I would ask you primary care doctor or endocrinologist.

Personally when I'm training I always stop and take anywhere from ten to fifteen minutes to have a snack.  This snack will consist of juice and four fig newtons.  I get quick sugar with the juice and longer lasting carbs with the newtons.  I will also carry some kind of candy (Smarties or gummy bears) with me in case I see that my blood sugar is falling, again this is a quick sugar that buys me a little time as my carb heavy bar is starting to work.  I always make sure to eat every fifteen minutes while I'm running or on the bike.  

This all changes when I'm racing, I'm very competitive and will not stop unless I know my blood sugar will not go back up.  The stopping blood sugar level for me in a race is 60, if I get close to 60 I will stop.  When I get to 80 that scares me and I put anything I can get my hands on in to my body.  While running it is a little easier because they have a drink table every mile, grabbing four or five gatorades does the trick.  On the bike I make sure that I have enough food for the race.  I pre pack a pocket with just low fixing foods.  This pocket contains, Level, a candy bar, skittles, and a few pixy sticks.  I try to avoid this pocket at all costs by using bars, gels and Nuun while on the bike, drinking and eating every fifteen minutes helps avoid lows.  Each person is unique and it is very important to find what works for you.

I CAN!!!  It is a very simple phrase that many of us don't say nearly enough.  We all have dreams, the people that believe in themselves make their dreams a reality.  When it comes to diabetes we have dreams, we want our perfect blood sugar range to be smaller, we want that lower A1C, and we want to try and have fewer blood sugars that are below our set range.  I have had these goals for eight years and yes I become angry when I don't succeed, I then look at what my diabetes goals were eight years ago.  My goals eight years ago now look so easy, I keep challenging myself and believing I can do it.  Whatever it takes to become better you have to do, what I do doesn't work for everyone.  You have to make your own goals because you are the one that is in charge of your diabetes.  You know what works and what doesn't, having self discipline to achieve your diabetes goals.  You know what it takes, it might mean you have to eliminate that snack after dinner, you might have to cut out the doughnut or bagel you have once a week when you're taking your break at work.  Remember that it takes time but that reaching whatever diabetes goals you have is the best feeling in the world.  YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I never thought that one of my dads favorite sayings when I was a high school athlete would ever be a blog title.  This morning I could hear my father as sat on the floor of the gym with a low blood sugar that I could have easily avoided.  For those that think my dads were harsh, he knows me and knew what made me tick, I needed comments like this to realize I was doing horrible and needed to step back and calm down.

Waking up with a blood sugar of 243 at 4:46am was not how I envisioned my first day at the gym.  I stood and stared at the meter, do I take insulin or go to the gym and let the activity solve the problem.  Like an idiot I took 1.2 units of insulin had a little coffee a granola bar and off I went.  As I got to the gym I was bouncing off the wall and ready to kick some ass.  After ten minutes on the bike I felt off and decided to call it quits and go do some weight work for my shoulder.  My "coach" showed me some amazing stretches and strength drills. I began the activities and immediately started to sweat.  Not from the work I was doing but from my blood sugar plummeting, like a fool I kept going.  I figured it was the coffee because my pump read 102 but had two down arrows.  I continued to sweat and sat down.  Over comes the coach and asks whats up, a simple "blood sugar" was my answer.  He knew what that meant and offered me a muffin.  I declined and sat there before going to get something to fix the low.  I would eventually bounce back but by then it was time to get to work.

I need to get my shit together.  I hold myself to a very high standard and I can't explain how angry this morning makes me.  I know better, this low should have never happened.  The good news is that tomorrow is a new day!!  Learn from mistakes and remember that it is all good mental training!! 

The great blood sugar days and the roller coaster blood sugar days always bring me back to the cycling team that saved my life.  It wasn't that long ago that a day of out range blood sugars would bring with it depression, I wouldn't feel good about myself because of my blood sugars.  It took me a long time to recognize that out of range days happen, I'm putting in the work and doing all that I can to stay in range, but bad days happen.  Team Novo Nordisk has taught me that bad days happen on and off the bike.  

TNN has taught me that you need to fight, no matter what the challenge you give it your all.  If it is a 5,000ft climb you know it won't kill you but it will hurt and test you mentally.  Diabetes is much like cycling, you know the challenge and you don't just attack and know that it will be okay, you need a plan and you need to monitor and manage every little thing and then the greatness comes.  It is much like building a brick wall, you don't just start throwing bricks down and hope for the best.  You have to lay every brick absolutely perfectly, if you take the time and treat every brick like it is the most important brick in the wall you will soon have the best wall possible.  That is diabetes and that is what I have learned from Team Novo Nordisk, each and every member of this amazing tea, has taught me to work and fight like hell to not only be the best cyclist I can but to be the best person with diabetes I can be!! 

I'm a very quiet and reserved person that often waits to long to ask for help.  I have amazing friends and family that are always willing to do whatever they can to help with whatever I might need.  Over the past couple of weeks I have been planning out my 2019 running season.  Now a lot of things are up in the air but I have two goals, another 50k and a 50 mile race.

When I ran my first 50k I was alone, I had an aunt and uncle come to the race with about ten miles left and they did an amazing job of making sure I finished and was in range blood sugar wise.  For 31 miles however I was alone, I had no one to talk too or anyone to tell me to suck it up and push harder.  That will never happen again!!  With five rest stops on the 50k course I have the idea to have a friend at each one.  They will not pace me, they will however make sure my blood sugar is okay.  They will also be comic relief or talk shit to me and belittle me to make me run better.

I'm quiet and reserved but for the very small group of people that I let in to my world I'm a kid that needs that Bobby Knight like speech sometimes.  I also need the occasional stupid joke to help me relax.  This is just for a 50k never mind my everyday life!!

The funny thing is that when I started to ask friends and family if they'd help the answer was a quick yes.  I just wish I had asked for help sooner.