Before each and every race that I compete in my nerves get going and that in turn sends my blood sugar a little higher.  When it comes to racing I don't mind the adrenaline blood sugar spike because I know I'm about to be on the bike or be running for as much as six hours.  In that hour or six hours of a race I know that my blood sugar will come back in to its normal range because of the cardio that I'm doing.  For me the most important part of any race is the first half hour, in that time my blood sugar will be falling as my heart rate rises.  It is very important that I have my Gatorade and some kind of food to stop my blood sugar from falling below my set range.  After that first half hour everything seems to balance out and as long as I eat and drink every fifteen to thirty minutes my blood sugar should stay in range.

Much to the dismay of some I coach basketball in the winter and the adrenaline blood sugar spike appears during games.  I get excited during games and pace the sideline like a hamster stuck in a cage.  I have to be moving, you would think that all of that pacing would help lower my blood sugar but I have no such luck.  The tough part is trying to cover the spike with insulin, I will take a unit or two thirty minutes before the game and my blood sugar will still climb above 225.  

Post game my blood sugar will come crashing down and then comes the famous snack to fix a low.  That battle is never easy but one that I have gotten much better at since I started coaching ten years ago.  Adrenaline is a crazy thing and is just another challenge when it comes to blood sugar management.  As always I will continue to work on a fix so that my blood sugars stay in range, if anyone has any tips or suggestions I'm all ears.

Yesterday my Facebook memory was from five years ago and featured my Diabetes Pyramid.  This Pyramid was created at a time where I needed a little extra challenge when it came to my diabetes.  I was basically starting over as a person living with diabetes, after years of mismanaging my disease I finally changed every aspect of my life and my blood sugar management become the top priority.  The pyramid is below...

I never finished that pyramid, the top has yet to be realized.  The "Pump doesn't beep for 48hrs" block was completed but I caught a lot of backlash from people because I was keeping my blood sugars in a very narrow range.  That's who I am though, if I'm not being challenged than I don't feel I'm working as hard as I can.  With my twenty five year diabetes diagnosis quickly approaching I decided that an updated pyramid is needed.  You will see that I have included a lot of training squares in the pyramid.  Training and diabetes go together, if I'm not training my blood sugars are out of range a lot, so it only makes sense to put them together on the pyramid.

These goals are my own, I do not encourage anyone to use my pyramid!!  I would much rather have people make their own pyramids to challenge themselves.  I guarantee that the pyramid will help you but only if you put the pyramid somewhere that you will see it each and every day.  

As an athlete with diabetes I want the best and latest technology to manage my diabetes.  To help me manage my diabetes and to keep track of blood sugars I often turn to the app store or to twitter to find the latest and greatest apps.  As of late I have been seeing a lot of tweets about Dario on twitter.  As I looked over the information on twitter and on their webpage I was instantly sold.

The major selling point is that it would turn my smartphone in to a blood sugar meter.  As an endurance athlete this is huge!!  The less I have to carry with me while racing the better, the same goes while I'm at work.  If I'm in the middle of a race or out on the golf course just reaching in my pocket to test my blood sugar is a lot better than having to fumble with a case that holds my meter.  The second major selling point is that the Dario app keeps track of everything that I do, from how many carbohydrates I eat to how long I ran or how long I was on the bike.  Knowing how many calories I burned goes a long way into deciding what I eat post workout or race.  Having a graph that shows how my blood sugar reacts post race would be a tremendous help.  Another quality feature that Dario has is that all of the information from meal bolus to carbohydrates for dinner on June 3rd would be stored in the cloud for me to access whenever I need to do so.  I can also make this information accessible for my wife and my doctor which is amazing.

The one problem that I have with Dario is that I can't download the app in the United States.  I have tried to cheat the system and change the app store from U.S. to the Australia app store but that failed.  This afternoon I headed over to the Dario website to fill out a form to be alerted when Dario will be available here in the states, I can't wait for that day.  Not only does Dario have a great meter that works with your phone they also have cloud based information but it gets even better!!!  They have a blog and todays post is about How Exercising Can Effect Blood Sugar Levels.  From the person looking to start exercising with diabetes to the seasoned vet that races with diabetes this is a must read blog post!!  

My views and opinions are my own and I have not received any form of payment from Dario for a positive blog about their product.

Another intense winter storm has crippled the small quaint town that Leanne and I live in.  For many the storm is beautiful, the powdery white snow sitting peacefully on trees, it's almost like a painting.  Then comes the reality, we have over a foot of snow outside and it has to be removed from cars, driveways, and roads.  No one likes that part or do they?

Personally I love to shovel snow, I like the "workout" that it gives me and it makes me act like a kid as I try to pile the snow so that it covers the mailbox.  With all of that fun and snow removal comes low blood sugars and dehydration.  I remember a storm much like the one today that caused numerous low blood sugars and a dehydration headache that left me motionless in bed for a few hours.  That all happened because I was an idiot and didn't properly plan on what the shoveling would do to me.  

This evening I have turned to a 102oz jug of water that should be half gone before heading to bed.  That will take care of the hydration but what about my blood sugar while shoveling.  I plan on starting around 7am and will treat it much like a race.  I will have my normal breakfast but will take much less insulin to cover the meal.  I will also be sure to have plenty of juice and snacks close to me while shoveling.  

It will be like a race if I don't plan out how to manage my blood sugar while shoveling I will pay the price.  A day of good blood sugars, hanging out in the snow with "Minnie" and "Sharky", and a certain football team winning will make tomorrow one of the best days ever.  Even if the last one doesn't happen tomorrow will be great!!

When I see the bright white uniforms of Team Novo Nordisk made even brighter by the midday sun I’m instantly inspired. Team Novo Nordisk is unlike any professional sports team in the world. Each and every member is living with diabetes, a condition that affects over twenty-nine million people worldwide. As someone living with this condition, I know well the difficulties of managing my blood sugar on a daily basis, and to see professional athletes riding a bike with diabetes and doing so at the highest levels gives me goose-bumps! Each and every member of Team Novo Nordisk is a hero to children that are living with diabetes, who see what is possible and know that they can do anything with this condition.

​In 2021 (or even sooner),Team Novo Nordisk will be racing with the world’s best at the Tour de France, the most grueling cycling event in the world. That dream is just one of many that Team Novo Nordisk CEO and co-founder Phil Southerland has every day. Phil was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of seven months and has spent his life working as hard as he can to change the perception of diabetes around the world. He was told by doctors that he wouldn't be alive to see his thirtieth birthday; he was told by friends and competitors that he couldn't race at the collegiate level; and he was told time and time again that a cycling team made up soley of people living with diabetes wouldn't have a chance against the best in the world. Each and every time he heard “you can't,” he worked that much harder to prove the world wrong.

In 2005, believing it would be the best way to raise diabetes awareness, Phil took his passion for cycling and started a team made up exclusively of riders with diabetes. He didn’t just pay lip service to an idea, he worked hard to make his dream a reality. And it is this hard work that is what makes Phil Southerland such an inspiration for so many people living with diabetes. Phil will outwork anyone and get to the top of the podium by gritting his teeth and doing all that he can to win. Team Novo Nordisk is full of athletes that will work as hard as they can to win races and to also change the lives of people living with diabetes all over the world.

The Team Novo Nordisk mission is to inspire, educate, and empower people affected by diabetes. With every race they compete in, they are doing just that: meeting their fans and giving words of inspiration to each and every one of them, especially those that are living with diabetes. Team Novo Nordisk has also changed the lives of the athletes that are its members. Ben Dilley, a member of the pro team, says:

“Being a member of Team Novo Nordisk has given me a sense of purpose. When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, my life goal of joining the Air Force became unattainable. There was a period when I felt very lost and I told no one, not even my best friend. It wasn’t until I heard about the team that my perspective completely changed. I realized that having diabetes wasn’t something to be ashamed of and most importantly it didn’t have to stop me from pursuing my goals. I worked with my healthcare team to develop a diabetes management plan that included training on the bike and got to work. Now, Team Novo Nordisk has given me the opportunity to realize my dream of being a professional cyclist and also the platform to share with others the same message that impacted my life in such a major way.”

From the pro team to the junior team, each and every member is honored to be part of such a great cycling team. Hamish Beadle, a member of the junior team, says:

​“When I discovered the team at 10 years old, I was very excited and I aspired to become part of the professional team. It gave me hope that having diabetes did not have to mean the end to my dream of a professional cycling career. I worked with my doctor to build a diabetes management plan that included exercise and nutrition, to enable me to train on my bike. As a part of Team Novo Nordisk, I have been fortunate to travel to places like America and Spain not only to train and race, but to hopefully inspire people affected by diabetes.”

Phil Southerland is a genuinely good-hearted man that cares about everyone he meets. Two years ago this February, I received an email from Phil’s executive assistant that read: “Phil Southerland saw your blog and was super impressed and asked me to forward it to the entire Team....” From that day on I have continued to commit myself to doing all that I can to raise awareness about diabetes, while also sharing information about Team Novo Nordisk. Phil also sent me a signed copy of his book, Not Dead Yet: My Race Against Disease: From Diagnosis to Dominance. When I have a tough day I often find myself opening the cover to read the note he wrote me, or even a few passages from the book to remind me that life is never easy, but if you work for what you believe in, anything is possible.

After talking to many Team Novo Nordisk members, I can tell that Phil Southerland is one of the most motivating men in sports today. When asked the question “What is one quality in Phil Southerland you most admire?”, the answers from team members show that not only do they respect Phil Southerland, but they look up to him like a father. With a smile on his face, Brais Dacal, a member of the development team, said:

“His capacity to make us believe. He overcame the adversity of being told he may not be able to have a normal life, which is incredibly inspiring, but he also makes me trust that I can overcome my challenges in life, too. I admire his power to positively impact the lives of others, to encourage them to turn their challenges into successes.”

Hamish Beadle answered with:

“The quality that I admire most is his ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Phil is a role model for people affected by diabetes worldwide. Team Novo Nordisk’s distinctive white kit is a symbol that life with diabetes doesn’t have to have barriers. On a personal level, I have found Phil to be down to earth, easy to talk to and someone I look up to.”

I personally believe that Team Novo Nordisk and Phil Southerland are the face of diabetes. “Phil, along with the other athletes on Team Novo Nordisk, have helped me to realize I can do great things in life. I've often had the perception that diabetes might hold me back, but now I have big expectations for my life. I have a positive attitude and I want to pursue my dreams wholeheartedly.” That quote by Brais Dacal says it all for me. Team Novo Nordisk is followed by millions of people because they teach everyone that anything is possible; that you can live your dream. It won't always be easy, but if you work to obtain your goal, nothing can stop you.

I would like to personally thank Phil Southerland for saving my life. When I was in a very bad place and was losing my fight against diabetes, seeing a YouTube video on Team Type 1 changed my outlook on my disease and more importantly, my life. Now, I love my life and I love diabetes because of Team Novo Nordisk and Phil Southerland. Each and every time I put on my Team Novo Nordisk apparel, I get chills! Looking at the Novo Nordisk logo gives me a sense that I'm not alone in my fight against diabetes.

I'm also very happy to say that I'm not the only person that has a second chance at life because of Team Novo Nordisk. I have received numerous emails from followers of my blog that read much like my story. They felt like they were alone in their fight against diabetes until they found Team Novo Nordisk.

To Phil Southerland and the members of Team Novo Nordisk, THANK YOU! You have millions of fans that believe in you and that are behind you one hundred percent. And I want to help in any way that I can to get you on the Champs-Elysees because you have helped so many to realize their dream of living a healthy and full life with diabetes!

2015 was a spectacular season for Team Novo Nordisk.  inCycle has put together a great video which recaps the season for the all diabetic cycling team.

It is the eighteenth day of January and the 2016 cycling season is right around the corner.  Team Novo Nordisk already has team members very excited for the upcoming season, fans of the all diabetic cycling team got great news when the team announced that they received a wildcard entry in to the 2016 Milan-San Remo.  Team Novo Nordisk also received a wild card entry for the 2015 Milan-San Remo.  Look for Team Novo Nordisk rider Javier Megias and his teammates to finish higher than they did in the 2015 race.  With the experience of last years race the team is poised to surprise a few people at the 2016 race which will take place on  

Team Novo Nordisk has spent the last week in Spain for a training camp which will prepare the team for the upcoming 2016 season.  Below is an inside look at camp and what it is like to room with a team member for a week.  It is good to see the team having some fun and really building that family like relationship while training for the upcoming season.

As I slowly introduce myself to the trail and ultra running scene I have learned one thing very quickly.  Trail races and ultras are not your every weekend 5k.  Many of the races have quite the history and it is more about the history than it is about who wins the race.

In November I was contacted by Brandon Baker and asked if I would be interested in running one of the Winter Wild races that they hold.  I was given the website and did a little bit of research, the race would be new to me and sounded fun so I jumped at the chance.  Brandon Baker is a type 1 diabetic that has run 15 ultras everything from a 50k up to a 100k.  When asked by Brandon to race I had to say yes because the biggest key to ultra running is talking to people that have run ultras.  You learn from your competition and build a friendship, you don't hate them and try to beat them like a normal race.  Each person in an ultra is a family member, if one person goes down or needs help you better help them.  

I will be running the Winter Wild race at Okemo Mountain on February 20th and can't wait to meet the winter wild family.  I also can't wait to sit down with Brandon to hear about his experiences in ultra running as a type 1 diabetic.  I encourage anyone in the New England region to checkout ​http://www.winterwild.com/ it is a different kind of racing but one that looks to be a lot of fun.  Below is some information from Brandon explaining the history of the race and what it entails.

Winter Wild is a brainchild of the late Chad Denning. Chad worked and played in Aspen, CO after college before eventually taking his recreation programs, personal adventure racing and young family to Vermont and New Hampshire in the early 2000’s. He was a fantastic, high-energy man that embodied the spirit of recreation and adventure and we miss him dearly in the greater upper valley community of New Hampshire and Vermont. I could go on talking all day about my friend, mentor and adventure buddy, but this post is about just one of the many things Chad created in pursuits of adventure and active living. Although a 2011 segment on NH Chronicle television show best sums it up, I will try my best to capture this unique event and why I have decided to carry on in Chad’s footsteps. Winter Wild is “Up-hilling… with a twist”…basically you use whatever gear and your own loco-motion to get up the mountain…and back down to the main lodge. The categories include open (running shoes, spikes, snowshoes), Track ski’s (XC), Tele Ski’s and Heavy Metal (snowboards, back country ski’s, etc.). Races have varied in length from just over a mile to a monstrous five mile route at Sunday River a few years back. Chad was very adamant that these were more “events” than “races”, with a focus on camaraderie, adventure and awesome raffle prizes. “Participation over prowess”, if you will. We have hosted races in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts and would love to expand further, should the opportunity arise. We have had Elite runners and Ski Mountaineers, top level high school athletes, weekend warriors and OCR (Obstacle course racing) athletes looking for something fun to do in the winter. Through this event and all of his other adventures Chad encouraged us to partake in, we hope to carry on his legacy. To sum it all up, last years series t-shirts featured the hashtag Explore4Chad. Just as he explores the mountains and backcountry of heaven, we intend to do the same down here.

I'm a cyclist, runner, diabetic, husband, and a father.  I listed those from easiest to hardest, often times the first three team up with being a husband.  Leanne knows me as a cyclist, runner and a diabetic.  She knows that I'm very type A when it comes to cycling, running and my diabetes.  I'm not easy to be around when one of those three is not going well, often times it is my diabetes that causes the trouble.  From short tempered answers to flipping out over meaningless things when my blood sugar is out of range, she has dealt with it all and has done so in a very impressive manner. 

Notice that I left out father in most of that paragraph.  I have a father that means the world to me, he has done his best to raise me and to this day is still teaching me about life.  He made it look far to easy, he was always there and always available when I had questions.  (My mother is as well, I'm a very lucky person)  With all of that I have no clue how to be a father.  I know how to act like a child and how to explain right from wrong but there is so much more to being a father.  Having diabetes and being a father has been easy so far, Minnie and Sharky are young and have yet to ask questions.  Those questions will come however.

Tonight after coming home from basketball practice I had picked up dinner, as Leanne got the kids seated I put the food on the table and was ready to sit down and have a nice family dinner.  As I sat down to my plate of pasta with a blood sugar of 75 and my mealtime bolus already active I got up to grab a glass of juice to avoid a low.  I knew I needed a quick fix so that I would be myself for dinner and our pre bed routine.  As I poured my apple juice I spotted a kids Cliff Bar on the counter, I thought "perfect that will work!!"  I quickly ate the bar and snuck back to the table for dinner.

As we finished our dinner, Minnie politely asked to have her bar that she had left on the counter.  I quickly expressed "Um I ate the bar, we have more right?"  Thats when the bar fight began.  Minnie was upset but in a very mature manner expressing "Daddy that was my bar, why did you eat it?"  I calmly explained that daddy didn't feel well and needed food to feel better.  "But that was my bar!!"  she yelled I once again tried my best to explain why I needed it.  After a few comments back and forth she walked over to grab another bar probably not fully understanding why I had eaten her bar.

I'm quickly running out of time, the questions will come and keep coming.  Minnie wants to know about Daddy and why he always has to take medicine.  I wish she would ask why daddy runs and cycles for hours each day, that I can explain but again comes back to diabetes.  Each and everyday we are learning, if you're not learning you aren't living.  Each day I'm learning how to introduce diabetes to my children and although it is tough I love doing so.  No matter what race I do on the bike or what race I run being a father will be my biggest and best accomplishment.

After last weeks subpar performance I was excited to have a race scheduled for today.  Right now my thought is to race a little more than I have in the past to try and speed up getting back to my pre sickness health.  What I learned today is that the time off was probably the best thing for me, I was able to rest up for the huge workload that I will face this winter and spring before the 50k in April.  

This mornings run would begin at 8am which made my diabetes management a little tougher than a race that would begin at 9am or 10am.  An 8am start means that I wouldn't be able to take my normal insulin dosage to cover my breakfast, obviously I would need some insulin so that my blood sugar would be in range when the race began.  To cover my scrambled eggs and two waffles I took.5 units at 630am, that would help just enough so that my blood sugar didn't get to high before warming up.  With a blood sugar of 242 just five minutes before the race I was a little nervous but feeling good because my blood sugar was high but acceptable.  It would crash quickly as the race began and I got my heart rate up to 150 for over thirty minutes.

As the gun sounded I felt good, I had no watch or no idea what my time would be while running.  I just wanted to run and enjoy myself.  The course was a rolling hills course but nothing crazy as the maximum height above sea level was 200ft.  The first three miles went very well as I could see the leaders as I descended a small hill, in any race that is always my goal, I just want to see the leaders, if I can do that I know I'm doing well.  After just climbing another good size hill before the four mile marker I was feeling strong and made a strong push during the last mile.  As the finish got closer I just wanted to finish before the 45 minute mark, it was a hilly course and although I felt good I didn't think I was running at a good clip.  As I made the final turn I could see that the clock read 39:20, my first thought was that they didn't start the clock when the gun went off.  I would sprint to the finish in a time of 39:32 and would have a huge smile doing so.

​After congratulating the thirteen year old that out kicked me in the final half hour I headed back to the car to test my blood sugar and have my post race snack.  With a blood sugar of 211 I was happy, I had done well and did well covering my breakfast so that I'd be ok while racing.  Was it perfect, no but I came away with some confidence and will be prepared the next time I have a race that starts at 8am.  

I think it is safe to say that I'm officially back.  Todays race was the best race that I have run in six months, I felt great and had no stomach problems.  Tomorrow it is back to training and getting ready for the next race on the calendar, I'm not sure what race is next but I'm expecting another strong finish!!

On Monday I officially began training for my first Ultra marathon, starting with 35 miles a week and maxing out around 60 in eight weeks.  I never kept track of miles before I would just run, I'd have a few long runs (ten miles or more) a week but I was going off of how I felt.  With a training plan I still have some freedom but having back to back long runs on the weekend is a must.

That means two things, I need to have perfect control of my diabetes and I need to find the time for thirteen mile runs on Saturday and Sunday.  Sometimes those runs won't start until 6pm other days they'll be run at 5am, it all depends on my schedule and when I will be able to run.  That is why the diabetes management is so important, somedays I may think I don't have the time to run but something will change and I will have a couple hours to run.  If my blood sugar is consistently low or high being able to run at random times will not be possible.

To make it a little easier to manage my blood sugars I have stocked up on sensors for my CGM and have hopefully figured out the problem with my cgm.  I have also tweaked my diet just a little bit for better blood sugar management.  Tonight will be the first odd time run, once the kids are in bed I will be heading out the door with my headlamp on and getting a nice five mile run.  That means I have to juggle my dinner bolus, I have to take just enough insulin so that I'm not out of range before my run.  If my blood sugar is too low or high it will be putting my run in jeopardy.  The good news is that I have plenty of experience on the bike when it comes to managing blood sugar and bolus rates.  As always I'm excited for the challenge and can't wait to be out on the roads this evening.

Ten years ago, I started coaching high school basketball because I missed the sport, I missed the family like bond that teams share and I also wanted to help the student athletes and teach them life lessons.  I'm certainly not the best basketball coach, I have my faults but late last night I learned that I might be a good life coach because of my diabetes.  As a coach and as a person I believe it is important to share with athletes, friends, and children the times you have failed.  I have failed a lot in life and failed a lot as a diabetic when I was in my twenties.  I'm human and I make mistakes I believe it is important for people to know that.

After a great night of basketball I headed back to the bus with the team and got my meter out to test my blood sugar.  Some of the upper class men and the team manager began to throw out numbers.  I heard it all "That was a close game coach was nervous he will be around 240" "No way, he kept grabbing skittles down the stretch he will be 100"  As I sat down on the bus I had a few kids around anxiously waiting to see my blood sugar, when 220 popped up they didn't cheer because they guessed it correctly or because they were the closest they looked at me and said "That's a little high right?"  After I said yes with a bit of a angry look on my face they asked "Now what?"  I would go on to explain that it was a little high because of the adrenaline and because I was nervous and went to my low blood sugar skittle reserve but that I needed some insulin to cover the sandwich I would eat on the ride home.  With that they headed off to the back of the bus to celebrate the hard fought victory they had earned minutes earlier.

As a coach and as a person I always want to be in a persons memory.  I want to help them live in some way and diabetes may be the best way for me to do that.  The students that I coach won't remember certain plays or things that happened but they may remember how I lived with my diabetes.  Chances are that almost all of the students I have coached will know someone that is living with diabetes.  It may be a spouse, family member or boss but they will know something about diabetes and that will help them.

Ten years ago when I started coaching I didn't have control of my diabetes, today I have twenty student athletes that question everything I eat, drink or do because of my diabetes and I love that.  These are amazing students that care and that means a lot to me and my wife.  She knows that I'm in good hands when we go on the road for the night for a game.    

The past two weeks have been great, no work and a lot of time with the family.  I also ate a few more Christmas cookies than I should have and my blood sugars paid the price.  In the blink of an eye I jumped right back in to my normal routine at 2:55AM as my alarm went off.  I was well rested and happy to get back to my normal routine of working 4am-12pm, working out 12-2pm, coaching basketball from 2-430 and then family time 4:30 until bed around 9pm.  It sounds a little crazy and a little boring but I love it.

I was returning to my normal routine with the MyNetDiary app on my phone to help me keep track of the foods I ate and my blood sugars.  Without a CGM, having a little bit of help from an app is a huge help until I can figure out what is up with my CGM.  Keeping track of everything our body does is not for everyone but for myself I need it to be the best I can be.  Knowing everything that I have eaten helps when it comes to training but will also help if I have anymore stomach issues in the future.

Today went very well and I'm happy to be back to my normal routine, I feel strong and felt good while getting in a training run this afternoon.  My schedule may take a toll on me as time goes on but for now I'm happy to be feeling so well.

I'm officially back, this morning I ran my first race since a 5k on Thanksgiving day.  Obviously my body was not in racing shape but all things considered I felt good.  Before leaving the house my blood sugar was at 204, a small snack while driving to the race would make me take one unit of insulin.  I knew that I would un hook my pump when the one unit went in and knew that the insulin I took would be gone before the start of the race.  Forty-five minutes before the race the adrenaline had kicked in and my blood sugar was at 259, not great but I knew the spike was from the adrenaline.  I would head out for a three mile warmup run to get stretched out and to make sure I could handle the race physically.

The warmup went very well and my body was feeling strong despite the strong winds and cold temperature.  Seeing that it was my first race back and knowing I wasn't in race shape I just wanted to run my race and not worry about my time.  As I toed the line and looked out at the ocean I had a big smile on my face, I was happy to be back to running, I was also very happy with life, I've had a great two weeks.  With the first half mile right in to a nasty head wind I was quickly being hit with sand that was blown in to my face.  I would get into my running rhythm and was feeling very strong.  My breathing was not where it should be but again that will come with time.

The race started around 10:05 and I would text Leanne at 10:33 after finishing and walking back to the car.  I think that puts my time right around 25 minutes.  Told you I wasn't worried about my time but I love to race and couldn't help but try to figure my time out.  My blood sugar was at a very respectable 152 when I got back to the car, as slow as my time was I was very happy with my blood sugar management.  No matter the race or my time my blood sugar and diabetes management is the most important thing.  With a five mile race planned for next Saturday I'm looking forward to a week of training and getting back into my regular training routine.

Tomorrow I will be racing my first race of 2016, I will be doing so without a CGM.  Not having a CGM will not change how I run but it will make preparation for the race more interesting.  I have a history of being the first racer to arrive, I'm OCD so that explains a lot of the reason why but the main reason is my blood sugar.  I want my blood sugar to be perfect for each and every race that I run, that is very difficult but I love a challenge.  Without a CGM I will probably test my blood sugar five times from when I arrive to the end of the race.  With a CGM I will test maybe three, I can focus more on my running with my CGM because my blood sugar is always there.

If I feel low while doing my warmup three miles I don't know what my blood sugar is.  I may have been at 140 before I left but at mile two I have no idea where my blood sugar is.  It should be around 120 at that time but without a CGM I don't know.  Maybe my blood sugar spiked or maybe I had insulin that was still active and my blood sugar is at 70.  I have run hundreds of races but each one is different, yes a majority of the time things are fine but do you shut off your smoke detector because it has never gone off while you're asleep??  Probably not, the CGM is my smoke detector and I need it!!!

The problem is that none of my Dexcom sensors are working.  I have tried using the 5 and have had no luck, I tried going back to the 4 and using the receiver but again no luck.  Everything will be fine for about twenty minutes but then both my phone for the 5 and receiver for the four will display transmitter not found.

I understand that things happen and products don't work like they should but for two weeks I have been contacting Dexcom to find a fix and have had no luck.  We are now in a new year and that means insurance isn't the best, new year new deductible.  Putting in for a new CGM or going back to the Medtronic CGM would be chore when it comes to dealing with insurance.  My racing season picks up in late February which means I have about a month to get this problem resolved. Stay tuned...