A Letter to the People on the Sidewalk

No, I'm not pointing at my cleavage

Last night after work I headed out for a run.  When it comes to diabetes and running, I'm a minimalist.  I bring glucose and that's it.  Those arrows in the picture, that is my glucose.  (And that is me immediately post run.)  And here is my letter to the people I saw out there last night. 

Hello other runners, walkers, cyclists and citizens, 

   First of all, take the time to look up from your cell phone when the sidewalk is narrow.  I'd hate to swat that out of your hand by accident.  Secondly, I realize that my shirt is probably riding up and you can see my belly and no, I'm not doing this on purpose, but it's flipping hot outside so I'm not wearing sleeves.  Also, I don't look like the other runners out here, but I'm out here, so give me a break.  Most importantly.  STOP STARING AT MY BOOBS!  They look teeny in a sports bra, so I know you're not actually staring at them.  You're staring at the white thing bouncing up and down in there.  Guess what!  It goes with the pink thing bouncing up and down on my hip.  And yes, it's making that skin even more red because I had to open it beforehand so the wrapper is jagged and irritating.  But it's better than getting stuck out there low.  What's low you ask?  Low is when I exercise and my blood sugar goes low and I could pass out.  So yea, the irritating wrapper, I'll deal with that.  But keep your eyes to yourself (except for you, toddler, you were adorable, and you were just being held at that height, it's not your fault)!  I would like to not take it with me, but that would be foolish and irresponsible.  I went through those days and I'm not going back.  I don't stare at your arms where your ipod is, or your head where your helmet is, so leave my freaking boobs alone!

Thanks, 

Your T1 Neighborhood Runner

DSMA February Blog Carnival, Part Two

The most awesome thing I've done in spite of diabetes is ...
In January 2009, I was on the phone with Rebel when she told me that she was going to try to qualify for the Global Heroes race.  "You should do it too."  And I agreed.  The deadline for the application was April 1.  I didn't have much time to start training (it started the next day).  I looked up a training log online and started my work (I would link it for you, but I don't remember which one it was.)  I liked this training log because it wasn't about how fast you were going, just that you were doing it.  It was a 7 day per week program, but included a day of rest, and a day of stretching.  It also included days of other exercise, based on how long you did it.  To complete these days, I would head down to cross-country ski or to the hotel between where I was living and school and do laps at the pool.  I was dedicated.  And even though I'm not a runner, I did it.  The log scheduled ten weeks, and I had 9.5 between the day I decided to do it and my race, which was 10.5 miles.  On one of those weeks, I got sick.  It wasn't the flu, but it knocked me out, that's for sure.  I can remember driving to school early, running a 5 mile loop, and then sitting in class for an hour (extra fidgety since I hadn't showered yet - I had changed though).  Still though, there was a lot of anxiety.  But c'mon, who doesn't want the chance to win a $1000 to give to a diabetes group in your name?  I was determined to do this.  I went to my parents house a few weeks before the race and ran an 8 mile loop.  My mother drove by at one point, and I only walked when I was sucking down a juice box (or tabs or something, I don't remember the specifics).  But I finally felt empowered that I could run this race.  My father was nervous and didn't think I could do it; not because I couldn't, but because we don't train the same way.  And if he was the one that was training, he couldn't have done it the way I did.  I didn't care how long it took, all I needed to do was finish, and then tell the Global Heroes how medical technology helped me, and why I'm an awesome person.  (Not in so many words, but basically).  My dad, his friend & I drove down to Connecticut and I ran.  And ran and ran and ran.  And if you're thinking that 8th mile must've been hard.  You're wrong.  The third mile was the hardest.  And this race had so many hills it wasn't even funny.  I knew that this was something that I wouldn't be doing very often in my life, so I gave my father my camera to document and prove that I did it.

Finish Line

So that backpack.  The camelbak portion was filled with half gatorade and half water.  I was on a 30% basal (if not lower) for 3-4 hours.  I also had my meter, a bottle of tabs, juice boxes, peanut butter crackers, and maybe plain water?  All I know is that beyond anything I didn't want to stop and open it.  There were two women in front of me, and they nicknamed me pinky.  And they told my father: "Pinky never stops running, how does she do it?"  And I didn't need to stop and open my backpack.  The best thing about this day is that I don't remember what my diabetes did that day.

I didn't do this in spite of diabetes.  I did this because of diabetes and for diabetes.  In the process I lost 30 pounds (they're all back), I gained confidence & I realized that even though it seemed crazy, I did it! I didn't win the chance to run in Twin Cities, and I believe it's because I don't have a great ability to write about how awesome I am.  I've never been one to think "I deserve ____ because ____."   But I did this for the chance to help others, and I'm hoping to run a race like this again.

This post is my February entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival.  If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2011/introducing-the-dsma-blog-carnival/

Running Low

I am the type to get bored with one type of exercise very easily, so I try to do all sorts of different things.  I like tennis, but unfortunately that requires another person and a gym with tennis courts (neither of which are available to me right now).  So instead, I try to run at least one day per week, swim laps one day per week, and do some other cardio at the gym one day per week (generally either the elliptical or the bike - depending on the BG beforehand).

What's a Shin Splint?

One day last week I went for a run.  Just 2.3 miles, but all of a sudden I got this crazy shin splint in my left leg.  When I started running earlier this fall, I had awful shin splints one day, and when I got back I was in the low 40s.  Definitely scary, especially since I didn't feel low while I was running.  So last week I'm going along, and past the halfway point, when I start to get a shin splint in my left leg.  It comes on pretty strong and then just holds steady.  I'm already on a temp basal, I started my run with a BG near 200, but I suspend my pump anyways.  It's not like I can stop a run like I can at the gym.  I've noticed this feeling before, and since I don't run with a meter, it's an educated guess.  I keep on running, nearly tripping over the bumpy sidewalk, but I grab my pump from my waistband and I suspend.  I get back to my apartment about a half mile later (I think) and I test and I'm in the 60s.  Not only a quick drop, but my suspicions in the way to feel low while running are confirmed.  


My mother has always been outspoken about how each person with diabetes has different low symptoms.  My experience with a certain medical professional, is they only care about the ones we all share, but aren't our individual ones important too?  But back to running, is there anyone else who has ever gotten this symptom (even if not as specific as just the left leg)?  Or is there anyone else who gets another type of symptom, especially while exercising, that is just as specific?  It's something that has gotten the wheels in my brain turning, and I'm hoping to find more information.