Category: Diabetes

Your Comfort Zone Is A Horrible Place To Die…

When all is said and done, you’ll really only get as much out of life as you put into it. Want to lose weight? Eat right and exercise. It won’t happen on its own if you’re sitting on the couch scarfing potato chips and doing fuck all. Wanna learn a new skill? Buckle up and settle in to study, train and develop yourself. Wanna learn karate? It ain’t a knitting circle so you need to be prepared for the blood, sweat and tears that will ensue over the next decade or more to become proficient. Notice that I say “proficient” and not “master,” as karate is a lifelong journey that you’re never really done studying.

An important lesson I’ve learned recently is just how little I actually know. I’ve been studying Uechi Ryu for over three decades at this point, with one third of that time being on my own by virtue of living 3,400 kilometres away from my Sensei. The passage of time and lack of travel ability has brought me to my current state where I made the decision to transition to a new style. Still karate, of course. But I recently joined a Shotokan school and it’s already been quite the ride…

Besides the fact that I’ve become older, slower and thicker (not in the complimentary way), the challenge is significantly different for me, this time around. Add to that the fact that I’m an old dog, teaching me new tricks is not without challenge. My hat’s off to the team of instructors in my new dojo that has to deal with the skilled, unknown black belt gracing their dojo yet doing everything just a LITTLE bit different than how they do.

And this is where the relevance of the title comes in… The past couple of weeks have certainly taken me out of my comfort zone. I’ve started learning different stances, different ways of doing the techniques that ARE familiar, as well as being exposed to a plethora of new forms and katas. I’m definitely enjoying learning new things but it’s been a humbling experience to acknowledge that even though I’ve grown proficient in my style, I’ve also grown comfortable and complacent, which is a horrible state to be in. Complacency leads to loss of proficiency in a terrible “chicken or the egg’ scenario, when it comes to one’s training.

I’m glad that I’ve been able to hammer on and start learning again. Despite how long I’ve at this and the realization that I don’t quite have the same amount of piss and vinegar that I used to, it’s humbling to recognize that there’s still a lot to learn, still a long road to travel and still some exciting surprises for me in the world of karate. I attended my second class of the week last night and my legs are definitely feeling it, with the last class of the week scheduled for tonight. Between work and other obligations, I’m hoping I can keep the circulation going and hammer through tonight’s class efficiently.

Find something you’re passionate about. I think that’s my main message. It’s important to have goals to achieve, but it shouldn’t be torturous and you shouldn’t come out of it feeling as though it was a chore. It’s okay to acknowledge that it was hard; anything worth your time will be. But hard and torturous are two entirely different things. Karate started out as a way to save my life. That’s why I started training. But it’s become a part of me and something I love. I’m blessed to have found a new path on this journey and would encourage all of you to find the path that’s right for you. ☯️

What Goes Up Must Come Down, Then Go Back Up Again!

Although it’s taken me years to do so, I’ve slowly come to realize that making exceptions and changing up daily routines often isn’t worth it. And yes, this is going to be a bit of a rant about a Diabetic issue, so buckle up. This realization struck me in the face like a snowball with a rock in the middle, last Wednesday night.

I got home at about 9 pm after an excellent karate class. I felt good, my blood sugars were in normal range and I guzzling water and electrolytes to stave off the easy and slippery dehydration that tends to sneak up on me when I train. Although I had some writing and studying to do, my wife mentioned she would not be working any later that night and asked if I wanted to watch a couple of episodes of something. I obliged.

A little after 10 pm, my wife headed off to bed, which is what I would have typically done, as well. But I had laundry going and since I had another karate class the following day, I wanted to make certain my gi was clean. So I told her to go ahead and crash and I’d be joining in a little while, once I had laundry completed. As luck would have it, I got into watching some Star Trek (don’t judge) and got laundry done, getting my head on the pillow at about half past midnight.

Considering I wake up anywhere between 5:30 to 6 am, this wasn’t the brightest move, since it would only allow of drive or six hours of sleep. I made my peace with, convinced that I was reaching the end of my week and that I could get away with the loss of a few hours’ sleep by supplementing with caffeine and staying busy at work. My dark passenger (Diabetes) had other plans…

My wife got up at about 2 am, as she has this system where she starts her work from home before everyone else has woken up. Good for her, but I’m not down for that bullshit. In fact, my years as a police officer taught me to appreciate being able to stay firmly in my bed until morning. But about thirty minutes after she vacated the bed, my pump went off. 3.9 mmol/L. Fan-fucking-tactic. I scarfed a dozen jellybeans I had at the side of my bead and closed my eyes.

At about 3:15 in the morning, my pump went off again. 3.7 mmol/L. Not only had the jellybeans not raised my blood sugars, they were continuing to drop. Not good. I wolfed down the remainder of the jellybeans I had in the bag, which was a little more than a dozen, and tried to go back to sleep. I got to almost half past four when my pump started blaring an alarm at me and display a sensor glucose of 2.9 mmol/l!

What the hell was happening??? My blood sugars were in normal range when I finally hit the sheets. The only thing I could think of, is that I usually have a small snack in the evenings but that night, I chose not to. Maybe that would have been enough to cause my blood sugars to drop? I staggered out to the kitchen, since I had exhausted my jellybean supply and found my wife still working away at the table.

I gulped down a couple of packages of grapefruit segments and about two cups of Froot Loops before passing out once again. When I woke up at 6 am with my alarm, I felt like I had been struck by a freight train. When I checked my pump, I was reading at over 20.0mmol/L. Of course, I was… I had apparently overdone it and my blood sugars slingshot to the other end of the spectrum. I spent the next four hours of my day, slowly reducing my blood sugars and bringing them back to normal.

You may be asking, why am I telling you all of this, besides to bitch about the difficulties surrounding Type-1 Diabetes? It’s simply to show that even when the waters are calm, there’s always the potential for rough currents beneath the surface, In this case, despite having normal blood sugar levels and everything appearing normal, it didn’t take much to send me into a rollercoaster ride of bad readings. Maybe next time, I should stick to my routine and have a snack before bed. Food for thought…(pun intended). ☯️

Ah, Symptoms…

I scarcely remember life before I was diagnosed with type-1 Diabetes. bearing in mind that I’m in my 40’s and I was diagnosed at the age of 4 years old, that should be all that surprising. But I do have memories of enjoying certain foods with impunity, drinking sugared soda and being able to go to bed without getting poked by needles and wondering if I would make the night. And no, before anyone starts commenting, the aforementioned consumption didn’t play a role in my being diagnosed with Diabetes.

Although the content of some of my posts tends to repeat itself, I find that some of them are worth a reminder, every six months or so. I’ve written about Diabetic symptoms before, but it’s never a bad thing to get a refresher. This can be particularly important for folks who WORK with Diabetics, as not everyone is as forthcoming about their health in the workplace as I am. There a lot of reasons for this, including embarrassment. Some people are embarrassed at the prospect of divulging ANY health condition, but there’s often a stigma behind Diabetes where a good portion of the population assumes it’s caused by poor diet and lack of exercise.

I’ve always lived by the concept of full disclosure, choosing to divulge my condition and its potential symptoms and treatments, as opposed to claiming privacy or keeping it hidden. When it comes to a condition that could potentially kill me if something happens and no one knows what’s happening, I prefer this method to the alternative. But that’s just me; to each their own. But it’s good to recognize some of the outlying symptoms of Diabetes, in the event someone in your life may be diagnosed with this condition.

In someone who hasn’t been diagnosed, it may be noticed that they’ll have an increased thirst, increased hunger and frequent urination. In fact, these three symptoms may be the most common in someone who hasn’t yet been diagnosed. But body weight fluctuations, mood swings and irritability, fatigue and blurry vision will also appear. In children and even some adults, they may catch themselves wetting the bed in stages where they wouldn’t have done so before.

One would think that bed wetting may be a strange symptom. The problem is that since a Diabetic person doesn’t process glucose properly and creates that increase in urine (frequent urination, remember?), the strain on one’s bladder can cause wetting of the bed where there was none before. I know that when I was first diagnosed, I wet the bed for the first few weeks until my blood sugars were brought under control. The temporary solution was to have me wear a diaper to bed, which was SUPER fun for a 4-year old. But i digress…

But for someone with Diabetes, there can be different symptoms based on whether you’re experiencing high or low blood sugars. I should point out that these symptoms can also be subjective to the person and are not all-encompassing. For example, high blood sugars will cause many of the overall symptoms of someone who hasn’t been diagnosed. This can include thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, nausea and body pains. Someone may get close enough to you to realize that your breath also has a fruity tinge to it.

The increased thirst is the worst, in my opinion, since it causes what I call “the Diabetic Loop.” You have increased thirst and dry mouth, so you drink more water. This aggravates the frequent urination and makes it worse, having you running for the bathroom constantly. But you’re still thirsty, so you pile more water down your gullet. Rinse and repeat. It can be a particularly huge pain in the ass during the night when you’re trying to sleep but your bladder wakes you almost every hour.

If one is suffering from low blood sugar, they may experience or demonstrate symptoms such as shaking, sweating and pale skin. They’ll have difficulties concentration and may be irritable or even violent. This is a particular one because in my case, the irritability comes out when my blood sugars are high. Low blood sugar may cause confusion and numbness in some extremeties (I used to know I was low because my tongue would go numb, of all things).

The irritability thing is subjective but tends to happen because your brain needs glucose to function properly. This means that if you’re suffering from low blood sugar, your brain isn’t being fed adequately and may malfunction, for lack of a better term. It can cause a whole slew of emotional responses, most of them not good. I usually get angry, although I prefer to think it’s “hangry.”

If you have Diabetes, you can avoid many of these symptoms with a few lifestyle adjustments and being prepared. Exercise regularly, eat properly, get enough sleep and test your blood sugars often. Just doing these few things will go a long way towards ensuring you don’t have to do battle with a constant armada of Diabetic symptoms.

If you’re a friend, co-worker or family member of a loved one w you believe is experiencing Diabetic symptoms, the situation will always fall under two categories. If the sufferer is able to communicate clearly, he/she will tell you what they need or take care of it themselves. If they are unconscious or unable to communicate clearly, simply call 911.

Although opinions vary, I always advise people never to try and feed a Diabetic any glucose. Setting aside the fact that they could potentially choke on whatever you try and feed them, without knowing whether the person is suffering a high or a low, you run the risk of aggravating the situation. Better to wait for the professionals to arrive and deal with the patient accordingly.

If you choose to keep your Diabetes private, good for you. That’s your choice and you’re free to exercise it. Myself, I’ve discussed my Diabetes at length with my boss and my family, including what treatments I obtain and what preventative measures I take, as well as what they can do if something happens. It’s a hell of a safety net and makes me feel safer. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved, right? ☯️

Protein Candy Bars…

Protein is an integral part of a person’s health; not just for workouts but for one’s overall body. The jury is still out on the best type of protein but from a personal standpoint, I try to stick to lean proteins, like fish and chicken. The frequent consumption of beef and red meats tend to lead to potential health concerns that I won’t get into here, so let’s not jump on the vegetarian band-wagon, shall we?

My point is that if you exercise consistently, you may seek out additional protein to supplement your diet. Some folks will consume whey protein in a daily shake. Since I’m a fan of consuming a shake as my first meal in the morning, I’m fine with this and there are certainly enough varieties of whey protein on the market to have something for everyone (provided you do your research and consume what’s right for you).

Protein bars can be an easy and effective way of getting your added protein punch, but it’s important to be wary of the bars you buy. If you’re anything like me, the amount of protein contained in the bar will be the first thing your eyes go to. But if you’re not careful, you may catch yourself getting more than what you bargained for. A good example was on a recent trip to a bulk retail location where I wanted to purchase a bulk package of protein bars. For mornings when I don’t have time to make lunches AND prepare a breakfast smoothie, a protein bar can be an easy go-to.

As I was walking down the aisle and trying to decide which brand to purchase, I was watching the front of the box for the protein count. I was pleasantly surprised and excited when i saw a box that boasted over 30 grams of protein per bar! I quickly grabbed a box and dumped it in my cart, satisfied that I had gotten what I was looking for. It wasn’t until we were lingering in a different section that I had the opportunity to pick up the box and start looking at the ingredients.

I should start by pointing out that these bars were chocolate-covered. Alright, chocolate isn’t some all-encompassing devil that needs to be avoided at all costs, but it’s an unnecessary source of sugar and fat. And for Type-1 Diabetics, chocolate is a bit of a nightmare, because it takes a long time for the body to process, so you with won’t notice the blood sugar spike right away, or it will take forever for chocolate to help correct a low. So it’s important to point out that a chocolate covered protein bar is basically a high-protein candy bar, with many of the same pitfalls as simply eating a candy bar.

According to an article posted by HealthLine.com, “Some protein bars are so high in calories and added sugar that they might as well be in the candy aisle.” The article goes on to explain some of the content of various protein bars, including the addition of sweetness to enhance the flavour of the bar. Some of these sweeteners can add an extra amount of oomph to the overall calorie and carb count, making it an unhappy start to your day. If this is the case, you may be better to lean on some other protein-rich foods, such as cheese, hard-boiled eggs, nuts or lean meats.

Protein bars are a subjective purchase, depending on what your overall goal is. They won’t necessarily replace a meal, but they can do in a pinch. I favour Quest bars. They come in at about 200 calories, which is great for helping me get to lunch, and have 21 grams of carbohydrates but 14 grams of that is fibre, leaving me with only 7 grams to bolus for. At 21 grams of protein, it sits at the higher end of things and provides a small hit of calcium and only 8 grams of fat.

The important thing is to read your nutrition labels carefully and choose based on your health, fitness goals and overall bodily requirements. Remember that not all bars are created equal and nothing is more important than your health, so read carefully. And once you find a protein bar that suits your requirements, enjoy! Some of them have some interesting flavours that can add a bit of satisfaction to your day. And your workouts. Food for thought… (pun intended) ☯️

Your White Lies Could Make You Black & Blue…

Medical professionals have a pretty rough existence. Besides the long hours, shift work and overall lack of appreciation by their patients, they’re usually living their daily lives within the confines of everyone’s else’s physical and mental ailments. And the current pandemic makes it no easier. On the flip side of that coin, patients usually hate divulging information about themselves, especially information about their private lives and habits.

Where those two sides meet in the middle is when medical professionals ask patients certain key questions, only to have the patients flat out lie about. Or at the very least, stretch or omit the truth. Everybody does it. Hell, I’ve been guilty of answering differently than what I should have on a few occasions. There are a number of reasons why people do this.

For some, it’s to prevent embarrassment. From bad habits to potential addictions, some feel that lying or omitting certain pieces of information related to their habits will save face. Fair enough, I can see that as being a normal human instinct. For others, it may be because they don’t know better. Asking if you’re on any other medication or supplements may seem like an easy answer until you say “no” despite taking multivitamins, workout supplements over even over-the-counter meds.

Then, we unfortunately have the stubborn bastards who simply think, “They don’t need to do that to do their jobs…” When one’s life depends on the outcome of your doctor’s findings, maybe you should let THEM decide what they need to know or not. And that’s the takeaway. Instead of withholding information or lying about it, some transparency can help avoid some unnecessary complications. Let’s examine a few, shall we?

It Can Alter The Effectiveness Of Treatment
Lying or omitting information from your doctor can lead to complications with prescribed medications and treatments, rendering them ineffective or changing how they react to the body.

It Can Alter A Diagnoses
Picture a doctor asking someone if they smoke, who in turn states that they don’t and never have. Meanwhile, the patient in question actually DOES smoke. The problem with this is it can lead to your doctors or medical practitioner looking for the cause of a symptom in the wrong place. Same applies to alcohol, excess sugar, sedentary lifestyle (not exercising) and bad eating habits. This will all cause particular ailments and symptoms that your doctor will have difficulty treating if they aren’t “in the know.”

It Can Cause Severe Harm Or Death
Think I’m exaggerating on this one? Think again… This piggybacks on the earlier point I made, but lying or omitting anything you may be taking can cause severe reactions with medications your doctor prescribes. Imagine dying because that weird workout supplement you decided to order online that comes from someplace you can’t spell, interacted and reacted with your actual prescribed meds?

Doctors and medical practitioners are here to help. If they’re asking, assume they need to know or have a valid reason. If you have someone with you whom you feel less comfortable answering in front of, perhaps you should reschedule or ask that person to leave the room. One good example is a doctor asking how many sexual partners you’ve had but you don’t want to say more than one because your significant other is there… Awkward!)

Ultimately, this is a bit like a bad, 80’s zombie movie where one of the main characters gets bit but doesn’t tell anyone until it’s too late. Then, not only do they end up dying anyway but they take a bunch of folks out with them. Don’t be that person. Be honest. Be transparent. Be open. At the end of the day, not only does it make your doctor’s job significantly easier, it also ensures your increased safety when dealing with medical matters. Food for thought…☯️

Trust Your Gut…

Most of us don’t bother to take the time to contemplate everything that happens inside our bodies. We know we have a heartbeat and that it’s responsible for moving blood around the body and to our brains. We know that we have lungs and that they’re responsible for our ability to breathe air and get oxygen into our body. Our stomachs digest our food and our posteriors expel the waste from the leftovers. But outside of the basic functions of these systems, we rarely stop to consider the importance of certain systems in relation to our overall health.

In recent years, a good example has been how good oral health has been linked to cardiac health. One would never assume that brushing one’s teeth regularly would be associated with good heart health, but there it is. Most of the time, when we consume something, we do so because we’re hungry and we count on our calorie consumption to provide us with the energy and nutrition we need to get through the day. But there’s a lot going on in the ol’ gut that we rarely consider. And there’s plenty we can do to help move things along that improve one’s overall health.

According to an article posted by HealthLine.com, “The human gut is more complex than previously thought and has a huge impact on whole body health.” When you stop to think about it, everything you eat contributes to your overall health, which is what the article goes on to say, “A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, heart health, brain health, improved mood, healthy sleep, and effective digestion […]” Some of that seems to address the aspects I was referring to in my opening paragraphs.

Some of the best things you can do to improve your gut health is to monitor and control what you’re loading into it. A well-known food for good gut health is yogurt. But some of the ones that people may not consider include fermented foods, such as kimchi and miso. I single those out because I’ve eaten my fair share and I enjoy them. But a healthy dose of probiotics will help with overall gut health and you can even find probiotic supplements, these days.

Another good type of food to consume are ones that are high in fiber. You’re likely thinking that’s a no-brainer, and you’d be right. High-fiber foods listed by that HealthLine article include legumes, beans, peas, oats, bananas, berries, asparagus and leeks. If you ask me, leeks are fucking disgusting, but I’m game for the rest of that list. In fact, I’ve included all of that list (except peas and beans) into shakes I’ve been making with my mini blender.

Outside of what you eat, there are a number of things that can help promote proper gut health. These include keeping your stress levels low (not easy, in today’s climate), getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. Staying properly hydrated, AND with the right fluids will also go along way to promoting good gut health. When I refer to the right fluids, I mean staying away from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks as these can actually dehydrate you and caffeinated drinks are a diuretic. Changing your diet to accommodate these things can be achieved by consulting a dietitian or your medical practitioner. As usual, you shouldn’t try to completely alter your diet and lifestyle without consulting your medical practitioner.

Trust your gut; it takes better care of you and the overall functioning of your body than you know. The last suggestion I’ll make before stepping off my gut-soaked soapbox is to recommend not eating before bedtime. Even your gut needs to rest at night and if you spend half the night digesting those wings you thought were a good idea at midnight, it can lead to heartburn, indigestion, stomach pains and lack of proper sleep. One’s body can be compared to a house of cards; one wrong move can bring the whole system down. ☯️

Oh, Silent Gym…

The holidays can be a fantastic time to kick back and enjoy some family, festivities and most of all… food. The problem with this is that during the holidays, we have a tendency to overeat and work out less. I know that for myself, it’s been a rough couple of weeks. The week prior to Christmas involved my eye injections and finishing out my work week prior to going on holidays. And this week involves my actual holidays, which has included a number of delicious meals and deserts baked by my lovely wife.

During these two weeks, focusing on one’s fitness can be difficult. After all, with gatherings, gift opening, staying up late, sleeping in and dealing with the kids, finding an hour here and there to work out becomes more difficult than usual. And that’s taking into consideration that finding time for one’s fitness is already a challenge during the regular daily grind. Oh, I’ve managed a few 30 or 40-minute weight workouts from home. But it’s been a while since I managed a solid sweat.

A couple of days of wicked snowfall meant that I found myself shovelling and blowing snow in -30 degree weather. It was freezing out and made for some exertion. My blood sugars seem to bottom out when I spend any period of time outdoors in the freezing cold. But that didn’t seem to happen, this time. But it’s been a slow couple of weeks and I have to admit that I’m starting to feel it. Despite being back on CGM and SmartGuard with better blood sugar levels, my overall physique has suffered and my body is voicing its displeasure at my laziness.

No one likes to get up early while on vacation. This limits the amount of time in the day, especially if you’re lucky enough to have kids who let you sleep. Mine fall under the medium category, where some mornings they’re up at the butt crack of dawn and others, they let us sleep almost until 10 a.m. Since we don’t bother with alarms during the holidays, the kids basically dictate when we wake up. This means that the golden hour when everyone is still asleep, when I could be hammering out a quick body-weight workout or doing some katas.

I definitely find myself needing to get back on the fitness train. If only for the fact that I know my circulation is lessened and my knees and legs are killing me. Gotta love this whole Diabetes thing! And that’s the other issue; enjoying all the perks and fun parts of the holidays can play hell with one’s blood sugars. While indulging in all of those baked goods and luscious meals, don’t forget to monitor your blood sugars often and adjust for the added carbohydrates.

As I’ve often written before, there’s no problem with taking a little break from fitness. But if you’re reaching a point where your overall fitness seems to be lagging and your body is telling you that you’ve been sitting idle for too long, get back into it! Your health, blood sugars and overall wellbeing depends on it. Find an hour here and there, even just half an hour, where you do something, anything. Take a walk, go for a run, hammer out some quick dumbbell reps… Anything is always something more than nothing, right? ☯

You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone…

Recently, I wrote about how I discovered that my medical insurance only covered about $1,000 of Diabetes medical equipment. This means that in a calendar year, my insurance will only cover three to four months worth of reservoirs, infusion sets and CGM. Basically, anything tangible that isn’t medication. Towards the end of November, I made the decision to save a few bucks by burning through my stocked supplies by using my extra Freestyle Libre sensors, even if they don’t communicate with my insulin pump and won’t make micro adjustments. this means that I spend much less time “in range.”

Despite the handiness of the Freestyle Libre, I’ve come to realize over the past month that I’m dependent on CGM and the SmartGuard system. Having a programmed insulin pump that regulates my insulin and blood sugar levels for the majority of my day and keeps me within a healthy range is something that I’ve gotten far too used to and that I’ve also taken for granted. I finally knuckled under last week and paid out of pocket for a box of CGM sensors so that I could start back on SmartGuard and have the pump take over management of my blood sugars.

In some ways, a lot of ways, I’m disappointed in myself. I’ve only been on an insulin pump for about six years and on CGM for about two years. Prior to that, I managed my blood sugars and kept myself alive through my own, direct, hands-on efforts. So it catches me a bit by surprise and disappoints me that I’ve become so dependent on a piece of technology to keep the groove going. But I’ve noticed something important during the four to five weeks I’ve been without CGM; I have been feeling like absolute, unfiltered shit. And it’s lead me to ask an important question: Is this what Diabetics always feel like?

I should probably explain. I was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes when I was only 4-years old. During the first five to six years, I suffered through all the typical complications that one would assume; hyper and hypoglycemic episodes, mood swing, Diabetic Keto-acidosis and even living through a few comas, one that lasted almost a week. Luckily for me, I suffered no brain damage from any of these (at least that I know of) and by the time I reached the age of 10, I took control of my own health and Diabetes and joined karate. This was the turning point that would ultimately save my life and bring my health to the forefront of my daily routine.

The bottom line is that since the age of 10 when I took control of my own destiny, I’ve struggled and fought my way through a number of obstacles in the past three decades. But the reality is that I’ve had it pretty smooth. I had the benefit of staying in good health, clean nervous system, clean cardiac system and I still have all of my toes and appendages. I’m afraid I can’t say the same of all the Diabetics I know. But how I’ve been feeling recently since coming off of CGM, I’ve come to understand how fragile the balance I’ve built has actually been

Compulsive sweats, varied teeter-tottering from low to high blood sugars and the opposite, lack of sleep, restless legs and random pains, twitches and mood swings… It all sounds a little too much like my teen years. And we all know how much of a bastard I was back then! Well, most of you likely don’t know, since you weren’t there. But I’m sure that any readers who remember me from my childhood could attest to the fact that I wasn’t QUITE as pleasant as I am now. Yes, I’m tooting my horn. Just let me have it…

My point is that I’ve been through the Diabetic trenches and came out better than most. Some of it was determination, some was competent doctors and some of it was sheer force of will, refusing to let my life be forfeit without some attempt at control. And of course, some of it was basically dumb luck. Back then, if you’d asked me if I felt worse than the average person, I would have said no. Because I didn’t know better. As the years have melted away, treatments and how I live my life have continued to grow and improve.

Because of these improvements, my quality of life has continued to improve and once I came to be on the insulin pump, my life changed for the better. Once I included CGM, it became even better still as I enjoyed the benefits of the best A1C readings I’ve had in over 20 years. But all of that came crashing back down and I lost it all as I came off of SmartGuard and CGM. As some of you may have read in previous posts, I often make a point of being pretty harsh against the use of modern technology, despite the fact that some of it is keeping me alive. But I will humbly admit and agree… CGM and SmartGuard makes a measurable difference in the life of a Type-1 Diabetic.

I’ve been back on the Guardian 3 Sensor and SmartGuard for almost a week now, and have been enjoying stable blood sugars, better sleep and improved health. I essentially no longer feel like shit. And that’s saying quite a bit. I’m a firm advocate that all things happen for a reason. As much as it pisses me off that a newly-joined health plan doesn’t cover the very equipment that’s keeping me alive, I think that it’s taught me a very important lesson about my Diabetes care and how I approach it. Ignoring technology and its advancements is no longer an option. ☯️

A cold Thoughts On A Frosty Monday…

I get to climb into a frigid vehicle in an hour or so and make my way to Saskatoon for eye injections. Again.As much as I’d like to bitch about those injections and be bitter about them, they keep me from going blind, so I can’t complain TOO much. No, the focus this morning will be in being prepared for the road during winter conditions.

People will travel, no matter what the situation. Hell, look at how many people are still foolishly jamming themselves into a contained metal tube with recycled air to fly around to different places. Given the pandemic, this is likely the dumbest thing one could do at the moment. But, hey… Have lack of intelligence, will travel… But I digress.

Now that I’m off my soapbox and can focus appropriately, let’s discuss how one can ensure they’re prepared during winter travel. In a car. My eye injections are considered mandatory travel since without them, my vision would start to reduce. I’ve had to travel through excessively snowy conditions, snow storms, you name it. My training has been helpful, but not everyone has that training. As a law enforcement officer for many years, I’ve seen the unfortunate results of collisions during the winter months.

If you’re going to travel during winter months, it’s important to pack your vehicle will some vital items. For example, bottles of water and emergency candles are good items to keep stuffed away in your cargo area. A first aid kit, extra cloths and a booster pack for the car can also be life-saving. Most people carry a cell phone these days, but on the off chance you aren’t one of them, carrying emergency flares and a flashlight can be especially helpful.

The important hung is to make sure you don‘t allow yourself to be fooled by the thought of travelling in a warm vehicle. It takes very little time for a stalled vehicle to turn into a refrigerator. So be sure to dress to the weather outside, not how warm you think you’ll be inside. Lastly, be sure to carry a small shovel in the vent you soft land in some deep snow. And if you’ve never done basic vehicle maintenance, like change a tire, you should try it so you’ll be familiar with the process and be able to do it safely.

As I always say, life doesn’t care about one’s plan. Inclement weather and bad roads can make for hazardous travel conditions. If you MUST travel, it’s important to take all precautions to ensure one’s safety. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some caffeine into my system and hit the road. Wish me luck! ☯️

When You’re Sick Of Your Immune System…

I was thinking recently, about how it always seems that I get sick during the winter. And I suppose that makes sense, right? Colder weather, differences in atmospheric pressure and going from hot to cold constantly when one goes inside to outside or vice versa, all tend to wreak havoc on a person’s immune system. And I don’t need to tell you that a Type-1 Diabetic’s immune system isn’t all fun and games to start with, right? If it weren’t for issues with my good ol’ immune system, I wouldn’t be T1D to start with.

Last weekend, I started to feel that familiar yet unwanted tickle at the back of my throat. You know the one; a mild itch that makes you think you’re going to cough but it never quite comes out? Combined with my sinuses thinking that it would be a good idea to coat all the interior surfaces of my throat, it was a clear indication of what I already suspected; I was getting sick!

I should start by pointing out that contrary to most jokes and memes one can find online, I don’t do “man flu!” That is to say, I don’t crumple into a disgusting pile of self-pity as soon as my nose gets stuffed up or I have a few body aches. Considering the life I’ve had, if that was all it took to incapacitate me, I‘d be dead by now. I know that there’s a running joke that guys turn into big babies when they’re sick. And perhaps that’s true for some. But I wasn’t forged that way.

Last Saturday was a break day for me, having done a free-weight workout the day before and feeling some of the stiffness in my arms and shoulders. With the exceptions of some mild stretching to keep from seizing up, a Costco run with the entire family was all the workout I needed for the day. But on Sunday, maybe against good judgement, I still ran my 12k at the gym while wearing my sauna suit. I came out of that workout flushed, sweaty and exhausted but I assumed it was no different than my average runs. I was wrong.

By the evening, I was stuffy, raspy and sounded like something out of a bad horror movie. My wife wasn’t feeling great either, so we opted for an early bedtime to get some rest. Turns out that my Diabetic system had some different ideas. By the time midnight had rolled around, my blood sugar was SO LOW that my sensor couldn’t even register a reading other than “LO.” Since I felt like proverbial shit, I staggered to the kitchen where I carbo-loaded like it was going out of style.

Once I sprawled back in bed, playing the fun game of “too hot, too cold,” I finally drifted off to a fitful and shallow sleep. I awoke at about 4 am to found that my blood sugars had sling-shot in the opposite direction and I was sitting at 18.0 mmol/L! Considering I didn’t think I had eaten THAT much, was this MY bad, or was it the illness playing rollercoaster tycoon with my blood sugar levels. I’ll never know… I adjusted my insulin levels to compensate and fell asleep for another hour before waking up for work.

It shouldn’t be all that surprising, and if I’m being honest, I don’t like the way my posts often sound like I’m whining and complaining about all the issues associated with Type-1 Diabetes. But the unfortunate truth is that something as simple as getting the common cold can completely throw off the delicate balance that a properly controlled Diabetic may have been working on for months. It can be frustrating, more so on the Diabetic front than catching the cold itself.

There are a couple of important aspects to bear in mind as it relates to getting sick with Diabetes. The first one is hydration. You think you’re prone to dehydration now? Catch a cold and see how long it takes T1D to dry you out like an autumn leaf! That’s why it’s important to maintain a steady flow of liquids while you recover from whatever you may have caught. You want to avoid drinks that will do more harm than good, like alcohol or coffee. Yes, I know… That last one actually had to be forced out, but coffee is a diuretic and will contribute to dehydration.

The next is steady monitoring of your blood sugar levels. And I can’t stress this one enough. What’s worse for me right now is that I currently can’t afford CGM and am using Freestyle Libre. For those who may not be in the know, the difference is that CGM will check my glucose levels and communicate with my pump to make micro adjustments that help to keep my blood sugars in range. The Libre requires me to physically check my levels with a phone app (I try to get at it once an hour) and physically determine what insulin levels I may require in order to correct.

A slight inconvenience and if you’re T1D and using neither of these options, I think we can agree that poking your finger for a traditional blood glucose check every hour can be tedious. But it’s better than the alternative of potentially dropping to a dangerously low level or slipping into DKA for being too high. Last but not least, if you’re illness causes you to lack an appetite, be prepared to force the calories in, in some way, shape or form. Whether you have broth and dry crackers or something small, your nutrition needs to be maintained for faster recovery and continued health. Stay healthy! ☯️