Since I've begun using the Dexcom sensor, I have to say, it's been amazing to see the direction that my blood sugar is taking. I can see when it's steady, heading up, or heading down. It totally affects what I do, and how I anticipate lows.
Then, I used my last sensor, and didn't have it, and had a low of 28 the other morning. That's pretty low, and I didn't even feel it coming on. So, my first thought was 'great, hope that goes towards the case of getting Kaiser to support my Dexcom sensors' - that's kind of sad to think that way, but it really was helping prevent lows.
This morning, I woke up and it was 42, same thought.
I think I'm having all of these lows, mostly because I am still needing less insulin. But the affect of knowing what direction my blood sugar is going, and how quickly it is moving in that direction, which is what the Dexcom provides is really amazing. Hopefully insurance companies will figure out that it actually does improve their bottom line to have diabetics have them and consequently have less lows. But for now, I guess we just keep making the case. And documenting those low blood sugars.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Experimenting with Lantus and Exercise
After talking with a few people, I've tried increasing the amount of Lantus (long acting) insulin that I take on days when I plan to be exercising a lot. The idea is that, if I have more baseline insulin active, then what I eat during a long ride or run can be covered by that without having to inject short acting insulin. It's had mixed results. One day, two weekends ago, it worked pretty well, then last weekend, I still go high, and had to take 1 unit of Humalog. I think that the idea is good, and hopefully I can do that.
I have to remember that while exercising, I should be an athlete first, and a diabetic second. meaning basically that I shouldn't wait for my low blood sugar or decreasing blood sugar to prompt me to eat, but rather eat as anyone who is doing what I'm doing and doesn't have diabetes would do. That's hard when you've been riding for 3 hours, and blood sugar is stable or rising, because then you should eat, but the question is, if you eat, do you have to take humalog, or will the basal rate lantus cover it?
I don't always have the answer, and the answer probably changes, but last weekend I got pretty wiped out the next day and I think it's because during my ride I didn't eat enough. Better that happen now than on race day. So, lesson learned I think is to eat, even if it means taking insulin to do so.
Also, I discovered how SUPER fast insulin acts when injected directly into a muscle (especially one that you are using). I was pretty high on my ride on Saturday (300 or so, I can't remember). I took 1 UNIT injected directly into my leg muscle where I knew I'd be using it as I continued the ride for 4 more hours, ate a bar, drank some whatever electrolyte drink, and rode on. In like 1 hour, it was 75! Wow. Good to know.
Also, I've been having more lows lately. Monday morning it was 28. And then this AM 42. I'm wondering how many lows one has to have to get insurance to cover Dexcom sensors. That's crazy but when I have a low now, I think, 'wow, here's one more for the case for them to cover the sensors. That's totally ridiculous, but true.
Hoping to recover some, and then feel fresh for May 7, which is coming right up!
I have to remember that while exercising, I should be an athlete first, and a diabetic second. meaning basically that I shouldn't wait for my low blood sugar or decreasing blood sugar to prompt me to eat, but rather eat as anyone who is doing what I'm doing and doesn't have diabetes would do. That's hard when you've been riding for 3 hours, and blood sugar is stable or rising, because then you should eat, but the question is, if you eat, do you have to take humalog, or will the basal rate lantus cover it?
I don't always have the answer, and the answer probably changes, but last weekend I got pretty wiped out the next day and I think it's because during my ride I didn't eat enough. Better that happen now than on race day. So, lesson learned I think is to eat, even if it means taking insulin to do so.
Also, I discovered how SUPER fast insulin acts when injected directly into a muscle (especially one that you are using). I was pretty high on my ride on Saturday (300 or so, I can't remember). I took 1 UNIT injected directly into my leg muscle where I knew I'd be using it as I continued the ride for 4 more hours, ate a bar, drank some whatever electrolyte drink, and rode on. In like 1 hour, it was 75! Wow. Good to know.
Also, I've been having more lows lately. Monday morning it was 28. And then this AM 42. I'm wondering how many lows one has to have to get insurance to cover Dexcom sensors. That's crazy but when I have a low now, I think, 'wow, here's one more for the case for them to cover the sensors. That's totally ridiculous, but true.
Hoping to recover some, and then feel fresh for May 7, which is coming right up!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Remembering a Remarkable Woman
I celebrated my grandmother's life today with family and friends at the Central Philadelphia Friends Meeting. Margaret Hope Bacon was quite a woman. From her work to abolish slavery, social activism, academic successes, to her blueberry pies and lasagna, she touched many people's lives. I'm kind of honored and a little proud to be her granddaughter.
I feel like I've only begun to get to know her better since her recent death on Feb. 24. She would have turned 90 on April 7th of this year.
Grandma combined writing with social activism. She wrote over 17 books, was active in the women's movement, abolotion society, and more. She traveled all over the world, from Africa to Europe, China, and Australia. I feel inspired by her, and hope that I can begin to transform some of that inspiration into action, writing, and perhaps pass it on to others.
She was a woman who was frank, stern, determined, graceful, intelligent, and committed to doing the right thing, and inspire others to work to make the world a better place.
I hope to continue some of her traditions, and learn more about her, and the rest of the Bacon family. I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing family (as Omar likes to say, the "Quaker Kennedy's"), and friends as well.
I'm currently on the plane now, on my way back to California, and then to Nicaragua tomorrow. Most of my blogs have been about athletics, but I've been thinking a lot about my grandma today. I'll just finish by adding two quick athlete related things because they're also on my mind.
My grandma could probably swim in cold water longer than I could. And until she was about 84 or so, she still swam in the cold Taunton Bay on Maine. Out when the tide was high to the sail boat, and back to shore. I used to go with her during the summers.
I was a little bummed to miss the second memorial service planned for her tomorrow at Crosslands, where my grandpa still lives. All of the rest of my family is there, and I absolutely love it when we are all together. It makes me feel so happy, alive, grateful, and complete. But, I had to get dropped off at the airport, as I am flying back to San Francisco now, and then tomorrow to Nicaragua. I was too tired this morning to run, so I figured I'd run at the airport. I've only ever really gotten a good run at Oakland airport. Years ago, also in Houston, but it's been a while. So, I feel pretty good physically now. I got dropped off at 4:15 for a 6 PM flight. Coming in to Philly two days ago, I thought I might do this, and noticed that all of the carts to hold luggage (which I always scrounge around for, and would never rent) were the kind that you have to press the handle down to make them go forward. But, just as I went in the door today, I was stoked to find a cart that was the kind you didn't have to push down on to make it go forward, just push ahead of you as you ran behind it.
So, I loaded up my carry on, computer, and bag with food on it, found a bathroom, changed into my running clothes and shoes, took the elevator up, walked over to the parking garage, took the elevator to the top of the C terminal parking garage and ran around for an hour (I think it ended up being 7.5 miles or so). I came down, went thru security, got some coffee (and yes donuts) from Dunkin Donuts, boarded the plane, got some clothes, went into the bathroom and changed (it's a little small and a little cramped to change in a bathroom on the plane), washed up a little, put on some deodorant, asked for some water for my bottle, took some insulin, ate, put on my compression socks, and sat down (and discovered free internet service onboard). I'm not sure if it's a mistake or what, or if I'll get a huge bill, but it's pretty cool. Okay, I feel a little self-congratulatory, and happy with myself, but maybe I just want to share it all because it was pretty cool.
At any rate, here I am, processing it all still, nervous about the St. George race being less than 2 months away, not having gotten in barely any long bike rides, traveling a lot (5 trips since the end of January), reflecting on my grandma, feeling a little sad about leaving my family, but at least physically I feel better after running. And blood sugar is 216 and dropping. By the way, I got a Dexcom, and it's pretty amazing. That's a continuous glucose monitoring device. WAY cool. More about that and other airport running later. Signing off from 35,000 feet or so.
Annie
I feel like I've only begun to get to know her better since her recent death on Feb. 24. She would have turned 90 on April 7th of this year.
Grandma combined writing with social activism. She wrote over 17 books, was active in the women's movement, abolotion society, and more. She traveled all over the world, from Africa to Europe, China, and Australia. I feel inspired by her, and hope that I can begin to transform some of that inspiration into action, writing, and perhaps pass it on to others.
She was a woman who was frank, stern, determined, graceful, intelligent, and committed to doing the right thing, and inspire others to work to make the world a better place.
I hope to continue some of her traditions, and learn more about her, and the rest of the Bacon family. I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing family (as Omar likes to say, the "Quaker Kennedy's"), and friends as well.
I'm currently on the plane now, on my way back to California, and then to Nicaragua tomorrow. Most of my blogs have been about athletics, but I've been thinking a lot about my grandma today. I'll just finish by adding two quick athlete related things because they're also on my mind.
My grandma could probably swim in cold water longer than I could. And until she was about 84 or so, she still swam in the cold Taunton Bay on Maine. Out when the tide was high to the sail boat, and back to shore. I used to go with her during the summers.
I was a little bummed to miss the second memorial service planned for her tomorrow at Crosslands, where my grandpa still lives. All of the rest of my family is there, and I absolutely love it when we are all together. It makes me feel so happy, alive, grateful, and complete. But, I had to get dropped off at the airport, as I am flying back to San Francisco now, and then tomorrow to Nicaragua. I was too tired this morning to run, so I figured I'd run at the airport. I've only ever really gotten a good run at Oakland airport. Years ago, also in Houston, but it's been a while. So, I feel pretty good physically now. I got dropped off at 4:15 for a 6 PM flight. Coming in to Philly two days ago, I thought I might do this, and noticed that all of the carts to hold luggage (which I always scrounge around for, and would never rent) were the kind that you have to press the handle down to make them go forward. But, just as I went in the door today, I was stoked to find a cart that was the kind you didn't have to push down on to make it go forward, just push ahead of you as you ran behind it.
So, I loaded up my carry on, computer, and bag with food on it, found a bathroom, changed into my running clothes and shoes, took the elevator up, walked over to the parking garage, took the elevator to the top of the C terminal parking garage and ran around for an hour (I think it ended up being 7.5 miles or so). I came down, went thru security, got some coffee (and yes donuts) from Dunkin Donuts, boarded the plane, got some clothes, went into the bathroom and changed (it's a little small and a little cramped to change in a bathroom on the plane), washed up a little, put on some deodorant, asked for some water for my bottle, took some insulin, ate, put on my compression socks, and sat down (and discovered free internet service onboard). I'm not sure if it's a mistake or what, or if I'll get a huge bill, but it's pretty cool. Okay, I feel a little self-congratulatory, and happy with myself, but maybe I just want to share it all because it was pretty cool.
At any rate, here I am, processing it all still, nervous about the St. George race being less than 2 months away, not having gotten in barely any long bike rides, traveling a lot (5 trips since the end of January), reflecting on my grandma, feeling a little sad about leaving my family, but at least physically I feel better after running. And blood sugar is 216 and dropping. By the way, I got a Dexcom, and it's pretty amazing. That's a continuous glucose monitoring device. WAY cool. More about that and other airport running later. Signing off from 35,000 feet or so.
Annie
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Running on the Pan American
Hot, burned grass smell, smoldering piles of burning trash, piles of horse dung, choking diesel engines, it's all pretty much the invigorating experience of running along the Pan American highway. I think if I ran north far enough, I'd end up back in the USA.
The heat has been intense even at 6:30 in the morning, when I start out. I've only been running for an hour, at a conversational pace.
Nicaragua is beautiful country. From the morning light off the hills to the bright pink bougainvillea flowers all over the stone walls, to the warm waves of the Laguna de Apoyo (see picture below) it's pretty amazing. Not to mention the incredible coffee, and the warmth of the people here.
Here are some highlights from the last month:
- Training has definitely ramped up! In the last month, I've really increased the amount of physical activity and that's made me feel a little tired; good but tired. The swims feel a bit hard, and I've noticed a new muscle in my arm (funny, I never thought that I'd write about this kind of stuff, and always kind of chuckled when I read other people's specific details like that, oh well)
- I've been in Nicaragua for work for the last week, and it's been a great trip, but I've been limited on what I can do. I've run for an hour every day (as advised by Andrew), but feel like I've lost some of my ground, so although I still have a few days before I get home, I'm ready to start back up
- Today I swam in the beautiful Laguna de Apoyo, outside of Masaya, Nicaragua. It's a crater lake, and absolutely picturesque and beautiful.
I'm a little nervous about the Ironman which I guess is in less than 100 days!
In the last month, I've been biking a lot. I joined a bike team, which I'm really enjoying.
More soon!
Annie
The heat has been intense even at 6:30 in the morning, when I start out. I've only been running for an hour, at a conversational pace.
Nicaragua is beautiful country. From the morning light off the hills to the bright pink bougainvillea flowers all over the stone walls, to the warm waves of the Laguna de Apoyo (see picture below) it's pretty amazing. Not to mention the incredible coffee, and the warmth of the people here.
Here are some highlights from the last month:
- Training has definitely ramped up! In the last month, I've really increased the amount of physical activity and that's made me feel a little tired; good but tired. The swims feel a bit hard, and I've noticed a new muscle in my arm (funny, I never thought that I'd write about this kind of stuff, and always kind of chuckled when I read other people's specific details like that, oh well)
- I've been in Nicaragua for work for the last week, and it's been a great trip, but I've been limited on what I can do. I've run for an hour every day (as advised by Andrew), but feel like I've lost some of my ground, so although I still have a few days before I get home, I'm ready to start back up
- Today I swam in the beautiful Laguna de Apoyo, outside of Masaya, Nicaragua. It's a crater lake, and absolutely picturesque and beautiful.
I'm a little nervous about the Ironman which I guess is in less than 100 days!
In the last month, I've been biking a lot. I joined a bike team, which I'm really enjoying.
More soon!
Annie
Friday, December 17, 2010
Fueling with Veggie Oil
A couple of weeks ago, my Triabuddy's mom came to my house and dropped off 5 gallons of peanut oil. Keaton, my Triabuddy had seen that I run my 1982 Mercedes on vegetable oil, and asked me whether it could run on peanut oil. Diesel engines were actually originally designed to run on peanut oil, so I said of course, and that would be great. Lo and behold, his mom gave me 5 gallons of it.
As I was thinking how cool that was, I also was pleasantly surprised by the fact that he in essence fueled the length of the Ironman. My car gets 28 miles per gallon. With 5 gallons of peanut oil, I can go 140 miles. Well... the Ironman is 140.6 miles (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). Cool awesome coincidence.
I'll be fueling with some equivalent of veggie oil too (well only actually oil if I drink Gatorade which actually does have oil in it), but I'll be fueling all the same. I just thought that was a nice cool little factoid.
On a different note, I am a vegetarian and have found that the simpler the foods I eat (ie not processed) without exception the more clean energy I have to burn as I'm exercising. More on that another time.
As I was thinking how cool that was, I also was pleasantly surprised by the fact that he in essence fueled the length of the Ironman. My car gets 28 miles per gallon. With 5 gallons of peanut oil, I can go 140 miles. Well... the Ironman is 140.6 miles (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). Cool awesome coincidence.
I'll be fueling with some equivalent of veggie oil too (well only actually oil if I drink Gatorade which actually does have oil in it), but I'll be fueling all the same. I just thought that was a nice cool little factoid.
On a different note, I am a vegetarian and have found that the simpler the foods I eat (ie not processed) without exception the more clean energy I have to burn as I'm exercising. More on that another time.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
How a Low Feels
I was talking with my friend the other day, who is also a type 1, and telling him about my severe feeling low the other day. He related that the last time he described how it felt to be really low to a friend, she suggested that he write about it. So, here is my attempt (note that I am not writing about it AS it's happening).
It was Tuesday, and I injected more insulin than I should of. I was planning to eat a bigger breakfast, but after running 5 miles (3 at LT), and 2 total warm up and cool down, I injected 4 units of Humalog, again, planning to eat more, but was so content with my frequent buy rewarded free mocha, I stopped there.
All of a sudden, in the midst of trying to balance the budget for work, write emails back and forth, check Quickbooks budget reports on one computer, sliding back to my computer, adjusting project proposals, I started feeling like this was all so important, yet unimportant simultaneously. That is, that every single last detail, of printing out an insert to send along with an alternative gift card, and getting the cropping on the paper perfect was the most important urgent thing to do, while also, responding to my emails, and I felt a growing sense of urgency. All the while, I was beginning to sweat, and at a deeper level think about how I was going to finish this all. Probably it was my sympathetic nerve system actually asking that very question, but in reference to "how are you going to get out of this". But maybe because of the limited blood sugar I had in my system, I took that message and immediately applied it to the task I was doing. So, suddenly in that moment, I have this urgency of survival instinct and importance, but I'm thinking it's about the many tasks I'm doing at once. Of course, this is a trigger, as it feels odd, so I test. And it's only 60, but I think it must have been dropping FAST. I drank a juice, ate a bar, scrounged around in my purse for other old candy I carry around, and waited. All the while though that feeling of "what is happening to me, this is so strange, I can't figure out why I'm so stressed, I feel like I'm dreaming, like life is not that important anymore, but yet, I have omniscience about everything all at once"
At any rate, re-reading this, it doesn't capture all of it, but writing it, I began to better understand the physiological relationship between the feeling and brain's alarm for survival, and how strange it feels in relationship to what I was doing
Maybe others can relate or share it. Maybe next time (after I have drank the juice, and while I'm waiting for it to come up), I'll write more.
It was Tuesday, and I injected more insulin than I should of. I was planning to eat a bigger breakfast, but after running 5 miles (3 at LT), and 2 total warm up and cool down, I injected 4 units of Humalog, again, planning to eat more, but was so content with my frequent buy rewarded free mocha, I stopped there.
All of a sudden, in the midst of trying to balance the budget for work, write emails back and forth, check Quickbooks budget reports on one computer, sliding back to my computer, adjusting project proposals, I started feeling like this was all so important, yet unimportant simultaneously. That is, that every single last detail, of printing out an insert to send along with an alternative gift card, and getting the cropping on the paper perfect was the most important urgent thing to do, while also, responding to my emails, and I felt a growing sense of urgency. All the while, I was beginning to sweat, and at a deeper level think about how I was going to finish this all. Probably it was my sympathetic nerve system actually asking that very question, but in reference to "how are you going to get out of this". But maybe because of the limited blood sugar I had in my system, I took that message and immediately applied it to the task I was doing. So, suddenly in that moment, I have this urgency of survival instinct and importance, but I'm thinking it's about the many tasks I'm doing at once. Of course, this is a trigger, as it feels odd, so I test. And it's only 60, but I think it must have been dropping FAST. I drank a juice, ate a bar, scrounged around in my purse for other old candy I carry around, and waited. All the while though that feeling of "what is happening to me, this is so strange, I can't figure out why I'm so stressed, I feel like I'm dreaming, like life is not that important anymore, but yet, I have omniscience about everything all at once"
At any rate, re-reading this, it doesn't capture all of it, but writing it, I began to better understand the physiological relationship between the feeling and brain's alarm for survival, and how strange it feels in relationship to what I was doing
Maybe others can relate or share it. Maybe next time (after I have drank the juice, and while I'm waiting for it to come up), I'll write more.
Monday, November 29, 2010
December 6, 4 PM Howarth Park
I'm putting together the next Dawn Phenom Event - that is a run/walk for people with diabetes, friends, family. We are meeting at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa at 4 PM on Monday, Dec. 6. I know it's not an ideal time, but I'm hoping that anyone who is interested can make it. We will be having monthly gatherings like this from now on. Please let me know if you are interested. Anyone who has type 1 or 2 diabetes, or knows someone who has it, wants to know more, or in general has some connection to diabetes is more than welcome to come!
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