Insulin pump

Female cyclist with type-1 diabetes uses applesauce as a sport fuel on a bike ride

Best Fuel for Long Rides with Type-1 Diabetes? It Depends

Diabetes Dietitian

Today’s bike ride was just shy of 90 km, and was all about them hills. I swear my husband took us to all the hills he could find in the Vancouver area. First there was Camosun at UBC, then the Stan at Stanley Park, followed by the seemingly never-ending climb of the Second Narrows Bridge outside of the North Shore, and finally up Buckingham – Burnaby’s grind! Unlike last week, my blood sugars were way more sensitive today, requiring a whole lot more food intake to keep them afloat. That got me thinking about fueling for long-distance rides – specifically, what actually makes an “optimal” fuel source when you have type-1 diabetes. Fueling Cycling with Type-1 Diabetes Isn’t One Size Fits All I have been engaging in long distance cardio type sports for more than 15 years now. I started out as a runner, but over the years have since transitioned […]

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The unthinkable

Diabetes, Uncategorized

The unthinkable happened. Seven years ago I had feared the worst. My first marathon, it was pouring rain. The marathon had yet to start, and I was in the porta-potty for the umpteenth time when I heard a loud, stomach-dropping splash in the grossness below. I thought it was my pump. It was not. Thank freaking every god in the world! It was one of my electrolytes bottles. From that day forward I have been beyond careful. I am, unequivocally, the slowest person when it comes to washrooms. About a month ago I was in a long washroom line with a friend. We were the next up for the two available stalls. She told the girls behind us not to worry, she was quick. I gave them an apologetic look: I’m not. You see, I don’t hide my insulin pump. It is almost always clipped to my belt loop, or

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Medtronic Global Heroes Part 2: Science!!!

Diabetes, Races, Running

About 15 years ago I met a couple of gals, who I kid you not spent an entire summer trying to convince me that science was the coolest thing on the planet. I was a hard sell; after a lack lustre experience with it in high school, and an eye for the words, I never imagined science to be anything more than something I had to do. (Little did I know then that it would turn into my life journey.) Had those gals had the Medtronic Headquarters at their fingertips, they may have had a bit more success of shooting science love into my heart! On day two of being a Global Hero, my new besties and I toured the Medtronic facility. Holy freaking hell!!! This place was like serious nerdville for us diabetics (and all the other technology enhanced peeps as well). We got to see medical devices in

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Diabetes: The frienemy strikes again

Diabetes, Running

Oh Diabetes. Dear, Dear, DEAR Diabetes. This was to be your day. The day the spotlight was to shine all over your youness. The day when you would think you’d want to look your best, you know, have a fresh-faced glow about you, especially in the face of flashing lights and snapping cameras. You’d think you’d want to show the world what a lowly medium, such as myself, can do with your greatness jabbed into my side. But you’ve never really been an easy one have you, never really gone with the flow, why start now, why put on a phoney face for the reporters, hey. Nah, you wouldn’t do that. Sure you had me fooled, weeks of cooperation, nary a hiccup to be heard. But that was your plan all along wasn’t it? I had just sat down to my desk, had just lifted my steeping cup of matcha

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Memory lapsed F bombs

Diabetes, Races, Uncategorized

Diabetes frustration No. 5,061: When I went on the insulin pump almost 5 years ago, my biggest fear was that I would forget to administer the insulin. Taking needles, you don’t forget. But pressing a button, that seemed all too easy to forget. And yet, for almost five years, I rarely, if ever, forgot – until this last month or so. I don’t know what is wrong with me. I don’t know why I keep forgetting to take my insulin. But there’s something not clicking in my brain. I test my blood sugars. I calculate the carbs. But I don’t input them into my pump. Some weeks, it’s happening multiple times. What the fricking hell? This is an issue, a major issue, I need insulin, I survive on insulin. Without it, my blood sugars go through the roof, my energy goes down the drain, and my attitude, let’s just say it’s

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