I have Type 1 diabetes

[AntLockyer]

and it's been a fascinating experience watching the healthcare professionals try and work out what was going on and how I felt completely fine with the blood glucose levels they were seeing.

I low carbed to get myself out of danger (on Sulfonylurea) and started insulin injections last week. I've been inspired by Team Type 1 and the various athletes I've found across the world who do amazing things while living with the condition.

I just thought I'd post it here, not entirely sure why. Certainly not looking for sympathy as it's been a real kick up the behind to get on with life.

[the bottle ride]

I am glad to hear you found the root of it all- sometimes diagnosis brings great relief as it at least gives the map to good health.

[Jamie Medeiros]

Get an insulin pump as soon as your doctor will allow. Pumps make everything easier.

[SteveP]

good to have an answer antlockyer.
now you know how to proceed with living.

[AntLockyer]

The pump is something I'll discuss as soon as we get my numbers somewhere sensible. The plus side is I got back down to a decent weight, jsut need to keep it off :)

[airedale]

I've had the same for going on 27 years now. It's a pretty easy condition to live with, keep the excercise up and the fat intake down and you should have no worries.

Make sure you have a good endocrinologist and see an opthamologist once a year.

Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss anything.

[Triskeliongirl]

I guess I missed the preceding threads, but don't give up on the low carb diet. The idea is with fewer carbs you need less insulin, so less chance of going too low which is very dangerous, especially on the bike. A very good book that discusses this is Dr. Bernsteins Diabetes Solution.

I am a mild type I diabetic with unusually good insulin sensitivity (meaning I still make a little insulin), so I can control it with a low carb diet, exercise, and a drug called symlin that I inject. Symlin is a hormone that is co secreted with insulin. For me the hardest part to work out was how to eat on the bike. A book called the Paleo Diet for Athletes co written by Cyclist Joe Friel was helpful. PM me if you have any questions.

[GOTHBROOKS]

ive been type one for almost 23 years and i cant figure out a good way to stash my pump underneath a skinsuit without pockets. maybe something like an hr monitor that it just clips to? im afraid of catching the exposed tube during mounts and dismounts during cx rides when the pump is just stashed in a jersey pocket.

[htwoopup]

I think you are on the right track on the HR strap. I am not Type 1 but my daughter has been since she was 2. When she was in High School and played basketball, she would hang the pump on the back of her bra strap (the bb jersey she had was over that) so I that is why I think an HR strap made tight would work.

The other thing she did was put on extra tape over up the tube past where the infusion set and tubing met and also had a friend put tape over the tubing before it attached to the pump on the strap so any bouncing wouldn't pull it out/off. The tape she used was waterproof and looked somewhat like that packing tape that has fibers in it. I think it was made by 3M.

[htwoopup]

Gothbrooks, another thing my daughter pointed out that she did that might help you...

She said if she knew the other team they were playing was very physical she wouldn't wear the pump at all. She would leave the infusion set in but remove the pump. Before she took it off she would figure out how long she was going to have it off and would bolus herself half of the amount of insulin that the pump was supposed to have given her over that time. When she put it back on, she would bolus the other half. The only time it was a problem was when she got all excited at the post game celebration and left her pump in a locker and we had to get the school to open up to get it in the middle of the night.

She said to tell you the obvious, to test your bg before the race, carb up, and make sure you stop if you feel yourself going low. She said the half bolus worked for her but you might have to experiment and do a little less than half or maybe a little more. As you know, every body is different and it depends on what you ate before and how hard you are riding...the usual stuff you are quite used to.

[GOTHBROOKS]

i have separation anxiety when i disconnect to take a bath. i cant imagine not wearing it. unless theres a future islet cell transplant upgrade or something.