Monday, August 22, 2011

Running is hard, Diabetes is harder.

Choosing to become a pumper was a good decision for me.  Along with better management, it’s brought me more freedom when it comes to food.  I can work in foods that I used to avoid.  I have more flexibility on when and what I eat.  But those benefits came with a price.  And for me, that price has been going up two clothing sizes, at least  Just because I can eat all those tasty foods, doesn’t mean I should have.

So I’ve once again started to work on getting healthier and smaller.  I’ve had several false starts - way too many to link all of my “I’m going to start exercising regularly” and my “I’m really going to lose some weight this time” posts here.

I’ve begun doing an overhaul on what we’re eating and swapping out some staple foods for healthier options with fewer calories.  And last week, Pete and I started running again.  For the first run my blood sugar was too high, but I took a chance that the run would bring it down.  It didn’t.  I was stuck in the 200s for hours while I took correction after correction and drank enough water to make me float away.

For our next run, my blood sugar was in the low 70s.  So I drank some juice and ate a few glucose tabs.  I was sure I had it all worked out and was ready for a successful run this time.

ugh

But diabetes had other plans.  As we were doing a slow walk back home for a cool-down, I knew I was in trouble.  I felt like I wouldn’t make it around the corner to our house.  So I pulled my meter out of my runner’s pack and wasn’t surprised to see that 39 glaring back at me.   Here’s the weird thing . . . . . I didn’t eat the icing tube in my pack.  Our house was in sight and my low-brain somehow convinced both Pete and myself that I could simply finish the walk home and treat there.  (I know, crazy, right??)

Running is hard.  But sometimes, diabetes is harder.  But I’m not going to let it get me down and I’m not going to let it sidetrack me from my goals.  I’ve simply taken notes on what my blood sugar was, how much I had eaten, and how much more I should’ve eaten to keep me from going low during that run.  And when we run tomorrow night, I’ll use that information to determine what to eat before we head out.  It might work.  It might not.  It might be will be kind of frustrating.  But as long as I keep trying, diabetes won’t win!

12 comments:

  1. I love your determination! Go Karen!!!

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  2. You are doing it! Yay for you!! I started running this summer and it really made a difference in my entire day of BGs--even if it was high when I ran. Then I did the whole plantar faciitis thing so haven't been able to run for 6 wks now...hoping I can start again soon. Good luck, K! I know what it's like to have to try again and again...you can totally do it.

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  3. Ah, you can do it - just do it when the numbers are on your side.

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  4. Good for you for keeping at it even though it is hard. It would be so easy to quit and I'm glad you're not letting diabetes win.

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  5. good for you Karen! i need to start to exercise myself, but the fear of lows, and the PAD (peripheral arterial disease) have stopped me. i need to do it though. i can't put it off any longer! like quitting smoking, it just has to be done!!

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  6. I think the BS part of exercise is harder than the exercise itself - BS never seems to cooperate.

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  7. YOU GOT THIS...it takes time and tons of "studying" to see what works for you. I am so inspired by how hard you work just to work out. Diabetes won't win...you will...you ARE! xo

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  8. Keep plugging away at it. You've done it before so you can do it again. The body always takes a little while to get used to it.
    Kudos to you!

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  9. Thanks for this. I'm having problems with exercise causing my BG to go UP! So frustrating. But I'm trying different things and will keep plugging away.

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  10. The price you paid is the very reason i will not become a pumper. Sorry, but it doesn't sound like you have much freedom either. If I were to pump, I would not want to have the highs and lows you experienced.

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  11. Anonymous, I'm certainly not trying to sell anyone on pumping and definitely think pumping is not for everyone. But I still stand by my statement that going on a pump was the right choice for me. I don't expect the pump to eliminate the highs and lows - I just don't think the technology is there yet. But for me, personally, my pump does help me better manage my diabetes and it does give me more freedom. But that's just me - and I certainly respect your right to manage your diabetes in the way that works best for you. After all, diabetes is not "one size fits all".

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