Category Archives: Diabetes and Exercise

Smartie Spit

3 Replies

Get that picture into your mind: Smartie Spit. Now think of that spit going through a clarinet. Gross, huh. Don’t stop reading.

I play the clarinet. I’m in my high school’s symphonic band. It’s really fun, because I got first clarinet, and I just love love love music in general. It’s just so much fun. It’s really one of the best part of my days.

A couple of days ago I was low in band. Now that’s just awkward. I mean, try to imagine trying to inhale smarties during the rests (pauses while playing) and then forcing Smartie spit down your instrument. It’s really gross. And I’m not grossed out by many things, but this is just one of them.

And then in many cases your band teacher just gives you this look, that basically says, Why the heck are you eating and playing your instrument at the same time? Irresponsible student.

So you basically hope that you never get low during band.

Okay, and then you join the marching band. Which can technically be counted as exercise. Don’t get me wrong. Marching band is totally fun. Football games are the life. I mean, we’re all the “band geeks” so we really know nothing about football. So we just sit around and play little rifts and laugh and talk.

But throw the whole marching thing into the mix. We play at parades too. But how do you march in a contest in formation and get low in the middle of the song? It’s a puzzle, I tell you. A puzzle. My band teacher told me that I could just duck out when I needed to, and I’m not saying that I’m against the idea, but that it’s sort of awkward to playing our school’s fight song and then to duck out of the group when we’re all in formation.I will totally duck out if I need to, but it’s still weird. I still have a bag of Smarties in the pocket of my uniform. But I haven’t been low yet, which is a good thing.

Luckily, just now we’re only doing basketball games right now and no marching, so I wont have to worry about this until next school year, when we start marching again.

Well, adios for now!

Claire Montgomery
Type 1 diabetic, Diabetic blogger, Smartie spitter

Related Posts:

Balancing Halloween Candy and Diabetes
My Gum Drops are Out To Kill Me

I Have Low Blood Sugars When I Ski

1 Reply

Who knew.

So after a couple of weekends of taking ski lessons at Copper Mountain I’ve deduced that I always end up in my 20s after my first run. And being 20 mg/dl is just scary. And my goal is not to have Ski Patrol come rescue me (even my mom says that they are hot). So what do you do? I hate being high, and I hate being low. But at this point in time I am guessing that I should send myself high in order not to go low. Any suggestions?

I already carry candy in my pocket: jelly beans and Smarties. The first time that I was low and skiing my dad freaked out so now whenever I go skiing my pockets are weighted down like I’m carrying a bowling ball or something. Which brings me to my next point.

For all you skiers, always bring something with you. That really should be common sense, but I just want to get out there so I can say that I’ve said it. I carry candy, my lunch, my tester, an extra lancet, and a shot with me. All in my pockets. But seriously, if you need something on the mountain, you wont be sorry that you had all of that stuff with you.

For example, one time during our ski lessons we skied down to the bottom of Resolution bowl on Copper Mountain. For those of you who don’t know, Resolution is the only lift were you aren’t at a base, or can’t ski down to a base. So if the mountain looses power, you’re stuck. And guess what? Just as we got to the bottom of Resolution, the whole entire mountain lost power! I know, right? CRAZY. And for some weird reason Copper decided that Resolution was going to use reserve power LAST. That’s right, LAST. So everyone else in the class was starving, but my brother and I had our lunches in our pocket, so we weren’t starving. I know that I wasn’t low, but what if I had been? That right there is a really good reason to have sugar with you right there.

So anyway. I’m asking for suggestions on what to do to stop being low on the mountain when I ski. Suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks!

Sincerely,

Claire Montgomery
Type 1 diabetic, Diabetic blogger, Diabetic skier

Related Posts:

Skiing with Diabetes
Skiing with a High Blood Sugar

Skiing With Diabetes

5 Replies

So. I ski. I suppose it’s not that surprising, but I live in Colorado, so of course I ski. Stereotypical, huh? My grandfather rented out a house in Steamboat for winter vacation so all of my aunts, uncles, and grandparents (and my immediate family) came up to Steamboat to hang out and ski. Fun, right? But I’m sure that you’re all very surprised that skiing can get very complicated when mixed with diabetes (intense sarcasm). It’s like running for me. Really. I’ve had a crazy couple of days.

So you think I would go low, right? Well, I did, but I also went high. While I was there I skied for a total of two days, and on the first day I had some really low blood sugars. On the second day I had blood sugars that were in the 400 range. Not really perfect. And it makes it hard to find a pattern. And on the first day, when my blood sugar was low, I was in the 30′s. That’s the lowest I’ve ever been before, and it really scared me.

So I guess I am asking for advice, so please comment. :) I’m going skiing in a couple of weeks so I will be sure to try out some ideas.

Sincerely,

Claire Montgomery
Type 1 Diabetic, Diabetic skier, Powder shredder

Related posts:

Skiing with a High Blood Sugar

My Second Race

2 Replies

Cross country race number two.

Here was my second attempt at a cross country race.

My race didn’t start until about 5:30 or so. We were dead last, because I am in Girl’s Open, and the race order went Boy’s Junior Varsity, Girl’s JV, Boy’s Varsity, Girl’s Varsity, Boy’s Open, Girl’s Open. They were each about thirty minutes apart, which my Mom complained about for at least fifteen minutes, even though she didn’t go. So I don’t know why she cares. Actually, I kind of like it when it’s all spread out, because you get to sit there and relax for a while, or even take a nap, like one girl did. I listened to my iPod and talked.

Mr. Southerns was going to race with me again, which I really appreciate. :) I did not warm up with him, however. Before every practice, and every race you have to go on at least a twenty minute run and then do dynamic stretches so you don’t pull a muscle or anything like that. Before my warm up I tested and I was 150 mg/dl. So I didn’t correct or anything, I just went on the warm up jog. When I finished, I was 60 mg/dl. So I had a juice, and then I went and stretched. After stretching, I was 120 mg/dl, and this was about ten minutes or so before my race. So I had a Gatorade and and granola bar.

And we started. And I went. (Sound familiar?) And Mr. Southerns went with me. He was carrying my glucometer, and some juice and some more chewy thingies. After mile 1, I tested, and I think that I was around 170 mg/dl, but I can’t quite remember.

Meanwhile, I’m feeling really good. I’m passing people, and I have my rhythm, and I just felt like I was on it. It was the greatest feeling.

I was about at mile 2 when I tested again. This time I can remember what my number was, because I was 300 mg/dl. I guess the Gatorade threw me over the edge, eh? So I bolused, but I didn’t give myself the full amount. Only about a unit.

But about thirty yards ahead, all of the varsity girls were congregated. I started running again, and they were all cheering me on, even though I was the only person in that little bit. It was so awesome. I love a sport where the only person you have to beat is yourself, and everyone knows how hard it is, and everyone is SO supportive. They were so loud and so enthusiastic that I couldn’t help but smile. That was my second-to-best moment in my whole cross country career, which hasn’t been a long one.

Right after the girls was a hill, and I got faster GOING UP the hill, and I PASSED about five girls! That was an excellent moment of success. It was the bomb. I had about .5 or so miles left.

I got to the finish line. Now I will tell you my best moment in my whole cross country career. I CROSSED THE FINISH LINE AND MY TIME WAS 29:24 approximately, AND I HAD CUT OFF ABOUT 4 MINUTES FROM MY FIRST RACE!!!! OMG I WAS SO HAPPY. AND I STILL AM. Can you tell?

Mr. Southerns was so happy for me too, he hugged me as soon as I finished, and I was happy with that moment for the rest of forever. And my couch was so proud and supportive, and everyone on the team was telling me good job, and it was the best, because by then everyone knew that I had diabetes, so they knew that it was a huge accomplishment for me.

By the end of the race I was 150 mg/dl and steady. And that was my second race. :D

By the way, a HUGE shout out to Claudia J. for contacting me. She has just been diagnosed, so I’m sure we can all sympathize. Keep going, Claudia, and don’t give up. It’s a struggle at first, but you’ll get better at it. I’m cheering for you!

Sincerely,

Claire Montgomery
Cross Country Runner, Type 1 Diabetic, Awesome Person in General

Related Posts:

Racing, Cross Country, and Diabetes
Cross Country
A Try on Cross Country and Diabetes

Racing, Cross Country, and Diabetes

4 Replies

So. I ran my first race about a month ago. It was a 5K, or 3.1 miles, if you didn’t know (like how I was).

My coach was really nervous. And I admit that I was too. Not too nervous about the running part, but about the running with diabetes part. And if you’ve been following my progress so far, then you know that it wasn’t really going perfectly. I’d say less than perfect, in fact. So she had me run with a spot runner. Or someone who would run with me so if I just happened to faint, people wouldn’t remember me only until the race hadn’t finished, if you get my drift.

Mr. Southerns. He runs marathons. And his son is in my high school’s cross country team. Bingo.

Are you following me so far?

Race day. I was SUPER nervous. Like, beyond nervous. Like, I sort of wanted to throw up nervous. I was so nervous that I managed to make my blood sugar spike about an hour and a half before the race, and then plummet about forty five minutes before the race. Smart. Exactly what I needed. Way to be, Claire. (That’s my new catch phrase, by the way. But sorry, I’m rambling.)

I managed to get my self to about 150 and steady. And I was still really nervous. I just might mention my nerves about half a billion more times.

And we started. And I went. Let my explain my running style. That day, when I didn’t feel that good, I ran like the equivalent of an uncoordinated elephant. But like I’ve said, that wasn’t my best day.

After every mile, he gave me this gummy thing that had sugar in it. Or a lot of carbs. Or something like that. I’m not really sure what it was. But I didn’t like it. I ate it anyway. It worked to keep my blood sugar up, but it had this horrible sugary aftertaste that left me wanting to throw up. Not good when you’re running your first race.

After about mile two and a half, I sort of wanted to sit down right there, throw up, and die. But I didn’t. I kept going. And it was hard. (Warning to all folks who are thinking about doing cross country. It’s hard. But the reward is great.)

I stopped maybe three or so times to test, and I can’t exactly remember, but I think that I was 150 mg/dl pretty much all the times. So whatever Mr. Southerns was doing with his stupid glucose gummies was working. Not that I liked them. But then I’m repeating myself again.

I finished. My time was 32 minutes, 44 seconds. I was the slowest person on the team. But I ran my first cross country race!! That in itself is a huge achievement for me. There is the small side effect of me wanting to puke afterwards, which I never did, but then again, I finished the race with type 1 diabetes.

A HUGE shout out to Mr. Southerns, the guy who ran with me! Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Claire Montgomery
Cross country runner, Type 1 diabetic, Nearly puked but didn’t

Related Posts:

A Try on Cross Country and Diabetes
Cross Country

A Try on Cross Country and Diabetes

2 Replies

Okay, so you know how I was having real trouble running Cross Country with diabetes? So my dad does this whole LinkedIn group thing, and he asks questions about diabetes on it. Most recently, questions about how to run cross country with diabetes. So this other dad with a kid a little older then me answered and told Dad about this thing called a SPIbelt. A SPIbelt is this thing that is basically a little belt with a pouch on it that is perfect for running, because IT DOESN’T BOUNCE. I mean, I get annoyed when I run and my test strips click, so when this thing doesn’t bounce, it’s like a blessing.

So my Dad is going to get me a SPIbelt. I can fit some Skittles (haha, I know, ironic) and one of those OneTouch Minis in it. Which is cool because now I won’t have to carry anything in my hands, which is also annoying.

So I suppose that going low is just one of those things that happen when you run, right? And if you’re a diabetic and run Cross Country, please COMMENT so I can get some advise. Which would be really helpful. PRETTY PLEASE. :)

Sincerely,

Claire Montgomery
Type 1 Diabetic, Diabetic Blogger, Cross Country Runner

Related Posts:

Cross Country

Cross Country

4 Replies

Sooo…. About three weeks ago I started high school! Yay!

And high school means sports. And sports to me means cross country. Which I really didn’t want to do, but my parents made me. And it turns out to be pretty fun. The people are nice, not to mention supportive. There’s just one little snag.

Usually I am opposite of most people when it comes to blood sugars and diabetes. Like I usually go high and have to account for that. Except then I joined Cross Country.

There hasn’t been a day when I haven’t gone low. It sucks. Period. And it’s not just the sixty or seventy range. It’s the fifty or forty range, which just makes it worse. And all I can say is THANKS TO GOODNESS that I have my CGM on, or I would probably collapse and fall unconscious (usually I feel my lows, not when I run).

I love my coach. On the first day I gave her my diabetes letter and told her that I had type 1 diabetes. And her first question was, “How are you going to not be low?” Like I said, I love my coach. She knows what diabetes is! She asked the right questions! LUCKY ME! So I said that I usually don’t go low, and that I was going to run with my tester and smarties.

On that first day, I left my glucose tester and smarties in my backpack, because I was only going to run around campus. Bad idea. I was running with another girl, but then I had to turn back because I was feeling seriously shaky and dizzy. It took me about forever to get back. And I was 50 mg/dl. Yup. From then on, I held my tester and smarties in my hands as I ran, and was low EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOT FUN.

It’s gotten to the point that I couldn’t finish my three miles, and nearly cried because of it, because I was so frustrated. I mean, I’m lowering my insulin, I’m eating before hand, what’s going on? Hopefully I’ll figure it out soon.

Sincerely,

Claire Montgomery

Related Posts:

Watch Your Blood Sugar in the Water
Why I Love the CGM

Watch Your Blood Sugar in the Water

2 Replies

People don’t tend to notice their lows in the water, so be sure to be careful about it.

That’s what my trainer said two days after I was diagnosed with diabetes. But usually I go high instead of low while exercising. And then it all began to change.

The first time I noticed that I was low while swimming wasn’t a result of swimming. I was low before swim team and wouldn’t come up. Even during dinner I wouldn’t come up. First I had a juice before dinner. Then I ate dinner. Then I had some smarties. Then I had another juice. Then I started to swim during practice. I checked again and I was 80. So I had another juice. And then, finally, I was fine. But it took maybe forty five minutes.Swimming With Diabetes

The next morning we biked to swim team. After swimming my mom made me test even though I felt fine. And I was 56. My mom called my dad and he came and picked me up. Luckily I had some smarties with me. When I got into the car I overheard my mom telling my dad that at the end I was only going fast enough to stay afloat. And that’s why she made me test.

In the next couple of practices I was fine. But one morning after practice my brother and sister convinced my dad to go get doughnuts afterwords at Safeway. When we got to Safeway, we were holding my doughnuts and in line to pay when I tested my blood sugar. I was 45. It was sort of a funny scene, we were paying and I was devouring my doughnut. “Three doughnuts,” my dad said. He looked over at me. “Well, two doughnuts, actually. Her doughnuts on her face. I meant that the crumbs were on her face. Do I know you?” The cashier laughed, and we payed for three doughnuts and left.Managing Low Blood Sugars While Swimming With Diabetes

At my next swim meat I was 200 after my first event. So I corrected. After my fourth event I was 460. After my fifth I was 450. So I guess you go high at swim meets.

I’m just putting this out there to say that diabetics should watch their blood sugar in the water. Because if you don’t, some nasty situations could come up.

Sincerely,
Claire Montgomery
Type 1 Diabetic, Independent Pumper, Doughnut Stealer