Tag Archives: Sports

I Have Low Blood Sugars When I Ski

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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

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

Ti Kwon Do and Diabetes

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Here is a story I think people might enjoy. I like it because it’s funny and it shows how little people know about diabetes.

Maybe a month or so after I was diagnosed with diabetes, I went back to a sport that I loved: Ti Kwon Do.

During the car ride to the studio my dad informed me that we were going to tell my instructors about my having diabetes so they could look out for me. I don’t remember being exactly thrilled with that idea but I went ahead with the idea.

Dad pulled over Mr. Azir and said, “Claire has something she’d like to tell you.” Then they both looked at me with expectant expressions on their faces.

Ti Kwon Do and Diabetes

The summer before I was diagnosed.

“Um, well…” I said, ” I have diabetes.” Then I looked at Dad with a No way am I doing anymore talking, why don’t you? look on my face.

So my dad said something like “Yeah, so here’s what’s going on…” and most likely filled Mr. Azir in. I just don’t really remember.

Mr. Azir perked right up and said, “Don’t worry honey, it happens to all of us.” Now, sorry for interrupting but I mean, come on! It happens to all of us. I have grandparents and great grandparents who have never had diabetes. Don’t try to sound like you know what your talking about when you really have no idea.

Anyway, my dad and I feign interest and nod politely. Mr. Azir continues. “Oh, and yeah! I think my mom might have had it. Or maybe it was my dad. Hmm…” He strokes his chin and stares off into space looking bewildered. Now let me interrupt again. How would you not know which parent has a serious illness? A serious illness that would be pretty darn had to ignore?

“Did they take shots everyday?” Dad politely inquires.

“Nah.”

“Then they must have had type 2 diabetes,” my dad announces.

“Yah, that must be it. But, yes, I will definitely look out for Claire.” Mr. Azir and my dad shake hands, and then my dad turns to look at me incredulously.

Sincerely,
Claire Montgomery
Type 1 Diabetic, Independent Pumper, Knower That Adults are Silly