Comments on: My Diabetes http://diabeticrunner.com A podcast following the life of a diabetic runner. Jamie uses an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor as he trains for various races as a middle-of-the-pack runner. Follow his training, and gain some insights into running on insulin from first hand accounts of someone actually doing it. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:39:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Dan http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-44001 Dan Tue, 12 May 2009 19:51:33 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-44001 Jamie, I've been running for the past year & a half and only just the past few months have great wind and my runs are now fun. I am Type 1 and use a pen for my insulin. I have a 24 hr. insulin and a rapid for meals. Where I have problems is my crashing during a run. I need to constantly have an intake of Carbs but that doesn't necessarily work all the time. I am going to be running my first mini marathon at the end of May. It's a 12km trail run in the mountains. What would you suggest in order to keep my sugars up. I can't seem to find the right gel or drink. BTW, my best ever A1C is 6.8. My worst 9. Recently my daily sugar levels have been anywhere from 6.8 to 18.9. This is much better compared to 2 years ago when I was diagnosised with diabetes. Also, I love the site. I'll be keeping my eye on this one. Jamie, I’ve been running for the past year & a half and only just the past few months have great wind and my runs are now fun. I am Type 1 and use a pen for my insulin. I have a 24 hr. insulin and a rapid for meals. Where I have problems is my crashing during a run. I need to constantly have an intake of Carbs but that doesn’t necessarily work all the time. I am going to be running my first mini marathon at the end of May. It’s a 12km trail run in the mountains. What would you suggest in order to keep my sugars up. I can’t seem to find the right gel or drink.

BTW, my best ever A1C is 6.8. My worst 9. Recently my daily sugar levels have been anywhere from 6.8 to 18.9. This is much better compared to 2 years ago when I was diagnosised with diabetes.

Also, I love the site. I’ll be keeping my eye on this one.

]]> By: Al http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-466 Al Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:45:33 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-466 I'm a data junkie myself and my son's upload cable is also broken right now. However, one of his roomates at college also uses a Medtronic pump. So, he can borrow his cable to upload. He's lucky to have a roommate that is a T1 and uses the same equipment. This was very helpful a few weeks ago, when we got a call that he was in the hospital after a benge drinking night. His favorite football team had just lost. I was able to talk to the roommate and have him put his pump in suspend. The ER staff really didn't know what to do with the pump. They did give him 30 units of glucose because his BG was at 80 I believe. All's well now and hopefully a valuable lesson learned. I’m a data junkie myself and my son’s upload cable is also broken right now. However, one of his roomates at college also uses a Medtronic pump. So, he can borrow his cable to upload. He’s lucky to have a roommate that is a T1 and uses the same equipment. This was very helpful a few weeks ago, when we got a call that he was in the hospital after a benge drinking night. His favorite football team had just lost. I was able to talk to the roommate and have him put his pump in suspend. The ER staff really didn’t know what to do with the pump. They did give him 30 units of glucose because his BG was at 80 I believe. All’s well now and hopefully a valuable lesson learned.

]]> By: Jamie http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-464 Jamie Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:09:43 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-464 I typically update the BG calendar every day - however, the cable that lets me upload data from the pump to Carelink is broken, and I'm waiting (impatiently) for the replacement to arrive. You can bet that the minute it shows up, the data will be updated. I am a data junkie! Good luck on 12/13! I typically update the BG calendar every day - however, the cable that lets me upload data from the pump to Carelink is broken, and I’m waiting (impatiently) for the replacement to arrive. You can bet that the minute it shows up, the data will be updated. I am a data junkie!

Good luck on 12/13!

]]> By: Al http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-458 Al Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:44:00 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-458 6 days, that's good to know. I'll keep you posted on the insurance. We good to the endo on 12/13 for a check up. Hopefully, they will have heard from the insurance company. When are you going to update your November BG calendar? Sorry, I'm talking to you like I do to my son. I usually have to get on him to upload his pump data to the Medtronic Carelink site every 3 or 4 weeks. 6 days, that’s good to know. I’ll keep you posted on the insurance. We good to the endo on 12/13 for a check up. Hopefully, they will have heard from the insurance company. When are you going to update your November BG calendar? Sorry, I’m talking to you like I do to my son. I usually have to get on him to upload his pump data to the Medtronic Carelink site every 3 or 4 weeks.

]]> By: Jamie http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-434 Jamie Sun, 25 Nov 2007 06:38:16 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-434 To be honest with you, I am usually getting about 6 days of good data. Sometimes, if I get lucky with a site, I will get 9 days, but I don't usually trust the data at that point... I see flat readings, and once in a while while on the later days, my BG really is flat and tests match, so I think things are cool, then WHAP, BAM, SLAM, I see the sensor saying 120, and I'll actually be 300 or something stupid like that, and I pull the sensor. But that usually only happens on day 7 or later (after I've had to disconnect the transmitter, charge it, and reattach it). As with anything, I'm sure your mileage may vary - and it could just be my sweating during long runs that does in the sensors... Hope the insurance comes through for you quickly! To be honest with you, I am usually getting about 6 days of good data. Sometimes, if I get lucky with a site, I will get 9 days, but I don’t usually trust the data at that point… I see flat readings, and once in a while while on the later days, my BG really is flat and tests match, so I think things are cool, then WHAP, BAM, SLAM, I see the sensor saying 120, and I’ll actually be 300 or something stupid like that, and I pull the sensor. But that usually only happens on day 7 or later (after I’ve had to disconnect the transmitter, charge it, and reattach it).

As with anything, I’m sure your mileage may vary - and it could just be my sweating during long runs that does in the sensors…

Hope the insurance comes through for you quickly!

]]> By: Al http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-427 Al Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:45:18 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-427 Thanks Jamie for the informative reply. At this point, we decided to try the insurance route for obtaining the GCMS. It will now be summer before we have the opportunity to start using a GCMS. On the subject of sensor life. At an information meeting, we were hearing reports of sensors lasting 10 days. Medtronics couldn't claim more than 3 days for legal purposes. However, they said they were trying to obtain FDA clearance to market the sensor with a longer life statment. How long are your sensors lasting? Thanks Jamie for the informative reply. At this point, we decided to try the insurance route for obtaining the GCMS. It will now be summer before we have the opportunity to start using a GCMS.

On the subject of sensor life. At an information meeting, we were hearing reports of sensors lasting 10 days. Medtronics couldn’t claim more than 3 days for legal purposes. However, they said they were trying to obtain FDA clearance to market the sensor with a longer life statment. How long are your sensors lasting?

]]> By: Jamie http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-407 Jamie Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:30:20 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-407 Hey Al, Sorry for the extreme delay.... I've been, well inexcusably busy. First off, thanks for the optimism towards my blog... it's my hope that it comes of some use to someone in the world - and seems that maybe I'm accomplishing that. And WOW, your son's A1C is great at 6.0! gotta be doing something right to attain that! As far as the lapses in BG data, here's what happens. When the sensor is done, or ends its life, I have to put a new one in, and an hour later I usually attach the wireless transmitter, which then requires 2 hours to warm up before it is calibrated and begins giving me data. So during this time I have no data. Additionally, depending on when I pull the sensor, sometimes I wait until the next day so I will be awake when it wants to be calibrated with a finger stick. Hope that clears it up a bit. The more important question of using the CGMS in college, etc... Well, let me start with the last part - paying out of pocket. After using it for 3 months and seeing my A1C drop significantly, I for one REALLY feel the out of pocket expense is worth-while. I think it helped with the swings you talked about - while it doesn't completely eliminate them, if you use the sensor rigorously, you can start to see them happening, and ward them off (or limit the extent of the swing) ahead of time, rather than waiting for a finger stick to know you are high, and need to correct. In the beginning, I was looking at the readings every 15 minutes, and warding off highs with insulin... probably more than I should have - more lows as a result, but great overall numbers. I now have a good A1c, and like your son and now concentrating on the swings - trying to keep the standard deviation (swing amount) under control (30 or less is my goal for a week's data). Would I have used it in college... hmmmm... I say it's probably more about the person - I for one was probably NOT a good candidate while I entered college. I wanted to forget about my diabetes when I was in school - and it was new, and I was still "honeymooning" to a certain extent, so it was easier then to not pay as much attention as I do now. BUT - if he is really interested in better control, it's certainly a great tool, and actually pretty minimally invasive. It doesn't really get in the way of anything, and the only "hassle" is having to do finger sticks to calibrate it when it needs it - if you consider that a hassle.... back then I would have considered it a hassle, but these days I think of this need to calibrate as a good reminder that I need to keep testing consistently anyway - I mean back then there were days I went with my gut feelings and skipped days of testing altogether - but with the CGMS, it wouldn't be an option if I was using it. Hope this input from my point of view helps. If I could give my 2 cents to your son, given what I know now - I would encourage him to be serious about his diabetes even with all the distractions of college, get him the CGMS as a good incentive, and start the lifelong habit of taking control of the disease! Best wishes for you both, and please don't hesitate to ask more questions - I promise to be more punctual on my responses. Jamie, The Diabetic Runner Hey Al,

Sorry for the extreme delay…. I’ve been, well inexcusably busy.

First off, thanks for the optimism towards my blog… it’s my hope that it comes of some use to someone in the world - and seems that maybe I’m accomplishing that. And WOW, your son’s A1C is great at 6.0! gotta be doing something right to attain that!

As far as the lapses in BG data, here’s what happens. When the sensor is done, or ends its life, I have to put a new one in, and an hour later I usually attach the wireless transmitter, which then requires 2 hours to warm up before it is calibrated and begins giving me data. So during this time I have no data. Additionally, depending on when I pull the sensor, sometimes I wait until the next day so I will be awake when it wants to be calibrated with a finger stick. Hope that clears it up a bit.

The more important question of using the CGMS in college, etc… Well, let me start with the last part - paying out of pocket. After using it for 3 months and seeing my A1C drop significantly, I for one REALLY feel the out of pocket expense is worth-while. I think it helped with the swings you talked about - while it doesn’t completely eliminate them, if you use the sensor rigorously, you can start to see them happening, and ward them off (or limit the extent of the swing) ahead of time, rather than waiting for a finger stick to know you are high, and need to correct. In the beginning, I was looking at the readings every 15 minutes, and warding off highs with insulin… probably more than I should have - more lows as a result, but great overall numbers. I now have a good A1c, and like your son and now concentrating on the swings - trying to keep the standard deviation (swing amount) under control (30 or less is my goal for a week’s data).

Would I have used it in college… hmmmm… I say it’s probably more about the person - I for one was probably NOT a good candidate while I entered college. I wanted to forget about my diabetes when I was in school - and it was new, and I was still “honeymooning” to a certain extent, so it was easier then to not pay as much attention as I do now. BUT - if he is really interested in better control, it’s certainly a great tool, and actually pretty minimally invasive. It doesn’t really get in the way of anything, and the only “hassle” is having to do finger sticks to calibrate it when it needs it - if you consider that a hassle…. back then I would have considered it a hassle, but these days I think of this need to calibrate as a good reminder that I need to keep testing consistently anyway - I mean back then there were days I went with my gut feelings and skipped days of testing altogether - but with the CGMS, it wouldn’t be an option if I was using it. Hope this input from my point of view helps. If I could give my 2 cents to your son, given what I know now - I would encourage him to be serious about his diabetes even with all the distractions of college, get him the CGMS as a good incentive, and start the lifelong habit of taking control of the disease!

Best wishes for you both, and please don’t hesitate to ask more questions - I promise to be more punctual on my responses.

Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

]]> By: Al http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-335 Al Sun, 04 Nov 2007 13:07:36 +0000 http://diabeticrunner.com/glucose-central/#comment-335 Hi Jamie, First off, very cool blogg. I love the BG and Runner+ calendars. Second, your diabetic starts sounds very similar to my sons. He was diagnosis two weeks after his HS graduation. When we look at his graduation pictures, it's obvious he has diabetes...thin, washed out look. We didn't have a history of diabetes in the family, so were shocked by the diagnosis. Because he was leaving for college in the fall, he got him on a Medtronic's 722 pump within a few weeks of his diagnosis. It was amazingly fast. He's doing really well with control for the most part and has had back to back A1c results of 6.0%. His biggest frustration is his swings. This is what we are hoping a CGM will help with. I notice on your BG calendar that there is missing BG data on several of the trends. Is this because you're not wearing the sensor or the transmitter lost its communication link? I'll have to check more of your blogg to see if you have blogged about your CGMs experience in more detail. You've probably answered most of my questions already. One you may not have is, do you think you would have used a CGM in college or younger carefree life? My son thinks we will. I'm quietly skeptical, since it involves wearing another device on your mid-section. It also sounds like you have to tape the sensor and transmitter down on your skin. I guess my question is, what's the hassle factor for you wearing a CGM? At current, our insurance is not paying for a CGM. So, we're considering purchasing one out of pocket. Our son is fairly stressed about his BG swings and believes he will put a CGM to good use. Thanks for your excellent blogg and I look forward to your comments and reading more of your blogg. Al Hi Jamie,
First off, very cool blogg. I love the BG and Runner+ calendars.
Second, your diabetic starts sounds very similar to my sons. He was diagnosis two weeks after his HS graduation. When we look at his graduation pictures, it’s obvious he has diabetes…thin, washed out look. We didn’t have a history of diabetes in the family, so were shocked by the diagnosis. Because he was leaving for college in the fall, he got him on a Medtronic’s 722 pump within a few weeks of his diagnosis. It was amazingly fast. He’s doing really well with control for the most part and has had back to back A1c results of 6.0%. His biggest frustration is his swings. This is what we are hoping a CGM will help with.
I notice on your BG calendar that there is missing BG data on several of the trends. Is this because you’re not wearing the sensor or the transmitter lost its communication link? I’ll have to check more of your blogg to see if you have blogged about your CGMs experience in more detail. You’ve probably answered most of my questions already. One you may not have is, do you think you would have used a CGM in college or younger carefree life? My son thinks we will. I’m quietly skeptical, since it involves wearing another device on your mid-section. It also sounds like you have to tape the sensor and transmitter down on your skin. I guess my question is, what’s the hassle factor for you wearing a CGM?
At current, our insurance is not paying for a CGM. So, we’re considering purchasing one out of pocket. Our son is fairly stressed about his BG swings and believes he will put a CGM to good use.
Thanks for your excellent blogg and I look forward to your comments and reading more of your blogg.
Al

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