So, the SportBand arrived, and I’ve run with it one time (pushing my Daughter in a running stroller, so that may have affected the accuracy) for real, and done a walk and run for calibration. Here’s what I’ve noticed. The band is slim, and the bump where the USB device is, is not that bad… WAYYYY better than the Garmin 305 for sure, and actually (size-wise) wearable as a watch. It was SO much easier to prepare for my run without worrying about running headphone cable, wrapping iPod in baggie to waterproof, and get the armband attached… Snapped on the SportBand, and was ready to go. Pairing it with my old Nike+ transmitter was cake, starting stopping runs was the same. Downloading/installing software was easy - everything was pretty straight forward, but there are 3 concerns I have.

1. Annoyingly, when I plug it in, click the (i) button to set up prefs, and then log in, the software doesn’t remember my login information, it just sits in a “Pending….” state. So, each time I plug it in to sync, it uploads my data like in some Guest mode, and then in the browser, I have to sign in to get it added to my N+ account. Minor annoyance - but with iTunes, it always sent it right to my account. Plus, and I haven’t tried this yet, but what if I close the window to the web browser.. do I lose my run? Unlike the iPod, the device can’t be viewed in disk mode, so I’m not sure the data is still on the band at that point… It seems like it’s erased when uploaded… so then where is my run? (I’ll try this tonight to see what happens and report back) Here’s the photo of the software causing headache #1.

2. Calibration… after my first run, I noticed that the Nike+ was reporting my mileage a bit short compared to the GPS I was also wearing. Ah, so I need to calibrate… I figured I would anyway, but here’s the second bummer I ran into. The calibration page uses you last run or walk (provided it was a steady pace), and lets you adjust the distance to calibrate… but only in .1 mile increments…. I needed to adjust by .02 for a .3 mile calibration run, and couldn’t…. SO I’ll have to run a 1.5 mile run to get it calibrated accurately. Good thing that kind of mileage is easy for me, but damn… I guess I could just run .28 miles and set it as .3 miles in the calibration page and see if that helps… (will test that as well….)

3. My calibration run & walk appear quite “jittery” despite running very consistently, almost like their software is creating the little bumps every so often… maybe this is normal, and longer runs don’t show this effect and thus I’ve not seen it before… I’ll have to test that too with the iPod to see what happens, but in the mean time check out the image below of what I’m talking about.

Otherwise it’s good… I hope my tests resolve some of these issues for me, and I can report back good news, because I’d really like to start using this rather than the iPod because it’s so easy to strap on and get going.

Technology, supposed to make our lives easier, yet I find it creating more work for me today,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Wow, and the gadgets just keep coming… From the minimed site:

Great news! U.S. customers who currently own a MiniMed Paradigm® REAL-Time System (522 or 722 insulin pump models) or a Guardian® REAL-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System can expect to automatically receive a OneTouch® UltraLink™ Meter at no charge before June 30, 2008.

So here it is, the new meter option for Paradigm Pump users:

So cool that it’s going to be free to existing users - these guys are really getting it right with their Carelink USB, and now meter. Plus, I already use the OneTouch UltraSmart, so the strips I already have will work with this new meter…. Two great companies here doing something really great for us - now if they could just stop treating the disease and CURE IT!

Still no automatic UPS notification, but can’t wait,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

P.S. I got the Nike+ SportBand on Friday and have tried it out…. still saving my opinion - but looks okay so far…

Got my latest test results back today, and my current A1c is….

Kinda bummed (well not that bummed really - 6.1 is still respectable), because I was hoping for a 6 or less, and it is UP from my last test, but I’ll take it. This number suggests an average BG of 123 over the past few months. While this is 0.1 higher than my Dr. & I want it to be, it’s still quite an accomplishment.

…and I still have low LDL cholesterol,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

No, not that kind of ITBS!!! It seems that I have recently experienced my first bout of Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS). (I’ve been dealing with the IT BS in the picture for years.) A few weeks ago on some of my longer runs, I noticed a “twinge” on the outside of my left knee. This is my “good” knee, as in not the one with a surgically repaired ACL. The few times it happened, I wrapped up my run at that point, stretched it out and called it a day - with no lingering effects (thankful that the few times it did happen, I was on a treadmill and could just stop without worrying about getting back home). Yesterday evening, I was near the end of a 10-miler, not on a treadmill, and it resurfaced. I stopped to walk, did a couple quick stretches, and resumed running. It would reappear shortly afterwards, so after trying the walk-run thing a few times, I caved in and walked the last .25 miles home - glad that it had waited until the end of this run when I was quite close to home.

This is a new one for me - and I’ve got a lot of learning to do to figure out how best to heal and prevent it from reoccuring, but I’ve found a TON of information on this since it appears to be one of the most common running injuries out there. So, why me, and why now. There are many thoughts on why this occurs, one of them being related to weight lifting, and muscle imbalance. Since I’ve been running for quite some time without suffering this sort of injury, I’m inclined to think that it has to do with my new strenght training - since the symptoms started around the same time as some of my new lower body workouts. Time now to talk with the trainers on some specific exercises and stretches, and talk with my Dr. that I am scheduled to see on the 29th anyway. The really good news is that I’ve caught this thing quite early, so I’m hopeful that I can deal with it without missing a ton of the training season. The bad news is that cycling isn’t recommended, so I may pass on the Tour de Cure this year - given my lack of training recently on the bike, it’s probably not a bad thing anyway. Will post when I have more info to share on this one.

So, the pump funny… Well, last Tuesday my sister was over, and as you know she uses the Paradigm Pump and CGMS just as I do. Usually one of our pumps will start the chirping, and we both reach to see who’s it is. This night I heard the beep beep beep of a Low Reservoir Alert, but instead of reaching for my pump I proclaimed, “Your pump speaks Texan!” You see, the pump doesn’t let you adjust volume for the beeps, just length, and my sister set hers to the medium length, where mine is set to the short length. So, while the chirps were recognizable, they seemed to come out with a bit of southern drawl to them. Anyway - I guess this joke is sort of like a VW commercial - “own one and you’ll understand.” But at least now we know who’s pump is lipping off!

Final thought - I haven’t abandoned the post-run BG spike topic - I’ve just been doing a bit more research, including adjusting my basals to test my theory. Hope to get back to that in the next week or so.

Full of IT, BS, and now ITBS,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

Kerri at SixUntilMe.com started something cool, the Raise Your Voice, Type I Diabetes Awareness Day. Be sure to stop by her blog and see what others are doing to raise their voices.

Over here, I am raising my voice, so listen up (and cover your kids’ ears, cause it’s about to get a little crazy in here):

I AM DIABETIC

They said I can’t eat sugar: 6 Krispy Kremes in 60 seconds, and still kicking
They said I can’t scuba dive: 100+ dives and not dead
They said I can’t run a marathon: Completed, and gearing up for a 70.3 triathlon
They said I can’t have a baby: errr, ummmm
They said I’ll go blind: I can see clearly that they were wrong
They said I’ll be impotent: Bob Dole can keep his pills
They said I’ll die of complications: BULLSHIT
They said a lot of things, and you know what, They were wrong!

I AM DIABETIC, AND BETTER FOR IT!

Irreverent rant over, but that was kind of fun,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

I received my Carelink USB on Monday, and had to call Medtronic for help getting the driver to install with Windows Vista, but they (as always) had the answer, and in no time I was uploading my pump data wirelessly with my new little friend. At any rate, if you haven’t ordered yours, you should, and if you have and need a hand getting it running with Vista, here’s what I did to get it going.

Quick Note Before We Start: don’t insert the new USB device until asked by the software to do so.

1. First you’ll need to TEMPORARILY change a setting in “Internet Options”: Open the “Internet Options” control panel (Start Menu: Control Panel: Internet Options). Click on the “Security” tab. Now uncheck the “Enable Protected Mode” option. (When you are done, don’t forget to go back and re-check this!) Now click “OK”

2. Next you’ll need to close your web browser (all open windows of it). Now we need to start it again as Administrator. To do this, right click on the web browser icon (IE or Firefox for example), and select “Run as administrator.” (You’ll then have to allow the program to be run, since you launched it, you can trust it.)

3. The browser now open, log in to your carelink account, and click the “Upload” tab. Next select “MiniMed Paradigm Insulin Pump.” Click “Next.” Click “Next” again, and then verify that the serial number is that of your pump. Click “Next” and then select “CareLink™ USB” and click “Next.”

4. You should now be prompted to plug in your CareLink USB - so plug it in, and then (if I recall correctly) you wait for a bit (I had to be a bit patient here) and the driver installs itself. I think it then says that the CareLink USB is ready, and you click “Finish” to begin the upload.

Great, you’ve now uploaded your data with your new device… BUT WE’RE NOT DONE YET!!!

5. Don’t forget what I mentioned in step 1… You’ll need to go back to your “Internet Options,” click on the “Security” tab, and re-select the “Enable Protected Mode” option. ¡Es muy importante!

From here out, you don’t need to change that setting, and you don’t need to run the browser as Administrator. In fact, I would quit the browser, and relaunch it as you normally do to make things safe again.

Hope my successful experience is helpful to someone who just can’t wait to get started… You can always call Minimed for assistance should you need it. Drop me a comment if this works for you, or to let me know if I’ve left something out - it’s been a few days since actually doing it.

Pumped,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

So, this weekend we went back to Minnesota for my dad’s birthday, and for the relatives to meet our new son (well, at 10 months, he’s hardly new to us anymore). And during our visit, there was a race held nearby that I signed up for, the Fools Five, raising money for cancer patients. Like so many races, a nice course, good turnout, and great cause. This race was held in Lewiston, MN, and the number of registered runners (around 1800 between the two races they held) was greater than the population of this rural community.

I had been looking at the weather forecasts prior to flying back, and the weather during our stay looked like it would be GREAT, with the exception of race day, where it was likely to be in the 40’s and raining. EWWW, so I brought all kinds of cold weather gear with me, ready for whatever Mother Nature threw at us. As it turns out, it was cool, not quite cold, and while it rained all the way up to starting time, it did stop for the race - nice! The wind however did not!

I lined up and started out pretty strong, though this was helped by the slightly downhill, tailwind aided first half mile. Stopped for a quick sip of water (later wishing I had more than a sip) at the first mile marker. And then it got windy. From mile .75 to 2.5 it was rolling uphill into a serious head wind. I kept hitting the pavement, but was slowing the entire time. At the turnaround I took another sip of water and started off the downhill, tailwind aided return - ah nice. Then, what the heck is this!!! A cramp in my calves? At 3 miles? It turns out that drinking lots of wine and a shot of tequilla the night before, while celebrating papa’s birthday was not such a good idea afterall. I knew it would be a “hangover” event, and I wasn’t expecting a fantastic finish, but now I was paying for my miscalculations… Kept running, and at the 4 mile marker, I stopped for two FULL glasses of water, knowing I would appreciate the relief later, probably not during the final mile, but certainly after the race. I figured at that point that I was looking at a finish of about 43 minutes, which was fine by me - right around the 45 minutes I had told my family I would likely return at. As I rounded the corner for the final .5 miles, I realized I still had a lot in the tank, so I picked it up, and finished strong with a final time of 41:34. Not too bad for a hungover runner.

It was nice to be back, and kind of fun running out in the heart of this farmland, where the smell of cow manure was my biggest challenge. In the end, it was worth while, and at only $8 to register, it was a great training run with a thousand others by my side. Fools five - aptly named if you are foolish enough to imbibe the night before as I did.

Foolish, but not fooled,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

More Cool Stuff - is it Christmas already?

Medtronic has introduced a wireless USB key that facilitates uploading CGMS data from the pump - thereby bypassing the (crappy) BD Meter and (poorly designed) cable. Check this out:

From the carelink.minimed.com site (after logging in, you’ll find a link on the bottom)

Get Your Complimentary CareLink™ USB Today!

The new CareLink USB upload device wirelessly sends data from your MiniMed Paradigm® Insulin Pump to CareLink Personal software. It delivers important advantages:

* No wires, no cables! The CareLink USB is not only convenient and easy, but also sleek and compact.
* It is fast and no batteries are required.
* It makes uploading information from your insulin pump to CareLink Personal Software easier than ever! Simply connect the CareLink USB directly to your personal computer’s USB port, and then upload all of your insulin pump information to your PC.

* Limited time only. One product per customer. For U.S. customers only

Soon-to-be Wireless CGMS uploader,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner

So I read something very interesting today, well interesting to me as a Nike+ user/fan. They are releasing a Nike+ SportBand that will allow users to use the Nike+ system without an iPod. Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPod nano, but this solves two of my problems. First of all, I can go ahead and buy a waterproof case for my iPod that will keep it dry when I run (and double for pool use), using the SportBand as the data collector instead. (the nano Nike+ module wouldn’t fit inside the waterproof case) Secondly, when entering a race that prohibits headphones, I can just leave the iPod at home, but can still track the run with Nike+. I know, I know, I could always have used it without headphones plugged in, but it is easier to slap a band on my wrist than to stow the nano somewhere - and I don’t have to worry about carrying an expensive iPod with me, instead I just have the (rumored price) $59 SportBand.

ALSO, and just as cool in my opinion, is the Nike+ Coach they are adding soon that lets you set up a training schedule online and integrate it with Nike+ data - can’t wait to get my hands on this as well.

I’ve been a big fan of Nike+ since the day it came out, so I find this news pretty exciting. In fact I was going to publish a “Readers Write” post about Nike+ in response to a question I was asked by a friend contemplating whether or not to pony up for the nano/Nike+ solution. I’ll post that in the “continue reading” link on the bottom here, because it still tells my tale of love for Nike+.

Jamie, The Diabetic Runner+

continue reading "Nike+ about to get even cooler!"

Like most of you diabetic runners, I am in a constant state of learning and refining my protocol for good blood sugars during my runs. I’ve gotten much better at it, even realizing that sometimes you have to trust your gut instinct, since no two day are the same leading up to a run. Occasionally I have a bad run, and occasionally I have a perfect run - most fall somewhere in the middle, but boy, oh boy, last Wednesday night I had a really well controlled (from a BG standpoint) run that I wanted to share…. It looks something like this:

My BG stayed between 80 and 120 during the entire run, and by bolusing 2U towards the end of the run, I avoided my usual post run bump up. Lately, I’ve added a bolus at the end of my run nearly every time - though again, sometimes the gut instinct overrules. Feeling pretty good about this run - and have an upcoming post specifically about the post run bumps - so stay tuned…

Endorphins not BGs make a runner high,
Jamie, The Diabetic Runner