Tough Day with Diabetes

While most days are business as usual with Type 1 diabetes, occasionally something flies in from the back of the room to knock you off balance. Today, Braeden's pump failed, probably. This is the fourth or fifth pump that has likely failed. It always starts with a high blood sugar reading. His normal range is 125 +/- 20 mg/dL. His breakfast check yielded 348.

When the body has consumed all of its insulin, the cells do not have a way to extract the sugar from the blood stream and convert it to energy. So, the blood sugar concentration increases unchecked. At this point, the affected person is feeling very poor and lethargic. Not because the blood sugar is high, but because the cells are starving. The cells still need energy, so they start to tap stored reserves of fat and protein. The chemical process that ensues creates byproducts including ketones. (Anyone out there ever try the Atkins diet?) Ketones are poison to the body and are measured on a funny scale: NONE, TRACE, SMALL, MODERATE, LARGE, EXTRA LARGE. At breakfast, Braeden's ketones were already LARGE.

This scenario happens from time to time even when the pump is operating well. But, it is a lot harder to fix with a broken pump! So, here is a snapshot of Braeden's blood sugar throughout the day. The red lines mark the upper and lower limits of his target range.


We turned the pump off and started using a combination of NovoLog and Lantus injections by syringe at 5:00 PM. A new pump should arrive via overnight mail sometime tomorow. But the damage is done. Braeden suffered through the swings all day, had LARGE ketones twice, and now has stayed low for several hours despite taking in lots of carbohydrates. Like they say, insulin therapy is not a cure, and this illustrates why.

Thank you!!!

I owe several individuals a HUGE thank you! Just two days into the fundraising effort, my friends have helped me raise nearly 30% of the goal. This is the power of many. However, it begins with an individual decision. Do you want to join us?

The generosity and concern people have shown is amazing. I appreciate the donations; they are what power JDRF. I appreciate the encouragement; it is what powers me.

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Ride to Cure Diabetes 2009

JDRF Ride registration opened today! I signed up for the Killington, VT ride that will be held on Saturday, 29 August. I am so stoked! I am also a little nervous...I have to raise $4,200!

You will be able to keep up with my preparation and training on this blog. And, my fundraising page is hosted at ride.jdrf.org. The JDRF website also contains a lot of information about the ride, Type 1 diabetes, and the search for a cure.

To my mind, this effort has two objectives: 1) raising money to fund JDRF research intiatives, and 2) raising awareness about diabetes. I encourage each of you to learn more about diabetes, its treatment, and its implications. While most of us are safe from Type 1 diabetes, studies indicate a whole bunch of us will have to deal with Type 2 diabetes. And, while they are definately not the same, both types can cripple our bodies, destroy our senses, and derail our aspirations. In that regard, learning about diabetes in order to make better health choices will benefit us all. And your support for the Ride will benefit those who are facing a remarkably challenging disease every hour of every day, those who hope that a cure will spare them the full toll waged by Type 1 diabetes.

As it is for me, some of you will find that this Ride and your support of it will be very personal. I am crazy about my sons. So it is an easy decision to do something like this for Braeden. By getting your help, I can join hundreds of other cyclists to support the research that will one day cure my little boy.

If you feel lead to contribute, please know that I am deeply grateful for your sacrifice. Now may be one of the toughest times to ask folks to part with money. That is one reason why every donation is significant and precious. And it is one reason why your act of giving will be so rewarding. But perhaps the most rewarding part of all is that you will be doing something wonderful to help a beautiful 2 year-old rediscover the carefree wanderings of childhood.

Thanks from me and my family,
Allen

JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes Update

I spoke last week to the JDRF Ride Coordinator about when registration would open for the 2009 rides. She indicated that it would only be a couple more weeks. I am waiting to seriously broadcast my fundraising efforts until I am registered for the Ride, because that is when I can build a fund raising page on jdrf's website and really get the machine running.

Presently I am planning to ride in the Killington, Vermont 105 miler. This is a new location for a JDRF ride. It is also the only ride in the eastern half of the States. Jessica and Braeden are tentatively planning to accompany me and cheer me on. It will be great to have them at the start line. It would also be great for Braeden if he could understand why those hundreds of cyclists will be cranking their way out of the gate! That will be a sight.

Stay tuned because I think it will be only a matter of days until my first Ride for the Cure campaign is officially underway!

Winter Doldrums

It has been a long week in terms of weather. We've had all the major forms of liquid precipitation: the "cats & dogs" stuff, frog chokers, gulley washers, and--just once--il pleut comme vache qui pisse, which really is less common outside the Loire Valley. So, I've been parked inside. Which brings me to wonder, what do you folks do for excercise and fun when its too bad to get outside?

I could hit the gym, play some pick-up b-ball games, or walk between the deluges on my lunch break (which I often do anyway). None of those are really me, however. So, I'd appreciate your tips!

If you find some sunny days, send them my way...8 days off the bike is way too long!

Long(er) Ride Today

I set out today to ride a little bit longer than before. On a nice loop through Telford and down to the Nolichucky river, 28 miles of rolling pavement take you past beautiful farmland to vantage points where you can see the big mountains on the NC/TN border. This would be my longest ride since a Virginia Creeper Trail trip with Jared some years ago.

Wow, I felt great until about mile 21 when I became very hungry. I felt sapped the rest of the trip. Energy for the longer rides may be my most urgent problem to overcome at this point in training. All-in-all, though, this was a great experience and gave me some "distance confidence." Mechanical note: it is apparent that I need to replace the front derailleur, which is temperamental and picks the worst times to not work properly.