As the Diabetes Turns
See this picture? I think this was about three weeks ago, may have been a little less but I can't be sure - because I'm exhausted. Anyway, a few weeks ago I was awoken by a screeching DexCom G4 that had this to show me. Since this night, Arden's BGs have been anomalous. They are low for no reason, our insulin to carb ratios aren't correct and every management tool that we use is backfiring. For example, last night Arden ate an entire bagel that didn't require insulin but we of course would have never eaten a bagel without insulin - so her BG got very low. Last Saturday after Arden's basketball game, her BG was 24, yea that was a little scary. We bolus the equivalent of a juice box prior to Arden's participation in competitive sports to combat her adrenaline, basketball is interesting because without the bolus before the game she gets very high but with the bolus, her level (During the game) stays very stable but she needs to eat the minute the adrenaline is gone or the bolus will cause her to get a little low (In the 70s) . Last Saturday however... 24.
Arden has been low each afternoon following lunch and no, before bed BG, seems trustworthy. I've been up all night for, well, I think about three weeks. I'm beginning to get foggy and I can't escape feeling drained and endlessly tired.
Arden isn't sick, her diet hasn't changed and she hasn't lost weight. Same insulin, same everything - I'm at a complete loss
This will make you laugh. Recently I explained to Arden that one day her hormone levels will change and that her blood glucose will be effected by the change. We spoke about fluctuations that may happen during that time and how we'd handle them.
So the other day she is drinking a juice box for a BG in the 60's that wouldn't budge, when she looks at me super-serioulsy and deadpans, "Maybe its the hormones". I think she was joking...
I'll keep making temporary adjustments to basal rates and boluses until this passes and I don't want to overdo it because you know this is all going to revert back in the blink of an eye. It's like someone sat on the remote and we are stuck watching a bad soap opera until we can figure out whose leg the remote is under.
The BG of 24 is it's own blog post, I'll write that as soon as I can get some rest. Excuse any typos, odd commas or strange turns of phrase... my eyes were closed during much of this.
Kris Freeman, "I probably skied my last race of this Olympics yesterday"
Image from krisfreeman.net
“I want to be clear that I do not believe my subpar performances here were attributable to diabetes”
Shortly after competing in his second Olympic event in Sochi, Kris Freeman posted a 'Thank you' on his blog where he announced that his 2014 Olympic pursuits are "probably" over and that, "I am clearly far from my best right now and it would be fair to give fresher teammates a chance in the later races".
Kris speaks at length in his open letter about his training plan for the games, that he is looking forward to competing in next year's World Championships, but most of all - he wants you to know that his performance had nothing to do with his type I diabetes.
Please take a moment and go to Kris's blog to read his full message.
“I will have to adjust my training to allow for more recovery in the future”
Everyone in our family is proud of Kris and we look forward to supporting him in the future. I hope Kris knows just how much his presence at the games has meant to Arden. Such a huge inspiration!
more about Kris on Arden's Day
Kris Freeman: Men's 15km Classic
Photo Credit: FasterSkier.com - Used with permission.
Kris competed earlier today in the Men's 15km Classic, his second of four scheduled Olympic events. Reports indicate that the course for today's 9+ mile race, were less than optimal. The snow was apparently "slushy" and the temperatures warm. American Erik Bjornsen finished 38th today, Fasterskier.com quotes him as saying, "It was harder than I was expecting".
Kris had this to say after he finished 52nd in a field of 92.
“It was one of the hardest courses I think I’ve ever raced on. It’s really slow and tons of elevation, and there’s that 3-minute sustained climb there… I was racing really cautiously because you can go right off the edge so easily… I was trying not to put the hurt on myself today”
I was hoping to wake up this morning and read about Kris having the race of his life, that didn't happen, but here's what I love about the interview quotes from Kris that I read on Faster Skier. Kris never mentions his diabetes - Representing the United States in Sochi as one of the best cross country skiers in the world, Kris's successes and shortcomings are never tied to type I diabetes. He's is just an athlete competing on a world stage. It's completely invigorating, as the parent of a child with type I, to see how little of an effect diabetes has on his skiing. There is no better message to pass on to our children then the one that says, diabetes can't stop you from achieving at your highest potential and it is never an excuse for moments that don't end as you'd hope.
Kris races again soon, his schedule is on Arden's Day, link below, I can't wait to watch with Arden and cheer him on.
Arden's Day RSS Link has Changed
So it turns out that when I redesigned Arden's Day a few months ago the RSS Feed address changed... and I didn't realize.
If you currently receive blog updates (Like this one) via RSS, there's nothing to do - but if you've been staring at your feed for weeks and wondering what happened - like Erik, (Thanks for emailing me Erik!) - you will need to resubscribe to resume the notifications. I've included a link here to make this as easy as possible.
I'm sorry for the confusion and invite you to use the Blog Post Calendar over on the main page to find out what you missed. I'm off to work on my web site building skills (Actually, that's not true, I'm getting in the shower). Have a great day!
VIDEO: Kris Freeman on NBC's Olympic Zone
This piece begins with host Sibila Vargas saying, "For American cross country skier Kris Freeman, Sochi represents his fourth career Olympics where he'll not be only representing the United States, but also diabetic athletes everywhere."
Immediately after Sibila finished, Arden exclaimed, "That's me!"
Originally aired on NBC's 'The Olympic Zone', Feb 10, 2014 - Channel 4 NY
After the interview, Arden told us that she shared with her class today that she knew someone who was competing in the Olympics. Arden explained to her friends that the man she knew had type I diabetes and that he wore the same insulin pump and CGM as she.
I can't thank Kris enough for the example that he is setting for my daughter, and for everyone whose life is touched by type I diabetes. If I had a gold medal Kris... I'd give it to you.
Thank you to NBC for this interview, it means so much... to so many.
