I was diagnosed four years ago with type 1. Through trial and error I have not stopped any of my activities. Since being diagnosed I have ridden my motorcycle across Canada twice and have been on scuba diving trips to the Caribbean and just returned from Fiji. I am on the Medtronic Paradign pump and just love it.
I also swim in a pool and it is no problem with the CGM. It can go in the water. I just unplug the pump and put it in a backpack and leave it in the pool area so I can keep an eye on it because there are no lockers in our community pool. Swimming is no problem!
I am lucky to work with a great team at the St Joseph Health Centre in London Ontario. Don't let diabetes control your life. It takes a lot of work but it is worth the effort. 't
If I am low I eat the appropriate amount to raise my BG t0 at least 100, and then carry out my day as planned. knowing my insulin sensitivity enables me to calculate the right amount of insulin to make it safe to exercise, drive a car, etc. If I am high I take the correct amount of insulin to bring my BG down to an appropriate level, and immediately proceed with my activity. I have never had to delay doing anything for very long. I control my diabetes, it does not control me. I am a healthy diabetic, after 66 years of type 1.
Yeah Rocky, it is definitely my pratice, established a very long time ago. Now my routine is a habit that I don't think I could ever break. It's nice to have some good habits. I have some bad ones too, but I'm not going there. Lol!
I looked back and you have from myself and others some similar advice.I almost fell off of a ladder once, but my house has a roof and how else can I get up there? So unless a Doc, says others wise your boxing yourself in a corner if you wont drive! I cannot see how we can improve on the answers you have. Your such a young guy! Just take hold of life and give it a good shake while your young enough to have a ball! Do not let your fears drive you into obsessive compulsive type of mentality! Don't go down the 'Yes, But!' road. Just get on with your life. You know it makes sense! John Wayne said, "Courage is saddling up and riding out anyway!". Your courage will build self respect in you, and respect for you in others. The converse is true! Best Wishes. I'm done here!
Scared? All of the time, but not because of diabetes. My mom wouldn't let me go abroad in college because she was too worried about refrigeration (I wanted to go to India, China, Africa and was unsure about access to refrigeration). That makes me angry still to this day. On a day to day basis, I probably push myself too hard. This obviously affects my ability to take care of myself, but I have been managing well over the past year or so. I lead a pretty active life, but find that with some extra care in planning I can do pretty much anything with diabetes (I'm T1).
I had the same experience. There were a few nights in the beginning of pumping where I was terrified I was going to die in my sleep from a low. Luckily, that passed quickly!
This is inspiring to read. I believe even Greyhound buses have fridges these days. My friend put his stuff in a fridge on a flight to Brasil. I was told I could buy all my meds easily in Brasil. It's so true! All genuine brand names and you can shop around for the best prices! Its so easy to do all your research on line to! My wife had Good Pasture Syndrome which destroyed her lungs and kidneys. The only place she could not go now after transplant would be some of the up river places in South America or Africa! She is still game for adventure despite the risk, and is 65 yo! Thanks kph.
I was dx in 1945, and when I was a HS senior my parents did not want me to go to college. The college was in my hometown, but they were afraid I would have a bad hypo and nobody would know how to help me. There very few people back then who knew anything about diabetes. I ignored them and went to college for 6 years. with very good results. I agree we can do anything we want, within reason.
Richard I went to Brasil 2007 to do some work.. Had to have my tropical jabs and Cholera powders. Never occurred to me to tell the Doc I had unstable T2 I was far more worried about meeting Coral Snakes and Anacondas in country. As it was I bought both types of tabs am on for the D easily, and for my heart condition and other man issues. It was a great confidence builder. I think Tom needs to set himself small goals, and build up his confidence to do stuff. Hope you make it Tom!
I have toppled over while bending because of dizziness. But I would not let myself pass out because I get definite signals when I staging to go low! I get hiccups always if I'm hungry, I get a strange feeling in the back roof of my mouth as I'm getting low, then muzzy, then dizzy! So I have plenty of warning. bending over when low is a no no for me! I lose equilibrium.
I battled very bad dizziness for 3 years until my doctor suggested it might be my blood pressure medication causing the problem. He took me off the medication for two weeks and my dizziness improved, but he refused to lower my dosage because he wanted to protect my kidneys. I did not have a kidney problem, or a blood pressure problem before starting the medication. He is an internal medicine doctor, and a kidney specialist, so he was being overly protective. I went to my endo and she gave me a very low dose of a different blood pressure med, and my problem was solved. my blood pressure and kidneys are fine, and the dizziness is almost gone.
I think fear is healthy and normal, and will probably save your life at some point. But I also think learning overcoming that fear is more productive and beneficial to your life and mental and physical well being. I don't think diabetes should prohibit you from doing most things, especially if they are things you enjoy. I do think, though, that fear can help you prepare for any potential problems. I lived in West Africa for a summer which was interesting as a Type 1 diabetic, but definitely doable. I just had to prepare really well. I was scared about all the "what-ifs" but I prepared for them and it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. Most things can be done as long as you prepare. Sure, there will be times when you shouldn't do things because you are low or need to wait until your highs comes down to do other things, but you don't need to let that be the norm in your life. With decent control and preparation, you can enjoy all the activities you would like.
Erin, Thats very reassuring to read. Lets hope Tom, can now satisfy his own mind That he is only limited by the size of is imagination or trapped by it !
I've been scared to get on the treadmill after work because I get low going home after and I haven't figured out how to pre-fuel so that doesn't happen. I'm working on it though and hope to have the problem worked out. From what you said I think your fears go a little deeper than mine. It would be good if you could talk to someone about it. Maybe some of the great members on here will have an answer for you. I hope so.
