When Silence Matters

 

Sometimes taking a step back is just as important as being present.

I’ve been having a really rough time. I’ve been exhausted. And just wondering how to continue on. I remember my life before all the health problems-and yet it feels like forever ago.

I know I have to. Because there are people who love me, and there’s a journey I need to take to get to a better place-so I can give back to the world too. But oh, my, this is tough.

It’s been an amazing experience to just go offline. To put the phone away and just be. To not distract myself and face pain head on.

One thing that has really helped me is humour. Watching standup shows and comedies.

Here is one of my favourites!

 

Hugs,

J

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One Touch Verio Flex-worth the switch?

What would it take for you to switch meters?

That’s what I ask myself every time a new one hits the market.

The latest I’ve tried is the One Touch Verio Flex (pictured above). It’s features include a simple color idenfication system (blue=low, green=in range, red=high). There’s also an app that lets you see your numbers and trends on your phone.

Currently, I am using this bad boy. The OneTouch Mini:

I LOVE that the mini is so small and I like the colour. Yes, the design matters to me. Yay for soft curves and simple buttons. Since I have the CGM, this meter serves me well. I don’t use it to identify trends. All I really need is something to tell me where I’m at and so I can calibrate.

Despite its fairly nice design and app (which I didn’t end up looking at all that much but it’s definitely a nice-to-have, especially if you don’t have a CGM), I wouldn’t switch over. The strips are too ‘prickly’. They are awkward, and in a low, I have trouble testing myself let along with a strip that has two prongs.

If you are new to diabetes management and don’t quite understand your numbers, then I would see the value in this meter as the color coding makes it very simple to understand where you sitting at.

Still on the lookout for my dream meter: a light where the strip is inserted, modern and sleek design in my perfect world, being able to test underwater.

You can dream right?

Training this season with Lumiere, my continuous glucose monitor

 

WHYYYYYYYYYYY!?!?!?

My mind screams it in anger. On good days, I yell it half-laughing.

It is the question I ask myself when I ate enough carbs to feed a small army before my workout and yet, here I go, tanking into low blood sugar abyss.

This happens for mostly cycling and running these days. It seems like sometimes no matter what I consume, my body sticks its tongue out at me and says “Oh yeah? Watch this”.

I have purposely set my low alarm alert a bit higher so that I can be notified even earlier to try and adjust and avoid the lows.

Bonus? Drinking Coke. Mmmm I love regular Coke.

Minus? Frustration. The quick reaction to blame myself. I need to catch these sooner and just trust that hey, I’m doing what I can, and that’s all I can ask of myself.

These lows have changed how I train in that I carry more fuel (I am a human camel).

This season I realized how much I miss running with nothing. Just carrying absolutely nothing. No snacks, no belt, fanny pack, hydration pack. NOTHING.

To combat this, I found a loop near my house where I can set supplies down in a safe area and run free! The loops don’t bother me as I zone out when I run so this works for me. As for Lumiere, I do put him inside my running arm band (which I’m fine with). I feel seeing the same thing over and over is worth it to run without carrying as much and feeling that lightness.

I know they have golf carts that follow people around. Wonder if I can get some kind of contraption that does the same? I could carry my water, glucose tabs, bars, tester, CGM, insulin.

Am I dreaming? Maybe. But it’s fun to think about it.

XO,

J

Animas Canada has kindly chosen to support me with the Dexcom CGM as I continue to train for triathlons, cycling and running events. I believe in full transparency and appreciate that Animas Canada does not review or approve my blog posts. Please read the full disclosure here. 

Yee haw! Connected in Motion goes country with Humber College

I’m definitely not country, but yesterday I was line dancing.

Serious.

It was called Country in Motion, a fundraiser for Connected in Motion (get it? Clever.) Organized by Humber’s post-graduate event management program students. Must say everyone I encountered at the various games and silent auction were really enthusiastic.

I ring-tossed, took photos with my fellow t1 ladies in the photo-booth, bid for yoga gear at the silent auction…

Hello handsome.

Ring Toss! I got one

The photo booth props!

Here we are!

…and watched as people tried to tackle the mechanical bull…like this cowgirl. Eeeek.

The BEST part was getting to spend time with two t1 athletes- spin instructor Stephanie and Ironman-in-training Anne Marie. It’s always so fun to be around other people who ‘just get it’. We laughed, yelled loudly to each other over the country music and planned our future bike rides together.

Last year Steph both did the MS two-day bike ride and didn’t even know it! Better planning will happen this year for a meet up 😀

The highlight of my night was listening to Steph speak to the audience about her experience being an active type 1.

Totally inspiring and as she said, when we all get together, “Everyone has something different to bring to the table”.

 

 

So I was a little out of my element in a saloon, but totally at home with my t1 fitness girls.

Xo

Jess

Let’s get physical: working out with a CGM

I’m off the market.

Officially attached… at the abdomen?

2015 is going to be filled with lots of races but with the added bonus of a continuous glucose monitor.

I did a summary of the Dexcom after a week trial last year in April. Read it here. Now I’ve got one- and am ready to train this season.

Any workout tips for a newbie to the CGM world?

 

New year. New season. New CGM. Let’s get started.

Xo,

J

Animas Canada has decided to support me in my athletic journey with a CGM. 

I believe in full transparency so I’ve made a disclosures page on my site which clearly states this sponsorship.