Going Steady

This weekend was wonderful! It was warm enough to be outside and we truly enjoyed our time.
On both Saturday and Sunday, I got my bike out, bundled up and went up to Prospect Park for a Ride. It was Chilly, but so worth it, and many of my cycling friends were Riding 109 Miles (yes, 109) in Tucson, AZ for the final JDRF Ride of the season.


Saturday afternoon we went into the city and enjoyed Central Park, Ice Skating and a quick visit to MoMA! Sunday afternoon while Billy watched football, Emma Rose and I got our Nails done and walked around our neighborhood!




The Icing on the cake was that the whole weekend + my blood sugars were steady. No highs, no lows, no swings or corrections for meals! It was a great feeling!

When everything can be so good in life and we have amazing opportunities to spend with our loved ones and families, diabetes can sometimes be a road blocker. It has an effect on your energy and your mood, or the need to stop and eat or fight headaches due to blood sugars raising.

It was a great weekend, I like going steady!

Call to Action!

Everyone get out your phones and call your congressmen and women in Support of the Special Diabetes Program. The SDP will expire unless it is renewed this year, and this is the time to call.

"The Special Diabetes Program is our nation’s most effective tool to combat diabetes and its complications. The program has received strong bipartisan support in Congress since 1997 and, given its successes, has proven to be worthy of continued federal investment."

find out who you need to contact here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Without this funding we will loose CRITICAL dollars for research! WE have come so far, but still have a ways to go! Please help us secure this funding for For a Cure!

Thank you!

???

Last night after my kettle bell class, I noticed that my CGM sensor was becoming detached and so I took it off. The sensors they say are suppose to last 7-10 days, but because of my sweat and activities (here I go again) I find myself having to change them about every 5-7 days.

Later in the evening I reattached a sensor to and waited for it to calibrate- this takes 2 hours and then you enter 2 blood sugar readings that are taken back to back. Not paying attention to the time when I attached it, I then figured out that 2 hours would be around 11:30pm- after my bedtime.

So, I kept myself up until the time, entered my 2 blood sugars and by that time I was low. I sat awake for a bit to bring my blood sugar up and I waited for my CGM to register my blood sugar- it didn't for the next 2 hours the screen read ???

???- well I am not really sure what that means- the book states "The Receiver cannot understand the Sensor"... I don't like the ??? especially during the night.

I went to sleep and was alarmed another 2 hours later with the CGM vibrating, so at 2am I was up testing and calibrating.

Another fun night with Diabetes.

My first "Photo Shoot"

This morning while sitting at my desk working on a few things, I got a call from our Director of Advertising and Promotions. I have seen her quite often over the past few days at Type 1 Talk, and the Promise Ball on Saturday (NYC Gala) She can be described as energetic, excited and enthusiastic. Shes been working a lot lately with my boss on some video productions projects such as we did yesterday, so I was surprised when she called to talk to me.

She asked if I wanted to be part of the upcoming JDRF poster/marketing material. The photographer is coming tomorrow Tuesday to the office after work to 'take some shots' They use all Real Type 1 Diabetics who have an affiliation- employee, volunteer with JDRF.

I text Billy and told him about it- he gets bragging rights that he is engaged to a model- ha:)

So I will sleep well tonight so my eyes are ready, I will try and work out in the morning to get my energy and blood sugars on track and I will be ready for my 'photo shoot.'

It should be funt.

Today is World Diabetes Day! It is the big day in the diabetes community to advocate and create awareness about Type 1 Diabetes! Today at JDRF we produced a live broadcast on behalf of our Grassroots Advocacy Program. Over the past few weeks individuals submitted questions via Google Moderator- for our Moderator Rik Kirkland (International Board member) to ask our Panelists. We had 3 JDRF staff members, one volunteer and one writer/blogger Kerri Sparling, who has been T1 for over 24 years! It was a great event and a sucess! To view the video via Ustream please watch below.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/10862683



For reference some of the sites talked about on today's broadcast are:

Kerri Sparling- http://sixuntilme.com/

Juvenation- http://juvenation.org/user/cs_jdrf_home/default.aspx

Special Diabetes Program: http://www.t1diabetes.nih.gov/T1D_CTCR/T1D_SpecialFunding.shtml

JDRF Clinical Trials: https://trials.jdrf.org/patient/

JDRF Advocacy: http://advocacy.jdrf.org/

In Honor of our Veterans

Today we honor our Veterans- past, current and future. Thank you!

Awareness of Unawareness

This morning I woke up to my CGM vibrating- LOW- flashing on the screen. It was 6:22am, and it read that my blood sugar was 55, I got anxious because I didn't feel like 55. And I thought I knew what 55 felt like- a little shaky, sweaty, and a little out of it; but aside from it just being early, I felt fine. With a LOW staring back at me I didn't like this, hoping I wasn't having hypoglycemia unawareness. I tested and my meter read 97- the CGM just needed to be calibrated.

Low blood sugars hit us all differently, and all lows are different. There are times where I have been 90 and shaky- maybe I dropped quickly from over 200. There have been times when I have woken up at 60 and been soaked by my own sweat- had to shower and change during the middle of the night. There was a time on vacation when I woke up and tested at 36 walked into my friends bedroom and told her not to worry if she heard me I had low blood sugar, I was going to take care of it now... Low blood sugar is dangerous, especially overnight, but unawareness can be tragic.

Hypoglycemia unawareness is something I have learned and heard more about since I started working at JDRF, because I myself don't have a history of experiencing it- unfortunately many do.
Normally when a person's blood sugar drop low, the body relaseses glucagon and epinephrine (adrenaline). Glucagon is the body's natural hormone that raises blood sugar and epinephrine causes the response in our system. People with Type 1 diabetes have low (or no) levels of glucagon and sometimes have lost the response symptoms that would make them feel it.

The unawareness can be very dangerous at any time, but especially during the night and sleeping. Almost 20% of people living with T1 experience unawareness. It may be brought on by having diabetes for many years, having really tight control of your diabetes, stress or depression, alcohol- There is no single cause, but the effects can be dangerous and life-threatening.

We can be careful and aware with our numbers- sometimes it isn't enough, but for now even though I am usually very aware, I still like my CGM waking me at LOW, even if it is a false alarm.

D- Blog Day

Today is D- Blog Day, where those who blog or are blogging, or who want to blog will today write six things we wish people knew about diabetes:

1.Understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2. Diabetes is not just a blanket condition, T1 and T2 (and gestational for that matter) are very different, the disease doesn't discriminate and there is no common look for it. It affects everyone- differently.

2. Having Diabetes is a daily struggle- and very emotional at times. Everything has an affect on blood sugars and insulin levels. From the combination of foods we eat to the mood we are in, everything influences what is going to happen to our sugar levels, and it is not as simple mathematics equation.

3. Diabetics can do anything and everything they want. And if you know any of us, you know this is true. We are athletes, doctors, lawyers, students, mothers, advocates. We are a passionate group of people who support each other and work together for a single mission.

4. Diabetes affects everyone differently. What works for one, does not work for all. It is what works for each individual and their management. It takes time to figure this out, and it changes over time. It is unpredictable, so we just need to manage it to the best of or abilities.

5. Having an insulin pump does not mean I have the bad type of diabetes. It is all bad, and it is most likely much better now then when I was without the pump- or the CGM for that matter. Having the insulin pump gives me the best control and good control will reduce my risk of complications. These are the the tools we have today to mimic a normal pancreas as closely as possible.

6. We can eat this, we can eat that, whatever it may be! and we can tell you the nutritional value of just about anything.

Having diabetes is hard, it is a constant battle between the current and the future and how every decision we make has an affect on us. I have good days and I have bad days, and I am just fortunate to have a great support system and a lot of great influences in my life! I did not choose diabetes, but I choose every day to be healthy, happy and enjoy life.

'Juvenile' Diabetes

This weekend we had the joy of a lovely time with Billy's daughter Emma Rose. She is 6 years old, a beautiful, smart and kind soul! We spent time on Friday night cooking and reading and just hanging out. It is an amazing to see her grow and watch her learn and approach life with innocence and passion.

It is amazing to see her at this age and there are things about her that remind me of myself as a child- but I also look at her as this young six year old and think that it was at her age I went to diabetic camp during the summer and learned to give myself my own shots. At the time, I had had Type 1 for 4 years, I was taking 2 shots a day and daily management was much less developed as it is today.

These days so many children who are diagnosed with T1 are using insulin pumps, because of the flexibility to mimic the pancreas, have better control and the assurance that they are getting their insulin. It is amazing to look back and think of how thing have changed in my own life-time of diabetes management.

In 2010 as many as three million Americans may have type 1 diabetes. Each year, more than 15,000 children - 40 per day - are diagnosed.

And with the advancement of research and treatment, these children are able to manage and control their disease and live healthy relatively normal lives- far beyond what was possible years ago.

Thank you for this! I am lucky to have the life I do and share it with those that I love.

Pump it? or not?

After living with T1 for almost 28 years, people would probably assume that I had things down and under control. The truth is, it isn't always that easy.

Almost three years ago, I got FED-UP with my insulin pump... my stomach was becoming sore and infected from 8 years of site alternations, and I felt like it got to the point where I wasn't metabolizing the insulin. So I took it off, and I put it in the medicine cabinet- called my Doctor, and started back up on Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) of Lantus and Humulog.

At the time, I was in between Endrocrinologists and I worked with my primary care physician, using some of my old rates (of course I had them written down) When I finally went into see my new Dr, we worked together on adjusting my daily needs. And it worked for a while, making adjustments is just part of diabetes managment.- being aware what foods make you higher, what activities drop you lower and just over-all being in- tune with your body. It is an amazing feeling to know that I can contribute how I feel to what I eat or what I have done- I believe that Body Awareness is important for everyone, but for Type 1 diabetics, it is necessary.

The MDIs worked for a few years, until I moved to NY. I was getting low blood sugars a few times during the night a week, and for a while I couldn't figure out why. In January, when I started at JDRF, I was fortunate to have resources into a new team of Doctors. When I went to see them we talked about overall management and when the issue with the low blood sugars came up , it was simple- I was taking too much long acting insulin to accommodate my form of transportation- walking. Even if it was to the grocery store or to the gym (not the actual work-out itself) it was more than I was doing before and decreased my insulin needs. The lifestyle changes and the access to great healthcare team, also led me back to the insulin pump and the CGM- my goal to get to and maintain perfect control.

The choice of insulin pump or no insulin pump is such a personal decision. I know many people who do both. To pump, you make the decision to be attached, you have an external device and a tube on you at ALL times- it can get uncomfortable, and frustrating. But for me and my needs right now with 7 different basal rates, different carb ratios and correction factors for different parts of the day, it is what I need right now- maybe not forever, but for now I am bionic, tubes and machines attached. I try to think it is natural, I mean everyone has multiple devices right?

Me in a brief Questionnaire

What type of diabetes do you have: Type 1

When were you diagnosed: December, 1982

What's your current blood sugar: Dexcom says 92

What kind of meter do you use: One Touch Ultra Link, it links with my Mini Med pump so I can use the Wizard Feature which gives my brain a small break from calculations

How many times a day do you test your blood sugar: 6 on a steady day- if I am not running high or low. Down from 10-15 pre- dexacom.

What's a "high" number for you: I'm don't like to see it 180 +. but somedays I will take what I can get.

What's do you consider "low": below 70,but I get nervous when I am under 100.

What's your favorite low blood sugar reaction treater: Glucose Tablets, I trust them, they aren't too sweet and I can handle them at almost any time of the day, although I never like to.

Describe your dream endo: I don't know if I have a dream Endo, but I know that I have had some ones I would pass on second time around, and right now I am overly happy with my Med team out of Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center- they are great! I love it that they are so accesable and responsive if I have a question- they check their email 24/7 (almost)

What's your biggest diabetes achievement: I would have to say riding in the JDRF Ride to Cure this past July. I rode 100 miles and raised over $7,000.00. And when I crossed the finish line at 110 it was a great feeling after 7 hours of riding a bike!

What's your biggest diabetes-related fear: Right now my biggest fear is that when I have children, one day they will develop T1. When I was younger I was told that it was less than 2.5% chance, but I know that is not the case...

Who's on your support team: My Fiancee and my mom- and my Grandmere, who always calls to make sure I am going to the Dr and I am doing well- she is the most amazing!

Do you think there will be a cure in your lifetime: I am always hopeful, but I am doubtful. There has been a lot of advancement in the last few years, but there is still so far to go. I have confidence in the development of devices, such as the artificial pancreas, that will make living with diabetes easier; or even in treatment such as beta cell regeneration, or preventative treatments, but a CURE for those of us who have and have had T1 for many year, is still quite far off.

What is a "cure" to you: A cure would be me not having to have an artificial device to rely on for my insulin, to not have to calculate carbohydrate ratios or fluctuations in blood sugars or worry about highs or lows... to be honest, I have no idea what a cure would be like, because I have no cognitive memory of pre-diabetes.

The most annoying thing people say to you about your diabetes is: When people ask if you can eat sugar. When people try to tell you what you should and shouldn't do when they have no idea what it is to live with this condition. When they think if they had it, they would be in such good control.

What is the most common misconception about diabetes: That Diabetes encompasses both Type 1 and Type 2- education and public awareness are key to understanding the key differences.

If you could say one thing to your pancreas, what would it be: I hope we can work better together someday! I will forgive you!

Roller Coaster Ride

When I got into work this morning, someone in the office had brought in their left over Halloween goodies and was offering them to the office. (is this common office behavior?) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kats, pretzels and more.

They approached my holding a bag of the mini pretzels " Would you like some pretzels?" (of course directed to me, the diabetic)
Not wanting anything I responded " No, thank you,"
" You can't have the candy right?" she asked- (because just not wanting anything isn't ok?)
"I can have candy..." and not wanting to explain myself yet again (because I had made the same statement to the same person the day before) I left it at that, hoping that someday the information will permeate.

I work at a fundraising organization that supports research for Type 1 diabetes, I find it extremely frustrated when office talk conversations come to diabetes and there are questions and comments like this. The truth is, at my office there are not many Type 1 diabetics, but our mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications- so I don't find it to much to ask that we all understand what Type 1 diabetes is.

A great start to my day after yesterday's blog. A day which has been at the very least- frustrating.

Looking at my CGM (continuous glucose monitor) screen for the last 24 hour cycle it looks like a roller coaster full of high climbs and sudden drops. Finally, as I am settling in for the night, so is my blood sugar- finally stabilizing in the lower 100s.
It began at 4am when my CGM was vibrating LOW- it read 65. I had 2 glucose tabs (8 carbs) to stabilize it, but when I woke up it had climbed to 170 and before I had breakfast it had risen to 203-ouch! I took insulin (correction and bolus) for my blood sugar and for my breakfast and headed out to the office.

Two hours later, after passing up the Halloween treats, I went into see the visiting nurse in our office for flu shot and my CGM was once again LOW- 56 with a down arrow; signifies dropping fast. To correct this I had 5 mentos and watched my blood sugar rapidly turn around and climb, up with double arrows up (rising really fast). There was nothing I could do now but wait until it stabilized and I felt I could safely try and bring it down with insulin.

However my plan didn't work, I was stacking boluses (taking lots of insulin with no results) and my blood sugar stayed on the higher side with some fluctuation for the remainder of the work day. When I was leaving work on my way to yoga I was back to double arrows down...

I don't believe I did anything wrong today, I counted my carbs perfectly, I corrected for my highs and I tested my blood sugar every hour on my machine to make sure my numbers were acurately calibrating. Some days are just harder than other, and there are those circumstances (sleep patterns, stress, hormones...) that cause unexplainable fluctuations in your blood.

Days like today become a loose loose situation, high blood sugar causes me stress and stress causes high blood sugar. The fluctuations cause headaches, tiredness, mood changes and over- all exhaustion.

I am hopeful for a better, more consistent day tomorrow, and I will continue to do what I can to manage my health- one day at a time!

National Diabetes Awareness Month

November is National Diabetes Awareness month. To support this and bring awareness, I am going to try my best to post something here every day of the Month (I know I missed Nov. 1, but this is a start)

This year, 2010, has been an amazing year... I am getting settled in NY, I rode my first hundred miles to support JDRF, I got engaged to the most amazing and supportive man, I turned 30 (gulp..) and it will be my 28th year of living with Type 1 diabetes.

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the misconceptions of the condition and the blanket use of the term Diabetes. While there are similarities between the conditions they are quite different.

I am a Type 1 diabetic! I have an insulin pump, which works similar to a pancreas to dispense insulin into my body 24 hours a day- but I control it. I tell it when and what I am eating (my head spins with nutrition facts).

I can eat what I want (as long as I know what it is)
I am not allergic to sugar.
I did not eat too much sugar as child to cause this (I was 2, and my parents didn't allow sugar:)
I do not have a 'Bad case' of diabetes because I have an insulin pump.
I do everything in my control to live a healthy life and my numbers still look like a roller coaster.

Type 1 diabetes is an auto- immune disease, which is a condition that my own body has killed off my own beta (insulin producing cells) leaving my body unable to change glucose (carbs, sugar (its all the same)) into energy for survival. So, we rely on artificial insulin to control our diabetes.

People with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their bodies become resistant to it, so they control their condition by diet, exercise, oral medication and sometimes insulin to control their diabetes.

The results are similar- high blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, leads to life threatening complications.

Historically Type 1 has been referred to as Juvenile Diabetes, but now we call it Type 1 because people of all ages are diagnosed with it and sadly enough more and more youth are becoming diagnosed with Type 2, mainly due to the increase in child obesity, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets.

Take some time to educate yourself about Type 1 (and Type 2) diabetes. http://www.jdrf.org/, http://www.diabetes.org/, http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/, http://www.diabeteswellness.net

This will be my 28th year of living with Type 1 diabetes and I am still learning from it. It is a complicated condition and I am doing my best to keep up with it. I have good days and bad days, and all together am lucky to have the support and life that I do- we will continue to educate and fight until we find a cure and make life easier for those living with the condition.

THE RIDE- we did it!

You can tell how I feel by the expression on my face!
I will have much more info and stories to come, but for now I cannot begin to say how grateful I am to everyone for their continued support. Together Billy and I raised over $7,000 to go to JDRF and we had an amazing time and experience in Vermont- I cannot wait until next year, yes we are already thinking of next year! I am humbled by everyone's generosity- Thank you!

Rain or Shine

I know, you can see the excitement on my face!
One week before the RIDE, I had planned to do a training ride upstate NY around Westpoint/ Harriman Park with some friends. This was my way of making me sane before I set out to do 100 miles.
I rented the ever so trusty ZipCar for as much of the day as I could get it and woke early on Saturday July 10 to head out. Now of course, the forecast called for 'isolated thunderstorms' Coming from Seattle I didn't until recently know what that meant... now it is just another day on the east coast, where you hope that you won't get washed away in your summer clothes. People like to say it rains in Seattle, but I have to say coming from Seattle, you haven't seen rain until you experience the East Coast downpours that happen in the dead heat of summer!
After a nice carb heavy bowl of oatmeal with almonds and a little yogurt for breakfast I headed out via car to the Palisade Parkway to meet up with the friends.
We arrived at Harriman a quarter after 8am, and started to unload our bikes and gear. With everything out of the car, and almost ready to head out on the road, the thunder rumbled and the sky opened up and the rain began. Being optimistic that it would pass we jumped into our cars to wait for it to clear up. After about 30 minutes of complete wash out, we lost a rider and I almost bailed as well. I was fearful of hurting myself or getting hurt in these conditions.- and this close to the Ride I felt hesitant of what COULD happen that would hold me back from the following weekend. But I decided to go for it- and although I am glad I did, it was by far the hardest ride I have done.
The first 25 miles of the ride were through a heavy thunderstorm, the last 30 miles the rain subsided a bit, but the Hills were HARD- and I have climbed a mountain. But the scenery was beautiful- even in the times that I could barely see as the rain pierced down against my arms legs and open eyes.
Through the ride, there were 3 flat tires, and luckily I was not one of them. Everyone was prepared and they were minor glitches to the day. In conditions like this, where there is debris all over the road from the storm and rain, flats become more prominent.
The day was long and cold and by the end of the 50+ miles I was ready to be done. When everyone looked around after the ride, there was a consensus that my 100 miles in Vermont would not be that hard.. That was to date in my life the hardest ride I have done and I look forward to doing it again, in fair conditions.

TOO HOT!

With only 10 days left to my first century, a heat wave has hit the East Coast and it is too hot to ride outside! Yesterday the temps topped 102 degrees and scorching! I took a spin class yesterday to continue working on my cardio but safely indoors. It has been a while since I have done a spin class and they are a pretty good workout, but just not long enough! I am going to try and do 2 tonight to get in some miles while I can!

First Flat

We are now under the 2 week countdown to the Ride in Vermont! Last Saturday I woke up early to get some miles in before the heat restricted! My planed ride was to head from Brooklyn into the city via the Manhattan Bridge (they have a bike lane!) to the West Side up to the George Washington Bridge, around Central Park and back to Brooklyn- hoping for 40 miles.

Big problem, when I got to the West Side Highway, I got a flat tire! My first one, and of course I had a tube with me, I just didn't have a pump!!! So I hopped in an SUV cab, took the wheel off and put the bike in the back and headed home to fix it. I am sure the driver thought I was a bit crazy, because I didn't take my helmet off once, and really didn't realize it until I was getting out of the car.

Back at home, Billy helped me fix the flat and I was able to ride for a little over an hour (24 miles total) around Prospect Park, until we went to see Toy Story 3 and then to the beach to work on blending my bike/farmer tan lines!

Harriman

On June 11 I had the fortune to be able to do a training ride with a few friends upstate in Harriman State Park. After waking up at 3 Am to confirm that the forecast of scattered thunderstorms would not wash us out, I picked up the ZipCar at 6am and picked up my friend in the city around 6:30am who greeted me with coffee and a bagel- :) and began to follow Google Maps directions via the i Phone. We first headed through the Lincoln Tunnel and were routed through Hoboken to 1-495 due to construction- ... we drove a little through Jersey and crossed back into NY state. At the point when the exit came that was suppose to take us into the park, my friend/navigator dropped her phone under the seat and we missed the exit. Usually wouldn't be a problem, except on this specific highway the next exit wasn't for 17 miles. We were running late to meet our friends and lost. We arrived at the parking lot in the park about 45 minutes late, got our bikes adjusted a little and headed out for a "hard, tough" ride! The park was beautiful, lush green, pristine lakes, deer, geese and lots of Hills. We started looping through the park and rode up a series of 3 climbs, the first the longest, the second the steepest and the third "easy". After we ascended to the top, we stopped and decided what the rest of the ride would look like. We split into 2 groups and I was elected to ride up the Perkins side of Bear Mountain, the "easier" side. I don't know if there is anything easy about climbing a Mountain! But I did it, in my low gears and grueling burning in my quads, I was able to ride to the top. And from the top, on a clear day you can see West Point and the Manhattan Skyline, I guess that means I will have to do it again, because we had no viability. And at the top, I tested my blood sugar levels, still safely around 145. and so we rode down reaching speeds of over 40mph. The pure satisfaction of that accomplishment fuels me to ride again.
In total I rode over 35 miles of rolling hills, and my first Mountain.

Note: I was not able to get any pictures because of the fog, but here is an image for enjoyment!

Waiting for UPS/Stalking UPS via Bike

I am home this morning from working waiting for a new Insulin Pump, mine failed. Yesterday I noticed that there was condensation and fog inside the screen which is not suppose to happen. The MiniMed products are Water Resistant but not Water Proof... Still. Apparently my excessive sweating from exercise is causing this (sorry?) When I called they were great and said they would ship a new one out to arrive in the morning!
Then, when I was leaving work to head to Central Park to Ride, The pump started beeping at me and shut off. I went and bought some new batteries and got it working again for the time being. I put it in a plastic baggy in the pocket of my jersey, which was good because we got caught in a strong downpour. NYC heat and humidity and rain.... agh! The pump was protected and worked for almost the remainder of the night... I woke up this morning with a blank screen and high blood sugar. So I am waiting for UPS to deliver
Please do not worry...I have plenty of insulin pens and syringes around to use in case of this. So I am not without, but after having the pump back, there becomes this dependency on it. I hope it comes soon!
UPDATE:
UPS did not arrive by the scheduled 10:30 time, so I went to check the tracking and got the message, "attempted delivery, unit number not available, trying to locate.." What? I ran downstairs hoping they actually meant they were there and trying to locate me. Not a chance. The first issue is that I told MiniMed yesterday what my address AND apt number were, but they neglected to put that on the package. The other issue is that one of our doorman was laid off this weekend so no one was there to recieve the package without me physically being in the lobby of our building, which I was not.
I called UPS (and Mini Med) on the verge of tears... how could this happen, I need this device. I had to wait for a callback from dispatch as they located the driver, but I knew at this point it could be hours before they try to re-deliver, I explained to them this was important medical equipment and I had taken time off work so that I could get it this morning.
They located the driver, who wasn't able to tell me when he could deliver it, but he did give me the option to pick it up. He was unloading at Home Depot on 19th Street, about 5 blocks from my house.
So, I grabbed the Dahon (fold up city bike) from the closet, pumped up the tires and hopped on. To get to Home Depot you have to go under the BQE Expressway, and of course they were doing road work so the streets were closed. I had to re-route myself over a few more blocks to get through and finally make it to the dead end and spotted the UPS driver. I got my package and he said "sorry you had to ride down here." I thought, if only you knew what my life has been like.... I returned home, had to re-shower from the humidity and come into work. AHHH!

My first ride with the new pedals. We decided to take it easy and just ride up the West Side Highway, one straight go that wouldn't involve a lot of stopping or clipping in and out., or a lot of hills! Luckily a friend gave me some good advice on how to get in before hand, and that I should pick one foot to clip in and out of while moving.
The right foot came more naturally than the left, I actually began to question the strength in my left leg, but after some time I clicked in and did Not click the left foot out for the rest of the ride- up to the George Washington Bridge and back!

Cleats and Pedals

The week following the Bedford Hills ride I got my pedals put on and my cleats on my shoes! Since the beginning everyone has said how necessary this is, apparently Vans are not practical for riding shoes by the average cyclist. This is suppose to decrease my energy output and make the hills Easier! I have yet to figure out, however, how to clip in and out of these, because I have heard the learning process does not come without scrapes and bruises! Stay posted to hear how well I do!

On Saturday June 5 we had a scheduled training ride with the NY Crankees (the NY JDRF team) in Bedford Hills, NY. For this ride, we were given 2 distance options 36 Miles or 48 miles- I chose to go the distance, despite the heat and the hills!
The evening before, I headed to Grand Central to get my bike permit and my train ticket for the 6:30 am train. Yikes! that is early, but even more concerning was that when I mapped it out to get to the train station in time, I had to leave my apt by 5:30 am-not usually when you want to be awake on a Saturday morning. That night I packed a small backpack that I could ride with during the day that contained all my necessities: blood glucose monitor, pump replacement sets, glucose tablets, cash, ID, Sports Beans (by Jelly Bean but are good for Fuel while riding) snack bars and water!!!!
When I woke up Saturday morning my blood sugar was a little high, but I figured it was just due to the adrenaline and anxiety of making sure I would make it to the station in time for the train. I got to the station shortly after 6am, grabbed coffee and snacks and walked with the other riders to our boarding platform for the Metro North. The train conductor "greeted" our group of cyclists, by telling us that no more than 4 bikes are allowed on a train at one time (not a train car- the entire train) after some pleading and explaining that we were training for a charity bike ride, she let us slide, but we had to sit in pairs in the cars with restrooms(see picture.) During the ride I chatted with a fellow JDRF rider who is also a lawyer, she said she almost went into action with the train conductor, but it was just too early to rev that up. We also read the rule for the train and found out that on the weekends 8 bikes are allowed and during the week it is limited to 4- must have been an early am for her as well.
While on the train I tested and I was still high, my insulin pump then gave off an alarm 'no delivery' so I realized that none of the insulin I took earlier was active in my body, I was high and not coming down. I got into my backpack and had to change my pump site on the train to ensure I was getting insulin. I started to come down almost immediately after the replacement, and I knew I would have to put a temporary rate on for the duration of the ride and check occasionally to make sure I wasn't dropping. Luckily I was with other diabetics so there was a sense of understanding and awareness what was going on.
We arrived at the Bedford Hills train station just before 8am, and were met by some fellow riders who had driven to meet up with us. There were approximately 16 riders and it was a pretty even split between males and females, except for when we divided into the group of who was doing the long ride and who was doing the short; I was the lone female riding 50 miles!
This ride was beautiful, it took us through rolling hills of farms and estates with lavish green lawns perfectly manicured- it is no surprise to find out that people such as Chevy Chase, Ralph Lauren and Martha Stewart have properties in the area.
Coming from the city it is breathtaking and calm, however the Map My Ride cue sheet took us through many wrong turns or missed turns, maybe adding to the sights but also adding an additional 8 miles to our ride and more hills! When we passed through the state line into Ridgefield, CT we stopped at a cafe for a lunch break! We were joined by many other cyclists, enjoying the nice- but hot weather and the open roads with limited traffic.
By this time my blood sugar had balanced itself out and I was feeling very good For lunch I got a bagel with turkey and veggies. A good combination of Carb and protein. Bagels are rare for me to eat because of the high ratio of carbs and how they effect my blood sugar. But today I ate my bagel without reservation because I knew I needed the nutrition to continue the ride, and I did- I didn't go above 160 for the remaining 25 miles.
In the end we did over 55 miles with a bit of backtracking and hills. I kept up with the guys, or they waited for me, whichever it was- I finished and felt strong!We burned 4,000 calories (thank god for that bagel) and climbed 3,719 feet. This is what we covered http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35805465
I was fortunate to get a ride back to Brooklyn and was able to relax and rest up for the rest of the day!

Noah's Ride

In May a few of us who had been training for the Rides decided to go to upstate to LAGrange, NY for Noah's Ride, about 2 hours outside of The City. The Ride was created to raise funds to assist with the expenses associated with the treatment of Noah's Neuroblastoma. Now, six years later Noah is in remission and so this year they decided to donate the funds raised to JDRF to honor a family in their community who had lost their teenage son to Type 1 diabetes.
Together a friend and I took liberty of my new Zip Car membership and reserved ourselves a Mazda Sedan for the Day. Luckily we are small women and with taking off the front wheel of a bike, can fit them in the back seat!
The ride was 40 miles of rolling hills and beautiful scenery of farms, forests and green! Just seeing the green reminded me of Washington! There were a few challenging uphills where I would just watch my odometer not able to go over 5 mph and my legs barely moving, but I didn't stop! Then there were some amazing downhills where we were able to get a lot of great speed, upwards of 35-40 mph!
After the ride we hung out for a while at the park for food and raffle prizes. When we were putting the bikes back in the car my friend who had rode up with me was loading up and accidentally locked the keys in the car.We momentarily panicked and called AAA, it was going to take 60-90 minutes to get someone to the park- that is a lot of wasted driving time so we called Zip Car and they were able to remotely send a signal to the car to unlock it!

Training and Transportation in NYC

Living in NY has it's many advantages and bicycling in NY is a great way to get around. It does become difficult to go on long distance rides inside of the 5 boroughs without doing the same park loop over and over! The trains are mostly reliable, but pose some bike transportation rules when traveling with groups and Car Rental gets pricey with insurance, gas and limited weekend hours- I thought this was the city that never slept! To overcome these issues and make my training schedule more efficient, I signed up for ZipCar! It works with you, and so far I love it!

Five Borough Ride

Shortly after we bought our bikes, we signed up for the NY 5 Borough Bike Ride. I was optimistic at this time, because I knew I wouldn't have to ride the Dahon for this long of a distance (the fold up city bikes with 16 inch tires) This tour is a 42 mile bike ride that, like the title says, tours through the 5 boroughs of NYC. This year it was on Sunday May 2- which happened to be one of the hottest, most humid days we have had here to date. By the time the Tour came around, I had signed up for the JDRF Ride and to be honest, became a little obsessed with cycling. I would go to prospect park a few times a week or to the bike path in Bay Ridge. Brooklyn to ride. I even tried to unsuccessfully convince Billy that we should bring our bikes to Philadelphia for the weekend on a business trip he was going on- the logistics without a car just seemed to be too much so I gave up.
The 5-Borough ride starting time is listed between 8-9 am. The 60 min start frame is given to accommodate the over 30,00 people that take part in this event. The day began early in Battery Park and slowly wove through up 6th Ave, Central Park, Harlem, the Bronx, FDR drive (NY taxes apparently do NOT go to paving the streets or highways here) we crossed over the Queensburough bridge to Queens, over the Kosciuszko Bridge into Brooklyn, through Williamsburg, past our house in Park Slope and over the Verazzano Bridge into Staten Island! Wow, that is a lot of places, and it took a LOT of time. There were so many people at the ride from all skill levels which made it difficult to get into a good pace before we were stopped in traffic, or by a fallen biker a head! By the end of the day we were hungry, overheated and sun burnt-bike short tan lines are a great look! We met up with a few friends at our neighborhood Bar, South, for a nice cold beer before heading home to shower- I am sorry to everyone else!

Buying My Bike

In March, before there was The 100 mile Ride, Billy came up with a new fitness plan of bicycling- and he probably regrets that now, because he didn't know it would lead to a girlfriend obsessed with bicycling. He did an extensive amount of research online and through friends before he said a word that he was even considering buying a bike. He had all of the parts analyzed and scoped out before he ever set foot in the bike store! All of his advance work paid off because he knew exactly what he wanted and found out where to get it.
The Cannondale Bad Boy, matte black- a beauty! He had it customized to his liking with new wheels, handlebars, pedals and all the extras and by the next day it was ready for him to ride!
My process of buying a bike wasn't quite as easy. It has been a long time since I have had a bike of my own. My first bike ever was lavender banana seat bike with pom poms on the handle bars. My grandfather bought it for me one day when he was just "going out to get a cup of coffee," and for years I rode it around the neighborhood or wherever I could get at that age. Since then, I have always borrowed bikes or picked up whatever was in my parents garage at the time... a 1970s men's Schwinn or a hand-me-down, left behind Trek Mountain bike from the brothers... something of those sorts. So now that I was ready to buy a real bike, I had to get it right. I have a few things working against me 1) my height, and 2) my indecisiveness. I went to approximately 6 bike shops in the New York area over a few weeks and tried different brands, different sizes, different models. I talked to all types of sales people and brand reps and asked them a ton of beginner questions, like when they ask well what are you looking for and you stare at them blankly and say, "a bike- but I know nothing about them" I went for multiple test bike rides in Brooklyn and SoHo, trying to get the feel for what I am suppose to feel like on a bike. I ended up buying a Woman's Specific Design bike, which was a great choice for my petite legs and arms-I ended up with a Specialized Dolce Elite, and when I told my mom about it, her reaction was "sweeeeet"
Here they are Tiny and Biggs!