The Health Thread

[MichiganCardinal]

58 minutes ago, Stanley70 said:

I was diagnosed as a type 2 right when i turned 50. For the next 6 years i cycled through all of the type 2 medications (and side efects) all the while i kept losing weight. Finally i went to ER and was diagnosed as a type 1 and spent 4 days in ICU. I was seeing a Dr. regularly but he was an older guy and never thought to test for type 1 antibodies i guess.

Modern technolgy has made living with type 1 a lot easier than even 20 years ago, pre cell phone and closed loop pumps. Having a CGM gives me constant feedback on the effects on what i am eating and the effects of my activity. It is easy to gain weight on insulin so i limit my carbs daily to 80-100 a day and avoid high glycemic foods altogether. I also workout regularly, working out can drop your numbers fast. Especially cardio for me. So i have to bring snacks just in case. 

My advice is if you can get insurance to cover a CGM get one if you don't already have one. It makes controlling your blood sugar a lot easier.

In a past career, I worked in child welfare and became the primary caregiver of a kid with T1D. I learned so much, so quickly. He was a warrior and his parents made him just take care of it himself at like six-years-old. He somehow managed to do so until about 9 or 10, when he finally came to us. He could be a little **** head (like all kids in the system), and it became a little joke between us where I would tease him that he didn't need to prick his finger anymore because I could tell his levels just by what names he was calling me that day... Happy to say he got adopted, but not before we got his levels straightened out, his A1C steady, and got him on a CGM/pump combo. That last part made it so much easier.

Anyway that all to say, hats off to you. That's a hard diagnosis with occasional nonsensical stigma from the ill-informed. 

 

[MichiganCardinal]

It feels like I woke up some day in the last two months and all of a sudden every fast food joint, every ad, and every health craze, now just jacks up and advertises their protein levels. Is that the flavor of the month?

There's probably something to it. In the grand scheme of macros, protein and calories are the only two I pay attention to. But what's with Chipotle, Subway, and every other place that pretends to be healthy screaming at me about how much protein they have?

[Edman85]

1 hour ago, Stanley70 said:

My advice is if you can get insurance to cover a CGM get one if you don't already have one. It makes controlling your blood sugar a lot easier.

I do the finger pricks in the morning to get the fasting number. Because I was only at 6.5 last year when diagnosed, there's not much need to get Time in Range data yet, but will certainly bring that up with my doctor.

[romad1]

55 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I do the finger pricks in the morning to get the fasting number. Because I was only at 6.5 last year when diagnosed, there's not much need to get Time in Range data yet, but will certainly bring that up with my doctor.

I don't know if this is the case but having a CGM might be a problem in some security situations.  I know there are waivers but I think it might actually be a problem for some situations. 

[Edman85]

18 minutes ago, romad1 said:

I don't know if this is the case but having a CGM might be a problem in some security situations.  I know there are waivers but I think it might actually be a problem for some situations. 

True. I could see that being not allowed in secure areas...

[casimir]

I like riding my bike in the summer.  We have a rails to trails that goes through our neighborhood and it goes to a couple of different parks.  I’ve been riding since we moved into this house.  In fact, we moved in late Sept about 10 or something years ago, and I made it a point to get a bike next spring.  I’ve been tracking distance and times beginning in 2021.  I’ll go 10 to 20 miles, done a couple of 30s.  I don’t know why I track it, but I do.  Over 1,000 miles is the goal this year.

[Biff Mayhem]

5 hours ago, romad1 said:

My paddle:  the one Joola that came with the $60 package.  

If you stick with it, you’ll definitely end up upgrading. There are plenty of “pro shops” that will let you try paddles. Handles can vary in circumference and shape and that was a big thing for me. I prefer the 4.125 handle and the elongated hitting surface. YMMV, however, once you try a higher end paddle, you’ll never go back to a beginner paddle. 

[Biff Mayhem]

3 hours ago, casimir said:

I like riding my bike in the summer.  We have a rails to trails that goes through our neighborhood and it goes to a couple of different parks.  I’ve been riding since we moved into this house.  In fact, we moved in late Sept about 10 or something years ago, and I made it a point to get a bike next spring.  I’ve been tracking distance and times beginning in 2021.  I’ll go 10 to 20 miles, done a couple of 30s.  I don’t know why I track it, but I do.  Over 1,000 miles is the goal this year.

Riding my bike is one of my favorite things to do. I started late summer 2025 and ride a little further each time. I plan to resume this spring.