It's a start! Well, I guess the start of this was when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 46. I had lost so much weight that there was no way it was going to be mistaken for Type 2. The weight loss had been gradual to that point I just figured I was riding my bike too much. Not that I was getting faster, I wasn't, but I wasn't getting slower. Especially up the climbs. I used to be a much better climber. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining about being a healthier weight. I look back at pictures of that time and wonder why I didn't see something was wrong. I read a story about Teddy Ryder, one of Dr. Frederick Banting's early patients who was 26 lbs before he was lucky enough to get some of the first insulin injections. He later wrote to Dr. Banting "I wish you could come see me. I am a fat boy now and I feel fine. I can climb a tree." Wow. I am lucky we have the medical care we do now even when it seems like they are most used to saying "lose weight, stop smoking and eat better" to most patients. Well, I can ride a bike. Thanks Dr. Banting, all the insulin manufacturers and my health care team.
Anyway, I started Type 1 Athletes Foundation to assist Type 1 Diabetics help manage their blood glucose with the help of athletics. I was not an athlete growing up and I have to work at everything I do, I am no natural. But I like riding my bike with a little bit of running. I have to try to not get too far behind my daughter when she rides so I have been on my bike as much as possible lately. Hopefully I'll find some people that can benefit from my glucose management during cycling over the last six years and they won't have to start from scratch like I feel did.
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