Motorcycles and Diabetic Riders

[Redbone]

Earlier today I saw another post that hit home since I too am diabetic. I know there are a few of us out there as i have briefly talked to some of you on hte subject.
To those that may not know there are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Generally speaking, Type 1 diabetes normally happens early in life while Type 2 diabeties has been a middle aged + adult disease. Type 2 diabetes has had an alarming increase in recent years and has started aflicting people younger and younger, even teenagers!
Since I am no expert on the subject I'll leave you to research the subject more if you like because it veers off of the original intent of my post.

My intent was to see how our members who have diabetes handle riding and everyday life. It may help friends who ride with you know what to do in case you have a episode of hypoglycemia, aka low blood sugar. I am a type 2 diabetic and so far my glycemic levels have been controlled with pills, although I suffer with some side effects such as weight gain. With my job I sit at my desk way too much and generally do not get enough exercise outside of work.

How do you normally go about your day?
What are your tricks/ tips for when you ride?
Are there any programs, websites, apps that you use to help keep you on track?

I don't know if I'm stepping over the line with this post and prying into personal areas that I should not, if I am please accept my appologies. It is kind of near and dear to my heart as my brother that my family and I lost last October was a Type 1 diabetic.

 

[PATMAX]

Yeah that is personal and prying to ask but unfortunately, open and frank conversation is a huge help to diabetics and the public who live amongst record numbers of Diabetics. Information can educate Diabetics to unknown treatments, meds, diets etc. the public can learn how to recognize someone in diabetic distress. I waited too long to take my disease seriously and now am paying the price. To be crude and forward, a type 2 diabetic can control their disease by just controlling what that put in their mouth. That simple, period. Type 1 is completely different. I had my stomach removed because I could not control my mouth. I am off two insulins and several pills but my body already has been damaged. Now my kidneys are suffering with an unknown future. What else is there to say, it's epidemic and it sucks. Genetics have a strong influence but in the end, the individual has to make the changes in their lives to combat the disease and avoid the nasty complications


When in doubt...Gas it !!!

 

[bazwell]

Hiya Redbone,

I have type I. Found out about 26 years ago.
It's hard to give general advise about diabetes, and even the diabetic community changes it's perceptions about what is right and wrong. Specific questions - maybe.

For a while when I was younger I back-packed around, and ended up spending some time as a scuba instructor in Thailand. During this time I was a regular on this site --> http://www.realitycheck.org.au/RCforum/

It says it's for type I, but if you go on there you will probably find all sorts of answers.
There was a number of really interesting people on there (12 years ago!) when I was there, and open minded helpful people too! Give it a look.

I back packed for 9 months without any refrigeration for my insulin (which was unheard of at the time.) Before that I had rode motorbikes, parachuted, and had a hang-gliding license.

When I came back to Oz I taugh a few people how to dive, legitimately, thru a dive shop, with all the correct insurance and approvals. This was partially so I could say to people that even though it is not possible for a diabetic to learn to dive in Oz, it is possible to become a dive instructor! (Stupid rules... pfft)

If you ask me if I am a good diabetic, I answer NO. Hell, it's a pig of a disease. The people with perfect control have to be pretty anal and boring in their life. Theres a balance. Try and be good, but live/ride fast!!

BUT, I am completely capable of holding the lives of others in my hands, even with the possibility of going hypo. I gave out 100 certifications as a scuba instructor, without any incidents. I'm proud of that.

As for riding, and just about everything else, you have to know your own body.
Be able to recognize when you are going hypo before it is too late.
Carry jelly beans or whatever you like glucose wise. That way when you start to feel a bit dozy or sweaty or whatever your early warning symptoms are you can stop and act correctly.

PM me any time about it. I'm not guru, but I'm still kicking! unk:

I've never met a diabetic who wasn't willing to talk openly about it. (Except for people recently diagnosed, that can be difficult.) As far as I know, you haven't crossed any lines with privacy. Not with me anyway.

 

[Redbone]

As I said I have type 2 diabetes (8 years), so I mostly have the high readings in the 140's when I am going good but for the last 2 months it's been running in the 180's (lots of stress). I am working with my doctor to get it even lower and when I can get motivated to exercise my readings have dropped to a high normal (110- 120). I am geting back to eating properly(quantity and quality) and control the stress but still have to get into a regular exercise routine. I have a lot of bad eating habits that I am working to overcome and the exercise routine will work it's way into my life.
I appreciate both of your responses, and it reinforces my resolve to get my diabetes under better control so I can get off some of the meds that I'm on.

 

[Lew L]

Another type 2 signing in:

Just on Metformin 2x a day and try not to eat anything white. I've lost about 25 lbs over the last year through diet and exercise. I sure try to be a "good" diabetic but----------

Taking blood sugar is a pain but I'm usually in the 135 to 145 range. Lower than that when I'm really good ( certinally not when the whole family is here at Christmass and New years). Mom had it and so does my younger sister but we are all over weight. Loosing wt. seemed to have the biggest effect. Of course my resolution for the new year is one pound a month.

Best of luck to all diabetics out there.
Lew

 

[bazwell]

Oh, America is deliberately obtuse.

You are talking weight in POUNDS (which no-one else does), and your BSL's in METRIC (which no-one else does).


:bang head::bang head::bang head::bang head::bang head:


Not your fault. I blame Bush. :rofl_200:

So are you guys aiming for between 80 and 160? (Roughly 4 to 8 mmol/l)

 

[bazwell]

Oh, and do you guys use the GI Factor, or Glycemic Load?

 

[KJShover]

Type II up here

Didn't notice it until I was taken to the ER back in November with a blood sugar spike well above 300.

I've been taking 500mg of glucophage per day. It's kinda of funny, when I was hurt and over 400lbs my blood sugar was fine. But when I lost the 1st 100lbs, thats when things started going goofy. My doc, after lecturing me on the weight gain, said that its not uncommon for it to happen. Heavy my body was working overtime to keep the homeostasis and when I dropped the weight it screwed up the balance of things.

I cook a diabetic friendly menu cause my dad is a type II also. So there is just Splenda and Stevia in the house. No sugar sodas, just flavored sparking water in the house. I use a little from this list http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm, and the Diet Analysis Software V.9. http://www.amazon.com/Diet-Analysis-Windows-Macintosh-CD-ROM/dp/0495387657 We used this software in the nutrition class I took. It rocks, you clan plug in foods, recipes and it will spit out all you want to know about them, plus you can keep a daily journal on what you ate and then print out the stats and it will show you where your missing or going overboard. I highly recommend it, even if your healthy.

As far as exercise, I do the P90X thing. A fellow Vmaxer, Brad Dunagan is my coach. Its working well so far. I didn't meet my goal of breaking back into the 200's by new year, but I will be there by next month, with being back to my normal weight by summer.

As far as riding, I do a check before I go out and make sure my cell is on and I leave an approximate area I'll be and a time when I'll return. If I deviate from the plan, I call and give updates. As far as exercise goes, other than the P90X, I love working in my yard (mowing, weeding, planting etc..), playing with the dogs in the back yard. I also do little things like when I go to the store I don't bother looking for the parking space that's the closest, or on campus I'll skip the shuttle bus if the temps are good enough for a walk.

 

[sdt354]

I was coming down the highway 4-5 yrs ago, in the cage, and couldn't read a single sign, and had been pissing like I drank the Quabbin Reservoir. I stopped at friends and asked to check my glucose, I'd been suspicious. I ended up with a 600 reading and spent 6 days in the ICU. I have to check my sugar all the time and adjust with insulin on a sliding scale dependent on the carbs. I eat. I found a great Doctor close to home that has me shoot for 100. I lost 30 lbs. which helps. The biggest help when I ride? My Buddies in the Northeast that know, I prolly should tell everybody I ride with too.. Mark M, Garrett, Dan-0, Forestdale Dave, and everyone else, too many to list. I can't thank you all for the consideration I get. I've got mucho yrs. on most of them and they take care of me...lol. Thank the good Lord for friends like all of you! I'm blessed for sure.
When I get low, which is rare, it’s obvious, I'll ride on the white line, rest my foot on the brake pedal, and weave around a bit, so I've got to maintain and eat right too. Riding in the dark is a problem too; it takes 15 miles or so to adjust. On the way back from Garrett's last summer, Mark had to pull me over to make sure I was all right. I was, kind of. I also dropped my bike in the shed one night at full stop. My sugar was low at the time. It's a pain, but why complain, I'd rather ride. I’m trying to put on 10 lbs. now to gain more strength. So far I’ve put 6 lbs. on.
When alone, I'll check myself at gas ups, thank God for the 4 gallon tank. I'm type 1, and just want to say, if you get it, you'll manage it. Every ride is a gift.
Steve-o

 

[jfeagins]

When I first suspected something was up a couple years ago, I was having lots of trouble concentrating on stuff at work, and even found myself trying to doze off at the computer occasionally - always after the noon meal. I bought a tester, and tested on an afternoon when I was sleepy. I tested at around 460 that day.

Glucophage (1000mg) 2x a day here. My quarterly A1-C test is spot on per Dr., but I don't remember the #'s. When/if I feel the need to check my daily sugar level, it seems to run between 120-140 range, and that's only when I think I've overdone it with the wrong foods.

The Dr. also has me on a daily dose of lisinopril to protect my internals from the diebetes.

On the bright side: my horrible, daily heartburn disappeared over night when my blood sugar levels came down to the right level.

On the bummer side: I sure do miss that SWEET TEA.

 

[sdt354]

My Brother in Law is a Yoga teacher, as is my wife.. He has given me a pose called the forward fold.I'm not into Yoga otherwise. It massages the Pancreas. A side benefit is it stretches my back and legs and aids in riding comfort. PM me if interested.
Steve-o

 

[bazwell]

Diet Analysis Software V.9. http://www.amazon.com/Diet-Analysis-Windows-Macintosh-CD-ROM/dp/0495387657 We used this software in the nutrition class I took. It rocks, you clan plug in foods, recipes and it will spit out all you want to know about them, plus you can keep a daily journal on what you ate and then print out the stats and it will show you where your missing or going overboard. I highly recommend it, even if your healthy.

Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like a good thing to have!
Does it spit out GI and GL values? :ummm:

 

[KJShover]

When I first suspected something was up a couple years ago, I was having lots of trouble concentrating on stuff at work, and even found myself trying to doze off at the computer occasionally

That is about how it started for me too, I was having big time troubles concentrating at school, and it slowly got worse. I ended up collapsing and everything wasn't right. My vision was blurry, Wasn't thinking straight. My dad took me to the ER, where the tests were done.

 

[KJShover]

Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like a good thing to have!
Does it spit out GI and GL values? :ummm:

I think version 10 does. I'm using version 9. I bought it for a nutrition class I took. I think it does also, but I wasn't diagnosed a type II then so I never looked at it that close.

The reports are very detailed. I noticed several things in them.