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I just love Running.  Have I mentioned that before?  Well now I have.

I am not fast and I cannot at this point run a full 3 miles straight.  I don't expect that I ever will because that is not my goal.

The reason why I love running among other things like runner's high, great legs, better breathing capacity, etc, is my blood glucose control is EXCEPTIONAL when I run.  Not just good, not great--EXCEPTIONAL.

Here is an example:
This morning I woke (rest day for me so no running) and my BG was 73--I thought I would wake up high because I checked last night before going to bed and my BG was 138 and I didn't do anything about it--usually I will give a 50% normal dose of insulin for something like this because I am going to sleep and I don't want to wake up low in the middle of the night.  Now that will really bring out the bear.

My fasting blood sugars have been awesome since I started running again a couple of weeks ago; not one or two but every single one is great!

I wake up between 70-90 every day.  Not to toot my own horn or anything, I am just trying to share my happiness...

Happiness vs. Unhappiness

So let's talk about being happy for just a second. Am I happy about having Diabetes? Am I happy about all the work that goes into taking care of myself? Am I happy when I do a great job and my body responds the way I expect it to?

You could probably guess the answers to all of those questions--just by putting yourself in my shoes.

Now I am going to share a quote I just read for the second time from a book I am reading to my kids. They love Arthur and the Invisibles. We have never seen the movie but Luc Besson is a good writer for kids. The words are not too easy and the storyline is exceptional; especially when reading it out loud to your kids. The more emphasis you add the better they sit on the edge of their seats and gobble it up. I am not kidding and I mean all ages.

So I read the book first to make sure it was going to be ok for the kids if I read it to them and in the second book there is a page where the author is making a statement about life. It is in Chapter 8 of "Arthur and The Forbidden City". My book says: page 295 but yours may be different: I have both books combined.

The quote is this, think about it and then answer the questions above while you are in my shoes.

"It is often only when we are experiencing unhappiness that we realize how valuable little day-to-day things really are: a great stretch upon waking, a ray of sunlight on your face, someone you love smiling at you. IT'S AS IF UNHAPPINESS IS SIMPLY A WAY TO MEASURE HAPPINESS"

Both time I read this quote and was hit by a thunderbolt in the chest. Its very powerful the force of this quote.

Did you come up with different answers? I sure did when I applied that quote. I have a choice whether to choose unhappiness or happiness in my life and no matter what I choose, I attract that to my life.

So even though I don't love having Diabetes, I recognize the little happinesses it has brought into my life and has given me a measure for how great my life really is; and I have to say for myself: I have a great life in spite of the trial of having Diabetes and I can always find happiness in everything I experience and do.
Now Go Choose Your Consequences!
Chrystal

Running is GOOD for you so they say

Today I ran almost 5 miles in about an hour. That doesn't sound very fast and it really isn't by running standards but I am just ecstatic about the fact that I actually got up before the sun and ran--I even got home before the sun came up and that was really fun to do...

I thought I was going 7 miles today but then again I guess I can do that tomorrow but the whole reason I am writing this post is to say: my basal rate is right on during this time of the day.

So here is my example:
I woke up and my blood sugar was: 93--great for a fasting if I say so myself.
I went running and came back 1 hour later--I have been sweating and working my body not on flats but hills: up and down so I really worked.--anyway

my post exercise blood sugar was: 90---Yay! if I say so myself--of course I had to eat and drink water which I am due for again--brb--ok so I ate some green beans and a homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread--which I made last week--gotta make more of that--so good. and I forgot to take insulin for the sandwich -- which I shouldn't have done but I wasn't really thinking about: oh I need to take insulin--I was thinking: oh I need to eat something with protein to recover from that run...and I forgot my insulin

so when I checked about an hour later--maybe it was more my blood sugar was: 237--oops go take insulin---roller coaster notwithstanding--I liked my run so much I want to go do it again and it's a good thing as the Halloween Half is less than 3 weeks away---so my focus the next 3 weeks is rest and run, rest and run, rest and run--oh and check my blood sugars...don't forget that -- and take insulin--especially when eating-=-really don't forget that. :)

CGMS--Finally!

So last year I was getting a sensor and then the whole insurance company debacle and not being able to afford it---go back and read if you must.

We have pooled our money together and have decided that we are getting it--Today! I just have to do the following things:

1. Get a copy of the letter or medical necessity from the doctor for the IRS. Because they won't allow me to use FSA funds without that OH and

2. get a copy of the prescription from my doctor to back ourselves up to the IRS to spend our money for our medical bills (that is so depressing--but I don't want to get into any political or government biases in this blog)

3. Oh and let me not forget: get a copy of the receipt to avoid allegations of fraud...using FSA money for purposes other than medical necessities...

--BUT----

YAY: I get a sensor, I get a sensor, and need I say it one more time? I get a sensor!!!! Steph we can be new sensor buddies!!! YAY!

The Climb

Friends are great! I made a new friend just this last week who has her own challenges and she posted this song on her website to inspire those who are struggling along with her. If you want to check her out, here she is and you can listen to the song on hers or just stay here and listen on mine.

I think this song represents what is great about life and the battle we all face every day! I am glad I am alive, even with Diabetes and even if all of my worst fears come true. I am posting the words to the song too. I think the impact is greater!

Thanks for reading my friends!

THE CLIMB

I can almost see it

That dream I’m dreaming

But there’s a voice inside my head

that says you’ll never reach it.

Every step I’m taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaken but

I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

Chorus

There’s always going to be another mountain

I’m gonna want to make it move

Always going to be an uphill battle

Sometimes I’m going to have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get here

Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side

It’s the climb.

The struggles I’m facein’

The chances I’m taken

Sometimes they knock me down

But no I’m not breakin’

I may not know it

but these are the moments that

I’m going to remember most – yeah

Just gotta keep goin’ and

I gotta be strong, just keep pushing on

There’s always going to be another mountain

I’m gonna want to make it move

Always going to be an uphill battle

Sometimes I’m going to have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get here

Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side

It’s the climb.

You know how when your blood sugars are high it affects chemicals in the brain? You didn't? Oh--it does if you are low too, just so you know.

I have been battling high blood sugars just because I want to eat all the time but I don't want to check my blood or take insulin. I have been battling the urge to sleep all day long.

This is bad because I homeschool and I have my kids at home all day. So glad for TV on those days I feel like I did today and the last couple of days. Usually we never turn the darn thing on because of the time waster it is. Then there are the high days and the low days and the brain roller-coaster rides that ensue.

When I am high I just want to sleep. Not that I am particularly tired or anything, I just am so sleepy and depressed. Nothing feels better than passing into oblivion of sleep to get away from life for awhile.

But you can only sleep for so long you say...I know that and therefore I wake up to my daughter answering the phone and screening the call for me from one of my friends who has diabetes. Actually she is the only friend I have a phone number for and who has my phone number that has diabetes. I was glad she called and mad my daughter had screened the call instead of finding out who it was and then checking with me to see if I wanted to talk. My BG was 329.

I took insulin and called her back and got the good news. She got her pump and is training....great. I am still depressed. I haven't cooked for days, cleaned the kitchen ( I can't cook until the kitchen is clean) so the vicious cycle goes on and on and on.....

I just want things to happen--good things, great things, life changeing things.

I also know they won't unless I get off my butt and do something about them--take care of business today to enjoy the harvest tomorrow.

The harvest of realizing that I have taken care of myself all these years so I don't have to deal with my greatest fears: Losing limbs, sensations in my fingers and toes, kidney function which causes a loss of time due to dialysis.

I wish I had a forum to discuss my low--depression--just get it out of my head so I think of solutions to my problems instead of wallow in the downer thoughts. I guess I have this forum, is anyone even listening? OR do I actually have to hear the sound of my voice screaming out the words and putting them on the canvas of the world for all to see?

And still time marches on and I have to take care of my greatest assets. They need to be put to bed.

Halloween Half Marathon

So I have been talking to one of my running friends about a 1/2 marathon she is considering entering and she invited me. Me who has not run more than 2.5 miles at a time since the Ragnar in June.

Can I be ready by then? I have some issues and I hope I can work through them and pound them down into something manageable on race day. It is in less than 1 month and it is 13.1 miles.

Well I never did anything if I didn't do it really big and really really hard.--I always start with the hardest to do first (that I think I can manage). Then during the preparation I kick at the sticks because I was stupid enough to do that ...

Well there is nothing to complain about now; no stupidity that cannot be remedied with a little walk-run-walking and hopefully they don't close the coarse before I cross the finish line because I refuse to be carried off the course.

There is definitely nothing more motivating than challenging myself to something that is doubtful that I can actually do but it just elevates my spirit to proclaim: " Yes I can! " and I will prove it. So come see me prove it: Halloween Half Marathon. I will be there, will you?

Come cheer me on and take pictures so I can post them here and you can see me in all my misery and triumph when I cross the finish line running!!!