Running with Type 1 Diabetes: Newly Diagnosed

On Feb 23, 2017, my life changed forever. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 28 after going into severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). My daily routine was filled with finger pricks, insulin injections, high and low blood sugars, diabetes educators, and Endocrinologist appointments. 

Running was always a big part of my life. My T1D diagnosis made me question if I could continue running. I was determined to figure it out. So, I signed up for a 5K and began training just 1 month after being released from the hospital. With just a glucose meter and MDI (multiple daily injections) therapy, I sprinted across the finish line on May 21, 2017 less than 3 months after my diagnosis. I proved to myself that I could still run like my pre-T1D self.

Next, I set my sights even higher. I wanted to run my first 10K. I had never achieved this goal even before my diagnosis, but I knew I could do it. I was inspired by my people with T1D who had ran the New York City Marathon. If they could figure out how to run 26 miles with T1D - I could do 6!

Let me be honest with you - it was not easy. I struggled for weeks trying to break past the 3 mile mark. My body and endurance were there, but my blood glucose (BG) kept holding me back. I had days where I felt like I could run 10 miles, but my blood sugar was like, "NOPE!"A few times, I had to stop running and sit on the sidewalk to treat a severe low and wait for it to rise enough just to make the dispiriting walk back home. 

I was discovering how running “blindly” without the help of a CGM (constant glucose monitor) was incredibly difficult. I needed the ability to see my BG numbers while running. So, I worked up the courage to wear a device on my body and asked my Endocrinologist for a Dexcom G6 prescription. I started using it in April 2018 and it was a GAME CHANGER. This device inserted a flexible sensor wire under my skin and sent a BG reading every 5 minutes to an app on my phone. 

I started collecting SPIbelts to hold my phone during my runs. To avoid pulling my phone in and out of my belt during my run, I purchased an Apple Watch which made it easy to glance down to view my blood sugar level. Now, I had the technology I needed, but I still needed to figure out how to stabilize my BG levels.

Every single day with T1D is different. It is a literal science experiment. A very frustrating science experiment. A key to my success was keeping a running journal in order to see patterns and what worked best for my body. I’ve always used MDI therapy so I did not have the luxury of ‘suspending’ or having a ‘temp basal’ like insulin pump users. 

Running Journal Tacker:

1. Date and time I took short-acting insulin 

I needed to wait around 3 hours for the insulin to leave my system before I went on a run. Having any insulin on board caused me to go low after 1 mile of running.

2. Start and end time of my run

Certain times of day seemed to affect my BG more than others. I typically ran in the afternoons before lunch when possible or early evenings before dinner. 

3. My blood sugar levels at the beginning and end of my run

This helped me discover the ideal range for my blood sugar (160 - 190 mg/dL worked best for me) to be at the start of a run. I wanted enough wiggle room for my BG to drop and level out during my run.  

4. What snack I ate during my run

I tried everything: Pro Bar bolt chews, GU Stroop Waffles, Honey Stinger chews, various brands of gels, protein bars, Cliff Bloks, GU Chews, and RUN performance gum, Nerds, Starburst jellybeans, etc.  All were recommended from other runners, but nothing worked for me. They either kicked in too slowly and made my blood sugar spike after my run, were too difficult to chew while running, or came in very unappetizing flavors. I wanted a solution that didn’t hinder my breathing or slow down my pace. 

Finally, I remembered how a very small amount of juice affects my blood sugar. It is the most affective way of treating low blood sugar. So, I purchased a small, running water bottle (8oz) from Amazon to strap to my SPIbelt. I filled it with gatorade and set out on my run. I kept an eye on my Dexcom reading and started taking a sip of gatorade as soon as I saw my BG level dropping. Each run was still different, but my blood sugar started to drop between mile 2 and 3. I continued running towards mile 4 taking 2-3 sips per mile. For the first time ever, I glanced down at my watch on mile 5 and saw my blood sugar graph level out to a straight line! I completed my very first 6.2 mile run with the biggest smile on my face.

On August 12, 2018 I completed the Camarillo Marathon 10K race and placed 2nd in my age division, which I never expected! 

Next goal: Run in a Half Marathon

Blog Post written for SPIbelt.com