Nothing better than a little football in bed while its raining outside, right?  They only show the New England – Buffalo game here at MGH.  Their all die hard Pats fans.  Gotta appreciate that!

7:30am – BG was 115.  It then spiked in the 340’s after my meal of oatmeal with raisins and syrup, toast and orange juice.  I am back down now to a BG = 90.  Do not be frustrated with the after meal spike.  Remember the following:

1. I was randomized in the group of the study that gets no pre-meal bolus.  The AP has to chase the carbs, and

2. Since there is a delay in the insulin absorption, it lags behind. And,

3. There is a delay in the CGM readings as well, and since the AP reacts based on the CGM, there is delay in the reaction.

They are testing the system in this part of the study based on worst case scenario, i.e., if I am the type of T1D that plugs in my AP and then does nothing with it.  They want to know that it is still safe and that it will work.

Pre-meal bolusing and some other things, I can already see how the AP will make my life better.

Since I am training for a marathon, let me share this article with you which came via post from my marathon, endurance, coach good friend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/sports/essay-the-honorable-clan-of-the-long-distance-runner.html?_r=1&

The similarities between managing T1D and running marathons is uncanny.  1. If you lie about your times, your only cheating yourself, 2. Always looking inward to figure out how to run farther/faster, 3. Constantly aware of your body and what its telling you, 4. If you are not aware of your body and what its telling you, you bring havoc upon yourself.

But my favorite line from the article is this:  Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi said: “Mind is everything; muscle, mere pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind.”

Managing T1D is a head game.  1. Knowledge, 2. Drive, 3. Determination, 4. Calculations in the face of cognitive impairment, 5. Constant education.

What gets a marathoner past mile 20?  When legs feel like rubber and they don’t want to lift anymore?  The head does it.  The head tells the legs to shut up.

What gets a T1D through hypo or hyperglycemia?  The head does it.  The head tells the body to shut up, we have things to do.

And at the end of the day, a T1D analyzes, reviews, plans and rests.  Everyday.

Check out this breakfast I had. I know, for a guy with no limitations this weekend, it’s kind of boring. However, the oatmeal had syrup in it. And I liked it. I don’t ever remember eating syrup and liking it. I have been trained to associate syrup, and like foods, with hyperglycemia.

Today, I enjoyed syrup. Doesn’t sound like much, but it really is something.

Spent the night with blood glucose levels ranging between 70 and 125. I did not wake up to treat when I was low, did not wake up to bolus when I was heading up. I just slept.

The nursing staff didn’t come in to bolus for me either. They just came in to take blood from the IV to check the system. My IV is in the same place and they never woke me, so it appears the system/algorithm was working correctly and managing my T1D while I lay carefree in bed.

This is unreal. I still really can’t believe that I just experienced this type of sleep. Ok, so I am hooked up to machines with an IV, but that’s what it FEELS like to not be T1D, right? It has to be, because it felt great!

We have come along way, and we still have a ways to go.  I had the bar set pretty high coming into this weekend, thinking I wouldn’t be at risk for highs and lows.  However, I am encouraged that this device is closer than I thought.  I am encouraged by the research team and their drive to understand the hurdles and resolve them for the next phase of the study.

Anything.  I repeat, anything that gets us closer to being able to:

1. Have mom sleep through the night.

2. Give me a greater chance at no complications later in life.

3. Giving T1D the ‘old Tony Papola tag line

4. Providing my children, in the event they’re ever diagnosed, a chance for easier life.

I am all for.  100%  And I believe all of my friends who work, and volunteer for the JDRF are with me.

In the face of adversity, we must not quit.  We must define our challenges to overcome them and fight harder than we have before.  We are getting closer, and we will win.