Just wondering if anyone has done a triathalon? I play soccer 2-3 times a week in a league and run a bit but am afraid to enter an event. Any suggestions? I have type I and am soon to be 52 yrs. old but in good shape - so far. Exercise really helps keep my levels under control and I've always wanted to do a triathalon....Jeri
Jeri, a triathlon is set up perfectly for people with Diabetes. The swim is first and potentially the most dangerous part. You could carry gel (like GU) with you in your suit (pin it on - on the hip) and on the run (keep the GU out of the leg action area) in case your sugar level drops. Biking seems to be the largest sugar drain but you can carry almost anything on the bike. People with DM-1 have done the Ironman races frequently. You just need to understand your sugar use patterns (which you will learn in training). Continuous monitors are not helpful at all. Triathlon are quite doable. I am 60 y.o. and did my first Tiathlon in 1983. I stop doing them when the Duathlon (now called Biathlons) came along in the late 80s or early 90s. I hate the water. Be warned, it is hard to get off the bike to run. Runners are better at this transition than cyclists. Transition time, between events, is very important (maybe wear one suit for all events). :-)) Enjoy.
On the off chance you have a CGM, that is what I wear during exercise so I don't have to be constantly pricking my finger. I play tennis, so it's a nuisance to have to leave the court in middle of a match to check my blood sugar, and sometimes treat. I prefer to just watch it so I will know if it dips lower.
On the days I don't have a CGM on, ie a few weeks ago when I was sick (I really wish I'd had it on... I can't detect or feel lows as well when I'm sick) I fell into the pattern of testing every hour. It sounds like a lot of pricks. It was. But it was better than going too high or too low without me realizing it. Just an idea; of course, you probably don't want to be pricking that often (if at all?), but as long as you monitor your blood sugars you'll do great!
I have a Minimed Guardian. My statement was, that during continuous exercise (the triathlon), my experience was that the continuous monitor was virtually useless. The reason for that is that the monitor measures subcatanious (sp?) fluid, not blood surgar, like your regular monitor does. If you are comfortable with how yours works for you, that is wonderful. That is what we all seek. My monitor won't do that for me either on the bike or the run. I thought that there were only two licensed continuous monitors (the other was the Navigator which also did not work in the literature I read).
The purpose of my comments was to adress his fear of competing in the Triathlon. If you think your continuous monitor might work for him, you might want to discuss that with him, it could be helpful to him.
BTW, I alway have my monitor with me because it offers just one more piece of information. I am unable to sense hypoglycemia without a monitor reading or waking up afterwards.
Good Luck in Tennis.
My CGM is from Minimed, it reads to the Paradigm 722 (and 522 I think). I get what you mean with it being completely off. I've had days where it's 100+ points off, or once it kept alarming I was 'below 40' when really I was fine at about 120. But then when I'm hydrated it works pretty well for me, so I try to stick to that for tennis. But then again, I'm really for that 'blending in' bit on the tennis courts, so it works better for me than testing after every match. I always carry my meter with me as well. Thanks for the post
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