First 1/2 marathon and musings on how everything ends up relating back to Diabetes!

lark 27 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 11:20 AM

I have a few random musings for anyone who has a moment.
I completed my first half marathon on Saturday (2 hours 23 minutes--about 15 minutes slower than I had hoped.) The course had 4 water stops and they were out of water or cups on two of them and had limited supply on the other two! I was so upset because it caused me to dehydrate and have cramping during the race which caused me to be slower than planned. I was however, quite proud of finishing the race and on my BG levels. I started out at 155 (as was my plan). I took several readings throughout the course and my lowest was 99 and the highest was the 155 that I started out with. I consumed about 85 carbs during the race without bolusing. I would not have been able to do this without an insulin pump and modifying my basal dose to 50% for an hour prior and during the first hour of the race and then down to 33% for the rest of the race. I was so proud to check my BG at the end and see 127. (27 happens to be my favorite/lucky number hence the screenname).

Anyway, the race was beautiful weather and a gorgeous run around a lake and on a trail. The only negative was the water stations which led to the dehydration and cramping during the race. Following the race I thought I rehydrated OK, but I guess I was more dehydrated than I realized, because an hour afterward we left the race and stopped at a store. All of a sudden I felt like passing out. I managed to take my BG while slumped on a counter and was glad I was high (200) from intentional post race carb loading and not wanting to overdo the insulin. I managed to sit on the floor and my wife had 911 called. It ended up my blood pressure was dropping due to dehydration. The emts took my BP and it was 80/41 so I ended up going to the ER.

Of course since I"m diabetic they view me as a candidate for heart problems so they did an EKG and chest xray and all of that (can't wait to see the bills). Then they come to me and tell me my creatinine was high and protein was in the urine so they're concerned that I might have kidney issues. Of course those results were high because of the dehydration, but we don't know that for sure at the time. I've since followed up with my doc and retested and all the numbers are fine and my kidneys are still good (also my latest A1C is 6.5).

All this did cause for a couple days of worrying about my kidneys, as I waited to get new lab results, and pondering about how I want to do everything I can to make completely avoid or at least delay the day when I might get a test back that does say there are serious complications. And at this thanksgiving season, it's got me very thankful for my health and all the tools and knowledge available to me as a diabetic so that I can kee my BG under tight control and live a healthy life.

Next race, I'm carrying my water with me!

SCC · #2 (**permalink**) 11-14-2009, 05:44 AM

Wow! Great story, and a good reminder to take water on longer runs. Thanks for sharing.

JDCorns · #3 (**permalink**) 11-14-2009, 08:57 AM

I am a 30 year diabetic and a 10 year pump wearer. I am doing my first half marathon in May, just began training. I wanted some tips and yours helped a lot. Anymore you can give me would be great. I am worried about my sugars. How did you check it during the race? Are there any energy suppliments that are ok for diabetics?
Thanks, Jen

Scratch · #4 (**permalink**) 11-14-2009, 10:32 AM

Funny how we're all different some. I've run 2 half-marathons so far and only had to eat about 8g of carbohydrate in the first one because of some extra bolus in my system. My Lantus shot the night before had been my usual daily dose.

I'd suggest that at the very least, take a cheap water bottle that you feel can be tossed along with you for the first hour of the race. You can just toss it when you're done with it. It helps because you also get to avoid the crowding that often occurs at the early water stations and it also keeps you from getting behind on being hydrated. Getting behind on being hydrated can lead to all sorts of problems and is impossible to catch up on once you do fall critically behind.

Hopefully you can take what you learned from this and with more time spent running, your next one will be even better.

lark 27 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDCorns

I am a 30 year diabetic and a 10 year pump wearer. I am doing my first half marathon in May, just began training. I wanted some tips and yours helped a lot. Anymore you can give me would be great. I am worried about my sugars. How did you check it during the race? Are there any energy suppliments that are ok for diabetics?
Thanks, Jen

Hey Jen,
Good luck to you. As scratch indicated, everyone's needs will be different, so my biggest advice is for you to really learn from your body throughout your training process about what you need to do for basal rates and carb consumption. I used a couple packs of gu during the race and some destrose tabs. I don't know if there's any sports gels or anything designed for diabetics, but I think probably not because even diabetics will need the carbs during the exertion. During the race I checked my BG during walk breaks. I kind of followed the Jeff Galloway method of running (google for info) where you walk a minute every so often. (For me I did a minute out of each mile.) This allowed me plenty of time to take my BG/eat if needed and also to walk through the water stops. At first the walking seemed like cheating to me, but it really does work for my needs, and I don't really think it slows my times down. Of course I'm not running at an elite level.

lark 27 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Funny how we're all different some. I've run 2 half-marathons so far and only had to eat about 8g of carbohydrate in the first one because of some extra bolus in my system. My Lantus shot the night before had been my usual daily dose.

Hopefully you can take what you learned from this and with more time spent running, your next one will be even better.

Scratch,

This was definitely a learning opportunity, and I'm looking forward to having a better runand end result next time. (If my wife lets me run again!) And I completely concur that it is funny how we're all different. As I've progressed as a runner over the year, the running itself has almost been easy in comparison to the process of learning what I need to do to manage my D before, during, and after runs. I can't imagine taking my old normal lantus dose and only needing 8 carbs! I'm still learning what works for me obviously...