Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Oh...Ive been a BAD Diabetic!

Today was NOT a good day for me. My intentions were to get up, go to the Silver Comet Trail and bust off another 10-15 miles, come home and eat a good dinner and watch LSU beat Alabama (Geaux Tigers!).

What actually happened was, I got up and started watching Gameday on ESPN. Got sucked in to that and then the first game came on. I figured, what the heck and watched it thinking I would go ride after that game. I got hungry about then and figured I would order a pizza so i could have some today and put the rest up for tomorrow.

Well, before I knew it, I had eaten the WHOLE pizza! Now, that in itself would make me a TERRIBLE diabetic, but the day was not over. OH NO!

I proceeded to sit on my butt all day, watching football and ended up going to the store to get a snack. I seriously went to get something healthy. Really, I did! Ended up with a 20oz Coke and three candy bars. And yes, I drank the Coke and ate two of the candy bars before I realized it.

So, instead of going to knock out my miles today, I spent the day with an old love of mine...PIZZA and CANDY! It was like I couldn't stop myself. I craved it. I NEEDED it! I would have done a chocolate IV today, if it was offered to me, I think.

All of my hard work...down the drain. :mad::notamused::twitchy:

ouch well theres always tomorrow. Did you check your blood sugar after the pizza etc?

na, didn't check it. Im going to wait and check in the morning when I get up. sigh.

:eek: LOL not a good day but then again I have also put back on othe 20 lbs that I had lost thanks to sept and not riding at all. Now the weather is getting cold. I just bought a trainer and will be using that inside hopefully

I'm type 2 with insulin resistance. By being consistant I've went from a Blood Sugar of 230 to 78. A1c 12.3 to 4.8. Still taking 500 mg of Metformin. Not sure why. Your one day messup isn't the end of the world you can get right back on the wagon.What you don't want to do is try to make it all up by fasting tomorrow. Just go back to eating right.

As far as riding: I'm wondering if you had planned on going on a 6 mile ride wouldn't that have been easier to get off the couch and "just do it". When I began "the journey" my goal was and is "Just showing up is a success." Now 27 months later I have to force myself to take a day off.

na, didn't check it. Im going to wait and check in the morning when I get up. sigh.

Let me be blunt: that is seriously stupid! Why would you want to live with a blood sugar that could be 3-5X normal for an extra 10 or 20 hours? Does the thought of suffering from blindness, kidney failure, or diabetic neuropathy down the road appeal to you?

As a (Type 1) diabetic myself, I can tell you that we all give in to cravings occasionally. When it happens, the most important thing you can do is check your blood sugar and do whatever is necessary to bring it back into a normal range as quickly as possible. Pizza, in particular, is one of those foods that can be very difficult to manage. Even with an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor, it still gives me trouble if I eat more than a couple of pieces...

And you are (or want to be) a truck driver?

Frankly, you should be ashamed of yourself for the lack of discpline now that could put people in danger in the future.

And you are (or want to be) a truck driver?

Frankly, you should be ashamed of yourself for the lack of discpline now that could put people in danger in the future.

Because we all all perfect.

Tomorrow is another day, although I agree you should be testing your BS now, not hours later.

Keep your head up and learn from this.

I would question the "healthy" part of going to the store.

You gotta surround yourself with healthy food. If you want pizza.... make it. If you dont want to make it, buy a personal pan sized pizza. Want candy? just get one. JUST ONE. As clydes, we gotta watch what we eat and it is a life thing. Some people will disagree with me and frankly I dont care but at the end of the day you can either control what you eat or not. I cant (like you perhaps??) so I have to take extreme measure. Healthy food in the house, fruits and veggies and healthy snacks. Yup, sometimes it is tough. And for riding, just get out there. Might be good to sell the TV or really limit it. Go out.... have a nice ride. Cut the excuses and go for it.

I say this with love and respect!

Yep. I know what you mean.

I started Myfitnesspal yesterday and it would have screamed at me and stomped out of the room it it could.

I will get up, dust myself off, and give it another try today.

And you are (or want to be) a truck driver?

Frankly, you should be ashamed of yourself for the lack of discpline now that could put people in danger in the future.

In the OP's defense, he's not driving at the moment, or in the 48 hours following his binge. Other than that, I agree.

Are you looking for empathy? Encouragement? Forgiveness? Sympathy? It seems you're dealing with personal choices. Seriously, why tell us?

Are you looking for empathy? Encouragement? Forgiveness? Sympathy? It seems you're dealing with personal choices. Seriously, why tell us?

I assume he's telling us because most of us have been there. I was (yesterday).

Allen,
You're hard work is not down the drain due to one day of over-the-top eating. Just don't turn it into a habit. Get back to it and remind yourself what is important (health) and what's not (food cravings).

Are you looking for empathy? Encouragement? Forgiveness? Sympathy? It seems you're dealing with personal choices. Seriously, why tell us?

I guess I'm telling you because I'm trying to hold myself accountable. I screwed up and it was bothering me. If me posting that bothers you, just dont read it. :rolleyes:

Are you looking for empathy? Encouragement? Forgiveness? Sympathy? It seems you're dealing with personal choices. Seriously, why tell us?

I think the OP is bragging. :-)

definitely not bragging.

I guess I'm telling you because I'm trying to hold myself accountable.

Bull. Using the Internet to tell people you've never met that you're just been on a 10,000 calorie junk food binge isn't being accountable. Testing your blood sugar after the binge is being accountable. Or avoiding the binge all together. Seriously: how hard is it to make a sandwich (or a salad...) rather than going to the trouble of ordering a pizza?

Don't worry Allen. The guys here are into "tough love"... at least I hope so.

Quit watching games.:D If I watch a game, I want nachos, pizza etc. I gave up watching sports for riding on the weekends.

Since I've been riding on weekends, I haven't watched a game in maybe 12 years. That many less nanchos for me.:D

I don't watch my diet real close and only if I go for an event. But I'm sure a riding Mr. Beanz is better for me than a nacho eating game watching Mr. Beanz.:p

Quit watching games.:D If I watch a game, I want nachos, pizza etc. I gave up watching sports for riding on the weekends.

Since I've been riding on weekends, I haven't watched a game in maybe 12 years. That many less nanchos for me.:D

I don't watch my diet real close and only if I go for an event. But I'm sure a riding Mr. Beanz is better for me than a nacho eating game watching Mr. Beanz.:p

If he's a tiger fan, then not watching that game is a fate worse than death.

Geaux Tigers! :D

Today was NOT a good day for me. My intentions were to get up, go to the Silver Comet Trail and bust off another 10-15 miles, come home and eat a good dinner and watch LSU beat Alabama (Geaux Tigers!).

What actually happened was, I got up and started watching Gameday on ESPN. Got sucked in to that and then the first game came on. I figured, what the heck and watched it thinking I would go ride after that game. I got hungry about then and figured I would order a pizza so i could have some today and put the rest up for tomorrow.

Well, before I knew it, I had eaten the WHOLE pizza! Now, that in itself would make me a TERRIBLE diabetic, but the day was not over. OH NO!

I proceeded to sit on my butt all day, watching football and ended up going to the store to get a snack. I seriously went to get something healthy. Really, I did! Ended up with a 20oz Coke and three candy bars. And yes, I drank the Coke and ate two of the candy bars before I realized it.

So, instead of going to knock out my miles today, I spent the day with an old love of mine...PIZZA and CANDY! It was like I couldn't stop myself. I craved it. I NEEDED it! I would have done a chocolate IV today, if it was offered to me, I think.

All of my hard work...down the drain. :mad::notamused::twitchy:

What kind of pizza ?

If he's a tiger fan, then not watching that game is a fate worse than death.

Geaux Tigers! :D

:roflmao2:

Bull. Using the Internet to tell people you've never met that you're just been on a 10,000 calorie junk food binge isn't being accountable. Testing your blood sugar after the binge is being accountable. Or avoiding the binge all together. Seriously: how hard is it to make a sandwich (or a salad...) rather than going to the trouble of ordering a pizza?

I pretty sure he's a recently diagnosed type 2. Unless he's using insulin to treat it, there's not much to do post binge to correct. Even if he is using insulin, does he have the experience to adjust his meds safely? When I started out the big danger was low Blood Sugar Levels. I remember the first time I dropped into the 70's. My body wasn't used to it. It scared the **** out of me. He's got a lot on his plate right now and sharing success and failure is going to help him cope.Let's not become a zero tolerence forum.

Quit watching games.:D If I watch a game, I want nachos, pizza etc. I gave up watching sports for riding on the weekends.

Since I've been riding on weekends, I haven't watched a game in maybe 12 years. That many less nanchos for me.:D

I don't watch my diet real close and only if I go for an event. But I'm sure a riding Mr. Beanz is better for me than a nacho eating game watching Mr. Beanz.:p

Mr. Beanz may be on to something here. I can't watch sports on TV due to all of the commercials. Allen you may have been sucked into the sublime world of commercial advertising to such a degree that it triggered all of your binge cravings! When you see food on TV you will actually begin to salivate in preparation for eating the food you are seeing. Think about the quality of food that the TV shows you during those games!

Do you have DVR or VCR? Record the game while you are out enjoying the bike ride and then fast forward through commercials later. BTW, I quit watching "Man vs Food" because I was always tempted to eat mass quantities of poor quality food after watching that show.

Don't worry Allen. The guys here are into "tough love"... at least I hope so.

To an extent. But the OP was banned from driving trucks for a while because of his diabetes. Seems we can question his judgement to the extent we could that of, say, a truck driver with photosensitive epilepsy staring at blinking lights for an hour or so.

Bull. Using the Internet to tell people you've never met that you're just been on a 10,000 calorie junk food binge isn't being accountable. Testing your blood sugar after the binge is being accountable. Or avoiding the binge all together. Seriously: how hard is it to make a sandwich (or a salad...) rather than going to the trouble of ordering a pizza?

This episode is a sign of future trouble for the OP. As you say, it's not that difficult when at home to find healthier things to eat. How about when he's driving all day? That's going to be the test.

To an extent. But the OP was banned from driving trucks for a while because of his diabetes. Seems we can question his judgement to the extent we could that of, say, a truck driver with photosensitive epilepsy staring at blinking lights for an hour or so.

Question judgment? Sure. He was being lambasted pretty badly early in the thread. Thankfully that has subsided a bit.

What clyde here hasn't had a bad day like that?

Question judgment? Sure. He was being lambasted pretty badly early in the thread. Thankfully that has subsided a bit.

What clyde here hasn't had a bad day like that?

I don't think the comments were out of line. I've been called worse. :-)

Regardless of whether respondents' reactions are reasonable or mean, what could one possibly expect when posting a confession like that? I doubt Allen wanted a pat on the back. If he did, he's got other problems besides diabetes.

I pretty sure he's a recently diagnosed type 2. Unless he's using insulin to treat it, there's not much to do post binge to correct. Even if he is using insulin, does he have the experience to adjust his meds safely?

Obviously, this is something he needs to discuss with whoever is treating his diabetes. I will say, however, that the ability to do simple division is all that's necessary to treat high blood sugar using insulin. Millions of Type 1 diabetics do it every day...


He's got a lot on his plate right now and sharing success and failure is going to help him cope.Let's not become a zero tolerence forum.

Yeah, I've been following along: he was denied the right to drive a truck due to his diabetes a few weeks/months ago, now he's found a company with a more lenient doctor who's willing to put him on the road. While sitting at home with lots of healthy options available, he eats enough unhealthy food to elevate his blood sugar to potentially harmful levels, then doesn't bother to check it. Is that the sort of guy you want barreling toward you in a large multi-ton truck?

Don't worry Allen. The guys here are into "tough love"... at least I hope so.

Tough love...What, like this? http://www.hark.com/clips/kzhvzbvxyd-because-you-are-a-disgusting-fat-body

lol :D

Guys (and gals) - the definition of being a Clyde/Athena means that none of us on this forum have a history of being "health nuts". Lets not be shocked that the guy ate some pizza. I know he has medical issues but give the guy a break, at least hes here and trying.

We have to adjust to living in the "real world". Not many of us are going to switch our diets to nuts and berries and so the occasional "junk food" is going to be a reality.

OP - dust yourself off and go ride a "sensible" ride to give you the psychological boost of still "riding for health".

Ive given you my 2c in the past - forget the long-distance 15 mile ride plans and go for the 5 mile local ride but more often (2-3x a week) - much less easier to blow off as its only going to take 30 mins out of your day.

Get your routine going and then expand on distance as needed.

Just my 2c ;)

These are the facts...I screwed up yesterday. Its no different than an alcoholic taking a drink. I am not looking for a pat on the back, encouragement, or an attaboy. I was also not looking to be lambasted or even to be belittled. I am a type 2 diabetic. If I had checked my BG last night, or today, or tomorrow it wouldn't matter. I screwed up, ate pizza and two candy bars (didn't eat the other one). Nothing I could do to bring down my sugar levels after the fact. i dont take insulin...never have. I posted what I did here because I figured you guys would understand more than anyone else I know.

So...with that said, Ill keep my personal problems out of the forums from here on out. Thanks to you guys who have offered something constructive to the conversation. Oh, and BTW...I didn't find a more lenient doctor. My diabetes is under control to the point that i could get a card. It wasn't the opinion of the Dr. My tests came back good enough, so i got my card. I had to be in a certain range and i got it there.

These are the facts...I screwed up yesterday. Its no different than an alcoholic taking a drink. I am not looking for a pat on the back, encouragement, or an attaboy. I was also not looking to be lambasted or even to be belittled. I am a type 2 diabetic. If I had checked my BG last night, or today, or tomorrow it wouldn't matter. I screwed up, ate pizza and two candy bars (didn't eat the other one). Nothing I could do to bring down my sugar levels after the fact. i dont take insulin...never have. I posted what I did here because I figured you guys would understand more than anyone else I know.

So...with that said, Ill keep my personal problems out of the forums from here on out. Thanks to you guys who have offered something constructive to the conversation. Oh, and BTW...I didn't find a more lenient doctor. My diabetes is under control to the point that i could get a card. It wasn't the opinion of the Dr. My tests came back good enough, so i got my card. I had to be in a certain range and i got it there.

Don't be such a fragile flower, Allen55. Everyone who posted, including sstorkel, had your well being at heart. If you really want to see invective, visit the Road Forum.

And good luck tomorrow!

Don't be such a fragile flower, Allen55. Everyone who posted, including sstorkel, had your well being at heart. If you really want to see invective, visit the Road Forum.

And good luck tomorrow!

Argh! Never go to the Road Forum.

But yeah, good luck Allen!

FYI Allen, get back on the right track man! A relative (married into the family) has just found out he's going on dialysis. My father was supposed to go on 3 years ago losing his kidneys via diabetes. John, truck driver is one of the nicest coolest dude I've met. He found out his numbers weren't so great one year ago. Hasn't bothered to change any eating habits at all even though doc suggested it.

Dad has postponed dialysis for 3 years! :eek:. John's number were pretty decent last year, it was only a threat, now it is reality while Dad is still fighting it off via diet.

Hate to see this happen to anyone, make the change now. No need to be perfect but freakin' fight it dude! :thumb:

Today was NOT a good day for me. My intentions were to get up, go to the Silver Comet Trail and bust off another 10-15 miles, come home and eat a good dinner and watch LSU beat Alabama (Geaux Tigers!).

What actually happened was, I got up and started watching Gameday on ESPN. Got sucked in to that and then the first game came on. I figured, what the heck and watched it thinking I would go ride after that game. I got hungry about then and figured I would order a pizza so i could have some today and put the rest up for tomorrow.

Well, before I knew it, I had eaten the WHOLE pizza! Now, that in itself would make me a TERRIBLE diabetic, but the day was not over. OH NO!

I proceeded to sit on my butt all day, watching football and ended up going to the store to get a snack. I seriously went to get something healthy. Really, I did! Ended up with a 20oz Coke and three candy bars. And yes, I drank the Coke and ate two of the candy bars before I realized it.

So, instead of going to knock out my miles today, I spent the day with an old love of mine...PIZZA and CANDY! It was like I couldn't stop myself. I craved it. I NEEDED it! I would have done a chocolate IV today, if it was offered to me, I think.

All of my hard work...down the drain. :mad::notamused::twitchy:

Dump your TV Allen.

Type 2 Diabetic here for 5 years.
90 miles today with 2-18 mph winds.

A1C was 5.8 last Wednesday.

Allen: Continue to share my friend.... thats what this forum is about.... we help, we need help, we ride, we laugh, we have fun, we cry, we get pissed off.... we are a family. :)

And dont post that stuff to the Road Cycling Forum. They are all cut and dry over there.

Allen - my wife was diagnosed Type 2 diabetic in Jan 2001. She did what she needed to for a while and managed it and exercised but after a little while, fell off the wagon, ate the wrong things and didn't manage it well enough.

In the mean time, I went along for the ride...we enabled each other and while she didn't do what she needed, I didn't do what I needed either...life, work, finances, deaths, births, etc...life went on but we both became more and more unhealthy.

I gained and gained, becoming over 500 lbs...my wife, gained and lost and didn't get much bigger than she had always been but the diabetes was playing its toll.
She got a new job and the physical required for it dictated that her diabetes was NOT in check and she needed to take drastic action. She did for 3 months or so, enough to keep her job safe and to get past her probationary period.

But then it started...ulcerated wounds that wouldn't heal, infections, colds lasting 6 weeks or more, lethargy...then one day, she started vomitting. Wouldn't go away, thought it was a stomach bug but it was something much worse. Had to take her to the hospital...blood sugar was over 400.

All the tests were run, doctors consulted, blood drawn, ICU and critical care...she was in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001363/)- basically, her body couldn't process the extra glucose and her body chemistry went all haywire. She was in the hospital for a week and out of work for 6.
I promised her that I would keep her on track and would get myself on track at the same time. I am proud to say that she is controlling her diabetes now for over a year BUT as a result of the DKA, her pancreas has shut-down insulin production. She is on 4 injections a day (1 with each meal and 1 before bed).
In addition, she developed diabetic retinopathy (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002192/)and needs to be closely monitored yearly to make sure it doesn't advance.

I'm not trying to scare you...just trying to give you the story that I have had to ordeal. My wife is stubborn as a mule and keeping her on track sometimes results in her not liking me very much (or talking to me for a while) but if that is what I have to deal with to keep her healthier, then so be it.

Eating poorly is easy...and it tastes good too!
But eating healthy doesn't have to be a sacrifice...there are plenty of healthy food options that taste good and are satisfying.

I would suggest going to your doctor and asking for a referral to a nutritionist...it is truly an EYE OPENING experience and will help you stay on track to eat a healthy, diabetic friendly diet and help you lose weight in the long run.

Thanks for sharing your story Phlydude, it is a sobering reminder of why a healthy lifestyle is so important. A kudos to your for helping your wife, even when it is not so easy.

Dennis...thanks for that, man!

To an extent. But the OP was banned from driving trucks for a while because of his diabetes. Seems we can question his judgement to the extent we could that of, say, a truck driver with photosensitive epilepsy staring at blinking lights for an hour or so.

Yes, it's hard to be sympathetic here when the OP knows better. As far as driving a truck and being diabetic.....well.....I''d worry about that too.

I know that when I'd stupid by eating to much of the wrong things I suffer the next day when my diabetes kicks my ass !! But I'm learning...........

Dennis...thanks for that, man!
No problem - a healthier you is yearning to come out (as witnessed by your desire to ride your bike) - don't let the evils that dwell deep inside win! Get on that bike and ride until you think you are done and then ride some more!!! Don't give up on yourself because there are obviously people on here not willing to give up on you either!! :)

Hard work is never down the drain - you just have to dust yourself off and keep moving. For all of you spartans out there who believe will power conquers all: Don't project your capabilities onto others. One person's will power is another person's wall. If you're on here because you are 6'5" and 275 lbs - sure, you're a Clyde, but you don't have the same issues as a 6', 300 lb person.

This is about support.

Dump your TV Allen.


My friends think I'm insane that I did that. "But how will you watch the latest episode of 'LawyerCop M.D.: Saskatchewan'?" they all ask. Ugh. "But it's in high definition! And 3D!" Ugh.

You know what else is in high definition and 3D? Outdoors!


Television was killing me. Cycling saved me.

Hard work is never down the drain - you just have to dust yourself off and keep moving. For all of you spartans out there who believe will power conquers all: Don't project your capabilities onto others. One person's will power is another person's wall. If you're on here because you are 6'5" and 275 lbs - sure, you're a Clyde, but you don't have the same issues as a 6', 300 lb person.

This is about support.

Well said Sir!

Guys (and gals) - the definition of being a Clyde/Athena means that none of us on this forum have a history of being "health nuts". Lets not be shocked that the guy ate some pizza. I know he has medical issues but give the guy a break, at least hes here and trying.

We have to adjust to living in the "real world". Not many of us are going to switch our diets to nuts and berries and so the occasional "junk food" is going to be a reality.

OP - dust yourself off and go ride a "sensible" ride to give you the psychological boost of still "riding for health".

Ive given you my 2c in the past - forget the long-distance 15 mile ride plans and go for the 5 mile local ride but more often (2-3x a week) - much less easier to blow off as its only going to take 30 mins out of your day.

Get your routine going and then expand on distance as needed.

Just my 2c ;)

Yup.

No one is perfect and tomorrow is another day.

I agree on the short rides. Lots of short rides, so it isn't a big deal to ride.

You know what else is in high definition and 3D? Outdoors!

I love that.

Because we all all perfect.

Tomorrow is another day, although I agree you should be testing your BS now, not hours later.

Keep your head up and learn from this.
I don't know what the story is in the US, but truck drivers in Australia are among the most tightly controlled drivers on the road. The long-haul guys have to keep log books (and very accurately at that) and are required to take presdcribed breaks during their driving stints.

There is a very strong education process in the training program I did on eating healthy when driving. The temptation to eat fast is only too evident in the number of overweight drivers I have seen on the main artery between Melbourne and Sydney.

The number of overweights is reducing, very definitely, but we still have truck crashes that seem to have no reasonable cause -- one in the past two weekends resulted in a truck crossing a very wide median strip, a dual lane carriageway on the other side, plus a wide shoulder, then hit a tree with enough impact to kill the driver. One can only wonder until the coroner's verdict is published.

I have respect for most long-haul drivers. They give us a wide berth wherever possible when we are riding bikes. Short-haul (and especially those with dog trailers hauling gravel and sand)... well, that's an entirely different story with plenty of renegades out there.

But it takes only one moment of bad judgment to threaten my life and one that I love.

Allen

I have a solution to wanting to watch the game... do it on your bike in front of the tv on rollers or a trainer. I live in the north east and plan on riding as much as I can through the winter. That being said there are days I just dont have the ambition to kit up and get out the door when its cold. I ordered a trainer last week and should have it by the end of this week.