All-Star Type 1 Diabetes

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Jul 14, 2010
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Who here has it or is the parent of an athlete with it?

how do you manage it with competitions and practices etc.

I'm newly diagnosed and having a bit of trouble sometimes keeping my bg's in target...thanks :)

Thanks in advance for all tips and comments :)
 
i hope this isnt disrespectful to her but @jenee_12 does! if it is im really sorry, just thought you might be of help since it seems you manage it well :)
 
Who here has it or is the parent of an athlete with it?

how do you manage it with competitions and practices etc.

I'm newly diagnosed and having a bit of trouble sometimes keeping my bg's in target...thanks :)

Thanks in advance for all tips and comments :)
My grandson was diagnosed at 18 months. There are a lot of support and information sites available that cover all situations, including sports. Definitely start with the JDRF site.

Also, there are multiple apps that you can download that help you manage on the go. I'll see if I can get any other info from my D-I-L.
 
Sorry read this after the message! Thanks both of you. I know Jenne from smoed has t1d dunno if he comes on here much tho and wanted cheer specific since I do know that each sport can effect people individually. I find my blood sugar is higher at the end of practices which is off because exercise is supposed to lower blood sugar usually. I've been on perusing the jdrf website as well as Canadian diabetes association but I know one girl who is t1 and cheers but I don't like bombarding her with q's all the time so figured here would be a good resource!
 
There is one piece of advice I can give you based on a frightening experience. If you have someone at the gym who is a close friend - close enough to know your moods and attitudes - make sure she or he is trained on T1D and can recognize those subtle things that indicate your levels are too high or low and can intervene for you when you can't. Sometimes your levels can escalate or drop so fast that you won't be able to comprehend what is happening in time to react and help yourself. Everyone else may think you are just acting a little strange - crabby or distracted or tired. But someone who knows your personality and knows the disease will know immediately something is wrong and get help for you.
 
There is one piece of advice I can give you based on a frightening experience. If you have someone at the gym who is a close friend - close enough to know your moods and attitudes - make sure she or he is trained on T1D and can recognize those subtle things that indicate your levels are too high or low and can intervene for you when you can't. Sometimes your levels can escalate or drop so fast that you won't be able to comprehend what is happening in time to react and help yourself. Everyone else may think you are just acting a little strange - crabby or distracted or tired. But someone who knows your personality and knows the disease will know immediately something is wrong and get help for you.
I second that, and in addition I would get 4-5 people (athletes/coaches) together and tell them how to help you if your blood sugar is too high/too low - where to find things in your bag, how to measure bg, how to tell if bg is too high/too low, etc. This might help you more in an emergency than waiting for an ambulance because nobody knows how to help you. A close friend might be able to tell more subtle changes, but if he/she is not there and something happens it's always nice to have a backup-plan.
 
when just diagnosed with diabetes, no matter which type, it's Always a good idea to find a good diabetic educator. it's a dietician specialised in diabetes. She will help you to learn how to deal with food as well as excercise. She will make you a personal plan, according to your lifestyle. I'd recommend though to let her come and look at one of your practises because they might not Always be aware of the intensity of a cheerleading practise.
Also make sure you inform your gymowner, coaches and teammates about your condition so they know how to recognise it and know what to do when you have a hyper or hypo.
 
I coach someone with Type 1. It really is quite possible to do everything once you learn how to manage it and he does a fantastic job of it (as well as has a pretty good sense of humor about the whole thing... finding the humor in situations tends to make them less stressful and a burden). He is a very good athlete and we do have some intense practices, as well as long game days.

As a coach I would recommend a few things:

1. Always bring with you everything you need to manage it. Nothing PISSES me off more when someone has a condition (be it Diabetes, asthma, anything) and they always seem to forget their medicine. Asthma people do it the most. To me if you have this condition it is your job to make sure you always have this with you. You can put yourself and others at risk if you aren't responsible. I coach as if you have all the necessary medicine with you at all times.

2. If you need to eat glucose / inject insulin / whatever you need to do to because your body needs it or it might even improve performance you can excuse yourself. A coach doesn't always know that your numbers are high or low just by looking at you. I've been around my athlete long enough that when he starts talking like he is drunk he needs some sugar but even then its a bit late. A coach relies on you to let us know what you need to do to manage it. Never use it as a crutch, but just a fact of the situation. It is nothing to be embarrassed of. And remember even if you are new to managing it your coach (unless they also happen to have it) is always going to be worse at managing it than you. You are responsible for yourself!

Last, I found this 5 days ago and it is pretty cool. Even the guy I coach with diabetes was pretty excited to read it: 'Reverse vaccine' for Type 1 diabetes seems to pass human test - Los Angeles Times
 
I second Ultimate and Sharkie's advice. having lived almost my whole life with a Type 1 diabetic. I learned as an elementary age child, I did a better and faster job of helping her than trained medical professionals in terms of recognizing her changes in behavior and helping her when a serious slide had begun. That said, I never learned how to manage her insulin...just to bring on the glucose after testing. As King had mentioned, the acting "drunk". At that point it had usually gone too far for her to help herself and she needed assistance. You need to recognize when to step out before it gets there so you can assist yourself. That said, sometimes
your diabetes can cascade past that point before you even realize it and that's when having knowledgable friends can help.
I have no idea if there is any credence in this thought. I know exercise is supposed to help in terms of insulin, but could it be that be more for aerobic exercise vs cheer practice which has a lot of anaerobic (say repetitive stunt practice)?



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There's a girl on my team who was diagnosed in the last year. PM me and I'll get you in contact :)
 
Who here has it or is the parent of an athlete with it?

how do you manage it with competitions and practices etc.

I'm newly diagnosed and having a bit of trouble sometimes keeping my bg's in target...thanks :)

Thanks in advance for all tips and comments :)
I am happy to tell you everything Jenee and I know about type 1 and the struggle with regard to implementing it into this sport:) Message me if you like.
 
I am happy to tell you everything Jenee and I know about type 1 and the struggle with regard to implementing it into this sport:) Message me if you like.

I was hoping you or Jenee would come along and see this. BTW, love her (new?) charity for service dogs for kids with diabetes, Jenee's Cause 4 Paws! Great cause. :)
 
I was hoping you or Jenee would come along and see this. BTW, love her (new?) charity for service dogs for kids with diabetes, Jenee's Cause 4 Paws! Great cause. :)
Thank you sooo much. We are so excited to get it going strong! Jenee, her dad and me are going to a camp in October and Jenee has started the process of getting a dog. I am hoping we can raise enough to help lots of other kids suffering with this disease get Diabetic Alert Dogs:)
 
Thank you sooo much. We are so excited to get it going strong! Jenee, her dad and me are going to a camp in October and Jenee has started the process of getting a dog. I am hoping we can raise enough to help lots of other kids suffering with this disease get Diabetic Alert Dogs:)


What is the age range for kids to get the dogs? My son plays football with a long-time friend who has it also but he's going to be a junior in HS. Not sure if he's too old? Just curious.

And I would love to make a donation if she's taking them at this point. We almost lost my son's friend before his condition was diagnosed. :(
 
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