100 Days of Diabetes!

In honor of my 100th day with diabetes I wanted to share the story of another man to whom the number 100 is quite important:

100 Things

Here's a short description of who he is and what he's doing taken from his website:

"Everyone has at least one thing they have to do before they die. Some even have a list. But how many goals and dreams on this list are actually achieved?

In 2009, at the ripe-old age of 27, Sebastian realized that like most people, he has not achieved anything on his long-forgotten list.?? The death of a close friend combined with a naturally abstract view on life sparks a moment of clarity. In the midst of overseas trip, Sebastian decides to put pen to paper and re-create a list of 100 Things. His goal, to tick off everything. It’s the start of a crazy, no holds barred adventure that sees Sebastian travel to the ends of the earth on a quest to prove that anything is possible, including true fulfillment.

Along the way, Sebastian strives to raise $100,000 for Camp Quality (Item # 4), a great organization creating happiness for children and families affected by cancer."

I am truly inspired by this man's commitment to really living fully. And he asks a great question: What's your 100 list consist of?

Dailies:

12:28 -> 107 Took 2 Prandin and 1 unit of Novolog (because my number was over 100) w/cereal 120c, pb and banana 47c, apple 20c, apple 25c. Ran 6.5 miles!!
5:52 -> 58 Low because of the run. Took 3 P w/pea soup 100c, salad 30c, grapefruit 24c, orange 18c, apple 18c, 2 cookies 35c, Larabar 31c.
11:42 -> 70 Had Larabar 31c, potato wedge 9c.
4:19 -> 99 Took 3 units Lantus and had apple 25c.

Day 100

Blue Zones

If you ever catch me talking about what started me down my exploration of wellness then you've probably heard about the Blue Zones. I started working out around the age of 15 when I discovered crew. But it wasn't until five years later when I learned about the other aspects of wellness. You see, the recipe for living forever isn't just eating right and exercise. It's more comprehensive than that, it encompasses your entire lifestyle and includes things you may not expect. But don't take my word from it. These lessons were learned from centenarians around the world.

The idea of "Blue Zones" started when National Geographic writer Dan Buetner decided to write an article about a region of Sardinia with unnaturally high occurrences of longevity. After going there he was overwhelmed by just how true this claim was. Not only were people living longer, but they were living healthier. Many of the people he witnessed showed the mental and physical capacity of people 20 years their junior. After the article was published more and more of these "Blue Zones" (areas he circled on a map with a blue pen... the name stuck) started popping up. One in Okinawa, Japan; one in Ikaria, Greece; Another in Costa Rica; One surprisingly in Loma Linda, California.

I followed his progress and was equally awestruck. It changed the way i thought about health and wellness, and made me reexamine my life goals.

Since then I've wandered away from the study, found other books, discovered new philosophies, listened to people, experts, friends, etc. Then Diabetes and the rest hit me and I've been a bit lost in the midst of it all. But over dinner the other night the topic came up and I was happy to share what I remembered of this study. I wanted a visual example and went online to show the videos of their progress in Greece and found...

... there were now videos documenting some of their research in Japan and Costa Rica too!! I'll give you one guess how I spent the next hour. Just seeing the vitality in those centenarians thrills me to no end. I hope that others are as affected as I am by this fascinating exploration of lifestyle.

Dailies:

10:43 -> 78 Took 2 Prandin w/cereal 120c, apple 15c, pumpkin seeds 4c, cookie 18c.
1:54 -> 210 Too high... may be time to get back on Novolog. The Prandin just isn't working fast enough to avoid these highs. Had an orange 14c at 3:20.
4:53 -> 67 Well, at least it works. Took 3 P w/black eyed peas 115c, salad 30c, apple 23c, orange 14c, grapefruit 25c. At 9:30 had cookie 18c. At 11:30 had a glass of white wine.
12:56 -> 73 Had 1 Prandin with brussel sprouts 20c, chips w/salsa 20c, apple sauce 10c, and yellow pepper 7c.
3:03 -> 108 Took 3 units of Lantus with a piece of toast w/pb 15c.

Tomorrow I get more blood work done. If the C Peptide is lower I'll go back to insulin. If the Thyroid hormone is lower I'll start taking supplemental hormones. Either way knowledge is the path to balance.

Day 99

Goal: Becoming a Diabetic Leader

I want to make this operation bigger. I've been looking on Craigslist, JDSU websites, meetup.com and I can't really find the type of thing I'm looking for. I know there are bad diabetics out there. I hear about them all the time. And this pains me more than a cold injection into muscle tissue... or at least it pains me equally.

I want to find a way to get in contact with them and convince/teach them how to be better. My diabetic nurse sort of does this, but she has the restrictions of having to say certain things for legal reasons (such as change your insulin after 28 days). Certain individuals have maintained rigid glucose control since the dawn of insulin in the 1920s. Why then are people still showing up to the hospital with A1Cs in the teens, months or years after their original diagnosis?



Dailies:

9:40 -> 121 Don't get used to this time of day, I was just meeting a friend for b-fast which I ate at 11:00. Took 2 Prandin with vegan/gluten free lasagne. Not bad, but it was certainly over priced for what you got. About 80c and an apple 15c.
2:06 -> 119 Took 1 Prandin with a glorious Cameo apple 30c and my leftover swiss chard with squash 60c.
6:22 -> 71 Took 2 Prandin with lentil soup with rice 110c, grapefruit 25c, pb and banana bagel 50c, apple 30c, salad 20c, bread with hummus 20c.
9:54 -> 89 I only checked because I assumed I'd be high after 255 carbs, but this is a great number. Had a cookie 17c.
1:05 -> 65 Dang, and they tell me I'm not producing insulin. Had a salad (rocket, cucumber, tomato, avocado, onion, balsamic, soy chorizo) 45c.


Got some Vitamin D the old fashioned way today, and have a lobster red patch the size of a bear paw on my left arm.

Day 93

What I'm Reading

I was scourging the internet for ideas tonight. Should I write about the positive affects of Vitamin D and open with a story of how glorious and sunny a day it was and how I played frisbee for 2 hours on my dinner break? Should I write about the overdone theme of going back to a simpler, less industrial, less modern time and use my recent viewing of 180 degrees south? I could just do an expose of my experience at Quest diagnostics getting blood drawn by a heavily tattooed probably 300+ pound black woman who claimed she could "smell" the diabetes on me *shudder*.

One topic invariably led to the next and an hour later, filled to capacity with new knowledge, I've decided to show you what I've been reading rather than summarize it.

Vitamin D: This stuff is important, give you a full head of hair, strong bones and possibly a whole host of other benefits.

Vegan Journalist: Tries out veganism as a stunt and likes it too much to go back.

Vegan in Andalucia: I feel like she cheated. You can't go to Andalucia to write about being vegan and spend all your time in grocery stores and your kitchen. I'm probably going to contact magazines in the future an pitch a similar idea but in more exotic locations.

Mike Tyson: Says Veganism has taken away some of the crazy.

Bill Clinton: Another recent vegan convert.

Vegan Recipes: I found the information on this site very compelling. Plus it's the closest I've gotten to food porn since turning vegan.

Vegan Bodybuilding: I'm sorry, I think after 26 years I may have finally found my calling.


Dailies:

10:59 -> 110 Took 3 Prandin with cereal 110c, pb banana 50c, apple 20c.
1:44 -> 127 Too low to start Joey, especially considering I took more medication than usual. Had a grapefruit 24c, larabar 26c during the first act, hummus and snap peas 5 c and an apple 20c during intermission.
4:53 -> 72 Took 2 Prandin with dinner: lentil soup with rice 125c, salad 35c, grapefruit 22c, apple sauce 10c, fake coffee with protein powder 10c (and not very tasty).
11:55 -> 74 Took 2 Prandin with cabbage stew 100c (cabbage, fennel, fava beans, portobello mushrooms, jalepenos, kale, sunflower seeds, sauce). Felt high an hour later but then it seemed like I started dropping. Maybe it takes longer for the medication to work at night. Either way, it looks like 7 pills per day is a more accurate dose.
2:27 -> 129 Yihaaa! I do love myself a reasonable post-meal late-night number! I'm actually going to go and finish the stew because odds are the food is digested but the pill is still working its slow magic.

Gratitudes:
1. Triple Threat Brownies.
2. Mix Tapes (or cds).
3. Roasted Dandelion Tea.
4. Beautiful, beautiful women!

Day 85

No Insulin Experiment

"This is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far."
~ Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha

The results are in and I am pleased to say that I survived my first synthetic insulin free day since December 19, 2011. Does anybody else find this as insanely awesome as I do? What a freakin' journey. I went to the doctor with all the classic symptoms of diabetes. I had an A1C of 13, a blood sugar level of 569, a C Peptide level of .55. In common English that translates to "YOU HAVE DIABETES DUDE!" This to me was an unbeatable disease, that's what everybody said. But in those early days I forgot a very powerful truth.

Unbeatable is not the same as unfightable.

I am very very lucky right now. My doctor has said it before and I've realized it many times since. I'm lucky. I've reversed every number that I just listed. My A1C continues to drop, and if I continue on my current trajectory I hope to get back an A1C under 7 when I get blood work done next week. My blood glucose was 67 last I checked and my C Peptide is 1.65, back in the healthy range.

Now, just because I've stopped taking insulin doesn't mean my Diabetes is in remission or anything like that. I'm still on 6 pills a day. I suffer lows an highs on a daily basis. But remember this:

A diagnosis is not a death sentence.

There are two ways to deal with being diagnosed with any type of Diabetes. You can bend over and allow Western medicine and western doctors to make a statistic out of you, or you can do everything in your power to maintain as close to normal health as possible. Make changes. Be an outlier. And keep up the good fight!

Dailies:

10:43 -> 89 This is my first fasting sugar level after not taking basal insulin. Took 2 Prandin with cereal 110c. At 1:30 had strawberries 30c. At 2:00 had 2 mandarin oranges 17c. At 3:30 had blueberries and nuts 10c. At 4:30 had an apple 25c in anticipation of a workout. Ran with sprints, about 4 miles.
5:30 -> 75 Took 2 Prandin with dinner: lentil soup with rice 100c and salad 30c and 2 mandarin oranges 17c. At 8 had strawberries 30 and fake coffee 4c. At 9:30 had an apple 15c, a cookie 10c and my last orange 9c.
12:31 -> 67 Took 2 Prandin with supper: red cabbage and squash 100c (that's a LOT of cabbage) and beans 57c and quinoa 30c.
3:26 -> 182 I'm not unhappy with this number. A little high, sure, but not so high, and since it's three hours since my last pills I'd guess this number is heading down. Will be interesting to see my morning number on what will be Day 2 of the experiment!

Gratitudes:
1. I held my blood sugar under 200 on my first day off insulin.
2. I felt compelled to periodically sprint during my run today.
3. The sun was out and the sky was clear. Spring is almost here.

Doc told me last time I saw her that she wanted my body to "cool down" which was the reason for ditching the Gluten and for ramping up the vitamins. Well, I'd say my body's pretty cool right now.

Day 78

Making Metaphorical Lemonade

I came across this video today:

And even though it's pretty clear to me that the guy is not actually in need of crutches it still reminded me of the potential for people to overcome handicaps in truly remarkable ways.

Here's a more real example, this dancer goes by the name BBoy Junior:

He has polio in one of his legs. But look what he's done with the rest of his body!

Dailies:

11:53 -> 128 Took 2 Prandin w/cereal 110c. Did a 5x10 minute (mild, medium, 5xsprints, medium, mild) piece on the erg, about 12K. Then had a protein shake 6c.
3:31 -> 76 Back in action! After a day of rest and needing lots of Prandin I'm excited that a little workout knocks me down a bit again. Took 2 more Prandin with Broccoli 40c, quinoa 40c, split peas 60c. At 6:00 had fake coffee 6c and at 8:30 I had an apple 20c.
10:42 -> 97 Took 2 Prandin and had Supper: Salad 35c, split peas 50, quinoa 40c. Also took 5 units Lantus.
2:50 -> 225 Dang, you're high. I guess either not enough working out (meh). And I didn't even finish my meal. I have to remember that the Lantus stops working after my evening dinner so my late night supper needs to have fewer carbs than usual.

Also, I'd like to say to everybody who reads this (so that I'm held accountable) that ever since I've switched from bolus insulin to the pill Prandin I've become much more irresponsible when it comes to remembering to take my basal insulin (Lantus). I haven't missed a dose yet, but I don't do it at a set time, and when I'm about to sleep I find myself remembering in a panic and then rushing to take it. This is not a good trend. Suggestions? Maybe I'll try taking it earlier, closer to the end of the show so that I can habit link... you know what habit linking is, right? Sounds like an idea for a future post!

1. Grateful to be strong enough to push myself.
2. Grateful for my amazing apartment.
3. Grateful for the little inspiring emails and messages I get periodically from people about my diabetes.

Day 70

Three Gratitudes

I'd like to share a video I came across on the internet. It's a lecture given at the 2012 Ted Talks by Shawn Achor about happiness. It's pretty remarkable, but there are a few things in particular that I took from it.

1. Only 10% of your happiness is determined externally, as in affected by your surroundings. The other 90% has to do with you and the way you look at the world.
2. You can improve your 90% with a few simple daily exercises. He includes: 3 daily gratitudes, journaling, exercise, meditation, random acts of kindness.

This means that even though I'm a super happy guy generally I can be happier still. I take on his challenge. For the next week I'll list three things I'm grateful for each day. So here goes nothing!

Gratitudes:
1. I'm grateful today that I was able to put together a great show for a sold-out audience.
2. I'm grateful for the opportunity to see Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark.
3. I'm grateful I have friends willing to join me for a Sunday night of jazz guitar.

That was easy. There are tons more, but three for now.

Watch the video, get inspired.


Dailies:

10:37 -> 99 Took 2 Prandin w/cereal 110c. Apple 20c at 12:30, and another 20c at 2:00
2:47 -> 120 Good Pre-Joey number. Had fake coffee 7c. At intermission (4:30) I had pb toast 14c.
6:21 -> 70 Had a salad 35c. At 11:00 had a glass of red wine.
12:54 -> 89 Took 2 Prandin with dinner: beans 67c, salsa 12c, avocado 15c, chips 18c, brussels sprouts 18c, 2 eggs = 130c. Because it's late I'll probably end up a little high, but that feels like a safer option than going to sleep low, especially because that one glass of wine got me a little tipsy.
2:58 -> 102 Hmm... Because of the wine, and the fact that I took 2 Prandin, and the fact that it's so late I'm going to say that I wanted this number to be a little bit higher before going to bed. The Prandin usually hits me slowly so I don't think it's done working. To play it safe I had 2 cookies 18c that I dunked in peanut butter 4c. I'm such a fatty sometimes.

This video and this message are pertinent to diabetics because they have a twofold risk of becoming depressed compared to the rest of the population based on the National Institute of Mental Health. I don't know the ins and outs of why, but it doesn't take a doctoral degree to realize that newly diagnosed diabetics are vulnerable to feelings of futility and hopelessness that can quickly escalate into depression. Rather than allowing these problems to grow empower yourself with the knowledge necessary to objectively deal with each and ultimately get your life back in under control.

Day 69

Gluten Free Support

Hello GFers,

How was your first day? I still remember mine. It was as if suddenly, by being forbidden to eat gluten it was the only thing I wanted. I swear I would have had pizza for breakfast, pasta for lunch and beer for dinner. What was more desirable than the gluten itself, however, was the thought of breaking the rules.

So I'll offer you this quote to help you on your journey:

"It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not."
- J. Gordon

Are you ready to change?

Dailies:
11:15 -> 77 Wow, lowest morning number I've had in a long time. I think that's a good sign. It's also the most sleep I've had in awhile... correlation? Took 2 Prandin w/cereal 110, orange 16c, blueberries 20c and 1/2 larabar 14c = 160c spread over three hours.
5:09 -> 97 Good number. Took a Prandin with dinner: Chicken and veg 30c, quinoa 30c. Later a Larabar 31c and peanuts 5c.
7:57 -> 141 Good. I was a bit hungry, but I guess I'll wait.
12:21 -> 59 Okay, low. Not crashing low, but slowly lowering because I have a semi-functional pancreas. I didn't worry and just had a low-carb dinner without Prandin: Salad 30c, chicken.
2:45 -> 99 That's a 40 point raise 2.5 hours later with a meal that had lots of protein and some fat (avocado, olive oil) so that number is probably rising slowly. I'll sleep on this number.

Day 64

Inspiration: Friends

I've called this blog "The Fittest Diabetic" largely as a way to inspire myself to become just that - the fittest diabetic, or at least the fittest diabetic I can be. It wasn't so long ago that i was frail, weak, dehydrated, cramping, and dangerously hyperglycemic. The memory still shows up in late morning lucid dreams. I started this blog so that I would be reminded every day of my commitment to myself, to transform my body as I haven't done since I was in college. But despite my workouts, and my daily postings, I have been a bit lax. I need more concrete goals, and a plan of attack to achieve those goals, in fitness and in life.

The first lightbulb went off when I was flipping through a newspaper and came across an image of New York Giants long snapper and special teams captain Zak DeOssie '03. This two time superbowl winner taught me how to bench press and was the first person to show me the power of the mind over muscle when lifting weights (although I didn't realize it at the time). His achievement injected me with just a little bit of envy, just a bit, maybe half a unit's worth. Not so much that he has two awesome rings, or that his arms are the size of blue fin tunas, but that he has dedicated himself to achieving a goal... and succeeded. He lived football, it defined him. If i want to be defined as a screenwriter, I better start living the part.

The second metaphorical light bulb went off when talking to good friend and uber-manly man Ian Lassiter. We've been trying to encourage each other to train for a hypothetical future competition. He mentioned he'd been running, but so have I. "How many miles are you doing?" I asked.

"7"

Woah. I talk the talk, he's running the run. That's it. I'm hitting the pavement tomorrow. Sweet ol' Seth is joining me (holding me accountable). I'll report back tomorrow (knee deep in ice no doubt).

11:48 -> 124 Cereal 110c = 2 units.
1:50 -> 100 Man I feel heavy, but the sugar's perfect. Must just be fatigue. I went to bed too late last night. Have to change that.
4:51 -> 81 Dinner: Salad 15c, Chicken w/veg 40c, quinoa 30c, 2 oranges 30c, banana 27c, snap peas 8c, toast with peanut butter 25c = 175 = 3 units. At 6:00 I felt low and had a Larabar 24c.
11:58 -> 83 Supper: Salmon w/broccoli 28c, rice 71c, avocado 16c, 2 apples 40c, chips 19c = 174c = 3 units.
2:25 -> 84 Wow, almost no movement. I think I'm safe to sleep on this. The avocado fat will probably hold back a little sugar anyway. Plus I've never experienced hypoglycemia overnight. I'll keep a pez near my bed.

Day 51

Diabetic Inspiration - Invictus

Last night was the first night I spent by myself in the new apartment. I really love it. Seven and a half solid hours of sleep followed by a run in the park (5 full-out sprints of about 150 meters) and then a delicious breakfast.

I also finished reading a book which was excellent titled "Manvotionals: Timeless Wisdom and Advice on Living the 7 Manly Virtues." It is a collection of letters, essays, stories and poems on each of the virtues written by presidents, scholars, generals, poets, novelists and philosophers. I will from time to time transcribe some of my favorites in this blog and today I'd like to start with one of the better known poems:

Invictus
From a Book of Verses, 1889
William Earnest Henley


Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.



Amazing, right? This poem was written by a man that struggled and persevered. There is a lesson here for the learning, should we choose to do so.


My Numbers:

12:27 -> 109 Awesome - Had half a Larabar 14c and then went for a 45 minute workout including 5 sprints of about 150 meters.
1:48 -> Breakfast: Cereal 110 and toast with peanut butter 20c, and all my vitamins = 130c = 3 units.
5:23 -> 84 Dinner: Salad with avocado 25c, quinoa 60c, beans 67c, kale 2c, soy chorizo 13c = 167c = 4 units. BUT - had an apple 18c when I got to work at 7:00, then 3 oz wine, 6 oz coffee 2c. At 9:30 I had another apple 16c.
9:52 -> 130 I checked because I was feeling a tad shaky and definitely hungry. From my dinner injection to now was a 50:1 ratio. I think I'll go back to that tomorrow.
1:03 -> 85 Nice! Dinner: brussels sprouts with balsamic and bleu cheese 18c, quinoa 60c, lentils 115c, 1/2 grapefruit 15c = 208c = 5 units Novolog and 5 units Lantus.
3:28 -> 74 Yeah, I felt a little lower than I should have been. I finished the grapefruit 15c and had a cookie 9c. It seems my carb ratio should be adjusted to at least 45:1 if not 50:1 with the amount of working out I'm doing.

Tomorrow with doing Joey in the morning and working out between shows I'll definitely go for a 50:1.


Day 46