Mind Over Mellitus

So back to the Colorado mountain biking trip…

I was eating like a cross between a chipmunk and a bear, given the five or so low-carb options in our food stash.  Night five I was ready for a change.

I took my insulin and tucked into a BALANCE BAR like a starved hyena. With 20g of carb, it was out of my range, but given all the protein and fat in it, plus my roaring metabolism by that time, it proved to be no problem… until midnight food poisoning.

 It was a spoiled, expired BALANCE BAR I had eaten.

TIGAN, TAKE ME AWAY!

I was severely nauseated and certain to succumb. BUT HERE IS THE AMAZING PART, my endocrinologist prescribed Tigan, to prevent vomiting and dehydration. Dehydrating illness can be absolutely perilous for people with diabetes, especially in the Rockies miles from medical attention. (A cascade of effects can lead to severe DKA or hyperosmolar coma. Bad.)

I took 80 units of Tigan in my two shoulders in three injections (I use 30 unit syringes). It demolished my nausea and rescued me from a world of hurt within twenty minutes. Food poisoning is “death”.  Dread left and I rejoiced inside. Delivered. Saved. I tanked-up again with more in four hours.

That morning I was a little better but the mild fever and the burning, persistent Strep throat remained. Just two days left to go. Ahead, a huge, scenic, 4,000-foot climb out of Gateway, Colorado. The cliffs and steep, angular rock formations were like a Road Runner cartoon. Then the descent of a lifetime - a 6,000-foot single track trail dropped into the red rock canyon lands of Moab. An awesome crescendo to our trip.

ACCEPTANCE OF THIS DIABETES THING CAN BE LIFE-GIVING

In my hard-headed days I would have tried to tough it out. But the biggest adjustment after getting diabetes in my 20’s was acceptance of my vulnerability. Before, I identified as invincible. I had loved the feeling of freedom. No gear, no jewelry, nothing in my pockets or hands…

My new identity as a diabetic HAD to incorporate my new vulnerabilities to steer clear of the emergency room. I’m totally dependent on the little vial of insulin I carry, and on the glucose tablets that protect me from severe hypoglycemia. This was a tough adjustment for me, and I’m still adjusting.

So, torn about parting with my friends and letting go of this lifetime opportunity, I made the humbling and difficult decision to bail. Circumstances were kind to me, though. We were near an isolated resort and I got a ride to Grand Junction and from there back to Telluride.

That turned out to be a great decision and a character-building experience, putting my ego behind my health. The success, the breakthrough for me in that situation was choosing to quit.