Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jerry Nairn on November 10, 2011 at 11:40pm

You can absolutely get fast times. The question is how, and there are people who can answer that.
You just need to do all of the things in training that anyone else would do to get fast, plus everything required to manage your diabetes while you're doing it.
Some of the runners over in the Diabetics Who Run Marathons group were recently discussing 5Ks. You're welcome to drop in over there.
There is also a diabetic running and walking club, Glucomotive. http://glucomotive.org

Permalink Reply by IMVic on November 11, 2011 at 3:13am

Agree with Jerry, train for it, manage nutrition and recovery properly - the diabetes management should be the only difference you have. I've been active all 34 years of my diabetic life (some years more than others) - and I continue to learn more each year in terms of the diabetes management aspect.

Permalink Reply by Tony on November 11, 2011 at 6:16am

I also have barely any thyroid function because of hashimotos so its really hard to balance my training, thyroid meds, diabetes and food. I hope sometime in my life I can figure everything out.

I was wondering what the fastest 5k or marathon a type 1 diabetic has run?

Permalink Reply by Jerry Nairn on November 11, 2011 at 9:52am

Hi, Tony,
I also have Hashimotos and am on Synthroid, so I sympathize.

Concerning the fastest 5K by a type 1 diabetic, I just looked up Igor Stevic's time at last year's USCAA, United States Corporate Athletic Association, 5K finals, just because he's a friend I know who is fast. He ran it in 18:39.

That's pretty fast, but I wouldn't guess that it was the fastest.

Bill Carlson, who is quite an athlete and is a member here, used to say he had the fastest marathon by a type 1 diabetic that he had ever heard about. If I remember right, it was 2:40 something, but I could be wrong. And anyway, I think there are faster times out there now.
There are a lot of type 1 diabetic athletes doing amazing things these days.

Permalink Reply by Tony on November 11, 2011 at 10:09am

How do you feel on the synthroid? Do you have any side effects from it?

Wow that marathon time is really fast! My fastest 5k is 18:35, my goal is to break 18 minutes someday.

Permalink Reply by Jerry Nairn on November 11, 2011 at 10:17am

Wow. That is fast.
You can do it! We're rooting for you.
I think the Synthroid is helping. I'm not aware of any side-effects.

Permalink Reply by Tony on November 11, 2011 at 11:05am

Thanks. How much synthroid do you take?

Permalink Reply by Jerry Nairn on November 11, 2011 at 11:45am

I don't even know. I just take what's prescribed. If you're really curious I'll check the dosage when I get home. But you really need to let an endo help you figure out what would be right for you.

 

Permalink Reply by Tony on November 11, 2011 at 11:56am

Ya I was just wondering. Im working with an endo to find my right dose.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Mather on November 11, 2011 at 6:21am

I've run three 5Ks this year. Definitely possible.

It's hard work training for them if you're interested in getting good times, but that's true whether you have diabetes or not. The insulin/food/BG balancing act is the same as any other kind of running.

Permalink Reply by Jerry Nairn on November 11, 2011 at 9:58am

If when you say, "The insulin/food/BG balancing act is the same as any other kind of running." you mean that it is complicated, then yes, I agree.
But different kinds of running have different requirements in terms of insulin and nutrition. Training for a 5K has different challenges as compared to training for a half marathon, which is different from training for marathons, which are different from ultra marathons. Oh, and sprinting is another kind of running which has its own set of complications.
For track workouts and 5K races, I try to keep my bolus insulin low, but I don't adjust my basal insulin. For long runs and marathons, I turn my basal rate down an hour before and keep it reduced for most of the run.
That's just an example. The point is that it's not all the same.