Hello everyone I am 47 years old and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May of 2008 after a bad tooth infection almost took my life. When I came to in ICU they told me I had type 1 diabetes, that was the begining of a whole new life for me. After getting out of the hospital 6 weeks after going in I started reading all I could read about diabetes. One day while WAITING and WAITING at the Endo's office I picked up a copy of Diabetes Forecast magazine. In the back of the the magazine was an article called "Do Your Homework". The article talked about how we need to read the stuff the pros read and if we can't understand something we need to ask. When my appointment was over and I was walking out I said to my endo "so if my blood sugar numbers are high (260+) I either need to eat less carbs, exercise more or take more insulin, an he answered "yep" no other instructions. That night I did my homework and started to read the stuff the pros read. I now see a top notch endo named Dr. Matt Corcoran. He calls himself my team mate. He tells me he is there to give me all the information he can so that I can make the best decisions on how to live my life with diabetes. before I called Dr. Matt I started to ride my bike to help control the blood sugar and improve blood circulation. As I got more involved in the cycling I became more involved in the local Tour de Cure bicycle rides. Well being the nut that I am I started to set my sights on a more ambisuous goal. I want to be the first type 1 over the age of 50 to complete the 2012 Race Across America (RAAM) a 3000 mile bicycle race from Oceanside Ca. to Annapolis Md. I told Dr. Matt about this goal and he told me of a camp he founded called The Diabetes Training Camp. It was the best week of my life! PLEASE PLEASE go to the web and visit their site at diabetestrainingcamp.com. To be in a place where everyone is a diabetic was so freeing you just have to experience it. Because of our common trials and tribulations we all bonded the first night, 45 men and women ranging in age from 15 to 65, it was amazing. Each of us had our individual goals, my goal was to get some professional coaching and medical advice on how to train for the RAAM, others where there to train for marathons,triathalons, swimming, running, and just wanting to get better control of their lives with diabetes. I will be posting my camp story at a later time but please check out their web site, I feel every diabetic should go and experience the joys the tears and the fellowship that the camp provided. If you have any questions about the camp please contact me at anytime via email or by phone. 703-623-3884. I want people to know that having diabetes is not a death sentance, it can open to us new and better directions for or life.
Starting tomorrow I will be posting my journey to the goal of RAAM 2012. I welcome all your questions and comments. I want to learn all I can from all of you who have been living with diabetes longer than I have. I want to take all diabetics across America with me so stay tuned.
So until tomorrow this is the Red Rider