A day with (team) Novo Nordisk - Changing Diabetes

DIABETES AND SPORT - A SMALL CHALLENGE. Diabetes and sports are not mutually exclusive. Not for Type 1 diabetes and not even for type 2 diabetes. On the contrary, sport and diabetes is actually a pretty cool duo, because sport does not only have a positive effect on the well-being of, but also has the nice side effect to improve blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.

For many diabetics, sports / movement is often but a topic that is associated with anxiety and frustration. Frequent hypos, constant carbohydrate refueling, unexplained BZ-rises! With all these things I have to fight again and again, realize, however, the more I occupy myself with my "successes and failures" (OK, the name is perhaps not optimally chosen may sound "experiments and failed attempts not so hard ) properly documented, analyzed and interpreted, and learn from them, the better and more relaxed I can start, for example, in a run. Everyone must find there a little for themselves out what works best for him. Because everyone has a different therapy, and every body reacts to different loads individually different. This is perfectly normal. Would be nice if it would be as a panacea.

Yes, it's a challenge to find his personal best way! But that should hold a by no means thereof, to try it again and again. For me personally it would be a resignation before the diabetes to stick after a few blood glucose levels to head in the sand or to hang the sports shoes on the nail.

Team Novo Nordisk - motivate, inspire AND SELLING

The fact that diabetes and sport in no way exclude that wants to prove the team Novo Nordisk. Together with Sascha from Sugartweaks and Manu secondhand diabetes we were invited by Novo Nordisk this weekend for Münsterland Giro, where the professional cycling team from Novo Nordisk with went to the start.

The team Novo Nordisk is is an international team of cyclists, triathletes and runners with one thing that connects all: Diabetes. Topping the team Novo Nordisk from professional cycling team, the first professional cycling team whose squad consists entirely of athletes with diabetes worldwide, and participates in professional races around the globe. The team was founded in 2012 by Novo Nordisk Phil Southerland us is part of the Novo Nordisk initiative "Changing Diabetes". The aim is to participate 2021 (100 years Insulin) at the Tour de France.

People with diabetes to encourage their dreams hold, and show that sporting excellence with diabetes are absolutely possible, that is the goal of the team Novo Nordisk. The life stories and successes of the team members to other diabetics provide inspiration and show that you can achieve much with the constant companionship of diabetes.

On Friday evening before the race was Simon Strobel, the only German rider in the squad, to answer questions on our interview questions. Simon is relatively new in the professional team (previously Development Team) and had the Müsterland Giro his racing debut on German soil as a professional driver. The interview follows in a separate post.

Diabetes Team

MANY DIABETICS lack the necessary knowledge of sports WITH DIABETES. On Saturday morning we went for us in the Francis Carré to a small "Diabetes and Sport Workshop" at Harald Pohl Maier (Internist, Angiologe, Diabetologist DDG) in the center for diabetes and vascular disease.

Knowledge after the workshop (well, actually, we know it yes): Who wants to have fun on the sports with diabetes should keep a few things and know a few things. And therein lies the rub. When knowledge is lagging behind dramatically in most diabetics. Conventional diabetes education only cover the basic knowledge, which might be enough for a walk around the block, but not for someone who is serious with his diabetes tackles and a little more want than just every now and then the tired limbs in set movement. The sports MUs make sense, as long acts of move how many calories and carbohydrates the body stores on its own initiative, where is the personal threshold between aerobic and anaerobic exercise area, what impact does that have on your blood sugar at which heart rate happens what in the body and so on. Like we had back then "discussed and tested" in Animas Diabetes and Sports Weekend and I find such training is too little offered in Germany. No wonder that most diabetics are frustrated after the first sports try if you among sugars constantly or even have strong blood sugar rises, without knowing why and how you do is push you on the matter. Sport should finally be motivating rather than frustrating.

IM Novo Nordisk TEAM BUS - 600km FOR A 3KM SPRINT

After the workshop we went to the booth of Novo Nordisk on the event's site or to tour / team bus driver where we Meike tree Lindemann (project leader globally for the team NN) and Team Novo Nordisk spokeswoman some impressions mediated got what it takes place at a professional bike team in everyday life and between races. For me personally amazing that drivers spend part up to 600km off Bike to be at a particular race for only 3km (!) On Bike. Professional drivers spend so much time with the right acuh ass on the bus or flyer to get from one point to another point, where they then swing the butt back on the saddle. Either for training, or for a race. So a team bus has somehow what of a tour bus of a rock band and is a bit like a small apartment. Shower, a mini-kitchen, sleeping arrangements. Only there it is ordered and there is probably no more cans of beer Burger, but protein drinks and meet Hypo-Treatment. Funny, I've seen no Nutella ;-).

Novo Nordisk team bus

Pretty ordered it comes to in everyday life of the driver. So every athlete has an established and structured daily schedule, from showers, breakfast etc. Novo Nordisk owns 2 of these buses, one for Europe and one for the United States (supposedly a little more "modern" is. I have since spontaneously to the vehicle from "Meet the Fockers" thinking.

The drivers who are traveling in Asia, be driven with smaller vans to their race. The team will of course supervised by doctors throughout the tour, but every driver still has its own diabetologists. By the way the team is not "owned" by Novo Nordisk, but is only sponsored by the Danish company.

CATHETER AT BUTT

After the race we still had the chance to briefly talk to Simon, who looked pretty fresh for covered 180km and first purely whistled a bun. On that occasion I was able to get rid of times I asked him if there are tricks of the catheter mount. For my catheter each other constantly while running (see. "Nude running without anything"), so I at longer distances (read more sweat) already partly take with a replacement catheter. Simons answer, he uses any extra fixation, then already surprised me a little. Yes, he does not sweat it? Almost all drivers with peristaltic pump wear the catheter Traderjob on my butt. I will experiment again with different locations and tapes. At this point a big thank you to Novo Nordisk for the invitation and this exciting and inspiring day and at the team around.

Photo: Sugartweaks

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Rigid therapy and pickles - 25 years Diabetes, we celebrate silver wedding

Last week, the Sail took place in Bremerhaven. An event that comes only once every few years in the seaside town, and I regularly visit since the first Sail 1986, provided that it is possible. This year, I have unfortunately not managed in time. The Sail but I associate also diabetes, especially with the Sail 1990. Superb weather, sailing ships, sailors and Elendiger thirst. I have virtually hand over hand me a drink stall to the next. En couple of days later I was in the hospital. Mutti had already reported eimmal about it.

The whole thing is in this month exactly 25 years ago! The Diabetes Sau and I celebrate this month quasi silver wedding anniversary. 25 years a long time. At the time a lot can happen. Who would have ever on the Internet (as we know it today) and smartphones in mind? And what has changed in 25 years Diabetes Therapy? Intrinsic light much, and actually then again little. Well, at least still is no way to control blood sugar and insulin. In 25 years I have been the way to the catapults me already about 83000 needles the body. See for yourself. The times of rigid therapy but fortunately yesterday's news. But healing? Nope. People shoot to the moon? Jap!

Diabetes 1990 vs. Diabetes 2015

BLOOD GLUCOSE MEASUREMENT

Glucometers big as bricks, 2 minutes measurement duration. But a drop of blood was needed, which one also could call drops. When lancing device I had at the beginning of the lancet, I rammed my finger or ear without device. That requires a little practice to the small flat bare metal part not too deep to ram under the skin, because sometimes resembled the blood sugar measuring almost a small Mass Acker. And today? Small glucometers which spit out the result in seconds, virtually pain-free lancing devices and CGM, of course, not to forget.

Diagnosed with diabetes in adolescence

Blu blub, kick kick. On (the) Lake Garda and at the competition. Shortly before the diagnosis 1990 levels. I started then with normal disposable syringes. Needle length 12mm. No idea how much gauge, but the needles were definitely thicker than today, and not so easy flutschten as they do today and hinterließnen a few unsightly holes. Eventually I switched then to a pen (in modern beige), the insulin did not have to be mixed, but that also meant 2x splash. For me, the first pump got it then 2000th

Pickles and sweet cherry tomatoes as a snack for the children's birthday party. A solid meal plan. Fixed amounts, fixed times. Whether hungry or not. 9: 30h and 11: 00h, was the time for a slice of bread and vanilla cloud diet from Dr Oetker. From time to time "diabetic sweets". The not only tasted horrible, but also not very good impact on digestion. I remember Gummi Bears and chewing gum, which fell into crumbly items during chewing. Only the yoghurt chocolate bar from Schneekoppe I found OK. Is there even today. 

At least they were a good alternative to the soybean seeds with pepper seasoning that there was to nibble. I think it was about 1993 when the thing with the diet for type 1 diabetes a little changed, and I can still remember my first Milka chocolate bars I ate after diagnosis. And added, by the rigorous schedule of last year, that was even a little fear associated with my blood sugar could completely fall apart. Of course he did not do. Today there are for us type 1 diabetics no restrictions with regard to the diet. And that's a good thing. For me, good food has a lot to do with quality of life. Refrain does not exist for me. To keep blood sugar under control, it is to try and learn.

DIABETES SELF-HELP

Actually, I hate the word. Makes me kinda feel ill. A few times I was in such a "self-help group". But that was actually more for parents. Sometime been there once cooked and baked together. Everything "diabetic friendly" course. Today I take part regularly in a diabetic-Stammtisch. Without sugar-free cookies for me beer and good food and nice by talking shop somewhere in a pub or restaurant. And do not forget, "self-help" will take place today almost exclusively online. Facebook, Twitter, forums and blogs. I would claim that diabetics are informed by the exchange with the diabetes online community far better than it was then about diabetes. The community is always there, day and night. And not just on a specific date once a month. Sometimes these online community meets but also in "real life", such as on the T1 Day, I will also moderate in 2016 again. Save the Date ;-).

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