Who?.. What?.. Why?..

Hey all, I’m Marco; am a nurse currently doing an upgrading programme in Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore. Welcome to ‘I Blog For Diabetes’. This Blog offers readers insides on how I use exercise to control my blood sugars and how I live with Type 1 Diabetes everyday. It also explains about diabetes management and exercise management. This blog is not just for diabetics, what I learn about sugar control can help athletics without diabetes as well.

I am a person who enjoys football, running and cycling, and I am waiting to do my first Triathlon. I am a volunteer at Touch Diabetes Support, participated in 5 Project Discoveries which included climbing Mount Kinabalu 2 times, cycled to Kuantan 2 times and recently completed a 100 km hike and trek in Singapore in a 3 day event.

Questions will be asked, is it ok for a person with Diabetes to do such strenuous exercises? Most people will know the ill effects of poor Diabetes management. “But this doesn’t prevent me from living life to the fullest by doing sports which I like, as Diabetes is not a Barrier to me, it is a Blessing, as I can teach fellow people with Diabetes to know about the condition better and also allow the Public to know I am pretty much a normal person”.

I have had insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or Type 1 diabetes for 13 years, I have to give myself insulin injections 4 times a day and perform self blood glucose monitoring (testing my Blood Sugar) on alternate days.

I take part in 10 km, 15 km runs and half marathons every year, firstly I enjoy running and secondly, allowing the public to know that diabetes is never a barrier to me. Not only that, I cycle about 2 times per week (slowly increasing frequency) as I am a cycling fan too. I like to take challenges and push my limits a little bit.

Through exercise, I have discovered that it helps in maintaining my blood sugars, and another factor is that I require less insulin (medication) on days that I exercise. On the days when I have a marathon or train, I will reduce my insulin the night before the activity, and the following day, I will have to adjust my Insulin according to blood sugar readings. This is to prevent me from getting Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar reading).

By exemplifying my life as a person with diabetes and also like sports, I need to pay more attention to my body and limits, not to push myself over the limits; I like to do run and cycle to maintain my fitness and also have better control of diabetes. For all viewers of this blog, please do not quote me, for what I am doing is not suitable to all people, do not apply this way of treatment upon yourself or ask your friends with diabetes to go through it if they are unsure. Do seek your doctors for approval before trying to adjust your lifestyle.

If possible, I like to be a motivator to allow me to share with people; how i live with Diabetes, not as an obstruction or barrier but as a drive to enable me to live a better and fulfilling life.
Marco