OK, I didn’t exactly fall, but it’s the closest I’ve come since I started taking spin classes a little over a year ago…
On Dec. 31, hubby and I decided to attend the “New Year’s Special” combo class — 60 minutes of body conditioning followed by a 90-minute marathon spin session — run by our favorite instructor, one of those don’t-stop-till-you-drop types. And in this case I nearly did. (Anyone who’s tried spinning knows that every minute is magnified by a great deal of sweat and pain.)
First off, we got up too late. I only had about 40 minutes from getting out of bed to actually mounting the bike, which I already know is not enough time to eat breakfast and adjust for the food before a workout. And simply not dosing doesn’t work for me; I go so sky-high that I don’t feel well during the activity.
I used my “secret formula” of aiming for the perfect micro-dose to cover my breakfast without knocking me out as I start to exert myself. Only guess what? Blood sugar management is not exact science. So there’s never any guarantee that what worked last time will do the same trick again today. Does it not make you just want to scream?!
So there I was, sitting up front with a friendly-looking couple next to me. They didn’t strike me as the 90-minute spin class types, but it was me who was huffing and puffing, feeling like absolute crap on the bike that day. My BG seemed to start out at a decent level, but I hadn’t slept well the night before, so I attributed the “feeling like I’m going to die” to just that. As the end of the first hour approached, I was beyond drenched. Dunking booth drenched, I tell you. Refusing to get off my bike before the hour mark (did I mention I am stubborn?), I counted down the minutes. And by the time I realized I was desperate to CHECK! I could barely click my cycling shoes out of their clamps. I stumbled to the polished parquet floor next to my bike and could just feel 20 sets of eyes boring into me as I fumbled for my OmniPod.
53! Well, no wonder! Fumble, fumble, fumble. I ate a few raisins and then realized with horror that I only had two glucose tabs left. And then it happened:
The friendly-faced dude on the bike next to me was waving something a
t me.
What the heck? It couldn’t be… but it was! A chubby full-size plastic container of glucose tabs! He nodded affirmingly as he pushed them my way. At that very moment, it struck me that the little pink contraption hanging off the woman next to him was not a MP3 player, but a PUMP!
I crammed in a few more chalky tabs, and clambered back up on my bike. We all grinned at each other. And then I saw it. How could I have missed it before?? A HUGE tattoo on the young man’s arm of the word “Diabetic”:
I have never in my life been so grateful to see two other PWDs. In fact, I have never in my life met any so spontaneously — and when I need them the most!! The Chronic Illness Gods must have been smiling on me that day. And I think I know why. It was probably their way of saying “shut up and stop feeling sorry for yourself,” because right before I hit the floor to test, all that was going through my mind was: “Look at all these people peddling away without a care in the world! None of them has to deal with all this counting and dosing and hypos and tablet-eating junk! None of them is on life support!”
It was as if my very own PWD Fairy Godparents had shown up. With a sparkly new pink Animas pump and an outrageous tattoo. They enlightened me that they both started the class over 200. I didn’t ask what their ending BG levels were. And I didn’t bother surveying the room to see who was staring at us after class as we chattered and compared medical gear and took pictures with our mobile phones. Who cares about details like that, when you’re in the afterglow of “spontaneous connection”?
Editor’s Note: This is my latest gym experience, a happy story. I realize that things can go horribly awry as well. Take a gander at Kelly K’s staggering tale, “Dear Lady in the Gym Locker Room.” Just what is WRONG with some people, anyway?
Great post! Made me smile! Hooray for spontaneous diabetes friendship bonds!
Cool! Diabetes fairies.
This is great! And what an amazing tattoo.
That’s my pump! Hurray for PWDs!!
Well Someone was definitely watching over you, and you meet two diabuddies along the way. What a perfect way to end a somewhat crappy exercise session.
Fate was in the works that day, coz you know we are all over the place. Maybe we should start a club and get t-shirts or something.
I love the spinning classes by the way, During the summer, I am on my bike all day long for the commute and just for Fun but when it gets cold here in Cleveland, it forces me to go indoors so I kinda dubbed them my off season workouts.Usually the classes at the ballys here are 45 minutes but last week I found out they added an extra class on Saturday morning. So I am planning on going to the first at 830 and pushing on through to the next class at 1015 for 2.5 hours of pure heaven. I am literally counting the days so I know how you feel.
thanks Ronald Gregory
Amy – Terrific post, and I believe in “fairies”.
That’s so aweosme! I had a similar situation a few weeks ago except I was the one with the tabs. I overheard a girl I was working with mention that she needed food because she left her “sugar tablets” at home. So I butted in and said “Need some tabs?” And handed her my giant container of tabs. It was a good bonding moment.
We had a waiter once that had a pump hanging on his belt. He was almost knocked over with excitement from the boys.
I like what the poor diabetic said…we should have a club. Like a secret society with special pins. And if we see someone wearing one, it’s ok to ask them for glucose tabs or extra test strips.
Cool story.
Great tattoo.
Concerning the club with t-shirts, I actually already belong to a couple. Check out Triabetes.org or DiabeticRockStar.com to name two.
We also have a secret “gang sign.” You just lick the tip of one of your fingers, like you just tested.
Amy-
Great post! & your diabetes fairies rock!
Wish the three of you went to my gym, because that would totally put “The Wicked Witch of the Locker Room” in a tailspin!
BTW, she was no show this Sunday
Thanks for the post & the link!
Kelly K
PS:WV
absents in
As in: There was no absents in pwds/diabetes fairies in Amy’s spin class on 12/31/09
What a great ending… I hate discovering that I don’t have enough carbs handy. And I even hate more having to stop my workout to deal with a low. Double boo!
Not that you’re asking.. but it works pretty well for me to eat a GU or banana right before I start exercising, or wait 10-15 minutes if my BG is >140, and just not take any bolus at all. I could never get through a spin class with a bolus on board, unless I was really high to start with.
Most of all, congrats for doing a 90-min spin class! That’s hard core!
I love this story. I alway smile when I see someone who I don’t know with a pump. There is this secret connection even if they don’t know that I saw it. It makes me happy.
Kelly’s story makes me angry. What is wrong with people?
Great Story. I remember going to a party and a long distant relative had a pump. After we introduced each other, i questioned about the pump and for the remaining of the party we talked on and on and on.
Isn’t it strange how we feel when we have a conversation with someone else and we discuss only what the two of may understand.
thanks for sharing your story
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading this post. It’s so great to make a diabetes connection – especially when we need it the most!!
LIke this post a lot. Better question–how’d you feel after you got back on the bike? (You kept on spinning, right?) I’ve stopped spinning, but used to love it when I did it several times a week. One of the best workouts ever!
I hope everyone reads the Diabetes Rising book mentioned on your blog today. It’s a excellent book with a ton of excellent info. that is easy to read. Thanks for putting so much info. on your blog and keeping up with everything that’s going on.