I know I’ve been a bit quiet recently but I’m back on my travels to see for myself what the diabetics, er, I mean people with diabetes are getting up to. I arrived at Matt’s house a while ago, I’ve had a nice time settling in but we’re up early today so I wonder what he’s got planned? Oh I see, it’s a bike ride – this should be fun. Matt mutters something about… in honour of my presence it’s going to be a long ride. He’s certainly wearing some strange clothing – stretchy shorts with padded bits, shoes with metal clips (he says they’re called cleats) on the soles, a jersey that says Team Novo Nordisk and a helmet. He’s stuffed his jersey pockets full of energy gels, flapjack, a banana and malt loaf (not your typical foods for a diabetic) and filled two water bottles but he also has his other essentials (spare tubes, pump, tyre levers, phone and cash) in the saddle bag plus his diabetes things – meter and insulin pen and Libre reader. Matt has a Libre sensor on as he says it will help him keep track of his levels.
Now, where's the bike? Oh what's that? The bike is not a tandem, where am I supposed to sit? Hmph, that's not very dignified - Matt has tied me to the handlebars! I suppose I'll get a good view and with my crown on I don't need to wear a hlemet. Before we set off Matt attaches the Garmin GPS device which will record all the ride details, it's a bit like a car satnav.
Wooahh, that's a bit scary going down the steep bits, I think I prefer going uphill as it's not as fast. Even the flat parts are a bit quick for me. We're soon out of the town and in the countryside and I'm starting to really enjoy the ride. As we turn off the main road it's very quiet riding through the Cheshire lanes with lots of nice things to see. Matt stops occasionally to swipe the Libre reader and check what his blood glucose is doing, from time to time topping up with one of the treats from his jersey pockets. I glance at the Garmin and 30 miles is up already. We carry on and arrive at a place called Mickle Trafford near Chester - the Garmin is now reading 53 miles. We carry on through Chester, thankfully not on the busy city roads, we're on a very nice tarmac cycle path heading towards the Welsh border. We head off the path onto the road to reach the border itself. The Garmin reads 60 miles. Rydym yn croesi dros y ffin i Gymru a pharhau am ychydig cyn troi rownd ar gyfer y cartref daith.
As we pass MIckle Trafford we stop at a very nice cafe. I seem to be attracting a lot of attention from people at the cafe who are staring at me which I think is a bit rude. Anyone would think they hadn't seen a pink fairy before! Matt orders something to eat but says even after 30 years of Type 1 diabetes - exercise, eating and insulin are a tricky combination to get right. I hope he knows what he's doing as I don't want to be the one pedalling home.
After finishing at the cafe we set off again to carry on back home.
On the way back Matt tells me there is a professional cycling team of Type 1 diabetics called Team Novo Nordisk. Cars passing by probably thought it a little strange he was talking to a pink fairy – but what do they know? I’d noticed Matt’s wearing the team jersey. Does that mean he’s part of the team? Mmmm, I’m not so sure about that. He looks a bit old to me and he doesn’t seem quick enough to be part of a professional cycling team – shhh, don’t tell him I said that.
There are also other professional sportspeople with diabetes including footballers and rugby players. We all know that exercise is good for everyone but I’ve learned that is particularly true for diabetics although I hope you don’t have to go this far each time you go for a bike ride.
As we head towards Goostrey, me and Matt give a cheer as the Garmin display goes past 100 miles and from what I can remember on the way out we only have about 25 miles left to go although some of that is quite steep uphill.
I’m getting a bit worried because from the sounds he’s making I think Matt is starting to struggle a bit so I offer some words of encouragement. Well, really….there’s no need for that! Rude words and blaming me - the diabetes fairy! He said it was all my flipping fault – although he didn’t use the word flipping. How can it be my fault? I didn’t ask him to ride all this way. Oh, erm I see, ….the diabetes. Well, let’s just call it six of one and half a dozen of the other. Anyway, I suppose I’ll forgive him as he must be a bit tired - it has been a long day but there’s not far to go now. We finally arrive back at Matt’s house and the Garmin is stopped on 126 miles – that’s over 200km!!!
Matt’s daughter takes a photo of us on our return.
Matt then checks the Libre readings for the ride before uploading the all important Garmin data to Strava (a website where athletes record their rides, runs and swims). Matt has his tea and says he will need to keep a close eye on his blood glucose levels especially through the night and tomorrow and possibly the day after as well because exercise can continue to affect levels for that length of time. As he uses pens to control his diabetes he will need to adjust both his NovoRapid and Levemir to take account of the exercise.
Well, what a fantastic day I’ve had – all the way from Staffordshire to Wales and back – a total of 126 miles by bike. I’m impressed - I’ve learned about a professional cycling team and other sportspeople all with Type 1 diabetes. It shouldn’t stop anyone from achieving what they want to. Yawnnnnn, excuse me - with all that fresh air and exercise, oh alright then, in my case just the fresh air, I’m starting to feel a little tired now. I think I’ll sleep well tonight. I’m not sure what is planned for tomorrow – it can’t be another bike ride can it? DF xxx
