I’m a type 2 diabeltic, doing IMC for the second time. Last year, I wasn’t on insulin, this year, I am so I’m a newbie. Duing a half Iron this year (Oliver, BC) I discovered that my Transition bag got so hot my meter wouldn’t work and my insulin overheated. So, for IMC, I don’t want to leave my kit in special needs because I’m sure it’s gonna be too hot.
I’m most concerned about the run. I’ll be in need of insulin by then, but if it sits in special needs all day, it’ll be ruined.
Questions:
Can I have a friend hold my insulin and test meter for me and then hand it over during the run, or would this be considered outside assistance?
What do you do about insulin dosage during an IM race
I’m a type 1 diabetic and now use an insulin pump during races. But I used to administer shots of insulin during the race when needed. I would keep my insulin in a mini cooler that I could keep w/ me in my singlet jersey pocket on the bike and then in my running belt for the marathon. Check out the link below for some options. I would also recommend speaking w/ the race medical personnel before the race and explain your situation. They have been very helpful to me. One year I kept my insulin and an extra BG test meter in a cooler in the med tent that I grabbed in T2. I would also recommend having back up BG meters, insulin, needles, etc. Prepare for the worst. Good luck.
A friend of mine is Type 1. She just did IM CDA. Below is a link to her blog, where she talks about her training, what she used (both nutrition and insulin), what worked and what did not. Good luck.
I have no experience on the subject other than my mother-in-law being diabetic, but Good Neighbour Pharmacy is the official medical supply sponsor of a bunch of IM events. They also have a chain of diabetes shops. At their booth at the IMLP expo, I met Andy Holder, who is sponsored by the pharmacy and has diabetes, he’s competed in multiple Ironmans. Very nice guy, had some interesting things to say about how he competes with diabetes. May be a good resource to talk to.
I´ve done 6 IM´s on Insulin, and I usually take a fanny pack on the bike where I have multiple pre-filled serynges (sp?) and always 2 glucometers, i´ve had every possible problem with it, from low battery to meters overheating to dropping the meters and testing strips.
Diabetes can be a pain in the a**, but I don´t think we have many options so I´m always trying to get around it with the most creative solutions possible. In my last race (8h50) in IMBrazil, I swam with a serynge into my cycling jersey as it was a wetsuit swim, once on the bike it was fast and easy to inject it, no mess on tryig to get it out of the bento box.
Ah, get a gel flask and fill it with liquid sugar, put in special needs on the run and it can save your day if you go too low. 400 calories straight into your bloodstream.