Kris Freeman

Racing with diabetes presents many challenges but simply living on the road can be difficult as well. It is well documented that I had some severe low blood sugar while I was racing last year but to compound that I was also having low sugar while at rest. It was not uncommon for me to have sugars falling into the 50′s during travel or while sleeping. Having low blood sugar wastes adrenaline and leads to long term fatigue.

I started using a new tool called the Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor this Spring.

Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor

I insert a small wire into the subcutaneous fat in my abdomen. The wire has a transmitter attached to it that sends data to a hand-held receiver. Every five minutes it sends my glucose level to the device and graphs it. Each dot on the picture above represents a glucose reading. The dotted lines going across the graph represent glucose levels of 180 and 60. If my blood sugar is not between those two data points my receiver will vibrate and beep. This is a very important feature for sleeping.

The device requires frequent calibrations from actual blood samples and displays information that it is about 10 minutes behind what my actual glucose is. This combined with its relatively large size (hopefully a watch will be developed soon) make it impractical for racing. However I may carry it on a triathlon race belt, in an ipod case, for 30k and 50k races.

Using the Dexcom device in conjunction with the Omnipod insulin pump means that I have two medical devices in my skin 24/7. My friends have joked that I am turning into a Cyborg. I embrace this, as I am grateful that the diabetes industry continues to innovate and make my life easier. In the picture below you will see the Omnipod on my chest and the Dexcom transmitter on my Oblique.

Cyborg Impression

The display on the Omnipod “Personal Diabetes Manager” shows the many program options on the device. The PDM communicates wire-lessly to the pump on my chest.

Maintaining a relatively normal glucose level is critical to the longevity and consistency of my season.  I look into every innovation that comes out in the diabetes world and decided that this combination was the best for me.  I will use it to tackle every race that comes my way this year.  I considered skipping longer races this season as well as the tour.  But I know I can perform well in those formats.  Living scared is no way to live.  I am going after the 30k.

In late June I wrapped up my first training camp in Maine with a 5k running race. I broke 16:00 for the first time since the year 2004 with a 15:53. Not blazing fast but still a good indication that things are going well.

Since then my summer has gotten very busy. Over the past eight years I have been visiting summer camps for kids with diabetes all around the country. I share the story of my diagnosis and career with them in the hopes that they will not let the disease deter them from their dreams and goals in life. I find the advocacy work very rewarding so I planned to visit 10 camps over course of five weeks. I planned the disruption into my training in the Spring so I have only scheduled 75 training hours for July.

I am not allowed to post pictures of the campers so the two pictures below are of me at Camp Jack in Road Island and playing dodgeball in New Mexico.

It has been very hot and humid in New Hampshire but I love training here. The beauty of the landscape here never gets old. My last three days of training have been as follows.

2 hour run/2 hour double pole
1.5 hour no pole skate/2.5 run on Welch and Dickey Mountains
6 hour road bike for 120 miles

The over distance road bike will be my second to last ride of this length. I am transitioning to more specific training. Below is a picture of Wyatt taking advantage of a stream on the Welch and Dickey trail.

Well, after my arduous travel from Finland to Norway I was tempted to take my last post down. I don’t like to appear vulnerable but the trip I wrote about clearly illustrated my liabilities. My diabetes can throw me a curve ball at any time. I either have to roll with the punches or fall flat. In my last draft I even mentioned giving up which is a thought that I only have when under the influence of what I call “short term diabetic depression.” The cause for me is simple. I get depressed when there is not enough sugar in my brain to think straight. The fact that I am low is also depressing as I know that it is a massive and damaging stress to my body. The combination forms a loop that leaves me irritable and sad until I stabilize my glucose for several hours. Once I level off, I look back on the time I was depressed as though I was different person.
Having gone low two days ago was unfortunate. I can’t help but wonder if it may take a critical spring from my step this weekend but I have no choice but to continue my race preparation as I otherwise would. Yesterday I went for a very slow two and half hour skate on the Birke trail with Noah and Andy. It was easily the best ski of the year so far. To give you an idea of the pace, my average heart rate was 95 and Noah’s was 102. In the afternoon I ran around the Lillehammer neighborhood for a few miles and then did a Podcast yoga class with Liz and Matt.
I woke up this morning feeling very positive and my body felt good. I skied 2 hours on the ridiculously windy new 5k race course. I did one lap at L3 and was satisfied with how my body responded to the effort. It snowed almost four inches during my ski which made for tricky and changing wax. Will stayed on top of it though and I was happy with how my skis were running.
This afternoon I will take another yoga class as I try to live in the moment. Focusing on the past will not get me anywhere. When I am thinking clearly that is easy to see.

I had a solid race today at the Branbury Classic in Brandon Vermont. The event was a triathlon that consisted of a 1.5 mile kayak, 14.3 mile bike and 3.1 mile run. It was held in conjunction with a traditional sprint triathlon that swapped the kayak for a .6 mile swim.
My bike speed average was 25.3 mph and my run was at 5:45 per mile pace. Despite the paddle being a few minutes longer I still had the fastest time of the day in 1:03:13. I raised my basal insulin from .7-1.0 units 3 hours before the race and kept it there for the duration of the event. My glucose was 100 fifteen minutes prior to race start. I consumed 8 ounces (15 gram carb) of UnTapped Sports Drink. I drank an additional 8 ounces of UnTapped as I started the run. My Glucose was 200 at the finish. I did not carry my Dexcom as I did not want to take the time to look at it.