Lauren's Wisdom

What type of diabetes do you have?  

T1D 

What is your primary physical activity, exercise, or sport?  

Horseback Riding 

If you participate in other physical activities, exercises, or sports, what are they?

Anything outside! Walking, hiking, swimming, kayaking, skiing, rock climbing...and pickleball. 

What devices do you use to track your physical activity?

Apple Watch - I love the Dexcom integration! 

What devices do you use to manage your diabetes?  

Tandem t:slim x2 pump and a Dexcom G7. 

Why did you choose your devices?  

I was previously Looping and when Control IQ was released, I wanted to try a different hybrid closed-loop system that would require less hands-on troubleshooting. In addition to the automated insulin delivery aspect, I like the integration with Dexcom and having many different options for infusion sites. 

What challenges do you have around diabetes and exercise, and how do you overcome them?  

Despite what many people think about riding horses, it is physically demanding! Equestrian sports are uniquely challenging because of the peripheral factors that can impact my glucose levels. Things like weather (sometimes extreme), elevation, duration (sometimes many hours), changes in intensity of exercise during a single session (aerobic to anaerobic), and even adrenaline can all impact the decisions I make around exercise and T1D management. One thing that can be challenging for me is choosing how much and what to eat before a long ride to maintain a stable glucose level. I try to eat higher protein for these instances so I'm not starving, but something where I won't have a lot of insulin on board before I start my activity. I am always worried about lows when I ride since I'm not just responsible for me, but also for a 1000-lb animal. Safety is very important in this context. To help overcome these challenges, I always 1) start exercise mode on my pump 90 minutes before I start even getting my horse ready; 2) make sure my glucose is above 100 before I start riding; 3) carry easy, fast-acting carbs with me at all times; and 4) make sure others around me know and understand that I have T1D. 

What would you tell someone considering the same devices that you use? 

Device use is so individualized! Do a lot of research before you choose which device you'll use for the next 4 years. Talking to others in the community, using resources like DiabetesWise, and asking your doctor for feedback are really important. With my current devices, I would say it is largely good. The algorithm works well for me, I find both devices are relatively user-friendly, and the look does not bother me. I would say the biggest downside is that the G7 pretty often loses connection with my pump, which impacts the algorithm. I've also experienced a lot of sensor failures with the G7, although they have been replaced by Dexcom (it's just frustrating dealing with the failures in the moment). I honestly don't love the rechargeable battery in the t:slim...I'm bad at charging it daily and end up scrambling when I get down to 1%! 

What is your favorite low snack?  

I find that, for me, glucose is better at helping me recover and stabilize quickly, so I tend to grab things like Transcend Glucose Gels, Glucose SOS Powders, and glucose tablets. My all-time favorite low snack is Trader Joe's Scandinavian Swimmers! 

Do you have anything else that you want to share? 

One of the most impactful things about learning how to manage my diabetes during exercise has been the diabetes community. I have learned so much from others, even other T1D horse people! Talking with others with diabetes has helped me feel more comfortable and empowered, and just given me knowledge that I never would have gotten from talking to my endo alone. It's also wonderful participating in activities with other people with diabetes - makes stopping for a low on a hike feel like not such a big deal!