Back in the saddle
Even with the injuries from my bicycle mishap back on October 28, I’ve been trying to stay active. For a couple weeks, it was enough exercise just trying to get out of bed in the morning, but now I’m past that and ready for more exercise than just walking around the neighborhood.
But, I’m not quite ready to face another encounter with a manhole cover, so for the next couple weeks at least, I’m exercising where it’s safe — my basement. I dug out the indoor trainer, hooked up the bike, inflated the tires, and hopped on. Then I discovered that the splint on my left arm prevented me from reaching the handlebars. I’m nothing if not stubborn when it comes to exercise, so I gave it some thought and decided that what I needed was a couple ski poles for balance. Below are a couple photos of me getting set up for an exercise session over the weekend. As you can see from the photos, I’m not totally comfortable on the bike yet, and my first session on the trainer (when these photos were taken) wasn’t even long enough to justify changing out of my jeans into a pair of cycling shorts.
I know it looks a bit funny, but I had to do something because this lack of aerobic exercise since my crash on October 28 is really getting to me. My insulin pump basal rates are up about 25%, my blood pressures are up, my HbA1c rose from 5.6% (on October 11) to 5.9% (on November 14). Everything is still within acceptable ranges, but the direction of the current trend is disturbing. Is this inactive recovery period a glimpse of what my life with diabetes might be like without exercise? If so, I do NOT like what I see. Somebody hand me my running shoes!
Gosh I get to be the first. I hear ya on keepin up the exercise. While not nearly as drastic an injury as yours, I am fighting chronic tendinitis in my left ankle and have been told to limit my cycling to rest it and let it heal. Boy, has the weight piled up
Hope you have a good Christmas. I am replying to the email you sent with an attachment of the traditional Toombs Family Christmas Missive I hope you find it fun. That is what it is meant to be and is a way for us to communicate with our far flung friends.
Hi Peter,
Have you tried any skiing this year? It’s on my list of things to do if we ever get some cold weather and snow here in the Northeast.
Florian (Type 1, dx 1967)
Hi Florian!
I’ve been watching the news reports about all the warm weather back east. Enjoy it while it lasts, I guess!
I haven’t skied yet this year. It’s unusual for me not to ski, because there’s a canyon just a few miles from home where they close off the road and groom the snow for cross-country skiers, both classical and skating. It’s so convenient (and popular)!
But, last year I was so busy preparing for my tour that I didn’t get out skiing. This year, until recently, I’ve been recovering from my injuries and there hasn’t been much snow. There’s plenty of snow up high where the resorts are, but my convenient canyon isn’t very high.