Exercise and diabetes

A female cyclist pedals up a steep hill with a vineyard next to her

Fondo update: struggles of cycling with T1D

Cycling with T1D presented me with quite a few challenges this past week. Even though I have a nutrition degree, have read extensive amounts of T1D research, and have over 30 years personal experience with type-1 diabetes, I still sometimes completely mess it all up. I am not perfect with my T1D. It’s not possible for anyone to be perfect with type-1 diabetes. And for me, “My Own Private Fondo” is a clear example of just how imperfect I can sometimes be. The fondo that was not meant to be Me and my T1D were supposed to ride the Okanagan Gran Fondo in Penticton, BC last week. I was supposed to join thousands of other cyclists as they rode up the hillsides of BC’s most prolific vineyards, and along the lakeshore of Lake Okanagan, home of the Ogopogo, traversing multiple sun-weathered communities. It was supposed to be 121 km of […]

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Rob Barry and Laura Gee hold their Tandem insulin pumps

Podcast: Relationships with T1D

Relationships with type-1 diabetes can be challenging for many couples. But for Rob Barry and Laura Gee it’s actually considered a benefit. That’s because they both have type-1 diabetes. In this month’s episode of Diabetic to Dietetics Rob Barry and Laura Gee discuss what it’s like to have two people with T1D in a relationship. They also share their committed involvement with diabetes research and diabetes advocacy. For additional information, read the article below the podcast link. Benefits of two-person T1D relationship Many other relationships with type-1 diabetes usually feature one partner with the condition, not both. And that can be a challenge. It can be a challenge navigating the moods of blood sugar swings, or understanding the importance of nutrition, or even just having diabetes there all the time. The partner without type-1 diabetes cannot fully grasp this disease no matter how exposed they’ve been to it.   But a

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T1D RD Katie Bartel stands on the docks of T1D camp at Evans Lake in Squamish, BC

T1D RD goes back to Diabetes Camp

I love camp – specifically diabetes camp. Two weekends ago, this T1D dietitian had the opportunity of a lifetime to participate in Connected in Motion’s Western Slipstream. Essentially, a diabetes camp for adults with type-1 diabetes. Friends, I am not new to diabetes camp. I went as a kid from the time I was 10 years old to 16 years old. And I loved it so much, that I became a camp counsellor for the same camp over spring break at 17 years old. And later, in my early 20s, I also became a camp counsellor for a non-diabetes camp in Monmouth, Maine three years running. But, it’s been a few years, and I’d forgotten the joys of camp. Connected in Motion connects A few months ago I was invited by Connected in Motion to be a speaker at their first live slipstream since Covid. Connected in Motion is a T1D

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Healthy plate model: pros and cons for T1D

BC dietitian Katie Bartel describes the benefits and the limitations of the healthy plate model of eating for managing type-1 diabetes

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Spotting sunflowers while cycling with type-1 diabetes

Diabetes dietitian takes on BC cycling fondo with T1D

Let the training begin – this type-1 diabetes dietitian, with T1D, has a cycling fondo booked in BC in T minus 4 months! After 2 years of no running races or cycling events, I have entered the Okanagan Gran Fondo for this July. It’s the second bike fondo I’ve ever done; the first was in pursuit of a Tiffany’s necklace 🙂 I’ll be doing this one alongside my husband, which I’m super excited for. But also nervous. The distance is 120 km. I’ve only done that distance once previously and we had a LOT of snack breaks in between. This fondo will be very different from that. So you know what that means? I need to up my training and nutrition game. Strategizing the physical component Currently my exercise regime is about 4-6 days a week, which includes: Two to three intense 30-45 minute bike rides on the Peloton One

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