T1D dietitian

Dr. Michael Riddell stands in the foreground of his research participants in his lab focusing on T1D and exercise research

Michael Riddell: leading the way in T1D and exercise research

Diabetic to Dietetics Podcast Episode 5 features Dr. Michael Riddell providing a glimpse into the world of T1D and exercise research Additional article below. Researcher behind T1D and exercise research Many people will go through a period of denial or rebellion when diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, but not Dr. Michael Riddell. He dove deep into this disease, attempting to unravel every inch of it in order to grow his own knowledge and the knowledge of others. Dr. Riddell is arguably the most leading-edge researcher of type-1 diabetes in exercise and metabolism. He has a PhD in physiology and pharmacology. He’s a professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science Muscle Health Research Centre at York University. And he’s a senior scientist with LMC Diabetes and Manna Research. Over the course of 25 years, he has completed more than 200 studies in diabetes metabolism and exercise. He has seen his name […]

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Woman with T1D stands on pier in Penticton, reflecting on her diaversary

Diaversary: 35 years with T1D

Thirty five years with T1D. It’s my diaversary! To celebrate, or not to celebrate. That, my friends, is the question of the week. I was forever branded with this disease on Aug. 23, 1987. My sister had turned 16 the same day I was rushed to the hospital. This disease couldn’t even wait one more day; it just had to dance all over my sister’s birthday. Sorry about that Jules. But honestly, as many of us with this disease will surely confirm, that’s the way of T1D. T1D: the all consuming disease Type-1 diabetes is everywhere. It is all the time. It is an insufferable attention seeker. T1D is the first thought I have when I wake up in the morning and instantly grab for my phone to check my CGM. It’s also one of my last evening actions, and middle of the night actions too when I get up

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Stress causes hyperglycemia as shown on Freestyle Libre reader

Stress on blood sugars: side effects and strategies

Stress on blood sugars, it’s a disaster zone for T1D management. Believe me, I know this first hand! My stress levels started to skyrocket about two months ago. I had a lot of professional responsibilities weighing on me, as well as personal impacts that had my heart racing a little quicker, my mind fluttering like a butterfly, and my skin itching to get away from me. Most recently, we’ve added a most annoying eye twitch to the mix. And my blood sugars have skyrocketed too – elevating anywhere from 3-5 or more mmol/L higher than usual, resulting in Increased mealtime insulin dosing Increased basal rates Increased correction doses That’s because stress on blood sugars wreaks havoc. I remember when I was still in school, one particular exam where my blood sugars jumped about 6 mmol/L from usual right before the exam. They hovered in that above target range for the

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Female cyclist drinks from her water bottle during T1D and sport

The science behind T1D in sport

Registered dietitian with T1D Katie Bartel dives into the science behind why sport with type-1 diabetes can be so challenging, and provides strategies for overcoming some of those challenges.

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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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