It’s been about two months since I started using an insulin pump (Medtronic Minimed), which followed 35 years of insulin injection routines. Overall, I am very satisfied with the pump, though, as always in diabetes care, there’s always room for improvement in self-management.

My biggest hurdles are the estimating the carb counts; previously, I pretty much just ate and did not think much beyond skipping the sugar. I am bit more restrained now, but still sometimes just take some wild guesses at the right amounts.

My overall blood glucose numbers are lower than before (maybe averaging 120-130 where before it was more like 150-160), and the real show is in a month or two at my next A1C test, where I had been running in the low 7.0s and maybe a 6.9 now and then. At my June doctor visit, we made some adjustments to the basal rates (setting higher rates for day time) that have helped a lot.

I have been wearing the pump while running and it’s not too much in the way, as I was already carrying a small fanny pack anyhow to hold glucose tabes, keys, and the ipod.

And actually for being out and about and work-related travel, it simplifies things as I do not have to cart around needles and insulin containers to meals; I just need my blood tested (with me or before I go).

So the pump update is… I am gald I started on this as a new routine.

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Start your engines.. and kee ‘em going. Last night was the first night of a good, crowd busting, sky booming, lights flashing tree limbs blowing summer storm. What glory to see rain pelting down, even if it was just for 15 minutes or so.

So the morning after was not exactly cool relief, just heavier humid air. I set out, with some new recorded tech talks to listen to on my iPod, and shuffled around a basic loop of Chapparal Park. I ran out of gas about 2, 2.5 miles and just resigned myself to walking the last bit home.

Woah, Neo. Two days in a row with entries. I might be serious! And even better, or crazier, I ran outside today, in 15+ degree Dallas heat.

Right behind the hotel is jogging trail that wraps around the small lake nearby. I asked a guy who had just come in from running where it was, and he tried to talk me out of going, “You should really only do this at 6:00 AM”.

C’mon, I live in Phoenix, who cannot take a little heat?

So I got my 45 minutes or so in, nothing great to champion about, but I ran. I am running. And whew, what an experience! Actually I found it refreshing, after behind inside the hotel for almost 48 hours.

I am in chilly Dallas Texas this week. Ok, strike the chilly. It is so hot and humid here, one could lean on the air and not fall over.

Today, to kick myself into gear and to satisfy my desire to at least say I;ve run a small amount in different city, I logged my 20 minuets on a treadmill on the otel fitness center, going at a miserably slow pace. It al counts toward something, right?

The wheels are coming off or maybe not even going on the wagon. The last I ran was… a week ago? And that was?? Maybe a slow 3 miles.

Excuse parade? It’s July? Hot? Busy? Work? Lazy?

I’m not too worried as official Team D training starts in August. I’d prefer to to start from a low level, but am not yet quite motivated to get up and going.

Maybe this week… Just maybe…..

Not that anyone into running cares, but I just did a longer overdue update to WordPress that runs this site (from 1.5 to version 2.0.3). WordPress rocks, it is so easy to update!