I admit it. I have a lot of soap boxes. I’m sure you’ll get to know some of them shortly and hopefully not get too sick of me standing on them too quickly.
But.
I think it’s important for all of us with diabetes to exercise in a smart way. Shoot, I think we should act in all aspects of our lives in a smart way. But exercise, in particular, needs to be done with some advance thinking and advance planning. After that, go for it.
And be smart about what you haven’t planned for. Oxymoronic that you’re supposed to plan for something you can’t plan for, but there it is.
I used to wear a MedicAlert bracelet when I was first diagnosed, then I had a necklace (that I sometimes wonder about—I wonder if it is still stuck in the heating vent in the loft of a church in Lake Tahoe that I lost it down when I was on a youth group ski trip when I was 13), then I wore nothing and then I had a different bracelet that I wore for ten years. When that one wore through, I figured that my pump should be enough of a notice to EMT that I have insulin dependent diabetes.
But then I started running and could see how having something else, something that would tell anyone, what I need and who I am even if they’d never seen an insulin pump before, is a really smart idea.
So I got myself a RoadID.
I wear it on my shoe. It’s completely unnoticeable to me as I run—it’s very lightweight and thanks to its Velcro closure, doesn’t flap or make any noise. It’s pretty innocuous, which I love, yet so many people wear them that EMT are taking notice.
I have a friend who wears the ankle one, and another friend who swears by the wrist one. For me, the shoe option is the best.
I also love that there is enough room to write a saying on it. My current one says pretty much the only phrase I ever need: Keep Going!
Over Memorial Day Weekend, the company posted a link to some possible sayings people have thought up. I loved the “Suck it up, Buttercup” one so much I had to order another ID. Every time I look at that thing I will giggle. Shoot, just thinking about it has me grinning!
Anyway, I got this second ID and they sent me a coupon to send to my friends. I’m sharing it here, in case you have been looking for something that works for your active self. The company is a pretty good one, and they let you donate proceeds they receive to the JDRF. Up to 20 people can use the coupon, so:
Coupon Number: ThanksAmanda765271
The coupon is good for $1 off any Road ID order placed by 07/06/2010. To order, simply go to RoadID.com or click this link. If you prefer, you can call them at 800-345-6335.
Thanks for listening to me and my Road ID soapbox. I’ll move on to a different box tomorrow!
