New England Classic

On April 4, 2007 I had unfamiliar symptoms; hourly urination, constant thirstiness, sporadic sleep pattern, irritability and an inability to focus. Time for a medical checkup. After I visited my primary physician, my sugars were at 315 and my A1C was 14.1 (normal-7); that afternoon I visited the endocrinologist and started the education process for a diabetic. Began injections of Lantus (long-acting insulin), Novolog (fast-acting insulin) and Byetta (synthetic hormone worked with my pancreas and beta cells to manage my own insulin) and Metformin tablets (worked with my liver to manage glucose) while I learned what these meds did, their dosage levels and how to test my sugars. Further testing showed symptoms I was almost a Type I diabetic. The Joslin clinic called the symptoms a Type 1 1/2 and now I’m showing Type II symptoms. I didn’t believe it, but still paid attention to the instructions.

Now I had the tools, a medical confirmation letter to validate my condition and was allowed to travel with syringes. In Cincinnati, OH I remember driving a rental car and having blurred vision and didn’t know why. At the airport terminal I was dizzy, light headed with sweaty palms and shaky knees; after I sat on the ground and tested my sugars I was hypoglycemic at 56. I now believe this to be true, I am a diabetic.

After controlled experimentation; I asked physicians questions, read books, ate low glycemic index foods, exercised and took medications to control my sugars and live a normal life. Yes, I still get frustrated at times sticking myself in the stomach with needles and pricking my fingers but in the end the results speak for themselves.

With my weight at 232 lbs and my body fat at 28.2% it was time to lose some weight. I heard about the Joslin WAIT program and had a chance to meet a sports physiologist at the clinic to develop a training program to regain my health and prepare for the Tour de Cure ride in July. On July 11th I’ll start the New England Classic 550 Tour de Cure (www.diabetes.org/tour) and will cycle over seven days – 550 miles. For diabetes research, I plan to raise $2,000 dollars.

Thank you so much for your support, warm thoughts and contribution.
–Tom Adams, NEC 550 cyclist