Diabetes at Auburn

This past Saturday, we went down and enjoyed the Auburn game.  It was a great day that ended with an Auburn victory.  I got to watch Nova the eagle fly right over my head (TWICE!) before landing on the "AU" symbol midfield.  I also got to watch 1700 high school cheerleaders run all over the field at halftime like opening day at a new mall.  1700 screaming girls made a screaching sound beyond my decibel level.  But diabetes always comes along for the ride, and always causes trouble. 

Since the game started at 11:00 AM, we had to get up at 5:00 AM in order to get there on time, accounting for game traffic and pregame activities.  After stopping to get breakfast at good ole McD's, I bolused for 61 g carbs but wasn't able to wait the standard 30 minutes before consumption.  So I peaked in the 200s before finally coming down; however, I started falling too fast because I was 75 when we got to Auburn.  I know for some diabetics, stress causes them to get high.  Well, I somehow am blessed to have the opposite effect, so the stress of trying to find a parking spot, my parents, then the stadium (not to mention also walking to the stadium) made me start dropping . . . quick.  Luckily, we were able to catch a transit from our parking spot to the stadium where I was able to consume 4 glucose tabs.  Constance was warning me I was in the 60s and dropping, but I was just trying to get to our seats and then worry about food. 

When we got into the stadium, we found out we were on the complete wrong side from where our seats were located.  We begin walking to the right, figuring the direction didn't matter, before being told we had to turn around thanks to a blockade of security guards.  We were a quarter around the stadium before we were told to turn around.  So we all turn around and begin to fight the crowd again, doubling back.  Trey looked back at me at one point and said, "Are you OK?"  (He heard Constance going off earlier.)  I looked down and saw I was still in the 60s but with a northeast arrow.  "I'm fine.  I'm coming up.  Let's just find our seats."  We make our way through the stadium, and I couldn't figure out if my sweat was coming from walking or from being low. 

We finally get to our seats, and Trey didn't even sit down before he asked, "What do you want?"  "Uhhh, I guess a diet coke, hot dog, and a Snickers bar if they have one."  He turned to walk away and I said, "Wait, you're gonna miss the eagle."  He gave me this look that said 1) that's not that important to me and 2) you're diabetic and it's lunch time.  I knew the game was probably going to be a blow-out (and it was), so I knew seeing the eagle fly down the field was going to be the highlight of the game for me.  And it was, the eagle was released and flew over our section towards the band, then doubled back over our section again before diving down to midfield.  I was clapping, smiling, and screaming all at the same time. 

I knew my BG was still dropping, so I didn't even bolus for the hot dog and the handful of M&M's (grrrr, no Snickers).  But around the 3rd quarter I was craving a frozen lemonade, so was Mom.  My dad and Trey went down and got 2 for all of us.  But when Trey opened it, I saw the syrup-y remnants on the lid (high-fructose corn syrup) and fulling expected to bolus a truckload for this snack.  Total count:  71 g carbs.  There was no way I could wait even 15 minutes for this snack because if I did I would be drinking it instead of enjoying it frozen.  So, I hate to say this, but I just expected to peak above 250 mg/dL (and I did) and just wait it out.  I bolused and tried to nurse it, but I could only savor so much before it started melting.  I hate that.  I knew I would go high and I did, but dangit I wanted a frozen lemonade! 

The game ended and we made our trek back home, but we stopped for dinner where I experienced diabetes nirvana:  I was able to SWAG bolus my way through a chicken strips and fries and stayed on a 130 mg/dL streamline for 6 hours!  After a crazy high-low-high day, diabetes and I ended on a good note.