Yesterday I couldn’t post a post because I was having computer trouble. I have a WP app on my iPhone, but there is no way I can type that much on that phone. So it’s Saturday afternoon and I’m at the Spanish River Library in Boca Raton with a nice Starbucks venti bold, with my beautiful girlfriend, and doing some work. Why am I in the library on a Saturday afternoon when I am no longer in college? Because football officially starts tonight, which means that from now until January I won’t have time to do anything. Tonight my Virginia Tech Hokies start against the Alabama Crimson Tide. It also means that my diabetes becomes more difficult.

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you probably know that my Hokies and Philadephia Eagles screw up my blood sugar in a big way. This year I have a CGM and I am committed to using it in every game so I can control how my blood sugar levels go up and down. On my last visit to Endo I was told that I also had to check my blood pressure a little more often as it was 140/80 when I entered and also when I left the visit. During Eagles games, I can feel my heart beating fast on the big plays and late in the game as well. When they’re winning easily, it doesn’t really affect me. More on the Eagles in an additional post as their game approaches. Right now, it’s about the Hokies.

I’m already getting a little nervous because our star running back is injured and he’s not going to play. Not to mention that we are playing against the No. 5 team in the country. Grant it, we’re number 7 in the country, I hate having to play these top-tier teams during the first game of the year every year. However, let’s get into the diabetes part. And the reasons why the sugar level rises. I have narrowed it down to 5 different reasons why they are all over the place.

# 1 – Passion and nerves

I am passionate and sports fanatic. I have been a fan of the teams that I am a fan of almost my entire life. I grew up as a fan of the Eagles, I became a fan of the Hokies when I was 7 or 8 years old, so I feel attached to these teams. I also had no luck with my sports teams winning championships, except the Phillies last year, who I want them to win every game. When they lose, I get mad and mad and feel like I’m part of the real team. Obviously, I don’t want to feel angry, but when it’s fourth down or 2 minutes left and we’re down at 6, my blood pressure skyrockets. My goal this year is to take a deep breath, relax, and tell myself that my life is not affected by this game.

# 2 food options

During sports games, I can’t always watch the game in my own home just because of regional television decisions. So sometimes I have to go down to the local sports bar. While I’m there, I can also prepare a meal and eat too. This leads to a long appetizer of homemade buffalo fries from Bru’s Room in Delray Beach, FL. The second part of the meal is usually a Memphis pulled pork sandwich or some kind of unhealthy meal with mashed potatoes. You may have guessed why I named a specific food, because I am extremely superstitious and I don’t like to walk away from something I ate when my teams won while I was eating that. I know, I know, I’m crazy!

# 3- beer

Beer and football, it makes sense. Do I really need to investigate why my beer intake adds up with my blood sugar level? I don’t think you will, your educator can take care of that.

# 4 Guess, don’t test

If I go to the sports bar, there is a 5% chance that I will take the meter. During that 5%, there is about a 1% chance that it will test my blood sugar. I am also guessing how many carbohydrates are in the food. Usually what I do is take a maximum bolus of 25 units and then eat to cover my insulin. If I “feel” like I’m running out, I’ll eat more fries or even order dessert or something else. It is not a great decision for a diabetic.

# 5 stress

This one comes during the game that I started getting into during reason # 1. The stress gets even worse after a loss. I’ll be stressed and depressed for a few hours or even the next day until I finally get over it and realize that next week we have another chance to win. The later in the season, the worse the stress becomes.

Now I know the reasons why sports affect my blood sugar level, now is the time to do something about it and correct these 5 things. Well, I’m going to the sports bar tonight even though the game is televised nationally, but I’m going to eat healthy. No beer, no pulled pork. I’ll have an unsweetened iced tea, a Cobb salad, and maybe a cup of French onion soup. Maybe, just maybe I can cheat and get some jalapeno poppers because Amanda likes them too.