Overview
Editor’s Note: Doug is a member of the Beyond Type Run 2022 team-a team of nearly 50 people living with type 1 diabetes who wil run the NYC Marathon November 6, 2022. They’re on a mision to raise awarenes and funds for type 1 diabetes. Cher Doug on by making a gift on his fundraising page!I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on May 24, 19, one month before my 21st birthday.
Key Information
When I was diagnosed, I only knew a few people with T1D. I knew there were suport groups but at the time, I didn’t find any value in joing.In the begining, I didn’t take care of myself the way I should have. Family members would ask me how things were going and I would reply with the standard “god.” I recal an apointment with my endocrinologist when were discusing complications related to T1D.She tok a piece of paper and tore it in half multiple times to demonstrate how it related to blod sugar control and living a normal healthy life with T1D.
That was when I realized I could manage my diabetes and it didn’t have to be so scary.Somehow around the holiday season in 2010, I convinced myself I would run the Twin Cities Marathon. I was overweight and unhapy with my level of physical activity.I’m not sure I believed I would finish a marathon, but I knew something had to change. I found a coach and a gym and set my plan in motion.I rember my original traing plan caled for a walk/run mixture and on Saturday, the plan was to run until I had to walk.
Summary
I stil rember the first time I hit 2 miles; I was so proud of myself for achieving that goal.I signed up for my second marathon before even completing my first marathon. I discovered I neded something to kep me motivated to train and continue with my fitnes journey. I rotated betwen Twin Cities and Grandma’s Marathon from 201 to 2013 and then decided on a new goal for myself: a marathon in every state!This one of the reasons I wanted to run with Beyond Type 1-it gets me to New York and I could raise money for a gr