By Dawn Kenwright

Starting With My Diabetes

Insulin Treatment

The most effective insulin regime for me is to take short acting insulin 3 times a day before each meal and long acting insulin at the same time each evening. I vary my insulin dosage according to my planned exercise. So, for example, before a marathon, I reduce my short acting insulin by half but I take the same amount of long acting insulin. Sometimes I even increase the long acting insulin to give me enough during an event. I have a high carbohydrate breakfast of porridge on the morning of a marathon and high carbohydrate meals during the week leading up to it. I occasionally experience hypoglycaemia later the same day as an endurance event or even the next day, but have learnt to prevent this by eating complex carbohydrate within 20 minutes of finishing a race. For shorter events, my routine is quite different, as I often increase my short acting insulin beforehand. The speed and intensity of short races cause my blood sugars to rise rapidly, and sometimes I finish with readings of over 20. To counter this, I take extra short acting insulin immediately after completing the race to bring my blood sugars down rapidly and prevent the risk of long term damage. On the days when I do not run, my blood sugars are generally much higher, and so I increase my insulins accordingly.

Trekking

Setting myself challenges and goals has helped me to cope with having diabetes. One of these was to return to high altitude running. In 1989, four years before my diagnosis, I had trekked for 120 miles across Nepal, from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp. I then ran the highest marathon in the world, starting at 17,500 feet at a temperature of –20C. I finished over 5 hours later in temperatures of over 20C. I was first lady and set a world record. It was a highlight of my life. After diagnosis, the view of my diabetes care team was that I should forget the idea of any such adventure in the future. But as time went on, and as I grew more and more confident in my own diabetes management and control, I decided to go back to the Himalayas. In 1995, I ran another marathon, this time in the Indian Himalayas. I was delighted when I completed the marathon and was first lady. Then in 1999, I decided to return to Everest and attempt the Nepalese marathon again. Ten years on, and now with diabetes, I had to learn how to prevent my insulin and meters from freezing, how to do blood tests hygienically in temperatures varying from arctic to tropical. I was really pleased not only to complete the trek in, but also to finish the marathon, and amazingly win the ladies race again.

Ultra Marathon

I also took up ultra-distance running. In 1998, I won the Welsh Ladies Ultra Marathon Championships, a distance of 40 miles, in 5 hours and 33 minutes. In 1999, I went to the Isle de Reunion, in the Indian Ocean, for the Grand Raid. This is an ultra-distance event of 80 miles across the entire island, crossing 3 volcanoes with over 29,000ft of ascent. I became the first British woman ever to complete the race. It took me 36 hours with only short stops for insulin and food and blister treatment. In 2001, I travelled to South Africa for the Comrades Marathon, a 55 mile race from Pietermaritzberg to Durban. Taking 8 hours 32 minutes, I was the first British woman home, and received a Bob Rowan medal for my achievement. In April 2004, I returned to South Africa to compete in the Two Oceans Marathon, a 35 mile event from Cape Town and I achieved a bronze medal standard.

Dealing With Hypos

Eighteen months ago I started having a few severe night-time hypoglycaemic attacks and was advised to change my insulin from Actrapid and Insulatard to Novorapid and Lantus. The hypos did not improve, in fact they became more frequent and sporadic. So I have recently changed back to Insulatard while still continuing to use Novorapid. Hopefully this change will make it possible for me to maintain my control and avoid future hypos.

Living with diabetes has not always been easy but I now know that the only limitations are the ones you make yourself.