Last Wednesday I got to work late coz I took one of my girls to hospital for her annual checkup. In doing so I missed eating mid morning - for those that know me (or any type 1 diabetic) this is not good. By mid afternoon I had very low blood sugar and was not in the best condition. One of the guys at work realised that I was not well and suggested that I not ride home. So....what do you reckon I did???
For those that don't know much about diabetes....when your blood sugar levels drop below a certain level your body is literally starved of fuel. The first thing that is effected is your brain and it slowly begins to shut down - it feels like being really drunk and really tired. Very dangerous if riding, so I nearly always check myself before riding. On this occassion I did not.
Anyway, I got on my bike and headed for home. I got to Morningside which is near half way and the bike ran out of fuel. Instead of flipping to reserve and cruising into the next fuel stop I rode the bike till it stopped and just kept trying to start it in the middle of Wynnum Rd in peak hour traffic - I was not all there. I got it going for a few hundred metres more and rode straight past a fuel station. When it stopped I again sat there trying to start the bike, still not fully aware of where I was or what I was doing, and again holding traffic up.
I finally pulled off the road and then rolled the bike backwards down a hill really close to on coming traffic (some of them were swerving to avoid me) and then into the servo. I got myself a bottle of Coke and then "came to" realising what I had done. I could have quite easily killed myself or someone else, but when your blood sugar level is low rational thinking goes out the door.
Yesterdat I discussed what happened with some people at work and they now know to check that I am ok before I head for home on the bike. It still freaks me out when I think about the condition I was in and the fact that I was riding in heavy traffic. It was a stupid thing to do.
I don't want to freak anyone out that I ride with but...if your ever on a ride with me just check on me every now and then!
For more info on what diabetes is like, check this out.
For those that don't know much about diabetes....when your blood sugar levels drop below a certain level your body is literally starved of fuel. The first thing that is effected is your brain and it slowly begins to shut down - it feels like being really drunk and really tired. Very dangerous if riding, so I nearly always check myself before riding. On this occassion I did not.
Anyway, I got on my bike and headed for home. I got to Morningside which is near half way and the bike ran out of fuel. Instead of flipping to reserve and cruising into the next fuel stop I rode the bike till it stopped and just kept trying to start it in the middle of Wynnum Rd in peak hour traffic - I was not all there. I got it going for a few hundred metres more and rode straight past a fuel station. When it stopped I again sat there trying to start the bike, still not fully aware of where I was or what I was doing, and again holding traffic up.
I finally pulled off the road and then rolled the bike backwards down a hill really close to on coming traffic (some of them were swerving to avoid me) and then into the servo. I got myself a bottle of Coke and then "came to" realising what I had done. I could have quite easily killed myself or someone else, but when your blood sugar level is low rational thinking goes out the door.
Yesterdat I discussed what happened with some people at work and they now know to check that I am ok before I head for home on the bike. It still freaks me out when I think about the condition I was in and the fact that I was riding in heavy traffic. It was a stupid thing to do.
I don't want to freak anyone out that I ride with but...if your ever on a ride with me just check on me every now and then!
For more info on what diabetes is like, check this out.
posted by Beaker at 7:38 AM
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