Creating T1D Goals for a Fun and Healthy Summer

Many of us have very different routines when it comes to the summer. For MiniMed Ambassador, Addie, it’s no different. Read her goals this summer, while she manages her diabetes with the MiniMed 630G system and takes some time to enjoy everything she didn’t get a chance to during her first year of college!

Like most young people, I absolutely love summer. Not the heat, per se, but the guaranteed time to do what I love outside of the demanding world of academia. I just finished my first year of college, so I’m excited to spend the next three months reading books that aren’t by Aristotle or Nietzsche, indulging in Netflix binge-sessions and getting outside more, which will be a welcomed change of pace over cramming for exams at my dimly lit desk.

That said, I can’t take a break from living with type 1 diabetes. My meter, glucose tabs, and insulin pump still have to accompany me on all of my adventures. But my T1D doesn’t dictate whether or not I have a great summer. In fact, healthy habits and having fun are far from mutually exclusive, which is why it’s extremely important to be mindful of the effect summertime has on diabetes routines and establish diabetes health goals to ensure an enjoyable couple of months.

Lazy Days: Effective Bolusing
Summertime and changes in routine go hand-in-hand, which can lend itself to subpar diabetes management. Many days this summer I’ll indulge my lethargy, opting to stay in bed in my room with a fan blowing on my face, a package of Oreos by my side, and a Netflix binge-watching fest as my only to-do. Because of my busy academic schedule, this is a luxury I’m not afforded during the academic year. Along with the number of “The Office” episodes I’ve watched in a row, I also tend to lose track of how many Oreos I’ve consumed on these indolent days. This summer, I’m going to work on keeping track of mindless carbohydrate consumption so that I can accurately and effectively bolus to avoid midday spikes in blood glucose (BG) levels. Also, as much as I love my cookies and chips, I’m going to try to opt for some healthier TV treats. Some of my favorites are frozen grapes, dried mango, dates, and veggies with hummus.

Active Days: The Benefits of CGM Technology
Luckily, not all of my time will be spent lying still with my eyes glued to my laptop screen. Many days will be spent swimming, hiking, and jogging around the beautiful sunny scenery I call home. I’m most looking forward to frequenting my local waterfall to cool off through these hot months. Last November, I switched from the MiniMed 530G system to the MiniMed 630G system, making this my first summer with a waterproof insulin pump. I took a trip to the waterfall a few days ago and was ecstatic to plunge into the water without worrying about my pump when it gets wet. It was liberating to be rid of the panic that being disconnected for too long can bring. Instead, I allowed myself to surrender to the beauty of my surroundings. I didn’t even think about the device on my hip until it buzzed to let me know my BG was dropping, probably from the hike I took to get to the waterfall. Thankfully, I was able to pop a couple glucose tabs before my BG started to drop too much and then plunge right back in. Owning a device that informs me when my sensor glucose is dropping is extremely beneficial for the types of activities I love. If my sensor glucose had dropped too low while navigating the mossy surface of the rocks, the situation could have been much more serious. For me, having the technology best suited to my personal activity level is amazingly valuable.

Finding the T1D Summer Routine That Suits You
For most young people, summer is a nice break from the mundane repetition the school year often provides. Though the change of pace is refreshing, the fluctuation in activity level has an often-hidden impact on blood glucose levels that needs to be accounted for and adapted to. It’s important to remember that each of us is unique. Our interests are unique, as are our bodies’ reactions to daily activity. That’s why it’s so important to go into the summer with an organized mindset, consciously considering the healthiest diabetes habits for your given summer lifestyle. Some examples of T1D goals I’m establishing for myself this summer are: keeping better track of the carbs I eat and acknowledging that the foods I buy in the summertime are different from the ones I pick up in my school’s dining hall, carefully monitoring how my blood glucose responds to different kinds of workouts so that I can develop strategies for maintaining control after exercise, and eating healthier snacks on my relaxed days to help prevent BG spikes.

I’m confident that with these goals in place I’ll have a happy and healthy next couple of months. I wish the same to all the other lovely people who will be rockin’ diabetes this summer. I know you’ll be able to establish the best possible health goals to suit your activities!

Important Safety Information

The MiniMed 530G and 630G systems with SmartGuard technology are intended for the delivery of insulin and continuous glucose (CGM) monitoring for the management of diabetes mellitus in persons 16 years of age or older who require insulin. Insulin infusion pumps and associated components of insulin infusion systems are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks of insulin pump therapy. The systems are not intended to be used directly for preventing or treating hypoglycemia but to suspend insulin delivery when the user is unable to respond to the Threshold suspend (530G) or Suspend on low (630G) alarm and take measures to prevent or treat hypoglycemia themselves. The information provided by CGM systems is intended to supplement, not replace, blood glucose information obtained using a blood glucose meter. A confirmatory fingerstick via a CONTOUR^®NEXT LINK portfolio meter*, is required prior to making adjustments to diabetes therapy. Always check the pump display when using a CONTOUR^®NEXT LINK portfolio meter*, to ensure the glucose result shown agrees with the glucose results shown on the meter.  Additional, warnings, precautions and contraindications apply.  See www.medtronicdiabetes.com/support/download-library/user-guides and www.medtronicdiabetes.com/importantsafetyinformation for details.

*The CONTOUR®NEXT LINK Meter is used with the MiniMed 530G system. The CONTOUR®NEXT LINK 2.4 Meter is used with the MiniMed 630G system.

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