So I’m waiting for the doctor to call back, wondering what else he has to say. And I’ve terrified myself with a morning’s online research. Complications, organ failure, thrush! God knows what else I have in store. And I was so looking forward to my telegram from the palace...
Anyway, my wife is working on a dietary shopping list and I need something useful to do.
So I’ve been considering options for a sporting activity that I could take up for a regular cardiovascular workout. I’m not completely sedentary as it is, but a stroll along the river with a fly rod, or target shooting at my local club hardly gets the heart pumping. Although every now and then I catch a fish or hit a bulls-eye...
I used to run a bit (ok, 30 years ago), but my legs wouldn’t take the punishment these days. And anyway… yawn! I used to play tennis and squash (ok, 30 years ago too), but I haven’t got any tennis-y or squashy(!) friends any more; and of course even if I did I’d be unlikely to get 20 to 30 minutes of it 3 to 4 times a week. Which is what the doctor recommended at my first check-up.
And then I remembered that I used to cycle a lot. Could I become a Diabetic Fitness Freak?
It wasn’t ‘lycra-nutter’ stuff, but 15 miles every day commuting to work, and some long distance touring such as right across Ireland with camping gear strapped to every spare inch of the bike. I now live amongst rolling hills with narrow picturesque country lanes, about 6 miles from my nearest town. So taking up cycling again would be the one thing that I might enjoy enough to stick at it and not feel that my life is being horribly ruined as a diabetic.
A few minutes online and I was bewildered by the choice and the technological advances since I last bought a new bicycle 25 years ago. Popping into Halfords and pointing at the nice orange one without a thought as to whether it was suitable for me somehow doesn’t seem appropriate this time around. Mountain bikes, ‘hybrids’ and the like weren’t really options back then.
So I’ve read a few forums and worked through a few ‘select your new bike’ features here and there and ordered something which I hope will fit the bill. And to top it all off, my new GT Transeo 2.0 Disc has hydraulic disc brakes. I’m not sure my car even has those! (it’s a 16 year old Renault, by the way).
Retail therapy for diabetic fitness – takes your mind off the downsides. Briefly.
Anyway, my wife is working on a dietary shopping list and I need something useful to do.
So I’ve been considering options for a sporting activity that I could take up for a regular cardiovascular workout. I’m not completely sedentary as it is, but a stroll along the river with a fly rod, or target shooting at my local club hardly gets the heart pumping. Although every now and then I catch a fish or hit a bulls-eye...
I used to run a bit (ok, 30 years ago), but my legs wouldn’t take the punishment these days. And anyway… yawn! I used to play tennis and squash (ok, 30 years ago too), but I haven’t got any tennis-y or squashy(!) friends any more; and of course even if I did I’d be unlikely to get 20 to 30 minutes of it 3 to 4 times a week. Which is what the doctor recommended at my first check-up.
And then I remembered that I used to cycle a lot. Could I become a Diabetic Fitness Freak?
It wasn’t ‘lycra-nutter’ stuff, but 15 miles every day commuting to work, and some long distance touring such as right across Ireland with camping gear strapped to every spare inch of the bike. I now live amongst rolling hills with narrow picturesque country lanes, about 6 miles from my nearest town. So taking up cycling again would be the one thing that I might enjoy enough to stick at it and not feel that my life is being horribly ruined as a diabetic.
A few minutes online and I was bewildered by the choice and the technological advances since I last bought a new bicycle 25 years ago. Popping into Halfords and pointing at the nice orange one without a thought as to whether it was suitable for me somehow doesn’t seem appropriate this time around. Mountain bikes, ‘hybrids’ and the like weren’t really options back then.
So I’ve read a few forums and worked through a few ‘select your new bike’ features here and there and ordered something which I hope will fit the bill. And to top it all off, my new GT Transeo 2.0 Disc has hydraulic disc brakes. I’m not sure my car even has those! (it’s a 16 year old Renault, by the way).
Retail therapy for diabetic fitness – takes your mind off the downsides. Briefly.
