Not Quite Nolan Ryan

Baseball season is nearly upon us, so I find it timely to write a baseball-themed post - with a diabetes twist, of course.

Lately, it feels as if I’ve been swinging away and too often striking out. When I manage to make contact with the proverbial pitch coming my way, I'm either swinging too early or late. Even if it's in my strike zone, my performance at the plate isn't getting the desired results - leading to a Low-ball or blundered Bunt to an infielder for a quick out, or High Fly to someone for an easy catch.

Source.



I'm not trying to be a clutch Designated Hitter slamming it out of the ballpark or anything. I just want a little consistency in the results I'm generating for myself and the entire team. In a way, I've been pushing for some versatility as a D-Player: not only striving to score a home run or grandslam A1C, but also being able to play the rest of the field skillfully with RBI blood sugars based on exercise and stellar carb counting.

The nearing three-month Endo Appointment in mid-March is getting very close, and I'm just afraid my averages aren't where they should be and that might make her want to trade me in for a better ranked player.

Trying to avoid that higher A1C shame that exists only in our own mind, I've been trying my best. With the help of an on-loan Minimed 523 CGM, who I’ve dubbed Larry The Loaner, I've been most recently going for a No-Hitter.

As described by Kerri in her most recent Diabetes Terms of Endearment edition, a No-Hitter is: "A time period in which a diabetic does not hit their high or low threshold on their CGM. For a Dexcom user, they must be without any alarms during the entire day, and the day must be at least 24 hours. A diabetic who prevents their blood sugars from reaching a threshold is said to have "bolused a no-hitter." Sadly, I’ve struck out on this lately and haven’t gotten a base hit. Or so it seems.

While missing a planned No-Hitter can be frustrating in itself, what's even more annoying is when I KNOW I've bolused a No-Hitter  – but the CGM tries to tell me otherwise. It’s like revising the scorecard, even though I know that I ran across home base and have evidence (blood meter logs) to prove it.

For example: One recent day during a 24-hour period, I achieved what I self-describe as nearly "perfect" BGs. My CGM line was in range (70-200) all day, except for one reading mid-day that told me I'd hit 216 mg/dL. But a meter confirmation showed that wasn't the case, my actual reading was somewhere closer to 168. All the rest throughout the day where I'd confirmed were below the 150 vicinity. So, do I let that one CGM reading spoil my "No Hitter" for the day, despite knowing it was a false result?

I believe this was a successful No Hitter, and that's how I'm going with it.

The same happened the following day, when a 207 on Larry The Loaner CGM was countered by a 182 on the OneTouchUltraLink. A second No Hitter, in my book.

What do you think? Do they count as No Hitters?

If they're considered valid No Hitters, that's two in the course of a week and the only two I'd bolused recently. Not sure if that's a record or not, and really have no way of knowing as most old-school logbook data has been destroyed and I'm just too lazy to research my Carelink database online at the moment.

In Major League Baseball, former pitcher Nolan Ryan holds the record with seven No-Hitters during his 27-year career between 66 and 93. Topping the great Sandy Koufax, who had four between 62-65.

During my own 27-year D-Career so far, I’ve certainly had some No-Hitters before and been able to have an occasional perfect game here and there. I may not be a Nolan Ryan, but I've dug my cleats into the dirt and am trying to play the best game of D-Ball that I can.

So it is, Life With Diabetes. Just as in baseball. And so, with baseball season basically upon us before the official Opening Day on March 31, I’m hoping that my Spring Training will pay off and that I will score those No-Hitters that I’ve been pushing for. And that, come mid-March, Coach Endo sees how hard I've been working and thinks I'm worthy for some post-season action!

(We'll also enter here a plug for the Detroit Tiger, who I hope will rock this season and make it to October!).

Batter up.