diabetes
Well congratulations and welcome to an exclusive club! There are approximately 1 million Type 1 diabetics and 17.5 Type 2 diabetes in the US.
By the generous donations of millions of dollars and intensive R&D diabetics now can look forward to a long life with the disease. Although there is no cure as of now there have been some major movements towards that goal.
Right now there is a pump like device that will test your glucose level every 5 seconds---only those 18 yrs or older can get it. It is not widely available yet.
Now to your situation: Please please please don't become complacent when your blood glucose levels and other side effects of diabetes become 'normal'. Please test yourself regularly---before & after meals and before bedtime. Many diabetics stop regularly testing because they "feel fine". This is a misnomer and can cause long term complications.
You may want to check your glucose level before riding, then 1 hour after you start riding particularly if the weather is too hot or cold and also if you have any symptoms of illness.
Just for additonal information a person with diabetes can't possess a CDL license.
You have a lot of good life in front of you just don't become complacent about the disease. Ask your doctor about alternative testing sites (the finger tips are the usual spot but you can test elsewhere if you are aware of the differences)
Please contact your local ADA office or the JDRF. The ADA is more geared to both types of diabetes and education whereas the JDRF is more geared to the cure. (Generally speaking --- don't flame me.)
The urination you are experiencing is a 'sign' of diabetes. Your body is riding itself of the excess ketones in your system. There are test strips to let you know the amount of ketones in your urine. The Bayer brand is call ketostix and available at wal-mart. You may also get larger ketones when an illness is starting and sometimes if your blood sugar gets too high. It is something to be concerned about if it is high too long but can be rectified by lowering your blood sugar level and by drinking more water and urinating!!!---FUN
Over the next several days you may want to 'google' diabetes and learn all you can to empower yourself and take control of it. Remeber--You can control your diabetes -- kind of like driving a car --- you are the captain but don't pay attention and it can kill---not meaning to scare you or hurt you but to let you know you can live.
My daughter has been diabetic since she was 10 months old and is now 11.5 years old.
The reading of your blood glucose level is important to help you keep your blood sugar levels in the 'normal persons' level. That is somewhere in the range of 90-105. It is not an arbitrary number to say the least. But keeping your blood sugar in this range will help you on your HBA1C level. This is a test given every 3 months to test your glucose levels. Here is a link to quickly explain it:
http://www.diabetestoolbox.com/HbA1c.asp
Don't know if your weight is control but this can be a big boon to assisting you in controlling the disease. Also, eating healthly...
If you are stressed with your new diagnosis that is okay--we understand--my daughter went from 6 shots a day at 10 months old to using the pump. You can do it!
DON'T RELY ON HOW YOU FEEL TO DETERMINE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. YOUR BODY WILL BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE ABNORMALLY HIGH OR LOW READING AND THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS.
If you have any questions or need some additonal help let me know. No question is stupid--especially right now!