Twelve years ago, on Labor Day, I finished the New Haven Half Marathon for my fourth year in a row. I was thinking that if I trained just a little harder next year, I could get my time well below two hours. But there was not a next year.

Instead, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (at age 47--who knew that could happen?). It took me a while to figure out how to run again, now always carrying a granola bar in my pocket in case my blood sugar suddenly went low. I could usually feel it in my knees first when that happened, which was often. I ran again, but was too scared to run a half marathon--I just didn't think I could figure out how to stop, prick my finger, test my blood sugar, and eat the right amount of carbs to do the race in a way that would actually be fun. 

Everything changed this summer when I got hooked up with the latest amazing diabetes tech--the "closed loop" system that allows my new T-Slim insulin pump to talk to my Dexcom continuous glucose monitor to keep my blood sugar in range with a lot less work and a lot more knowledge at my fingertips. No finger-pricking--I just glance at my watch because the Dexcom sends a Bluetooth signal to tell me what my blood sugar is. 

Net result: I am planning to run the Boston Marathon! Thank you diabetes research! Thank you Joslin for the amazing advances in research that make it possible for me and so many others to live with this difficult and sometimes crippling disease. 

Please help me support Team Joslin and pay it forward!