BGs on an excursion in southern Niigata
The rural trains and shrinking towns of southern Niigata
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I spent the first part of today exploring southern Niigata Prefecture, Japan. My wanderings included train rides on both the JR Shin’etsu and Jōetsu Lines, as well as the areas around Miyauchi and Koide Stations.
My BG at 6:30 am, in my hotel in Kashiwazaki, was 144 – and that was after two events during the night in which my CGM beeped me awake from low BG. (I have it set to beep if it drops below 80, to catch it before it gets truly low.)
After breakfast I got on my first train around 8:30, and during this ride my BG soared to about 240. I took a unit to get it down, and wandered around Miyauchi a little while to try and catch a Shinkansen train going by.
Koide in Niigata Prefecture
Then I rode the Jōetsu Line to Koide station, through the deep green mountains and rice fields.
I wandered the streets, and flew the drone by the river, during my two-hour wait in this area. As I walked the old covered shopping streets, my BG was 94 but I knew that it was falling. (You learn when to ignore the “even” arrow.)
A short while later I was in a soba restaurant by Koide station, and was feeling properly low. Waiting for my soba noodles, I ate several glucose packets I had with me, with the free ice water they always give out.
By the time my food arrived, I was an even 100. I ate without taking insulin, still feeling groggy from the plummet. As I finished the excellent lunch, I finally steeled myself for some Humalog for it all before leaving.
The rest of the day was on the Tadami Line, arguably Japan’s most beautiful train ride. Nice to start that adventure with great blood sugar. But that’s a tale for next week…
