Backpacking with Type 1 Diabetes

BlueBear ?

I'm tagging Mike because he does this. Likewise 4wheelbob but he's not on here much these days.

Any tips? I know everyone is busy but just wanted to bump the thread so it's not forgotten.

Thanks!

Hi Dr. Evil!

I apologize for my long absence here, it's a topic I very much care about, and am sorry I didn't give it proper attention sooner.

Yes, as I'm sure you're aware, there isn't any reason your girlfriend can't go backpacking and be a Type-1 diabetic at the same time.

I've been a Type-1 since I was 10, am currently on an insulin pump, and have done a lot of backpacking, including extended solo-trips in remote areas. I've spent at least a year of my life camped out on long extended solo trips, sometimes a month at a time, most of them in the far Pacific NW (WA, BC and Southeast Alaska). The last "long" trip I took out of Sitka, AK made the local news there, for a bit of background: juneauempire.com/neighbors/2011-08-13/good-memories-keep-solo-hiker-going-strong

I don't take as many such long backpacking trips now, but I've transitioned into leading scientific field campaigns in Greenland as a profession.  I've been to Greenland 5x now as part of 4 different scientific expeditions on the inland ice.  Each time we're in Greenland about 4-7 weeks, camping on the ice roughly a month. My avatar photo is in the middle of the Greenland ice sheet a couple years ago.  We will go again this coming Spring.  I wear my insulin pump the entire time in temps hitting -40*F, so it certainly can be done.

I say all that just to bring home: yes, there is absolutely nothing about being a Type-1 diabetic that should stop your girlfriend from doing whatever trips she wants.

I used to maintain a website, years ago, about the bushwhacking trips up in Alaska and elsewhere.  I haven't maintained it for several years and it's partially broken (some of the links and photos are busted), but the page is still up.  On that site I'd posted a page about "Hiking with Diabetes", which is/was meant as advice for fellow diabetics who were worried about going outside.  If you ignore that most the picture links are broken (and some of the specific advice is for using syringes, as that's what I was using at the time), most of it should still be relevant. www.rainforesttreks.com/diabetes.asp

If you have questions beyond that, feel free to ask away.  I am glad to help in whatever way I can.

- Mike