Hiking With Diabetes?

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Permalink Reply by Chris on March 7, 2010 at 5:57pm

Hi Byron,

Since you haven't received any responses, I Googled "hiking with diabetes" and came up with a lot of advice from other diabetic hikers. Have you tried that yet?

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Friend on March 10, 2010 at 1:46am

I'm diabetic, but fortunately do not need insulin, controlled with diet and exercise. I check in the morning when I get up and late afternoon, when I have my lull where I can go too low on glucose levels, especially when hiking. It's very important to pack and eat snacks between meals. Carry glucose tablets in case of emergency. Eat something if you feel weak at all, whether you test or not beforehand. Keep hydrated. When backpacking, be sure to pack your meter. I *do* hike alone, but I don't backpack alone ... used to, but smarter to be with company now that I've been diagnosed (a year now). Hope that helps! Perhaps I should write a section of the website on the subject, since I've been learning dos and don'ts myself through trial and error over the past year.

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Permalink Reply by Byron S. Martinez on March 11, 2010 at 1:03pm

Sandra, thank you so much for the reply. What i have found so far is that exercise intensifies the effect of the oral meds, Glipzide, metformin and Janumet. The insulin I inject is Levemir, its a long lasting Insulin detmir, and when i hike its effects are hitting me pretty good.(normally in the morning) The problem i am having is low blood sugar just before lunch and after lunch before dinner.. if i test in the 90's or low 100's the hiking will bring me down to the 60's or even 50's if I dont eat enough carbs at a mid afternoon snack. Its just a pain to load up on carbs all through the day. Hiking alone will put the fear of God in you when you feel your blood sugar going low.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Howell on April 3, 2010 at 9:00pm

I am diabetic and I have had no problems hiking with it. I take my blood sugar 3 times 09:00, 14:00 and 19:00 and adjust insulin or food if need be. Plan well and pack well, you will be fine.

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Permalink Reply by James E. Frame on April 5, 2010 at 3:33pm

Howdy.....I was diagnosed just a couple months ago. I take 2 metformin a day. I walk a lot, mostly recently, to help me lose the weight that most likely helped me get diabetes. I check mine before every meal and sometimes after and haven't had any problems with it.......

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