Bushwalking with type 1 Diabetes

[eddie the eagle]

Hi All,

My 9y.o. had just started to enjoy the bush and has had a random disease strike him with a rather unfortunate diagnosis. All bets are off for the foreseeable future, until its well and truly under control.

Just interested in others' experiences - what level of walk is too difficult for an insulin-dependent diabetic.

Any tips?

PM off-line is OK if you don't want to mention on the forum.

Cheers,

eddie

[whiskeylover]

Hi Eddie,
I'll answer as a Registered Nurse with many years experience.
You're right it is an unfortunate diagnosis, but these days a diabetic can live a relatively normal life (aside from the constant blood sugar monitoring and balancing life style, food intake, insulin and activity). Build up slowly and learn the basics first.
Speak to your local diabetes educator and GP to help get things right, but there is no reason that a person with diabetes can't do whatever they set out to do, as long as they understand their condition and keep their blood sugars well controlled.
It is a matter of learning to balance energy intake (food), energy use (activity), and insulin requirements.
There are other things that also influence blood sugar levels, but stick to the basics, know your signs for when they are experiencing low blood sugar and always carry an easy glucose source like jelly beans or sugary drinks - for bushwalking I would recommend something like gatorade.
Think of insulin as the key that opens up the door to your cells and lets the glucose in to be used as energy. You need it to function but too much will cause your glucose to deplete too quickly.
The other important issue for anyone in the bush with a chronic health condition such as diabetes is also the ability to get help quickly if necessary. Two recommendations would be never walk alone and always carry a mobile phone, and in more remote areas a PLB. If you carry an injectable form of glucose as well then you should be pretty safe.
You may hear lots of horror stories of diabetics who have gone walking with people who don't understand their condition or diabetics who have not looked after their blood sugar balance well and then gone walking, but as long as you are sensible you can avoid these issues which usually have to do with not getting the balance right and not letting others you are walking with know what to do if something goes wrong.

[eddie the eagle]

Hi Eddie,
I'll answer as a Registered Nurse with many years experience.
<snip>
There are other things that also influence blood sugar levels, but stick to the basics, know your signs for when they are experiencing low blood sugar and always carry an easy glucose source like jelly beans or sugary drinks - for bushwalking I would recommend something like gatorade.
<snip>
The other important issue for anyone in the bush with a chronic health condition such as diabetes is also the ability to get help quickly if necessary. Two recommendations would be never walk alone and always carry a mobile phone, and in more remote areas a PLB. If you carry an injectable form of glucose as well then you should be pretty safe.

You may hear lots of horror stories of diabetics who have gone walking with people who don't understand their condition or diabetics who have not looked after their blood sugar balance well and then gone walking, but as long as you are sensible you can avoid these issues which usually have to do with not getting the balance right and not letting others you are walking with know what to do if something goes wrong.

Thanks a lot, whiskeylover,

The diagnosis was about a month ago, so early days yet and I know it's not the debilitating disease it used to be. It's amazing how much you learn quickly when you have to but we've still got a long way to go.

The comments are great - I should have mentioned I was mainly looking for tips and other's experiences (like the Gatorade, we use fruit juice to manage the hypo's.) It's the horror stories I'm hoping to avoid and want to start getting the knowledge now. Was going down into the Grose Valley for a few days on Mon, but not for at least six-12 months until we understand the condition, probably even 2 years with the amount of effort and management we'll need to get him back up the steps/walk out (600m vertical climb.)

Appreciate other's advice as well.

Thanks again for your very helpful comment.

eddie

[Ticklebelly]

Years ago I used run with a Type 1 diabetic. I know he completed 4 BigM marathons before we lost contact. He was pretty rigid with his diet and level of exercise and injection routine. I guess that the adult is more capable of handling the condition but he always said that understanding the condition and his (the individual) reactions to food intake and exercise was the secret to dealing with the condition.

Closer to home, my nephew is Type 1. Diagnosed at 7, he has a pump arrangement. Now 15, he is very active doing martial arts and riding dirt bikes competatively. His Mum had him actively involved in his medication/food/rest/testing routine from the start and he now only needs the occasional "have you done a finger prick?" from the helicopter mum. The nephew's diabeties is now just part of life for the family, albeit, a constant concern requiring supervision.

All said, with knowledge and a little experience of the condition, a little forward planning for diabetic related emergencies should have the boy out there doing normal levels of activity.

Ticklebelly.

[BarryJ]

I would discuss the matter with your doctor, diabetes educator and pharmacist. Some of the insulin preparations (slow release Lantus?) need to be kept refrigerated and therefore may not be suitable to take on an overnight walk in summer. Your medical team should be able to devise a suitable medication regime for use on walks.

[tryggvirafn]

I agree with Barry, this is something you should take up with an expert that knows the best way to deal with the situation. They might have some good advice for you how to handle it.

Best,
William

[Liamy77]

better with a slightly high BSL than low .... more room for forgiveness... but a good gp -or endocronologist preferably will be the best for advice.... it might take a bit of fiddling to learn how each individual body adjusts and copes so don't rush it. - but YES you can sure do it!

[north-north-west]

On the practical side:
I know a bloke whose now 20something yr old son has dealt with type 1 diabetes all his life, and the kid's a mad-keen bushwalker. Thinks nothing of winter trips into the Walls, or the Anne circuit and stuff like that. So with proper management, there's no reason your boy won't be able to do the same.

Best of luck.

[Aushiker]

Hi

Not bushwalking, but there is a road racing cycling team (and running team) called Team Type 1. A great example of what one can achieve irrespective of having diabetes.

Regards
Andrew

[FatCanyoner]

Eddie, this is something we are trying to work out as well. My wife was in hospital for a few days between Boxing Day and New Year (given she is cricket mad this wasn't easy!!!) and it turns out she has Type 1 Diabetes too.
At the moment she is paranoid about her sugar levels, and is very nervous about being away from medical treatment, so won't be doing any big walks soon. I did manage to take her on an easy day walk last week -- her first since the diagnosis -- and her BSL's were perfect. (http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=8692) Hopefully that encourages her to walk a little further.
In the long term walking will actually be a really good way for her to keep her diabetes under control, but it will take time to build up confidence in how her body deals with exercise.
I have been told of diabetics who are very active walkers. In fact, a friend said told me the benefit of a diabetic trip leader is that you can guarantee you will have meals on time and stop for snack breaks, so they are often quite popular!
Hope all goes well with your young one. I think the reality these days is that Diabetes doesn't really stop you doing much, but it will take some time for him to get to understand how his body now works and to build up his confidence in how he manages it.
Tim

[wayno]

watch your fat intake, the more fat you eat the harder it is for insulin to work in your bloodstream. the less fat you ahve the less insulin you need to do its job correctly... dont go overboard and go ultra low fat but stay away from too much fatty food...