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Any hikers out there?

T

Thirsty

Well-Known Member
Messages
903
Location
Stockport, Cheshire
For a break, I've always enjoyed disappearing into the hills with a tent for a week or so. Before being diagnosed with T2, choosing supplies to take with me was easy but now I'm at a loss as to what would be suitable. Ideally, it should be lightweight, compact and easy to cook (if cooking's necessary).

Any ideas?
 
I guess it depends on your dietary approach, and how much carbohydrate you are eating. I am following low GI with comparatively moderate amounts of carbs, 150 - 180gms a day. From the books I've been reading there seem to be lots of options for muesli bars and so forth that are nutritious and easy to carry when hiking, and probably good old red lentils with some herbs and spices would be easy to cook, as long as ample water was available. Id also have some fast acting carbs as well, especially if in the middle of no where and needing to raise the BGLs in a hurry.
sounds like you have an adventurous summer ahead, hope its lots of fun!
b
 
I belong to a walking group but it's not hiking and there's a big difference. Even walking last year though had my levels dipping quite low.I always carry Dextrose tablets. Back then I was finding I could eat a Mars Bar and half hour later my sugars had dipped low enough to need the dextrose tablets again. I've yet to try holidaying, when I walk a good part of the day on "low-carbs", so I'd be interested myself in how to deal with this.
 
I don't go hiking much, but do go skiing and much of the same rules can apply. I always start the morning with a banana as part of my breakfast as the slow release of energy works to keep blood sugars from dipping. I always carry another banana in my daysack and learnt (the hard way) that it needs to be protected in a hard case to stop it getting squashed in a fall - possibly less of a risk when hiking. I always have some cerial bars and, of course, my testing and injection kit. When skiing it is vital to keep the meter in a warm place as they give errors when very cold. I have always found glucose tablets a bit sickening, but have found that the Lucazade ones are acceptable.

I was diagnosed at the age of 42 and have now been Type 1 for 8 years.

Nigel
 
Hi Thirsty, I know many hikers that ended up with huge blisters, including myself grrrrr, last summer I did the 200 mile Coast to Coast walk and I didnt get one single blister, I had compeed plasters with me, every morning I plasterd my feet with vaseline and I bought some super soft hiking socks from NZ, they are made with merino wool and possum wool.

Here is a bit more info for you, sorry its long, but I cannot stress enough the importance of avoiding blisters, in diabetics these can very quickly become infected, this can spread to the bone and oh I dont want to go on there, its too horrible to even think about.

http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/ge ... 61005.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2090891_avoid-b ... iking.html

"
As one who tries a number of different walking boots and approach shoes out in the course of the year, I take the precaution of always using a Compeed heel plaster on each heel when I'm heading out and about in unfamiliar footwear. These rubber-like plasters aren't cheap, but they've saved my heels from being opened up on more than one occasion. Peel the outer cover off first, then remove the film covering the side which sticks onto your skin. Put the plaster in place and then cup your hand over it to provide a heating process that helps keep the Compeed in place.

Hope that this helps out!

Keith Rickaby, gear coordinator, Climber Magazine

· I would recommend Trampers Wool (a natural wool product). A sample was given to us when we did a long distance walk in New Zealand earlier this year and I found it excellent for avoiding blisters. The idea is to put the wool under the socks wherever pressure points appear and then dispose of it at the end of the day. It is available from Belex Carding, RD2, Wanaka, New Zealand (03 443-8552, fax 03 443-8252). It cost me £1 a bag - enough for about 10 days - and is very light, so postage is quite cheap. I don't know whether or not it's available in this country.

If you do get blisters, the Elastoplast large blister plasters are great for heels. They are almost like a second skin and whatever is in them takes all the pain away. Don't be tempted to buy the chemists' own versions - they aren't as good.
Happy hiking!
Pauline Graham

· I have found that the best way to prevent blisters while hiking is to use a commercially available blister plaster called Compeed. Apply one to each heel before setting out. The edges can be taped so that they stay on for a number of days.
Claire Chapman

· The key to avoiding blisters is properly fitted boots. No amount of layered socks or no-blister socks will help. George Fishers of Keswick in the Lake District offer a fitting service which is second to none. They will look at your existing boots and advise on socks and insoles if appropriate. They don't attempt to pressurise you into buying anything new, but if you decide to, they have an exceptional selection of boots in all price ranges. During a visit at Easter they spent well over an hour finding a fitting a pair of boots for my wife. For partners and children who get bored they have a tea-room on the top floor with wonderful views of the fells around Derwentwater and the finest sticky toffee pudding imaginable.
David Woods

· Two possible remedies for blisters:

1. Make sure your boots fit really well. Lightweight boots cause fewer problems than heavier boots.

2. Try rubbing vaseline on your heels before you put on your socks and boots.

Catherine Goundry

· A friend recommended the Spenco Blister Kit to me 12 years ago when I was about to set out on the Camino de Santiago - and I've never been without it when walking since. The best part of the kit is the gelatinous second skin which you lay over the hot spot or blister and then hold in place with very fine sticky webbing - you can buy both these elements separately in all good sports shops.
Marianna Cole

· Assuming that the boots have been checked for correct fit and lacing, the next thing needed is to have socks with the highest wool content available - 70% plus.

There are some skin protectors on the market, but the best and most successful thing to use is talcum powder in the socks. Not only does talc soak up the sweat (damp socks can cause blisters), but it acts as a lubricant between skin and sock. Use what seems to be an excessive amount of talc to prepare the inside of the sock and on the foot. An extra shot of talc can be put down the heel just before lacing up. Carry a small pot of talc in your rucksack for repairs en route.
Barbara Cross, Nottingham

· I too suffer from hideous blisters. A tip I was given before starting on my Duke of Edinburgh expeditions which I now do religiously prior to any long walk, is to rub surgical spirit into my feet every day for at least 1 week prior to departure. This hardens up the skin and has worked for me always.
Hope this helps.

Sally-Anne Dunn
 
Dear Thirsty

I am a brand new type 1 diabetic so take what I say with a grande pinch of salt but here is my view.

after hospitalisation I went hill-walking in Derbyshire, was admitted as pre ketotic coma at 22nd April, discharged 25th April. Went hill-walking 9th May, 2 walks 11 and 14 miles in the upper Goyt valley......

what I learned was test your sugars on the hill and react to the result, in my case a BM of 4.3 meant one dextrose tab and half a boost bar. Did the last rise of 1000 feet fine then sugars back to normal.

Your desire for carbs goes up commensurate with your hill walking but watch WHAT carbs you take in, avoid fat and do not over eat even though your instinct is to do just that.(I went wrong here, I think)

I considered that it is better to have high end normal sugars on the hill than the other way but keep very low sugars in normal life.

As other have said,as long as you monitor your BM you should be ok.

RPNKW
 
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