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Managing BG on through hikes

M

Mander

Newbie
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Sorry, long post! I have a medtronic 780g and G4 sensors. I will be doing a 5 day trek through the Iceland Highlands (Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls) staying in the huts. I currently exercise 1-2 hrs most days using temp target in the morning before I've eaten and this works really well. A one day hike wouldn't worry me but I've no experience of through hiking and will be carrying my food and clothes, so the effect of carrying a bag, wind, and terrain variables will obviously have a huge impact on blood sugar levels more than the actual distances I think (the daily distances are variable but not vast, probably average around 6 hrs walking). My DSN has been really thorough and we've discussed adjusting various pump settings and carb intake strategies but I know I'll have to work it out as I go along. She also pointed out at the end of the trek the pump algorithm will be working on the previous 7 days so I need to be on the ball managing everything afterwards. I will have glucogen pens, and plan on taking a sensor libre as well as pens and spare consumables for the pump. I have time to practice hike with my loaded back pack, and I can study the route map for the harder parts to really carb up. I have read some T1 hikers blogs which have been really helpful. I'm fairly fit and have been weight training on top of my usual exercise. I do feel prepared and think I've thought of everything but I do feel more nervous than excited and I wish it was the other way around! I'll be 60 next year and this is a holiday that I'll probably never repeat. I think theres a bit of hype about the trail because of its remoteness and obviously (hopefully not) extreme icelandic weather and I've let this worry me too much as I do believe it's well within my ability. I'll be with 2 other people who are experienced hikers. Food that I'm carrying will add to back pack weight so really thinking I should shell out for the (expensive) dehydrated meals if anyone has an opinion about this, but any top tips in general or even just reassurance would be great! TIA
 
I'm not a medtronic user (tandem here) so can't give targeted advice but I just want to say that it sounds like you are very well prepared and should have a wonderful time. Worst case scenario I suppose medtronic lets you suspend insulin?

My only suggestion would be to take plenty of glucose equivalents.

Good luck and please do report back when you've been on the trip.

Edited to add, and welcome to the DCUK forums
 
Yes thank you, half my bag will be glucose, glucose and more glucose! Another hiker said pack what you think you need, and then triple it!
 
Hello @Mander How exciting - wish I could join you, sounds like it will be amazing.

If this was me, i'd need to understand climate so will it be fairly warm ? Heat brings me down alot quicker so have to be very cautious with quick acting insulin, am using a Tandem so different pump, so have exercise mode which is ok but as with any exercise I always start with my BG raised to around 9-10 mmol/l, any higher and muscles can ache a bit, also temperature affects the type of carbs I use, so in hotter weather I use glucotabs and cereal bars, cooler weather it's bananas (wrapped in a bag as they can go off quick) and jelly babies/beans, I also take a BG meter too in case sensor fails and for a longer duration would carry spare insulin pens in case of pump failure. I tend to go easy for a few hours just watch levels then top up with carbs as and when, I try to keep myself above 6.5 mmol/l as it can be quick to crash to hypo otherwise, also I don't like slowing other people up, so keeping myself above 6.5 mmol/l gives me a good buffer.

Be careful after you finish the hike too as your muscles use more glucose with the repair work, so again keep levels elevated otherwise you can suffer a hypo hours afterwards.

Also am sure you will probably be using them but electrolytes for exercise and particularly with t1d are essential, take Phizz tablets with you as you can drop them into a water bottle but keeping yourself well during the week is important too.
 
Thanks so much Juicy J for sharing. I haven't heard of Phizz tablets but love a recommendation so will seek out. Interesting comment about heat as recently at a very hot festival and definitely had nasty BG drops I wasn't expecting. It won't be hot, though I may feel cold if we have awful weather ... but either way I'll pay attention to the effects of this as I'm usually in an air-conditioned gym/sports centre! My temp target is set at 8.3 and I was thinking if I'm getting to 7 to have mini carb top ups, so Yes keeping that buffer is hopefully going to do the trick to staying steady. I know i have to figure it out but it's a confidence booster to think my approach is logical, and you've definitely crystallised the key points I wanted to focus on. Thanks again for help
 
Different weather conditions, but when doing a 5 day ski trip last year, the thing I wanted was a sugar based energy drink powder, because maltodextrin (normal sports energy drink powder) doesn't drop the freezing point as much. I use fruit juice for day trips, but for longer I'd want to not be carrying the water part. Any recommendations would be welcome.

More relevantly, there's not much different in sugar management practice for day hikes (or ski trips or cycle days) vs longer - you just have to carry more. I typically end up running low in the morning (sometimes down to 3ish), and just eat my way through this. Jelly babies if things are getting too low, otherwise more biscuity things. A little dose with lunch, way less than what said lunch would get while sitting still.

At the end of the day, my sugars go up quite sharply when I stop - not helped by normally having a treat or something at the finish. After a day of not giving any doses for quite a lot of the food being eaten, I have to remember that this one will need it. I don't typically have an evening hypo though - though I will be eating a fair amount.

Iceland in May this year was shorts weather for us
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
How long have you had diabetes?
I'm a seasoned pro of 50 years and know my body sooo well and the thought of what you are doing wouldn't faze me from a diabetes point of view but i inject myself and don't understand your way of doing things.
I wish you well and don't forget a bg monitor and your 2 fellow hikers ? Do they understand if you need to rest if running low you need to rest?
Obvious i know but i had to say it.

As already asked but please do update us on your return as it sounds v exciting

Tony
 
Thanks evilclive and Tony337.
I'm feeling reassured that I know what I'm doing. I've realised the difference is only a psychological one that I'm not in the safety of a built up area with medical facilities. I am used to self monitoring all the time during intense exercise and also on longer bike rides for example. I was worrying about the back pack weight (5 days worth of clothes, food, glucose, glucose,more glucose, and T1 kit) and the effect on me, but I've now dummy packed and thats helped to reduce the scare factor in my head. My friends will have glucogen pens and gels. They're well informed and I know they'll be vigilant, but I've not wanted to pass my anxiety on to them as this is their (very expensive) dream trek, so sharing with the T1 community has really helped me seperate my thoughts. I feel more excited than nervous now
Glad to hear about the shorts weather evilclive, fingers crossed for end of August.
I'll post an update.
 
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