T1D - Backcountry Camping / Hiking ?

[Diamattic]

Hey all.

I don't usually post here and honestly have no expectations but i thought i would ask - does anyone have experience with multi-day back country hikes and camping ?

I have always loved the wilderness and camping and was diagnosed 20 months ago with T1D. Since then i have been as active as ever and have been 'car camping' a handful of times, and day hiking and bunch as well without issue. This summer i want to start to do more multi-day hikes in the back country (which means - middle of nowhere. No roads, no cars, no houses, just forest and lakes).

I have been meaning to set the days this month to get everything arranged and have started buying gear but i was curious if anyone has any tips for a T1D going out into the wild hiking for 2-4 days beyond the standard - bring enough food and insulin lol

EDIT - for those who do not know me I am located in Canada just an FYI in case it matters for some reason.

 

[ElyDave]

depending on what time of year (i.e. now, when it's effin' cold) then management of insulin temperature may be an important consideration - don't want that, or any other important bodily part, to freeze

 

[Diamattic]

Oh no no no lol Not in this season.. I was thinking June-Sept when temps are back to being enjoyable.

 

[Diakat]

Try to check mobile (cell) phone coverage in case you need to call for help, make sure someone knows where you have gone. And as you say have lots of supplies. Otherwise enjoy!

 

[Safi]

Probably a pretty obvious one but I'd make sure you had a good antibacterial soap/wash & sterile wound dressings - you wouldn't like to get an infection started with a couple of days to hike out.

 

[phoenix]

Its actually quite hard for most of us in N Europe to be that far away from habitation so it's hard to relate.
I've done some backpacking trips though mostly only a day or two camping ( and now prefer to use gites/hostels because of the weight involved) .
Personally, I wouldn't want to be alone.I certainly think for a first trip that you would be better having someone with you . I find that carrying a load uses a lot of energy and I really need to lower insulin levels drastically.It is quite hard to get right with a pump and when I was on MDI with a once a day basal I found it much harder. I remember on my first trip that my husband really had to nag me to take some glucose when I was very low and just wanted to sit in a ditch! I was advised in future to cut my basal in half but as I went on a pump I never tested that out.

Here's a graph from the 2ne day of a later walk . On day one, I'd spent the day before walking a fairly flat trail, and had a good meal in a restaurant before spending the night in a tent. This was uphill in the Pyrenees, with a pack. It wasn't that far: 10 miles with 1783ft of ascent and 513 of descent. As you can see, apart from the beginning where there was an unexplained spike, my levels barely went above five and that was with almost no basal insulin, using a pump . I would have taken glucose at the low points (haven't got the data from a pre pump trip).
.

I keep insulin in a frio bag in a netting compartment of my sac (so it can work properly) I keep glucose tabs/ fruit 'gels' and my meter accessible in compartments on the waist strap .Less hassle to get to them . My diabetes supplies for that trip (which was about a week and as I said not really that remote was probably over the top but I tend to be overcautious (and end up with too heavy a pack.
Frio ; 1.5 vials insulin; 3 reservoirs; 4 infusion sets; 4 vials chlorehexidine;4 pkts gauze squares ; 2 spare batteries; Meter with new battery ; 3 tubs strips;(there were 25 in a tub then)
3 packets dextrose Small plastic bottle for sharps lancets
In case of pump problem emergency telephone number
Pump failure kit needles ; 2 apidra pens; 2 novorapid pens

We have a mobile phone but even in the Pyrenees it's often not got a signal so I wouldn't rely on that. (again a reason not to go alone).

 

[Diamattic]

Thanks all!

As big as Canada is i wont be THAT isolated, granted when you hypo a 1km walk is probably impossible lol

I will be going with my girlfriend and it is a known area for hiking and camping so I will likely see someone else on the trail at least once, i would be surprised if i didn't.

I do have a pump, and I typically only take novo insulin pens instead of the actual 10ml vial i use at home - this way i can use the pen to fill my pump reservoir and if the pump breaks i can toss on a needle and us the pen with MDI, my first trip will only be a 2 nighter.

I think i may have to work out some training days when i get my pack ready where i can walk around for hours at a time and see what happens to my sugars lol

Do you guys have any experience with bears up there? like how to keep snacks in your tent if you are in bear country lol thats my last concern haha

 

[Safi]

My only experience is of koalas & yogi I'm afraid so all I'd say is don't base your meals around eucalyptus leaves & don't keep them in a picnic basket!

 

[copepod]

I've done quite a bit of backwoods backpacking, in several countries / regions, both before and after developing type 1 diabetes. However, I haven't camped in bear country since diagnosis. I would still stick the absolute no food, no toothpaste etc in tents, for my own sake and to avoid attracting bears to tents in the future.
If you're on Facebook, then try the Mountains for Active Diabetics group for practical help from many countires.

 

[phoenix]

Well there are some bears in the Pyrenees (reintroduced after they became extinct) but I've never even considered them. I'm probably more afraid of the Pyrenean mountain dogs left to guard a flock Apparently about 300 sheep are lost to bears every year.

 

[Diamattic]

I have actually found a solution!

You can buy ALOKSAK bags in various sizes that are completely odour proof, made specifically so that you can keep food in your tent while camping in bear country! They are fairly expensive for just a bag, but it will allow me to keep all my snacks with me haha

Also i did see this journal artical - http://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(10)00265-6/fulltext
That basically says you can just double ziplock bag your foods and you will be fine... I wouldn't trust that for everything, I am mostly just thinking a bag full of Cliff bars and Dextabs tubes just incase, not full meals.

It works for bears and other rodents, so i am sure dogs, wolves, and whatever else fall into the same category!

 

[ElyDave]

Somebody told me the other day that bears apparently can't run downhill due to their weight distribution.

So keep an eye on the slopes, and wear brown trousers, just in case.

More seriously, if you are going to be out a few days it might be worth taking some basal insulin just in case, much easier than 1-2 hourly novorapid injections through the night to cover basal. I'm assuming most of your snacks will be in sealed packages anyway, but also think about splitting some snacks into your girlfriends pack as you might not be able to get to them if you are hypoing.

Have you got your basal reduction strategy organised?

 

[Diamattic]

That has made my list Dave!
We will be splitting the meals among our packs, and i have found an online store that sells 'lower' carb dehydrated meals that we will be trying.

We will be camping almost right on the beach after descending the Georgian bay bluffs, so hopefully this will keep bears away lol

 

[nickm]

As above plus:
My meter regularly fails at low temps. Below zero I carry it on a string around my neck.
I carry a PLB. Some pics of my backcountry ski trips are at
http://t1diabetesafter55.blogspot.com.au

 

[ElyDave]

I do the same with my meter on winter runs and bike rides.