Hello,
Larry here! June has arrived! Happy Father’s Day to all you great dads out
there. Enjoy the time you will spend with your children, grandchildren, or your
fathers. Those of you that can only be with them in your heart, enjoy that too;
it is still a solid way to connect with your loved ones. Roger says, “It is all
about intention.”
For
Father’s Day this year, our human has asked his Dad to take a day trip to the
mountains for lunch and to take a small hike. What a lovely way to spend the
day together. So off we go! There are so many terrific trails in the
Banff/Canmore area. I know we will have a blast; they are doing the research on
trails as we speak. The days of only a few lunch options are long gone, so that
is another decision to be made. They finally decided that, weather permitting,
they would pack a healthy lunch and eat on the trail, if the trail allows.
We understand hiking with diabetes is very doable if you
prepare well; bring your diabetes gear, and have a good routine for testing and
adjusting your blood sugar before, during, and after the hike. Remember to always talk to your doctor and
care provider before taking on any new and strenuous activities. Roger has done
some research online (there is plenty of information available) and has come up
with a short list. Do not be afraid to add steps and components that pertain to
you specifically. We put this together for us.
Hiking with Diabetes: Step 1 – Research the Hike
Always
research a new hike to find out how long it is and if it includes any crazy
elevations. There are plenty of resources online to find good trails, their
conditions, length, and elevation.
It is
generally a good idea to not hike more than 2 hours and avoid high elevations. If
the hike is more challenging than normal hikes, one may need to adjust insulin
accordingly and bring extra snacks.
Hiking with Diabetes: Step 2 – Packing What’s Needed
It is a
great idea to have a pack designated specifically for diabetic needs; then you
do not have to go searching for supplies when they are needed.
Plan to
bring:
- Diabetes gear – Glucose Meter, possibly a CGM receiver (Continuous Glucose Meter) and Insulin Pen
- Emergency gear – Glucose tablets and fruit strips and perhaps a Glucagon Emergency Kit
- Water – Minimum 1 litre
- Snacks – Depending on how long you will be gone, perhaps a full lunch (like a chicken wrap) or just a few rice cakes.
- Other stuff – Phone, Band-Aids, sunscreen, etc.
Hiking with Diabetes: Step 3 – Adjusting Blood Sugar Levels and Insulin
1. Testing
and adjusting insulin before leaving home.
2. Testing
and potentially adjusting when on the hike.
When you walk up and down a steep elevation, you activate pretty much
all the large muscle groups in your legs and that can impact your blood sugars
for several hours after you complete your hike. So heads up if you’re new to
hiking with diabetes. If you are new to hiking, work with your doctor to make
sure you are ready and it is safe.
All this hiking talk brings to mind all the research we have done on
exercising as a diabetic. We will get into that next issue. Also, a friend of
ours has been told that we have readers out there that would like a really good
Diabetic Dessert recipe or two. We have decided to try some out and post our
favourites over the next few months. How exciting! Stay tuned for much
excitement.
Enjoy your lead in to summer. Be safe and smart.
Until
next month! Make
your footprints count.
Larry
and Roger
Written by:
Vicki L Myhre CPOD (I) CMP PFRP
Jenericay Wellness and Footcare
Internationally Certified Podologist
Registered through the Canadian Examining Board of
Health Practitioners
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