No Glacier for the Mule

“What a rough week.

My wife and I were supposed to go to Glacier NP for a 7day hike Friday the 24th with 4 friends. No dice.

Sunday my wife wakes up at 6AM with abdominal pain. At first we figured it was just a bad burger or something. Well a few hours later the pain spreads and she gets feverish. OK, emergency room time. Doc looks at her and says "Oh this looks like a garden variety Kindey Infection, let's run a few tests." Tests come back and the docs says "Hmmm....Is there a history of Diabetes in your family? Your blood sugar is elevated." Turns out by elevated he meant that where it should be between 70 and 120 it is 379 and wants her to spend the night at the hospital. Ok doc, we have plans to fly to Glacier this friday, do we need to change them now cause we got 4 other peole depending on us. Doc says "Oh no, this won't be a problem. We can knock out the infection in couple of days. Don't worry."

Flash forward to Tuesday night.
The Kindney infection gets joined by Pneumonia, an upper GI irritation from crappy hospital food and the blood sugar is through the roof. The nurses wouldn't even let her get a bath. My wife being the trooper she is still wants me to go hiking even if she can't. I tell the gang don't worry everything will work out.

Wednesday morning my wife speaks to the Doc again and he tells her no travel at all and oh yeah, you are a type two diabetic. Well she hits emotional rock bottom. There is no way I'm going hiking for a week when she is still in the hospital. I call the gang and the consensus is to hike without the Mule, the problem is that ALL the reservations are in my name and I'm the only person with the master plan. Humanpackmule, cruise director.

Thursday evening I finally have all the loose ends wound up and everything transfered over to my brother (whos stress level went up 200% overnight and can't eat.)

Friday morning I drive my brother to the airport to catch a 6AM flight with one of the gang. The others are driving out from Tacoma.

Friday about 2PM my wife is finally released from the hospital and feeling very weak. She is doing much better today and seems to be getting stronger. The gang called me from Glacier and are all relived to hear she is doing better and are all in awe of the beauty of the park.

We are very bummed to miss the trip but she is my priority enough said. I'm just glad this didn't happen on the trail.

Question time.
Anyone here a diabetic or know someone who hikes that is? How do you deal with it on the trail? Know any good websites with good info on diabetes and hiking?”

“Glad she's alright. Give her a big hug from Buddur...dogs have theraputic value, you know!

Good thing it didn't occur on the trail.”

“Thanks.”

“Life happens, all for reasons sometimes we do not understand. I am sure that we have diabetics on the web page and help will be on its way!”

“So sorry to hear about that, but I'm glad things have stabilized.
I *have* seen posts from diabetic hikers so I know they're out there.

I had a appendix go bad three days before a Smokies trip once. Civilization is good for a couple of things after all.”

“Packmule..Thank God you will still home..I hate to think of what it would have been like to carry her out if she was feeling that poorly..

You're in my prayers....

Jer you forgot..Yo Bear!”

“Thanks again gang, I can't feel too bad about it all. I only miss a trip, my wife gets to deal with this the rest of her life.

I think it was John Lennon that said "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans."

Me being me, I'm looking at the possibility of a still doing a different trip this year. I just can't comit until we get a handle on this.”

“I have a friend who is very active and a diabetic. I've never hiked with him, but he does a lot of outdoor sports. He is very, very careful about his diet. You should check with your doctor and probably a dietician for suggestions on camping food but their probably isn't any reason that she can't continue to hike.

Ya gotta have priorities hpm. Sounds like yours are in the right place. I wish you both well.”

“My husband was recently (8 months ago) diagnosed with diabetes and we have done a lot of research as he has worked to get his blood sugars under control. A couple of things - exercise is the wonder drug of diabetes. There are a lot of medications that your wife will end up trying, but exercise WORKS, with no negative side effects. My husband's sugar levels stay low as long as he is walking regularly. Weight loss is a proven relief as well. Lots of studies have shown this. Even a 10 lb loss can make a huge difference in sugar levels. We have had to give up some foods (Chinese food and ice cream - both have too much fat -- and he can't do a dozen cokes a day any more) but generally he has managed to keep his sugar levels under control without feeling like he had to give up all the good things in life. As your wife gets used to testing her blood a couple of times a day, it will soon become clear what works for her and what doesn't. When she is backpacking, she will have to remember to stop regularly and snack so that her sugar levels remain steady, but she won't have to be as disciplined as she is when not hiking -- the exercise will keep the sugars low. A couple of times when we got into too much of a hurry to stop to eat, my husband really felt the difference as his sugar levels dropped too low. He said it feels like having the flu - but food and water work quickly to bring him back to normal. Good luck. Your wife will probably soon begin a series of classes on diabetes and on nutrition. Go to the classes with her - it will be easier if you really understand what is involved and can help. One thing - the recommended diabetic diet is a good healthy one - not unlike a heart healthy diet. It's workable for anyone. I lost weight and felt better as I helped my husband get his blood sugar under control. Denial and depression are common at first -- but they usually pass as the diabetic sees that there are ways to control the disease that are easily within reach. As yor wife gets her body back under her control, she will feel better emotionally as well.
I'm sorry about Glacier, but it will still be there next summer. You had your priorities right.”

“Thanks for the info. That is pretty much what I figured. As far as diet and exercise I plan to do the same as her. It's just too hard to change something like your diet and stick to it when you live with someone who eats like a garbage disposal and lives on the couch. Besides, diabetes runs heavily on my mothers side of the family, I might as well be prepared.”

“Yet more reason to appreciate each other.

And when you're out there again, shine strong!”

“I am sorry that your wife became sick like that. I have friends who's husbands developed adult onset diabetes. It seems to be getting more common. It really was a good thing that it happened while neither of you were in the wilderness. Good luck with all the exercise and diets.”

“A good friend of mine has diabetes. He has been a party animal his whole life so we kind of drifted apart as we grew older. He did a poor job of controling his diabetes and added alcohol to the equation. Anyway he ended up in a diabetic coma with a 10% chance of survival. His kidneys quit, he had a respritory infection, blah, blah blah. He was in the hospital for several months but is out now. He is still weak as a kitten. At the age of 44 he nearly killed himself, because he would not take care of his diabetes. I don't think he will ever fully recover and probably won't see sixty.

Prevention is worth more than a ounce of cure with diabetes.”