going on a hike, need advice

[jps]

trying to figure out if I should increase the carbs for my hike. It's not especially strenuous, but it is long. It's a 17 mile hike, little elevation change, involves alot of wading through water and some short full body swims. It's supposed to take 12 hours to complete the hike. (The hike is "The Narrows" in Zion National Park for those that have done it.)

I've packed beef jerky, some nuts, a couple of low carb/low calorie Atkins bars. I also brought a couple of bananas in case I do need some carbs, not sure if I'll need them. Bringing a gallon of water in a camelback.

Any advice?

[Gordonm]

Your going on a 12 hour hike and tha tis all you are bringing for food? I would say you are going to need some more. Why are you bringing low carb low calorie stuff. I'd be bringing stuff with high carbs. You are going to be burning more than you think. I will consume an extra 100g of carbs without any more insulin during a 3 hr bike ride. Probably more strenuous than your hike but you are out for 12 hours.

[jps]

Even though I exercise regularly at the gym, I'm usually always below 60g carb per day and never over 100g for the day.

But I've only exercised in 1 hour to 1.5 hour spurts, so I was wondering about the endurance factor since this is 12 hours.

The nuts will provide only a few grams of net carbs (23g), the jerky none, the net carb total for the snack bars is 15g, and the bananas would provide an extra 50g net carbs. That's already more than I eat in a typical day, but maybe I'll add a couple of apples in there too (another 35g net carbs).

I'll be honest, I'm not worried about a hyperglycemic episode even if I ingest a loaf of white bread, my sugars have been great (sub 100) without meds by low carbing and exercising. However, I certainly don't want to be taking in more carbs than I'll actually need. Just trying to find that balance.

[Gordonm]

Everyone is different and requirements are different. Good luck with the hike and let us know how it goes. Should be fun.

[DeusXM]

Second what Gordon says. Mate, seriously....how much would you normally eat in 12 hours? It HAS to be more than what you're bringing and you're going to be burning glucose up like an inferno. Exercising for that long will floor your insulin resistance.

Forget your low carb stuff. You need fruit. You need oatmeal bars. You need a ready supply of quick acting glucose.

If you've only exercised for an hour a day and you're doing a 12 hour hike then you'll need at least 12 times the carbs you'd have in a regular day.

I certainly don't want to be taking in more carbs than I'll actually need.

You'll be in much, much more of a mess if you take in fewer than you need. A bit of high blood sugar for a few hours won't do you any damage. Low blood sugar for a few minutes will.

I've done jungle trekking for 5-6 hour stretches and I had to stop taking my insulin completely in order to stop going hypo, and I'm a T1. Trust me, hiking takes a massive toll on your BGs and it really is not the time or place to start worrying about whether or not you're keeping Drs. Atkins or Bernstein happy with your gram intake of carbs.

[jps]

Thanks guys.

I will add in some granola bars and fruit actually. Hey, it may give me an excuse to eat some pineapple and/or oranges which I haven't touched since the big spike I received with it the first week after diagnosis. Maybe even some juice. I'll bring some non-chocolate hard candies too, just in case.

Initially, I wasn't going to even bring my meter. Mainly because I haven't seen a number outside of 70-105 since December - and I'm off meds, so I don't expect any hypos. But now that I think about it, I think I will bring my meter. Not only because it's safer, but it will give me some frame of reference for the future.

[soso]

I hike quite a lot (though that one sounds strenuous!) and I second what they say about taking carbs.. Oranges are a pretty good and come in very handy packaging...I like small bars of chocolate too as they are good when you need a boost.. I take my meter and when I do a serious hill I am often amazed how much it drops my bg in such a short time..
One thing i noticed when taking low carb snacks on a hike, I get a lot thirstier, so might be an idea to have a bit of extra water.. though oranges are good there too I suppose.. have fun!

[DeusXM]

Initially, I wasn't going to even bring my meter.

What?

Mate you seriously need to rethink how you prepare for a hike. You are going to be stepping significantly out of your body's comfort zone and you need to be prepared.

[jps]

What?

Mate you seriously need to rethink how you prepare for a hike. You are going to be stepping significantly out of your body's comfort zone and you need to be prepared.

One of the reasons I was thinking about not bringing my meter is that I'm not on meds. I haven't had a reason to worry about lows at all. And I've kept my BS's between 70-100 for the last six months through diet and exercise.

Suffice it to say, I did bring my meter and check my BS's along the way. A friend took a pedometer and we extended the distance a bit. It ended up being 24 miles and 13 hours. Somewhat rigorous, but was able to handle it. A bit sore today. Sugars were between 78-92 along the entire hike.

My feet are killing me and that's what I was worried about most heading in. Blisters, scrapes, etc. Most of the hike involved zigzagging across the virgin river. The entire riverbed is rocks, so I was worried about footing. Came through ok, feet were swollen afterwards and my toes looked like pregnant red grapes. Swelling went down the next day so all is good.

I did bring some extra carb along the way, but I didn't overload myself with them either. I had an orange, 4 bananas, about 5 oz of almonds, a couple glucerna bars, a granola bar, some cherries.... seemed to work fine.

Great hike, I wanted to test myself a bit since dropping the 80+ lbs and getting into at least moderately good shape and building some endurance along the way. I was happy with the results but slept like a log for 9 hours the next day.