[MaireC]

Hi ladies and gents

I'm going on a day-long hike this saturday, leaving at 10, and it's estimated that we won't get home before 1 in the morning (not hiking all that time as we are going to a banquet in a near-by castle afterwards)

I'm going with family and a group of 30 or so strangers and while I am bringing a packed lunch, I'm not sure what else I should take. (equipment wise, I'm ok. It's handy having a friend whose father owns a camping shop )

Does anyone have any advice they could give me on keeping my BS stable. Eg, what to bring that won't weigh too much or take up too much room in a rucksack.
Also, would I be better off eating a huge breakfast before I go, or just having the normal cereal, toast etc.

Any advice would be great!



Oh, and I just want to crow about something (aside from the fact I'm going to be eating in a castle ). Got my latest A1C back yesterday and it was 5.7! And I don't have to go back to the Diabetic Clinic for another 12 months! Yippee!

[volleyball]

Depending on your shape and the effort expended during the hike. I'd do a protein, fat and whole grain breakfast. Maybe steel cut oats and sausage. I'd bring some meal bars to snack on. A few bits of sugar in case you go low would be wise. I'd also plan on testing more often if this is not your usual activity

[Real4]

You sound like you've not done extened exercise while being diabetic. I'd might suggesrt a GPS and a radio so you can call a medi-vac. Exaggerated, but it sounds crazy to me unless you have the relevant experience. I walk 5 miles every day and wouldn't think of such an extended hike.

I need about 30 grams of carb per hour of walking to maintain BG level. What do you require?

[HelenM]

She's walking in Ireland, not the wilderness!
I suspect if the group is unused to walking the distances involved/speed won't be too great. A party of 30 won't walk very fast anyway.
I'm type 1 but I agree with volleyball. If your walks at all hilly you might find that you need quite a lot of extra carbs during the walk, cereal bars are useful, I tend to eat a bit at a time rather than the whole thing at once.
Nothing to do with diabetes but think about what you are wearing on your feet. If you're unused to walking then I would take some blister plasters with me just in case! (actually I am used to walking and I still take them)
Have a lovely day.

[PERKDOUG]

When hiking I carry M&Ms with peanuts. They allow for measured "pills" of food and are compact and keep well. They are emergency rations with a reasonable mix of fat/carb/protein for physical activity. If the carbs bother you, then go with redskin peanuts and get your energy mostly from fat. I carry them on hikes also. Carry both and if you get low pop an M&M if you are just hungary then eat the redskins.

[BrianSCohen]

Marie,

Hiking is great. If you are going with a variety of ages and fitness levels, you should be fine. I would really avoid carbs, and particularly simple carbs for a hike, they will give you highs and lows. For a long hike, I really like protein snacks which digest over a longer period of time. Nuts are a great snack, and you can get then in separate bags at many stores. Cheese is also a great snack, and it does not need to be refrigerated for just one day. Beefy jerky is also an other classic.

Remember your water, I would bring something like a half liter for each hour of the hike. You could bring your meter, but as a type 2, you are unlikely to have any problems. The other things would be things that any hiker.

Remember, if you are going on a ten mile hike and are not at that fitness level, you may get sores and you will have sore muscles for a few days afterwards.

[MaireC]

Hi guys, Thanks. I was just wondering if I'd overlooked something that would be helpful. I'm bringing cereal bars, and a mars bar (I'm viewing this as a chance to be bold. Probably shouldn't but hey, as my father says, you only live once - and yeah, I do tend to say right back to him "The trick is to live as long as you can").

My boots are proper hiking boots and have already been broken in, a la my friend, and I've got decent hiking socks that are designed to prevent blisters. My sister is a hypochondriac (with nothing wrong with her) so a full first aid kit is also being brought.

We're going on a nice hike through the burren. I'll post some pics just to make you jealous...as long as it doesn't rain. And considering I had to wade to my car to go home from work yesterday evening...let's just say my hopes for sunshine aren't exactly high.

[volleyball]

Extra socks in a zip lock bag might help

[notme]

Make sure you have plenty of water MaireC. You will have a wonderful time and lots of laughs. I can't wait to see pictures of your hike.

One of the things that I used a lot if it was raining was a baseball cap to put under your hood on your rain slicker. If it is raining the slicker will keep you fairly dry, but a baseball cap will keep the rain off your face. Wear it under your slicker hood.

Have a wonderful day and post tons of pictures. I had a wonderful time in Ireland when we visited and the pictures were amazing. What castle will you be visiting???? Lucky lucky you!

[MaireC]

We are hiking around by Ballyvaughan which is in North Clare, at the tip of the Burren. Probably my favourite place on earth! If you go to Google and use the Images search engine on "The Burren", you'll see some spectacular photos...and hopefully be jealous

I haven't gone hiking there since I was in my teens.(when I say hiking, I really mean being dragged up mountains by well meaning Youth Club Leaders). The scenery is spectacular and I just cannot wait to go walking there...only one problem now. I woke up with a head cold and a sore throat so I'm trying to decide if it would be a good idea to go or not. Dosing myself with whatever medicine I can find at the minute, so I'll have to see.

[jerryn]

Bring some granola bars, water, juice, and a camera!
Go for it! Have a great time! I can't wait to see the pictures.

[MaireC]

sorry guys, but no pics and no walk. What I will have tomorrow, and have right now is a chest & sinus infection and some lovely penicillin antibiotics. I'm really annoyed. It is one of the few times I get to spend any time with my brother when he's home from England and I'm going to miss all the fun. Rats!

[fgummett]

Here's hoping you feel better soon

[notme]

Oh shoot MaireC. Get well soon. Sorry you can't go.

[slipperyelm]

Sorry you had to miss the hike with your brother. I did google The Burren and found some interesting images. Isn't this one incredible Earth? Why does my spot on it seems so unexceptional, unless you want to count that big river that keeps flooding? (Mississippi.)