Diabetics of all types can enjoy the deep nature connection that backpacking inspires. Day hikes are the bees knees, certainly… but nothing in my life has compared to profoundly immersing in nature over many days. Each day out, nibbling city-worries and the chatter in my own brain quiet, and fall away in importance. Sleeping beneath stunning stars, waking to wildflower-field dawns, dipping tired toes into craggy turquoise lakes… many treasures of the heart and soul can’t be encountered any other way then by picking up that backpack and setting off down the trail.
Here are 12 tips for LADA backpackers, which many T1s, T2s, and MODYs will find useful as well. The first half are gear-related, of interest to CGM/insulin users. The remaining tips are food-related—of interest to any who eat!
- Got a spare? Backup those backed-up backups, is my motto. I carry extra insulin, extra spare needles for my pen, etc… and I bring my finger-stabber as a backup for my CGM. (On a good trip I bring ‘ol finger-stabber home unused—at the size and weight of a pair of socks, I find the peace of mind well worth it.) In addition to my phone with its CGM app, I redundantly carry the official receiver, which is small, light-weight, and has good battery life. And speaking of battery life…
- For longer trips, consider a battery pack, or power bank—you’ll find a variety of brands, sizes, and options at a good outdoors store. In the $30 dollar range, you can purchase a power bank the size and weight of your cell phone that will double your on-trail battery life. Why not get one with the ability to connect to a backpackable solar recharger—a bit more of an investment, but it pays back over time.
- Pamper your electronics at night. The first night I backpacked as a CGM wearer, I put my receiver and phone in the tent pocket beside my headlamp. Only to have them startle me awake in the middle of the night—they bleated piteously, then turned themselves off. Those wee beasties don’t like cold, even the mild chill of high elevation July. Since then, I have let them share my sleeping bag, the dainty little darlings.
- Airplane mode? Some backpackers set their phone on airplane mode to extend battery life. But for many, this automatically turns off the Bluetooth connection to the CGM transmitter. Play with this before you go, and see if your phone has a battery-extending setting that still enables Bluetooth.
- Protecting insulin from heat is simple with a frio case. These are lightweight, compact, and come in a range of sizes. Hydrate the inner pouch with water, and evaporative cooling will keep insulin or other supplies lightly cooled. I place mine near the top of my pack where it’s exposed to airflow yet out of direct sunlight. If the pouch begins to dry out, soak it again; it rehydrates in ten minutes.
- For those who plan ahead—if you’ve got a backpack coming up, check where your pack’s belly-band rests on your torso, and attach your transmitter comfortably out of this zone. That said, I head out pretty spontaneously, and so far no matter where on my belly my transmitter’s been placed, I’ve been able to wear the pack in a way that doesn’t squash it (which can affect the transmission, as those of us who roll around in our sleep have reason to know).
- Store-bought low carb backpacker meals: every season, there are more delicious, lightweight backpackable options for us carb-counters. One personal favorite is the pineapple curry by Wild Zora—and nobody has paid me to say so. And there are many brands I’ve never tried—enjoy the hunt!
- DIY backpack breakfasts: check back here soon–in the next week or so I’ll post my Bull’s Tooth Peak granola recipe; it’s high-energy, low-carb and simple to make. For those who like milk on granola, there are many dehydrated milks, including vegan: powdered coconut milk and powdered goat milk have joined standard powdered dairy milk.
- I love me my food dryer. Before a backpack, my food dryer is humming over garden tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and more. Living in orchard and farm country, I have owned a food dryer most of my adult life—it’s a fabulous way to enjoy pears at Christmas, among other delights. While a food dryer is an excellent investment for the frequent backpacker, there are lower tech options—(sometimes called ovens)—as you’ll see from the bazillion cracker and kale-chip recipes online.
- For me, other tried-and-true staples include low-carb crackers, jerky (including a vegan jerky), and nuts. I used to make my own crackers—but I seem to get a little lazier each time another delicious low-carb nut-flour brand appears on the store shelf. Ditto the delightful assortment of healthful jerkies: I’ve enjoyed salmon, buffalo, turkey, and a tasty vegan portobello jerky. Nuts are heavy-hitters in my meal planning, including pili nuts which combine well with so many flavors; these can be a great way to add calories with few carbs if your dried-veggie dinner is feeling a little thin. For dairy-eaters, cheese is a great lunch-time staple, and lasts several days; if travelling longer, there’s always frio!
- Before you put on the backpack, check in with your doctor—does your doc feel backpacking is a good activity for you, and are there particular aspects your doc wants you to pay attention to? Footcare, for example, is a sensitive point for many backpackers as well as for many diabetics. If you’re buying new footwear for backpacking, break them in very thoroughly with many short walks before your actual trip; be sure the type and thickness of socks is perfect every day; and carry a good blister kit along with your first aid kit.
- Be kind to the animalitos so they’ll be kind to you: remember to hang your food (and your toothpaste, sunscreen and similar scented items) or stash them in a bear proof container. Leave no trace, and have no hesitations—backpacking is one of the world’s most glorious activities, and if your doc gives the thumbs-up, there’s no reason in the world you shouldn’t try it!
