I can remember the exact moment I knew I was committing to building a life around hiking. I was about six miles into my second attempt at thruhiking the Trans-Catalina Trail, a 38.5 mile trail that spans across Catalina Island. As we approached a playground in the middle of the backcountry complete with a swing set and monkey bars, I was getting ready to check my blood sugar for the first time since before breakfast.
My first attempt at this trail was in 2016, nine months before I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I was sick, sad, tired, and burned out at my high-powered corporate marketing job, and I knew I wanted to do something outdoorsy. My husband suggested the TCT as my first backpacking trip. I didn't complete the trail the first time, but I did learn two important lessons: I can do hard things, and I love my body. Even though I effectively rolled off the couch and into the backcountry and had just endured the most intense physical endeavor of my life, when I got home my mind was clear, and I felt strong in my body. Those benefits carried into every aspect of my life.
Fast forward to June 2018. I had been living with diabetes for 10 months and had made some radical lifestyle changes as a result of the diagnosis. Two weeks before this trip, I came to the realization that since my diagnosis, I had been hiking my feelings instead of eating or drinking them. While I was stoked to have swapped out some unhealthy coping mechanisms for this activity that was enriching my life in so many ways, I wanted to know why I was eating and drinking my feelings to begin with.
As I was preparing for the second attempt at completing the TCT, I was looking at the nutrition labels of the food I usually eat while backpacking and was a bit nervous about what to do. This would be my first backpacking trip as a diabetic, and these meals were loaded with carbs. I was concerned that eating this food would negatively impact my blood sugar levels. When I talked to my doctor, she reminded me that if I was carrying 30+ lbs for 8-10 hours per day that I would need to eat more and that I shouldn't stress too much about what I eat, because I'll need the energy.
When we arrived at this playground, I took my backpack off, grabbed my glucometer, and pricked my finger. 107. This was way better than what I had been seeing before this trip, and I let out a long exhale.
For the first time in almost a year, I felt like I could breathe again. Learning how to manage a chronic illness, navigating the stigma around diabetes, and finding energy to live the rest of my life was exhausting, and I didn't realize how much room it took up in my brain until I saw 107 on my glucometer.
I had worked so hard to get to that point - a brand new nutrition plan, walking every day and eventually graduating to local trails for longer adventures, walking away from a stressful career - that I had finally dialed in how to keep myself nourished and properly hydrated on the trail.
It was at that moment that I committed to building a life that would empower me to hike as much as possible as a major component of my diabetes management protocol.
Since that day, this diabetic has done a lot of things. My husband and I sold everything we owned and moved into a van so we could keep overhead low while we build our non-profit organization - Hiking My Feelings. We have hosted more than 300 events around the US and online to introduce people to the healing power of nature, helping thousands of people on their healing journeys and I published a book about my adventures on the island.
Don’t just take my word for it, join us! This year we’re hosting a community health initiative called “Take a Hike, Diabetes” and we’re on a mission to hike one million miles for diabetes awareness as a community.
The research is clear - spending time outside has healing benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. As a starting point for diabetes prevention & management, the CDC recommends walking for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. When you register for Take a Hike, Diabetes, you have a built in support network with tons of resources available to help make living with diabetes a bit more enjoyable.
We’re officially on the road for the Take a Hike, Diabetes tour and I hope to meet as many fellow PWD’s as possible when we’re on the road, so be sure to follow along on Instagram and check out our tour schedule so we can meet up and tell diabetes to take a hike!
