Type 1 diabetes meetup in Joshua Tree

Creating a new normal together

Our first type 1 diabetes meetup is in the books for 2016. It’s always a learning process trying to do something new-especially when it involves coordinating activities for a group of people. Part of this process has meant really distilling the purpose of these events and getting a clearer idea in my own mind of what I want these meetups to provide-the service that they can be to the diabetes community at large. There is a need for independence and freedom within the diabetes community. The outdoors are a place where we can tap into those ideals as a group and disengage from the narrative of disease, sickness and limitation that is so pervasive.

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Our tiny home “commute”

Back out west, back on the road!

It’s always harder to come back out west to our tiny home from the east coast-losing time in the air and re-acclimating to a small space all contribute to the challenge. To some, the idea of flying back and forth across the country all the time and working on the fly may seem desirable. I wouldn’t call it unappealing-but it definitely comes with certain sacrifices and challenges. I am thankful to be working for myself though-check out my freelance media work if you have a small business and need help getting your name out there!

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Climbing Cowboy Ridge in Zion National Park

(Part 1) Testing the keto diet on a recon hike

I’ve spent a lot of time in Zion National Park over the last few years and it’s no secret that the climbing here is outside my comfort zone. Maybe that’s why I keep coming back-because there are “easy” climbs like Cowboy Ridge that have mocked me from afar. It’s a 5.7 filled with route-finding, loose rock and lots of elevation gain. It’s a long day and it’s far from civilized comforts should poor planning or blood sugar fluctuations interfere. It’s not the dark side of the moon, but it’s more involved than lowering down off a single pitch climb and ‘calling it a day’. Maybe this is part of getting back into the swing of things, but I’ve been more intimidated by this “loose end” than I’d like to admit, so I decided to tie it off ASAP.

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Can you Spare a Rose on Valentines Day?

Taking the gloves off to weigh in on disparities in insulin access

I make it a point not to publicly advocate for a lot of fundraising efforts-even on my own behalf-but the Spare a Rose campaign is worth an exception. I believe that it’s really important to empower people with diabetes and show a proactive approach to this condition-and more importantly, to show that we have a choice in the way we approach its daily challenges-because many of us do. The elephant in the room is the obvious fact that not everyone enjoys that type of access to care and medicine.

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Zion climbing and hiking

welcome to "Type 1" fun

Zion climbing and hiking is always fun-even when it’s not. But let me clarify that statement because there are two types of fun. That’s right, I wasn’t just making a pun about my type 1 diabetes. Type 1 fun is enjoyable in the moment. It feels fun. Type 2 fun on the other hand just doesn’t. One of my favorite quotes (I believe attributed to either John Long or Jim Bridwell) is “It doesn’t have to be fun to be fun“. Type 2 fun is more enjoyable when it’s over and you’ve survived. Or healed. Or cleaned your soiled underwear. The beauty is that there is a choice to have fun which circumstances can’t take away. Seems like this might apply to Type 1, too.

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Make time for adventure

reflections on 17 years of type 1

My 17th “diaversary” or anniversary of my type 1 diabetes diagnosis (January 16th, 1999) is an occasion that I enjoy recognizing. I like to think that I am “outliving” this condition because if it “gets me” in the end, I will be able to guarantee that I was, at the least, not easy prey. It’s been a constant reminder that I must make time for adventure -because time is limited. Morbid, perhaps, but that’s a thought that goes through my head literally every day at multiple points. That’s probably why in recent years my two biggest adventures have kicked off around this time in the winter when sane people are sipping coffee and planning summer vacations. Continue Reading →

The journey begins!

Time to leave home and get our...new home! This is the trailer pickup!

The first leg of my journey begins with a stop in at my dad’s place where I ate some chicken soup to help ward off a cold that I’ve been battling for a few days now. I struggled with the desire to capture the trip out to Minnesota to get the trailer because after all, it’s not anything grand and not too adventurous. Right? As it turns out, learning how to shoot, edit and post from my phone in a pinch is good practice for what lies ahead. Besides, it’s important to capture the less polished moments of the adventure because that’s what we are all about!

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One year down, lots to go

I love bringing you guest posts from others who are using adventure to take control of their lives and health. I met Zach Buckmaster through Instagram a few months back and I believe that you will be reading and seeing more from him in the near future. This account is about his adaptation to year one of life with type 1 and I hope that you will find it as inspiring as I have.-Steve-

Diabetes and climbing. Most see no correlation between the two. But for me-and many others, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

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Comfort optional

Comfort Optional Subtitle

The hitch is on and the car is mostly loaded. It’s packed full of enough climbing gear to assault El Capitan and enough media equipment to make a movie about the effort. Clothing has been pared down to one small tupperware apiece and I even manage to narrow down my library selections to the bleeding necessities because my love for paper books does not make them travel lighter. The Yakima roof box is been patched up with silicone sealant and loaded with outdoor gear. All that’s left are some housewares that are currently in use and my computer. Also my insulin, test strips and remaining sensors will be among the last items to be packed away. I’m ready to go home.

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New tweaks to the keto diet and updates to the vlog

In the last week or so I have been forced to reckon with the fact that my cholesterol is high and the keto diet that has enabled me to dial in my blood sugar-may be the culprit that is creating chaos in a different area of my bloodwork. Since I ultimately may have to choose between the lesser of two evils, I have decided to tweak my ketogenic diet to see if my elevated cholesterol may be due to specific items within this diet rather than the entire way of eating. Here are the steps that I have taken:

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