Originally published June 14 2005
Diabetic to attempt to climb Mt. Everest
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A 38-year-old father of six with diabetes, Will Cross, is attempting to be the first diabetic to climb Mt. Everest. Cross has already trekked to both the North and South poles and climbed five mountains, but he says his dream has always been to climb Everest, and he wants to show his kids and the rest of the world that diabetes doesn't have to get in the way of goals. Cross has already survived an avalanche and plans to take on the summit as soon as the weather allows.
After retiring four years ago, Cross joined The NovoLog Peaks and Poles Challenge, a competition sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk that involves ascending the highest peak on each of the seven continents and walking to the North and South Poles.
So far, Cross, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, has trekked to both poles and scaled five mountains.
Last year he made his first attempt at Everest but turned back after his climbing partner experienced altitude-related retinal hemorrhaging in his left eye and Cross encountered problems with an oxygen tank.
This year, Cross's expedition has already encountered hardships: on May 4, a massive avalanche on Everest's western ridge tore through base camp.
As I slowly gain altitude, I have to adjust the insulin dose based on my blood-sugar reading, the amount of exercise I'm going to do for the day, the amount of food I'm going to eat.
The altitude is a big thing with diabetes because the body reacts as though it's under a high amount of stress--which of course it is, with a lack of oxygen--and the reaction is to elevate the blood sugars.
In response to that, I have to inject more of the NovoLog, a rapid-acting insulin, which allows me to adjust very quickly to changes in diet and altitude.
Nowadays we have plastic pens [that contain a small needle and injectible insulin].
I have a little cooler here, and at night I put the FlexPens in my sleeping bag.
And when I climb, I climb with [them] right on me.
I used to wrap glass bottles of insulin in duct tape and aluminum foil.
The trips, while certainly hard, did not involve altitude.
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