Local Rock Climber/Helicopter Skier Discusses Diabetes Management with Teens from InTransit

On Sunday, March 10th  members of the Kovler Diabetes Center's InTransit teen advisory panel gathered at the Evanston Athletic Club to go rock climbing and hear about the amazing adventures of rock climber, helicopter skier, and type 1 diabetic Miles Harkleroad.

Each teen had the opportunity to test out their climbing skills on the climbing wall. Many of the teens had previous indoor climbing experience but found the EAC's wall to be a fun challenge! Some teens even made it all the way to the top.

During the breaks from climbing, teens and parents discussed the issues affecting those living with diabetes wtih Kovler professionals Julia Socke and Amy Hess-Fischl.   It was a great opportunity for teens and their parents to meet others facing similar obstacles.  In addition, the Kovler team was able to get better ideas on how they can provide teens with the best possible diabetes care.

Miles Harkleroad spoke about the challenges he has faced as a diabetic rock climber and helicopter skiier. He has found that there is always a creative solution to managing his diabetes while out on his adventures. For example, Miles stores his insulin in a pant pocket while skiing to keep it from freezing, and while rock climbing he stores his insulin near his water bottle to help keep it from heating up. Miles also showed tons of photos from his travels to the southwest and helmet-cam videos of the (terrifying) slopes he skied in Alaska. Miles experiences showed teens that having diabetes has never prevented him from doing the things he loves to do!

Kovler's InTransit group meets quarterly to connect and share ideas about how to live well with diabetes as a teenager. The group is dedicated to figuring out ways for teens with diabetes to navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood while living healthy, active lives. Teens, parents, and Kovler professionals exchange in a fun and informal way and help Kovler deliver the best care possible!

The University of Chicago Medicine’s Kovler Diabetes Center is dedicated to
continuing a tradition of excellence in clinical care, basic and clinical research, community engagement and education. Its mission is to deliver leading-edge care and develop innovative treatments and cures for individuals with diabetes throughout their lifespan. 

Established in 2006, the Kovler Diabetes Center has had a significant
impact on the diabetes community at the local, regional and national level.