Scaling new heights with Type 1 diabetes
On 7 January, Rachel Smith stood on the summit of Mount Vinson – Antarctica’s highest peak at 4,892m – and smiled. She has achieved her dream of becoming the first woman with Type 1 diabetes to conquer the mountain.
“It was an incredible feeling, and I felt so proud. It’s been two years since I first had the idea to take on this challenge, and lot of planning went into it, especially around my diabetes management,” said Rachel.
Diagnosed just before her third birthday, Rachel has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 25 years and was the first chid in Northen Ireland to use an insulin pump.
After moving from the UK to Melbourne in January 2024, Rachel began her care at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne’s Young Adult Diabetes (YADs) Clinic.
Introduced in mid-2024, the clinic provides personalised support for patients transitioning from paediatric care, or for those, like Rachel, who are new patients to St Vincent’s, the clinic offers tailored guidance and monitoring before they join the general Type 1 Diabetes Clinic.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which results in the body being unable to naturally produce insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. People with this form of diabetes require insulin administered to their body daily using either injections or via an insulin pump.
(L to R): Dr Melissa Lee, Dr Dilan Seneviratne Epa and Tess Amoore, from SVHM’s YADs Clinic team
Defying limits
Rachel’s diagnosis has meant some big life changes, but it certainly hasn’t stopped her from living life to its fullest.
Her love for high altitude mountaineering started when she was 19, and since then her adventures have included Base Camp at Everest, the Himalayas, Mt Kosciuszko and Mt Kilamanjaro.
Months of intense training and meticulous planning went into her recent two-week trek, which involved several days of hiking with a heavy pack, as well as pulling a sled over ice and snow in temperatures that at times dropped to minus 40 degrees Celsius.
“Exercise plays an important part in helping manage Type 1 diabetes. We were pleased to work with Rachel to support her training and develop a management plan to ensure her condition was well managed during this expedition,” said Tess Amoore, a Credentialled Diabetes Educator at SVHM’s YADs Clinic.
The expedition came with challenges, particularly the extreme cold which risked freezing her insulin. To prevent this, Rachel kept her supplies close to her body for warmth.
And the big question: what mountain will she tackle next?
“I’m going to take some time to let this one sink in first and enjoy Melbourne life for a while. I am considering climbing Mount Blanc in France next year, but that’s another story for another time,” said Rachel.