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On Jeremy Ackerman's 15th birthday, he learned that he had diabetes. His
parents were dismayed, but he set out to learn more about the disease and to
learn how to manage it so he could still do the things he wanted to do.
He strongly believes that people with diabetes -- especially younger ones --
need to know that the disease, while serious, doesn't have to limit them and
that they "can do almost anything they want."
To make that point, he and 15 other Type 1 diabetic athletes from around the
world will travel to Argentina Dec. 26 to climb Cerro Aconcagua, which, with a
summit of 22,830 feet, is the highest point in the Western Hemisphere.
Eleven years after the diagnosis, the Maryland native is a University
M.D.-Ph.D. candidate with aspirations to surgery and a graduate degree in
biomedical engineering.
But he still finds time for the outdoor activities he loves. He's an
experienced backpacker and trekker and has even dabbled in rock climbing - all
this while successfully managing his glucose levels.
Ackerman, who admits that he was something of a terror to doctors in the early
years of his disease, is now better able to understand doctor and family
concerns about diabetes management.
A founding member of the group, IDEA2000 -- or the International Diabetic
Expedition to Aconcagua -- the medical student says the goal of the ambitious
project, which has been in the planning stages for more than two years, is
three-fold.
"We want to raise awareness of diabetes and to inspire diabetics to achieve
their goals," he says. "We want to raise $2.1 million to support diabetes care
in underserved parts of Latin America, and, while we're doing all this, conduct
scientific research on altitude's effects on diabetics and diabetes
management."
The experience should also be a lot of fun, he says. Group members traveling to
Argentina represent a variety of mountaineering skill levels, according to
Ackerman.
"A few are like me with a limited amount of experience. Others are very
experienced mountaineers, like the director of the group and another climber
from Spain," he says. "That's why there will be two teams heading up the
mountain -- the `summiting' group doing a challenging technical climb and the
less experienced `trekking' group following a non-technical route supporting
the other climbers and the research effort."
What members have in common is their understanding of their disease, Ackerman
says.
"Most of us are aware that you can do just about anything when you have
diabetes. The hard part is knowing what issues to address and plan for. For
example, insulin can freeze, which not only makes it impossible to inject but
also renders it less effective. Insulin also stops working if it gets too
warm."
When the small electronic blood glucose meter used to measure sugar levels is
taken to higher altitudes, the chemistry of the device changes. LCD displays
and batteries present in watches, blood glucose meters and insulin pumps also
are sensitive to the cold -- potentially affecting insulin delivery and
diabetes management. Climbers worry about their insulin pumps failing much more
than their watches.
"When you get into the mountains, there's a whole range of effects on your
physiology," Ackerman says. "There are all these factors, some not completely
understood, that interact with diabetes. We have to decide how to control
variables like how much insulin to take, how much food to eat and how much
activity we can do."
Give to the cause
IDEA2000 -- International Diabetic Expedition to Aconcagua -- has come up with
programs for tax-deductible donations, including sales of special T-shirts
(delivered personally by founding member Jeremy Ackerman to save shipping costs
to buyers). In addition, donors of $10 or more will be sent a postcard from the
team in Argentina. Those who donate $100 or more will receive a prayer flag,
which is like the small, lightweight flags mountaineers carry. "The idea is
that we're carrying your hopes and dreams with us," Ackerman said.
For more information, call Ackerman at 967-2146 or e-mail him at
ackerman@cs.unc.edu The project's web address is http://www.idea2000.org
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