LIVINGLIVING
cereal bars with me. I carry them on
climbs and use them all the time.
Any advice for everyone else?
I don't climb solo any more, just in case, I
have my own kids to think of, and also the
kids in the charity Action4Diabetics. There
are now 150 of them and I want 500 on
the programme by 2020 so I can't take
huge risks anymore.
My catchphrase is 'diabetes is NOT an
excuse'. We all make excuses sometimes,
but don't let diabetes be your excuse.
For most diabetics, if you want to do
something, you can. Don't let it stop you
from living a full life. Exercise is a secret we
can all share. It can help with your diabetes
control. You will have a few hypos, but your
body gets used to it and you have fewer
hypos, you know how to handle it. I want
every diabetic to live a long, fulfilled life.
If there's one piece of advice I would like
to pass on its to find other diabetics and
talk to them. You learn a lot from anyone
else you get much more support and
confidence by talking to other people who
have lived with it a while."
HANGING AROUND. Opposite: Jerry Gore (on right) and
friend climbing in Madagascar. Above: at 6400m on Cholatse,
testing his own limits and the limits of his blood testing kit.
Below: click the image to watch a video about Gore's methods.