Diabetes Mountain Expeditions bridges real-world wilderness adventure with practical, hands-on diabetes management. Built specifically for adults managing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes—along with the spouses, partners, and support systems who stand beside them—our guided small-group trips use the backcountry as a dynamic space to build resilience, refine blood glucose strategies under sustained effort, and foster lasting lifestyle changes.
Managing diabetes is a relentless daily task; taking it into the mountains requires calculated strategy, adaptability, and grit. We provide the professional wilderness leadership, small-group ratio, and safety protocols needed to tackle steep climbs, unpredictable weather, and remote terrain with confidence. By facing physical obstacles and backcountry adversity together, we help you master the variables of exertion, nutrition, and altitude so you can push past perceived limits and take ownership of your health on and off the trail.
Our Mission
Founder Story
Joseph is a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), NASM-Certified Personal Trainer/ Nutrition Coach, ultra-endurance athlete, and experienced mountain guide dedicated to proving that managing diabetes doesn't mean shrinking your world. Living with Type 1 Diabetes since 2019, he has a consistent 5.2% A1C on a carbohydrate-heavy diet.
Joseph’s mission is to show that a chronic condition does not have to be a boundary.
Founded on the belief that backcountry adversity breeds real-world resilience, Diabetes Mountain Expeditions was created to provide a safe, structured, and empowering environment for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics to tackle remote mountain terrain.
“In 2019, at the cusp of adulthood, my life was abruptly altered by a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. This autoimmune disease, absent in my family history, struck me unexpectedly.
The ensuing years have been a journey of self-discovery as I navigate this new reality. Before my diagnosis, I considered myself healthy, unaware of the true meaning of that word.
Like many of you, I've learned that certain foods significantly impact my blood sugar, mental well-being, and athletic performance. Much of this knowledge has been acquired through personal trial and error, a lonely and isolating experience.
This spurred the creation of Diabetes Mountain Expeditions. I believe that individuals with diabetes, through their daily struggles and triumphs, become experts in managing their bodies and achieving their goals.
My passion lies in mountaineering, driven by a desire to conquer renowned peaks. I'm determined to prove that T1D will not limit my ambitions. Along this challenging path, I'm eager to connect with others, sharing our unique experiences and learning from the lessons we discover.”
