Hike softly, carry walking stick. Those are two of the main maxims for the trail, whether or not you have diabetes.

The latter is among the least observed. I just came back from three days of wilderness hiking in northern Colorado. In all that time I saw few people on the trails and a lot fewer even who had sense enough to carry a walking stick or two.

On the Continental Divide

Walking – particularly hiking in the mountains – is my exercise of choice. Walking is the prime example of aerobic...