A diabetic man will trek 80 miles to Everest base camp after a shock diagnosis of the condition 18 months ago.
James Nicholls, 29, who lives in Yapton, near Arundel was diagnosed with diabetes in November 2021.
He has a type of diabetes called Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (Lada).
Now, he has set himself the challenge of trekking to the Everest base camp in Nepal to raise funds for Diabetes UK.
James, who previously ran the Brighton Marathon for the charity, said: “The first test I did was just on the off-chance and I was a bit surprised that it came back with a high reading.
“I went to the GP and was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and then, just a few months later, diabetic.
“It was a bit of a shock. There is diabetes in my wife’s family but none in mine so although I know about the condition I was not expecting to have it myself.”
Lada is a type of diabetes which seems to straddle type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
It is not classified as a separate type of diabetes at the moment but medical research is ongoing to try and pinpoint exactly what differentiates it from type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
James said he has now adjusted well to the condition.
He said: “My blood glucose levels still fluctuate but my most recent blood tests have been reassuring. I try and look after my body as well as I can and I will be doing a lot of walking in training for the trek in the coming months which will also help.”
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James, who works for the South Downs National Park, has booked the trek for November.
It will take around 13 days, with 5,364 metres of ascent in very cold conditions.
Jill Steaton, head of Diabetes UK for the South East Coast and London, said: “James has already been a wonderful fundraiser for us and we are very grateful and impressed that he has set himself this difficult challenge.”
- For those who wish to donate, James has a JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/jamesebc2023.
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