When you imagine someone summiting Antarcticaโs tallest mountain, Mount Vinson, you probably picture a seasoned mountaineer hardened by years of extreme climates and unpredictable terrain. You might not expect a 28-year-old medical doctor with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from Belfast. But Rachel Smith is rewriting expectations โ and doing so with a quiet tenacity thatโs turning heads across the global diabetes community.
This December, Rachel will attempt to become the first woman with T1D to summit Mount Vinson (4,892m) โ a feat only 1,500 muggles (people without diabetes) have ever achieved. While three men with diabetes have stood at its icy peak, no woman has. Thatโs about to change.
“I want to push the perceived limits of what T1Ds can achieve,” Rachel says.
The Journey
Rachelโs journey began in the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland, scrambling up rugged hills with her family. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just two years old, but the condition quickly became a part of life โ not a limit.
โIโve always enjoyed doing something a bit different โ something other people hadnโt done,โ she recalls.
Then a flyer at University advertising an expedition to Kilimanjaro sparked a fire. At 19, with no continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and only finger pricks to rely on, Rachel took on her first high-altitude summit. Minus 15ยฐC, 11-hour summit night, limited glucose readings โ and yet, she made it.
That moment of triumph led to more: summits of Aconcagua in South America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Kosciuszko in Australia, and icy adventures through the Himalayas, Scotland, Scandinavia, and beyond.
Real Talk: Training, Glucose, and Jelly Beans
Rachelโs training isnโt just about lunges and rope climbs โ itโs about understanding how her body reacts. On training days, she manages her basal insulin differently depending on whether sheโs running or lifting weights. On rest days, she adjusts again. She watches closely. Learns constantly. Gives herself grace.
โIf I do a big hike โ like six hours โ the impact can last for three or four days. Iโll run lower, be more insulin sensitive.โ
Her perfect pre-hike glucose number? โ7.5 mmol/L โ not too low, not too high. Just right.โ
Her hypo treatment of choice? โJelly beans โ five max. Then reassess.โ
And her hiking sandwich? A crusty baguette, butter, ham, and cheese. โSimple. Classic. Tastes better in the mountains.โ
Doctor, Diabetic & the Mental Game
Rachel isnโt just an athlete โ sheโs a medical doctor, too.
Her medical training brings a unique lens to her life with T1D. On one hand, it gives her deeper insight into her condition. On the other, it can amplify the worry.
But it was her own experiences as a patient that made her want to become a doctor in the first place. The times when a clinician truly listened, asked questions, and empowered her โ those moments stuck with her. Thatโs the kind of care she wants to offer others.
Even with the demands of a medical career, Rachel trains six days a week, balancing CrossFit, running, occasional swimming, and soon, alpine skill development for her Antarctic ascent.
What makes Rachel extraordinary isnโt just her physical and academic ability โ itโs her mindset. Diabetes, as any T1D knows, can be emotionally draining. Blood sugars rise and fall without warning. Equipment can fail. Even with the best planning, bad days happen. And on a mountain, they can be dangerous.
Sheโs had those days. On Aconcagua โ the highest peak in South America โ she experienced a full pump failure at base camp after nearly nine days on the mountain.
โThat was a scary moment,โ she admits.
โThere are days when diabetes takes over. I let myself have those days. I donโt put pressure on myself. Tomorrowโs a new day.โ
In the end she luckily found and got her back up pump setup and working. Rachelโs not interested in pretending itโs easy. Instead, sheโs learned to acknowledge tough days, accept them, and move forward.
Her training isnโt just physical โ itโs mental preparation, too. Understanding how her blood sugar responds to different kinds of activity is crucial. Weight training pushes her numbers up, while cardio tends to bring them down. Long hikes can create a โtail effect,โ where her insulin sensitivity increases for days afterward.
Even rest days require adjustment โ less activity usually means more insulin.
Fueling the Climb
Its more than just cereal bars, jelly beans, juice boxes, simple & familiar meals…
Rachel has partnered with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) to raise funds and awareness in both the UK and Australia. Every step she takes in the snow is a step toward changing the narrative of whatโs possible with T1D. Her Instagram page, @type1summit, tracks every training session, gear check, and insight along the way.
But beyond fundraising, sheโs on a mission to change mindsets. Her message is clear: Diabetes can be a teacher. It can build strength, focus, discipline, and grit.ย
โBe kind to yourself. Give yourself time to understand how type one works for youโฆ Thereโs a whole community out here who want to help.โ
As Rachel continues training through Melbourneโs winter โ gym days, long runs, and mountain weekends โ her December departure looms closer.
An inspiration to diabetics and muggles alike.ย While we huddle by our heater pondering if a second serving of ice cream will send us out of range – Rachel is preparing to face sub-zero temperatures, shifting glaciers, and fierce Antarctic winds, whilst remaining grounded, humble, and fiercely determined.
This isnโt just a summit. Itโs a statement.
Type 1 diabetes doesnโt define our limits.ย
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Support Rachelโs Climb
๐ Follow her adventures: @type1summit
๐ Charity Partner: Breakthrough T1D
๐ Patch Partner: Not Just a Patch โ keeping tech stuck even in Antarctica.
๐ Listen to the podcast interview
๐ฅ Watch the YouTube interviewย
Marketing & Content Creator | Instagram | YouTube
Jackson has had type 1 diabetes for over 20 years. As a Marketing Professional with over a decade of experience, he creates content to inspire diabetics and only works with companies that put people before profits. When not saving the world, he can be found sneaking a second serving of ice cream or pulling into a barrel.
