Hey, y’all! I’m Crystal!

I’m Crystal, your go-to road trip co-pilot. national park lover, and who believes Type 1 (or LADA, in my case) shouldn’t sideline your sense of adventure.

I’m a Kansas City girl

By day, I’m deep in the world of pharma, contributing to some of the most exciting drug programs in development (nerd alert, I know). But every spare second, I’m out mapping trails, planning national park adventures, and proving that chronic illness doesn’t get to shrink our dreams.

Back in 2020, my husband and I traded wedding bells for Wi-Fi—got married over Zoom (10-person limit was an introvert’s dream, let’s be honest)—and hit the road. In six months, we visited 11 national parks. Now we’re 21 parks deep and still going strong, one epic trail at a time.

The plot twist? I brought diabetes with me.

My diagnosis story is a bit of a soap opera—Graves’ disease, premature menopause, a Type 2 misdiagnosis, then finally LADA. It’s like Type 1 and Type 2 had a rebellious teen. Fun times! But through it all, I’ve learned how to manage my blood sugar in remote places, keep my tech alive on multi-day hikes, and stay fueled when the nearest store is 90 miles away.

And now, I want to share it all with you.

Because I know how frustrating it can be:

Trying to find travel tips that actually account for insulin storage or hiking with a CGM.

Feeling like your bucket list is on hold until your numbers “behave.”

Worrying about what-ifs instead of planning unforgettable adventures.

You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not stuck.

This blog is here to help you plan smarter, stress less, and go further. I’ll share real-world tips, personal stories, diabetes-friendly hiking guides, and road trip itineraries made for people who want to see everything—and who happen to carry a little extra medical gear.

Imagine:

Navigating Yellowstone without a signal and without panic.

Finishing a bucket list trail with a stable blood sugar and a killer view.

Knowing your diabetes is prepped, packed, and ready to roll—so you can focus on the adventure.

I believe you can do hard things. You already are.

You manage a chronic illness every day. You read labels, do math, juggle devices, and adapt like a boss. So why not add “explore the Grand Canyon” or “hike a mountain at sunrise” to your list?

Together, we’ll turn fear into confidence, logistics into plans, and every “what if” into a “hell yes.”

Ready to hit the road?

Subscribe for tips, trip ideas, gear hacks, and travel-tested wisdom for diabetics who want to see the world without apology.

[Join the adventure → insert email signup or lead magnet link]

Let’s make every mile matter—and prove to ourselves (and our pancreas) that we’re unstoppable.

Life’s short. Our tech’s waterproof. Let’s go explore.

I’m Crystal! As a chronic traveler, I’m here to show you that diabetes is just a plot twist in our epic adventures.

By day, I live the corporate life, contributing to some of the most anticipated drug programs of our lifetime. By night (and weekends, and any second I can sneak away from my 9-5), I’m a national park junkie obsessively planning my next trip. Research and planning are my love language.

In the height of the pandemic, while the world was adjusting to a new normal, my husband and I embraced a different kind of change. We had a Zoom wedding (speaking as an introvert, having the room capacity capped at 10 was a dream! 😙🤌) and hit the road. In just 6 months, we visited 11 national parks and countless other treasures across the United States! Fast forward to today, and we’ve ticked off 21 of the 63 national parks, with our sights set on collecting them all.

My idea of a perfect trip? Picture being surrounded by nothing but mountains, lakes, and waterfalls for miles. If I manage to not see another soul (except my husband, of course), then my trip’s been a success. Sorry, crowded beaches, you’re just not my jam!

🩺 Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – or shall I say, the glucose meter in my backpack. My journey with diabetes has been a bit twisty. From Graves’ disease and a stupid early case of menopause in my 20s, to a misdiagnosis of Type 2 and a revised diagnosis of LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) – it’s like Type 1 and Type 2 had a baby, I felt like I’d won the genetic lottery! So far, this side quest my body’s taken me on’s been quite the ride, but I can’t be mad about it. It’s taught me resilience and adaptability – skills that come in handy on and off the trail.

Here’s the thing: diabetes is just another adventure. Sure, it’s one with more needles, but it doesn’t define us. Ok… maybe it does a little, but it sure doesn’t have to limit us. It’s just along for the ride – like that slightly annoying friend who always forgets to chip in for gas.

That’s why I started this blog. I want to show you that we can do hard things – heck, we do hard things every day by just keeping ourselves alive! So why not add hiking a mountain or kayaking through a canyon to that list? I’m here to help you plan, prepare, and live your best life, one juice box at a time.

Are you ready to trade in your fear for a pair of hiking boots? To show diabetes whose boss while standing on top of the world (or at least on top of a really big hill)?

If so, you’re in the right place. Together, we’ll prove that our only limits are the ones we set for ourselves!

Let’s make every journey an adventure, every trail a victory, and every scenic view a middle finger to diabetes. Who’s with me? Pack your meters, grab your maps, and let’s show the world what travelbetics can do!

Remember: Life’s short and our tech’s waterproof for a reason. Let’s go explore!