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Mike Hardin |
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My name is Michael Hardin. I am 32 years old and have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 25. I was diagnosed in a small hospital in western Colorado, far from family and friends. Having always been an outdoor enthusiast and active person, my first reaction was that life was over. I thought, why me? This isn’t fair! And then I just decided that I was going to manage my diabetes and not the other way around. I think it took mere moments for me to decide that I would not let diabetes keep me from doing all the things I so much love to do.
For the past five years, I have worked as a park ranger for the National Park Service. My responsibilities include providing emergency services to visitors and protecting park resources. To this end, I am certified as a law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, and structural and wildland firefighter. I also train for and participate in search and rescue. Wearing this many hats often means long work hours and winding up in remote locations with little notice.
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Recently, I switched to humalog and ultra lente insulin and am very pleased with the results. No longer am I committed to a rigid eating schedule and it is super easy to adjust caloric intake for varying activity levels.
I am currently assigned to Yellowstone National Park but have also worked in the Everglades and in southern Arizona. So far, I have been able to manage my diabetes while working in a variety of climates encompassing elevations from sea level to around 13,000 feet and temperatures from minus 30 to 105 F. I have found it really quite easy to succeed in this hectic line of work by simply paying attention to my own condition, carrying food and medication, and staying hydrated. A little pre-planning goes a long way.
I cannot imagine doing anything else for a living. I get great satisfaction from helping others and from doing my part to preserve a few fragments of our natural and cultural heritage. As rewarding as work is, I still make time for fun. Off-duty, I like to do a little backpacking, skiing, fly fishing, canoeing, and just about anything else outside.
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