Hello. My name is Vittorio Casiraghi.  I am 44 years old and from the town of Besana Brianza,  Province of Milano,  in Northern Italy.  I have been diabetic for 10 years and climbing for more than 25.  I am an athlete and enjoy all forms of mountain activity.  I've climbed extensively throughout the Alps, have climbed big walls in Yosemite and have taken part in expeditions in remote corners of the world including Egypt's Sinai Mountains and Argentina's Patagonia.

I am married and have two daughters (Marina 11 and Silvia 6 years old). I'm  an environmental technician at the local water pollution control district.  I try hard to balance a life of work and family, while keeping physically fit.  I enjoy climbing, mountaineering, ski mountaineering, cross-country skiing, running and cycling.  I work hard on maintaining good glycemic control and have consistent quarterly HgbA1c values of less than 6.5%.  My diabetes management program is intensive MDI therapy consisting of a minimum of four daily injections: morning - actrapid penfill, midday-actraphane penfill (50/50), evening-actrapid penfill, the last-protophane penfill. My total daily insulin needs are about 45-50 units. I understand the importance of taking care of my diabetes when in the mountains and adjust my diabetes management program as needed.  I always have my diabetes essentials close at hand:  insulin (penfill system); blood glucose monitoring system;  and food, including fast-acting carbs.

I have climbed what many consider the most important and great routes of the Alps - the classics - The Cassin route on the Grandes Jorasses, the Bonatti route on the Petit  Dru, the south ridge of the  Aiguille Noire De Peuterey, the English route on Pizzo Badile, routes on Marmolada's south face, routes on the Cime di Lavaredo, to name a few.  I also took part in a number of international expeditions including one to Egypt, another to Patagonia where we climbed the east ridge of Aguja Saint Exupery in the Fitz Roy vicinity, and Yosemite Valley where I climbed the Nose route on El Cap in 2 days, the regular route on  Half Dome, and others. 

I am an active member of the Italian Academic Alpine Club, where I have taught mountaineering and ski-mountaineering.  I look forward to accomplishing not only IDEA 2000's climbing objectives, but working on even more important aspects of the project, like inspiring and educating others about diabetes, and raising funds for diabetics in Latin America who need our help. 

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