First Man With Diabetes Reaches Mount Everest’s Summit

He couldn’t check his blood sugars because of the high altitudes because of the cold temperatures. None of the current meters would work at those kind of extreme conditions.

It’s no secret Will Cross has diabetes. It’s also no secret he’s never let that stop him from achieving one of his goals. Most recently, he climbed Mount Everest — the last of seven mountains that he’s conquered in the world. Cross couldn’t rest until he made it to the top of Everest.

“There has been no other patient with diabetes — let alone on insulin — that has climbed Mount Everest,” endocrinologist Dr. Patricia Bononi, of West Penn Hospital, said. On his third try, Cross conquered his three-year challenge, making world history.

“He actually climbed in the middle of the night and made the summit at 5:10 in the morning. So, it was still dark out when he was standing on the top of the world,” Amy Cross, Will’s wife, said. “I really had a grin from ear to ear — climbing the Hillary Step. Literally looking down on the world from 29,035 feet is the most unique feeling,” Will Cross said.

Colorful flags covered with prayers fill the family’s back yard, brought back from its first trip to Mount Everest.

“They have prayers on them. You can kind of see a little Buddha on them. They have different pictures. But when the wind blows them, it’s supposed to send prayers off on the wind,” Amy said.

The climb even amazes one of Cross’ doctors. “He had to figure out how to store his insulin and keep it from freezing. He had to determine how to treat himself because he was exerting himself so physically. He couldn’t check his blood sugars because of the high altitudes because of the cold temperatures. None of the current meters would work at those kind of extreme conditions,” Bononi said.

“I’m really proud of Will because as a father, he wants to set a good example for his own children — that you can press on and still do the things you love to do even if there are obstacles in your life,” Amy said.

The father of six with type 1 diabetes couldn’t always tell if his symptoms stemmed from his type 1 diabetes or the high altitude.

“I learned a lot when he was climbing. None of this is in the medical research. There’s very limited data. So, he was climbing lots of frontiers — not only physical frontiers, but medical ones as well,” Bononi said.

“I know he already has plans to do something else. So, it’s not like it’s going to end here,” Amy Cross said.

He’s already planning to walk to the North Pole from Canada.