"I've had diabetes since 1994 and because of the lack of information at the time I thought I'd have to give up mountaineering.

But I've learnt to understand my condition and insulin management. I have an insulin pump which I can fine tune to ensure I don't have too much insulin, thereby increasing my sugar levels, or too little, which would reduce them.

When I'm in the mountains I keep a detailed log of everything to see what works and what doesn't. I try and maintain the balance, whilst taking the usual precautions of ensuring I eat at the correct times and I always check my sugar levels regularly.

There's no reason why someone with diabetes can't maintain an active life. Discuss everything with your doctor or diabetes nurse to make sure you know how to manage everything. Exercise can mask the symptoms of difficulties due to your diabetes like sweating and being tired so you have to know your own body.

You've also got to be aware of any battery-operated equipment used to monitor your diabetes. They can be affected by cold weather, so always keep them close to your body, e.g. in a coat pocket, to ensure they'll work.

But ultimately exercise is good to keep you healthy, especially for the future.

In 2000 I founded an organisation called MAD - Mountains for Active Diabetics. There's lots of really useful information and links on our website. There are also some really inspiring stories of people with diabetes doing amazing things, and although there's no need for everyone to go on such extreme adventures it does show that there's no reason why you can't get out and about in your local area.

We're currently trying to arrange an expedition of diabetic mountaineers for 2005, where we can carry out some research into dealing with diabetes, not only in extreme situations but on a day to day basis.

It's really great that I can now manage my diabetes because I'm locally born and bred and my parents have always been really active in the mountains, so it was an instinctive thing for me to go out and explore them too. We lived in South Africa for a while when I was very young and we climbed some of the peaks there.

I've been working for Snowdonia National Park since 1999, within the warden and access service. We deal mostly with access issues - and day to day management on a practical level within the park - the best way of describing it is as a jam sandwich. We're the jam between one slice of bread, the landowners, and the other, the visitors.

They realised when the park was set up in 1951 that it was very important to liaise between the landowners and those who come to visit, who need to be educated about the work of the park.

On a practical level, we manage the footpaths and deal with issues with stiles and gates to help ensure unhindered access.

We also work with the local community and schools to promote safety in the park. Some local children grow up in or near Snowdonia National Park but don't get the chance to get immersed in the landscape, which is such an asset to the area.

My working area is most of Snowdon's flank which is very beautiful, but also very accessible. You'll reach the highest peak in Wales along with dozens of other people. But you can go to somewhere like the Moelwyns and explore some really remote places where there won't be many people. So when I go exploring on my days off, my favourite places depend on what kind of mood I'm in.

I really enjoy walking, scrambling up rocks and rock climbing and there's so many places to go and do this in North Wales, it's such a diverse place.