Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the way the body uses digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food people eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.
Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a disorder of the body's immune system the system that protects the body from viruses, bacteria or foreign substances.
The World Health Organization estimated in 2006 that at least 171 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes; that number is expected to double by 2030. Currently, 18.3 percent of Americans over the age of 60 have been diagnosed with diabetes, costing the United States $132 billion each year for diagnosis and diabetes treatment.
After adjusting for population age and sex differences, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes. Prevention or control of diabetes through a healthy diet, weight loss and exercise is the first step to eradicating this disease, but until that point, there is a hope for a cure.
The local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is sponsoring a Walk for Cure on Sunday Sept. 27th at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Local television reporter Maureen Kyle from WKYC Channel 3 and Disney channel actor Brian Stepanek from Suite Life of Zach and Cody will kick off the walk. To participate or donate, contact the JDRF Northeast Ohio Chapter, Akron/Canton Branch at northeastohio@jdrf.org or by phone at 216-524-6000.
For more info:
Kids pages and contests
Downloadable school advisory tool kit
Online community for Diabetes info and support
A local team's video promoting the walk:
JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes 2009 - Guy's Groupies (Team MacDonald)
Comments
It's all happenin' at the zoo, I do believe it, I do believe it
s true!
What a wonderful place to hold this special event.
I am pretty sure zoo animals don't get diabetes. :) I love the Rainforest, too. When my children were in preschool, we used to go there anytime we needed a tropical escape.
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