Walk for diabetes awareness

TAKE steps to accept a healthy lifestyle challenge, not only for yourself, but for your family and friends, by taking part in this year's Diabetes SA Global Walk – Durban, on Sunday, 29 November at 8am.

This 5km walk from the Lower Marine Parade Amphitheatre at the Bay of Plenty, aims to create awareness of the condition.

Speaking at the launch of this, the 4th walk in Durban, Jenny Russell from Diabetes SA, the driving force behind the walk, explained that the link between a high intake of sugar and diabetes was not well established.

“Looking at the statistics from the past nine years that I've been at Diabetes SA, I am shattered. People aged 15, 18 and 23 are now type two diabetics, which is as a result of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, it is shocking. This is the tsunami of the 21st century, and it is estimated that by 2030, there will be a 101 per cent increase in diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. The first thing people say when they are diagnosed is that they don't eat a lot of sugar, but it's not about this. Sugar is not the enemy, and reducing sugar intake is only one component of reducing the overall risk of type two diabetes,” she said.

She said age, ethnicity, obesity and family history impacts on the chances of a person being diagnosed.

“No one is taking diabetes seriously, it is the number two killer in eThekwini and is a serious problem. More people are dying from diabetes related complications than Aids,” she said.

Jenny encouraged the community to get involved, and said organisers aimed to encourage over 3000 walkers to enter the 5km event.

In addition to the walk, there will be a festive Wellness Expo which allows members of the public to receive free glucose and blood pressure tests among other exciting features. Local personalities will also be entertaining the crowds and offering loads of lucky draws and family getaways.

To register for the walk, collect your entry form from the Diabetes SA Durban office at Davenport Square in Glenwood at Office 62, on the 1st floor, where personnel will be on duty to help with the registration process. The first 1 000 early bird entries will receive a T-shirt and goodie-bag and the following 500 will only receive a T-shirt.

Registration will be open from 9am until 3pm from 16 to 28 November for collection of goodie-bags and registration enquiries.

Pat Bonini of Nerve Events, organisers of the annual walk, encourages the public to support this event at just R50 per person.

“All proceeds go towards supporting a worthy cause, that of Diabetes SA, so bring along all your friends, cousins, extended family and even bring your dogs along on a leash,” she added with a smile.

There will be loads of lucky draws taking place after the walk where one can win prizes including a TV, family getaways to the Berg, the bush, the beach or the battlefields, courtesy of the Gooderson Leisure Hospitality Group. Local wellness celebrity Lisa Raleigh will once again be the MC for this event.

For more information call Pat from Nerve Events during office hours on 0312012169 or visit www.facebook.com/diabetessouthafricadurban