Diabetes Walk Planned for Government Island

Stafford County, Va. –– A new Walk for Diabetes will be held at the newly opened Government Island Park.

The event is aimed at promoting awareness of one’s family history in preventing or delaying the development of diabetes.

The walk is sponsored by the Aquia Evening Lions Club, and will feature a sight and hearing screening van as well as blood and glucose screenings on site during the walk.

“You can’t change your family history, but knowing about it can help you work with your schools, family and friends to take action on the things you can change,” said Bea Klapak of Aquia Evening Lions. “Diabetes is a concern dear to me as only a few years ago my young granddaughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. A lot of changes had to be made in helping her to not only handle her disease but to thrive in spite of it.”

Health experts say nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, and that one-third of those people doesn’t know they have the disease. If you have diabetes and are not aware of it, there may be damage to your heart, eyes, kidneys and limbs and show no visible symptoms of illness, says the Lions Club.

Doctors say diabetes can be prevented or delayed by doing more exercise, like walking for 30 minutes each day, eating healthier foods, all with a goal to lose five to seven percent of one’s current weight.

“We encourage everyone to talk with their family members to find out if any close relatives such as a mother, father, brother or sister have had diabetes. If any woman in your family had gestational diabetes while pregnant, she is also at increased risk for diabetes in the future and so is her child from that pregnancy. This is all important information to share with your doctor and with your child’s school,” said Klapak.

The walk begins at 9 a.m. at the Government Island Park, where those who participate will be asked to pay a $25 registration fee to benefit Fredericksburg’s Mary Washington Hospital’s education efforts to combat diabetes.

For more information, call 540-659-6124 or 540-720-3638.