4th Annual Diabetes Walk Stepping For Diabetes

(PORTSMOUTH, VA – March 26, 2019) – Personally afflicted with diabetes or know someone that is? As one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the United States, the Arabia Temple No. 12 and Arabia Court No. 23 will raise awareness about the disease during its 4 th Annual Diabetes Walk Stepping for Diabetes, Saturday, April 27, at I.C. Norcom High School, 1801 London Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23704. Help bring awareness to your community by joining the Prince Hall Shriners and the American Diabetes Association for this walk. This event is expected to draw crowds in the hundreds. Stepping for Diabetes will include line dances for warm ups, free health screenings, and healthy snacks for participants. The registration fee is $20 per participant. This event features three (2) mile walk/runs beginning at 9 a.m., and provides giveaways with interesting activities. Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how the body transforms food into energy. If a person has diabetes, their body doesn’t make a sufficient amount of insulin or it is unable to use the insulin it does make, as well as it should. The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational.  Type 1: thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that stops the body from making insulin. Five percent of diabetes patients have this type. Usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults.  Type 2: your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. Ninety percent of diabetes patients have this type. Usually diagnosed in adults.  Gestational: develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. If diagnosed the baby could be at higher risk of health problems. Usually goes away after the baby is born, but can increase the mothers risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. To register yourself or your team, please contact Larrie S. Jones at (757) 729-1266 or email larrie357@gmail.com, or Hellen Simmons at (757) 646-9895 or email hreed@gmail.com.