I am riding in Tour de Cure again this year, on June 11, 2016 at Washtenaw Community College, because the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure is much more than a cycling event to me. It is my opportunity to change the future and make a positive impact in the lives of those who are affected by diabetes. Among the people I know who are affected with this challenging disease is my 17 year old niece Rebekah who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8.
I asked Rebekah if she would like to ride with me this year, and she said yes. I am so excited and proud to ride her, and I am so happy that she has raised over $400 of her $500 goal already!
Currently there is no cure for type 1, a condition in which the body cannot make insulin; thus people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will have to inject insulin throughout their entire lives. Those who live with diabetes must also take blood glucose readings several times throughout the day, and when someone with the disease gets sick, even with an illness that most people would consider to be minor, they must also monitor their blood or urine for ketones. Ketones result from the body breaking down fats for energy in a physiological crisis situation.The presence of ketones indicates that emergency treatment is necessary.
Though people who are diagnosed with type 1 can live long and productive lives, they are reminded daily that they live with a serious and complicated disease. People living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are faced with possible long term complications as well, ranging from kidney damage to partial or total loss of vision.
I look forward to the day when people who are diagnosed with diabetes can be freed from the burden of living with the disease, because they will also be told that there is a cure!
Both Rebekah and I believe that a cure is within the realm of possibility. Please join us in the fight to secure that cure and to make life better for those who currently live with diabetes.
I truly appreciate your support. Together we can Stop Diabetes!
Please visit my personal fundraising page to make a donation.
http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TourAdmin?px=10998279&pg=personal&fr_id=11064
Source: Tour de Cure by American Diabetes Association: 2016 Michigan Tour de Cure
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