Signature Fundraiser Events

The American Diabetes Association puts on many fundraiser events throughout the year. These events give the Association the opportunity to raise money, but also participate in fun activities within different communities. The two signature events the Association hosts are Tour de Cure and Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes.  

Tour de Cure is a series of fundraising cycling events held in 44 states nationwide to benefit the Association. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. This event makes for a fun day on your bike and supports an amazing cause. To learn more about Tour de Cure, click here.

Source: Google Images

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes is their signature fundraising walk. Formerly known as Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes and America’s Walk for Diabetes. This event has been taking place for more than 20 years and has raised more than $175,000,000 to Stop Diabetes! Last year more than 120,000 participants from 120 walk events across the country came together and raised over $24 million. To learn more about Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, click here.

Watch the video below, and find out why these incredible individuals Step Out and Walk to Stop Diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association hosts other fundraising events to, such as Father of the Year, Community Walk, and Rip's B.A.D. Ride. To learn more about these fundraiser events, click here. For those who are unable to participate in these fundraisers, the Association also takes donations though their website. If you’d like to help support the search for a cure, click here to donate. And remember that Together We Can Stop Diabetes!

Important Dates: Mark your Calendar!

Father of the Year (Grand Rapids): June 4, 2015

Tour de Cure: June 6, 2015

Father of the Year (Detroit): June 11, 2015

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes: 

September 12, 2015

The American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association, Who are they? And what do they do? The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a non-profit association based out of the United States working to fight the consequences of diabetes, as well as support all those affected.  The Association is based out of Virginia, but they have two local chapters, one in Southfield and one in Grand Rapids.

The Association funds research to prevent diabetes and find a cure, delivers services to local communities, provides information and advocates on behalf of those denied their rights due to diabetes.  Their mission is “To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes”. To learn more about the American Diabetes Association click here.  

Back in January, I had the pleasure of interviewing Krista Lang, Associate Manager of the American Diabetes Association's Bingham Farms office in Southfield. She was super nice and had a bunch of pamphlets and brochures waiting for me. It was a great experience and Krista was very accommodating! Below are some of the questions I asked during the interview:

Tell me about your local chapter?

The American Diabetes Association has two offices in the state of Michigan. One is Southfield and one in Grand Rapids. However, they are nationally based all over the United States.

What impact have you had on Southeast Michigan?

Southeast Michigan has had the best impact due to their office. The staff members all participate in multiple events, such as ID Day (I Decide to Stop Diabetes), health fairs, outreach programs, Camp Midicha, Diabetes Wellness Day, Tour de Cure, and Walk to Stop Diabetes.  We also target churches in Detroit, and visit local schools.

What challenges does your office face?

A lot! The biggest challenge is having limited staff. The Southfield location has nine employees, while the Grand Rapids location only has two employees. I wish we were able to have more staff, so we would be able to do more community outreach. Essentially we work off of what people fundraise; therefore the association has to be smart money wise.

What can individuals, like me do to help make an impact?

FUNDRAISE! The association runs solely off fundraising. The fundraising allows us to be able to go out into the community and print/design material. However, a majority of the money goes to research.

What is your main goal?

Our main goal is to find a cure, but in the mean time we help people manage the disease.

This is a video I found on YouTube that the Association put out to education the population on Diabetes. Remember, Together We Can Stop Diabetes!

Are You At Risk?

Did you know every 19 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes. In fact, diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined? This proposes many questions. Are you at risk for diabetes? Do you know what symptoms to look for? What actually causes diabetes?

First, are you at risk for diabetes? To find out, click here and take the Diabetes Risk Test. This test will ask you to enter some basic health information. The test will calculate if you’re at risk for Type 2 diabetes. Remember: Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by staying at a healthy weight, eating well, and being active.

Second, what are the symptoms of diabetes? Some common symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, feeling very thirsty, feeling very hungry (even though you are eating), extreme fatigue,  blurry vision, slow healing of cuts/bruises,  weight loss even though you are eating more (This pertains to Type 1), and tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (This pertains to Type 2). All of the symptoms mentioned above are very typical. However, there are also symptoms that are so mild they go unnoticed. This usually happens if someone has Type 2 because symptoms develop gradually.

Lastly, what causes diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin due to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system is attacking and destroying the beta cells. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults; however it can appear at any age.  At one point, Type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type, is caused by many factors. One is insulin resistance, which is a condition where the body’s muscle, fat, and liver cells do not used the insulin effectively. Type 2 develops when the body can no longer produce enough insulin to compensate for the impaired ability to use insulin. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in middle-aged and older people who are also overweight or obese. Type 2 used to be rare in youth, but is becoming more common in overweight and obese children and adolescents.

Early detection and treatment can decrease the risk of complications. Help raise awareness, get tested, and stay healthy because Together We Can Stop Diabetes! 

Source: Google Images

What is Diabetes?

Many times the word diabetes is associated with the words sugar and insulin. But what does diabetes really mean? Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce any or enough insulin, which results in elevated levels of glucose in the blood. There are two different types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 Diabetes is when the body does not produce insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is when the body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance.

I’m sure your initial thought is that I must be diabetic, why else would I be so educated and passionate about diabetes. However, that is not the case. When I was seven, my mom was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, meaning she is dependent on insulin to live. For the past 17 years of my life I have watched my mom struggle with this disease.  I have witnessed her sugar level at its highest, and at its lowest, which are both extremely life threatening.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for diabetes.  There have been advancements in treatments and breakthroughs over the years, but no proven cure. Every morning I watch my mom poke her finger to test her blood sugar, and then proceed to inject herself with insulin, then again before dinner. This has become her way of life. My mom is just 1 of 29 billion that battle this disease every day. I am a firm believer that, Together We Can Stop Diabetes!

Meet my Mom, She is my Best Friend, and Biggest Supporter!