Walkers take trek to fight diabetes
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By Christina McNamara | Sunday, October 15, 2006 |
A brisk, cold wind blew off of the Mississippi River on Saturday morning as more than 400 people braved the temperatures to trek three miles in the 13th local American Diabetes Association Walk on Moline’s Ben Butterworth Parkway.
More than a dozen people wore orange T-shirts labeled “Team Super Shea” over their winter coats. Shea Nelson, 4, of Eldridge, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a year ago.
“I took her into the doctor for what I thought was an infection,” said Shea’s mother, Stacie Nelson. “She had further testing, and the next day, we found out we had two hours to get to Iowa City and check her into the hospital. We spent four or five days there learning how to take care of her. It was like bringing a newborn baby home with insulin and syringes instead of bottles and formula.”
Shea’s diabetes is managed by giving her four insulin shots a day.
“She’s unbelievable and so strong,” Nelson said.
Jenine Bergert of Bettendorf bundled up to participate because her 71-year-old mother was just diagnosed with diabetes. She hopes her involvement will make a positive impact on the future of diabetics.
“Anything can help,” she said. “Research can help find ways to control diabetes easier and with less medication, and hopefully diagnose it sooner.”
A group of people walked along with 8-year-old Ryan Bender of Davenport, who was diagnosed with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes a year and a half ago.
“I want to learn more about diabetes and show support,” said Becky Healy of DeWitt, Ryan’s grandmother. “It’s so scary what his parents are going through.”
Ryan’s father, Jeff Bender, said Ryan wears a pump to control the disease.
“We load it with insulin once every three days, and it keeps a basal level of insulin,” Bender said. “He checks sugars before a meal or snack, and the pump automatically enters insulin depending on how many carbohydrates he is eating.”
Eye surgeon Michael Howcroft, who works with diabetics and their visual complications from the disease, was the co-chair for this year’s walk. He said money was raised through donations given by participants. The goal was to raise $75,000.
Proceeds primarily benefit diabetes research at the University of Iowa and other research facilities in the state. About 20 percent of the funds help provide services for diabetics living in the Quad-Cities and education about diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association says that someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 21 seconds.
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
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