Diabetic walk and run
Chryse Foster checks Rodger Hearst's feet before he walks Monday evening as diabetics are prone to having foot problems.
Amy Mickelson checks her blood sugar levels as part of the walking event on Monday.
Chryse Foster talks with Rodger Hearst (right) before he starts walking Monday evening for the diabetes awareness walk.
New committee seeks to bring awareness to diabetes and provide support for those living with the condition
"That's cold," Roger Hearst said loudly in a shocked voice as he set his bare foot down on the grass. Needless to say, Chryse Foster and others who were around only laughed as the grown man jerked his foot up, setting it back down. Hearst, who is a diabetic, was getting his feet checked by Foster before walking around the track at Superior High School Monday evening.
"Diabetics are notorious for having foot problems," Foster said, "so that's why we're doing foot checks. Afterwards, I'm going to look at everyone's feet make sure they're not getting blisters or anything."
Foster said that if anyone didn't want her handling their feet that she had brought along a "handy, dandy mirror." Foster said that diabetics have to have a sense of humor as they live with the condition. "Diabetes is 24/7. You think about it all the time, your life is complicated and we want people to meet other diabetics so they can work on things and kind of be supportive," Foster said.
The foot checks were just one facet of a special event that the Diabetes Committee at the hospital and clinic in Superior put on to bring awareness, education and support to individuals who live with the disease day in, day out.
This was the committee's first big event and they wanted to recognize the importance of exercise in managing diabetes. Diabetics tested their blood sugar beforehand and then walked on the track for as little or as long as they wanted. Afterwards, blood sugar levels were taken again to see how much the exercise helped to lower blood sugar levels. Around ten people took to the track whether in support of friends or to see how much their level would be affected by exercise. They talked about everything from shrimp to their kid's lives as they walked along the track in what looked like a social hour.
Peggy Prince, Karen Rickett and Dr. Patrick Tufts are also on the committee with Foster. The committee's goal can be summed up simply as a desire to bring diabetes to the forefront.
"This is kind of our first idea in getting the community involved and getting people moving. Eventually, I think we'd like to expand," Tufts said.
Amy Mickelson who lives with diabetes said that she came out so that she could hopefully learn more about her condition.
"I hope it's educational," she said.
Tufts said that they see a lot of patients with diabetes in the clinic. The disease can start when people are as young as toddlers. Tufts said that one of the biggest things with having diabetes is you start to look at everything differently, namely food. It becomes more than simply just grabbing a snack from the cupboard when you're hungry.
"It kind of ruins it for you," Tufts said. "You start having to look at everything your reading saying ‘how much carbs does this have in it? How is this going to affect my blood sugar?'"
Although it was a small group, Tufts said he think with time and with them talking to more people the efforts will expand.
"Number one, we want to get people's awareness up. Number two, I want my patients and the community members that have diabetes to do more physical activity and get in shape," Tufts said. "Making good choices has a lot to do with it. The more you manage your diabetes down the road the less problems you have that diabetes can bring on."
Be on the lookout for more events as the committee plans things such as group classes and more.