Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 3, 1 March 2014 — Walking the talk in diabetes awareness and prevention [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Walking the talk in diabetes awareness and prevention

By Mary Aliee Ka'iulani Milham I They say, "What you don't know can't hurt you." But not when it comes to diabetes. That's why education and early detection are such a big part of the American Diabetes Association's annual Step Out: Walk

to Stop Diabetes fundraiser, March 15 at Kapi'olani Park. "Prevention messaging is critical," says Leslie Lam, executive director of the American Diabetes Association in Hawai'i. Diabetes is on the rise throughout the U.S. It's estimated that one in three adults will develop diabetes by 2050. The odds are even scarier in Hawai'i, where an estimated one of every two residents is expected develop the disease. While there are 1 13,000 diagnosed diabetics in Hawai'i, 26,100 residents remain undiagnosed. An additional 363,000 residents have prediabetes, meaning their blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Hawaiian children are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, because of

Hawai'i's high rates of obesity, and are being diagnosed at mueh younger ages. "Children as young as 3 years old are getting diagnosed with type 2 diabetes," says Lam. Parents ean help their children by making changes, for example offering a fresh-peeled orange, instead of a glass of orange juice, whieh contains the equivalent calories of six oranges. Early intervention, lifestyle changes such as weight loss and increased physical activity, ean help delay or prevent the onset of diabetes, Lam says. Even in the case of hereditary type 2 diabetes, it's possible to prevent complications such as kidney failure, adult blindness and amputations. "You ean avoid all of that if you have the education," says Lam. "If we keep talking to folks about what they should be eating, and the portions they should be eating, and how it relates to their body and their blood sugar, that's a huge step in the right direction for prevention." ADA' s message for Native Hawaiians is not about abstaining from traditional meals enjoyed on occasion, but about making changes, like portion control or taking a walk after such a meal, that mitigate the impacts of such foods. OHA, a top sponsor of the Step Out Walk for the past four years, held a kickoff at its new offices at Nā Lama Kukui, also called the Gentry Paeihe Design Center, in Iwilei on Feb. 11. The OHA launeh was part of a series of Step Out kickoffs that began in November. Up to 100 teams are expected to sign up for the 2.3-mile walk.

ADA hopes to raise $550,000 while engaging 3,000 attendees, with half the teams coming from the community and half company-sponsored. "The more people you have, the more awareness," says Lam. A heahh fair at the walk is also planned with 20 companies offering BMI (body mass index) and blood pressure checks, alona with a wealth of

^on aj,out diabetes and chronic diseases, plus "ask a doctor" and e a pharmacist" tables where people ean get their questions about

diabetes and medications answered by heahhcare professionals free of charge.

utner activities īneiuae an oDstacie course, a keiki hounee house, live loeal entertainment, massages and a volleyball tournament. To get the party started, organizers have added a Zumba-style warm-up dance at 7:30 a.m.

They've even posted a practice video on ADA's website, so participants ean learn the dance before the walk, in hopes of creating a 3,000-strong Zumba flash mob.

Participants with diabetes will have access to a "Red Strider" tent - where they ean socialize, eheek their blood sugar and enjoy complimentary refreshments - and "Red Strider" caps to distinguish them as they walk. Although there are no Step Out Walks on the neighbor islands, ADA ean help get walks started. "We do have that opportunity through our national office," says Lam. "If people want to put on a walk from a neighbor island, they ean get in touch with us and then we will provide them with information about how to set up a volunteer-led community walk in their area." ■ Marv Ali.ce Ka 'iiilani. Mi.lham, a Portland, Oregon-based freelance journalist, i.s aformer newspaper reporter and columni.st from Californi.a 's Central Coast.

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes i When: 8 a.m. Sat., March ^ 15; 7:30 a.m. Zumba warm-up ^ Where: Kapi'olani Park Parking: In the area surrounding Kapi'olani Parkand at Jefferson Elementary School Learn more, start a team or register: diabetes.org/ stepouthawaii To be recognized as a Red Strider, contact ūanielle Tuata at (808) 947-5979 or dtuata@ diabetes.org.

HEALĪH

]rticipants with diabetes may wear Red Strider caps to distinguish them as they walk. - Courtesy:ADA