Diabetes, a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose.
Type 2 diabetes is at epidemic levels globally with more than two million Australians currently diagnosed as pre-diabetic.
More than 1.4 million Australians have the condition compared with 135,000 people with type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are two completely different conditions.
Type 2 is a lifestyle disease and is often managed with diet and exercise.
Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. It is not related to lifestyle and cannot be prevented or cured.
Those with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections multiple times every day to survive.
Registrations for Friday’s walk will take place near the Yacht Club at 5pm with the walk to start at Frank Keenan Reserve on the corner of River Road and Witt Street.
There is no entry fee, with funds raised going to Lions Assistance Dogs.
Participants can walk as many laps as they want within their capabilities over an hour with manual multiple lap recording available.
Yarrawonga Lions Club is urging groups of people, especially sporting clubs, to join the walk to raise awareness for the common disease of Type 2 diabetes.
“We encourage businesses to look after their staff and enter a staff team even just to find out more about the disease,” Lions spokesperson Ollie Tufvesson said.
“Bring the whole family for an afternoon of exercise.
There will be diabetic friendly pancakes, snacks and fruit on offer, and afterwards participants are encouraged to join with everyone at Yarrawonga Yacht Club for Happy Hour for a sunset drink and diabetic-friendly chilli con carne, with all food donated by Woolworths Yarrawonga.
Dieticians will be on hand to provide advice and information.
Yarrawonga Health offers a Type 1 Peer Support Group (T1PS), which catches up for coffee bi-monthly on the first Monday of the month.
For those wanting information on T1PS you can call Janet Schweda on 0413 586 559.
For those people who can’t attend the walk but would still like to donate, contact Ollie Tufvesson on 0477 143 336.
