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Associate Director, Step Out: Walk for Diabetes
One October Sunday morning, scores of people assembled at Nassau Community College in Long Island, N.Y. The group had come together as part of the American Diabetes Association’s Step Out: Walk for Diabetes. In addition to the 5K walk, the day’s events also included a health and wellness expo that included diabetes screening and educational materials. Helping to manage the activities was Toni Riedel-Lehmann, associate director for the L.I. Walk.
According to Riedel-Lehmann, the goal of Step Out is to promote wellness and exercise. Getting the public on its feet and active is one of the key lifestyle changes in the fight against diabetes. “Exercise and stepping out can help somebody that’s pre-diabetes. It can reduce body fat and help their circulation and everything else in their body work better,” she explains.
Those at high risk of developing diabetes tend to be overweight, have a family member who battles the disease or have given birth to a baby over nine pounds. Riedel-Lehmann insists that any type of physical activity helps. “We need to step out and get walking and get active. Stepping out for 10, 15 or 20 minutes is the way to go and a healthy way to live,” she says.
Despite initiatives like the ADA’s Step Out events that aim to educate and motivate the public about the potential perils of diabetes, Riedel-Lehmann says many people continue to take for granted how dangerous the disease can be. For those with a cavalier attitude towards diabetes, Riedel-Lehmann implores them to “Step out, live a healthier life [and] get active because you know what America? Wake up. Diabetes is here, it’s serious and we need to take it seriously.” –ivory m. jones
