Event Cancelled

Unfortunately, the air quality and other wildfire-related problems in San Diego County have led to the cancellation of this year's Step Out event to benefit the ADA, so we won't be in San Diego this weekend after all. I hope you'll still show your support for the organization, though. Most of all, I hope you'll become educated about diabetes and pre-diabetes, and get your blood glucose tested!

Again, to all affected by the fires, our thoughts are with you and yours.

Wildfires may affect event

Just after posting the announcement below about Step Out in San Diego, I received word that the event may be affected by the wildfires in San Diego. I'm sure there are concerns about air quality and other effects of the fires. (For those who may have wondered, although some of our family members are in evacuation areas -- and occasionally sheltering here -- Tim and I are safe, and so far, so are our loved ones. Any of you who are fire-affected areas of So Cal are in our thoughts.)

Updates and further information about the San Diego Step Out Event will be posted on the ADA Step Out Web site page for the event. I'll also try to keep you updated here.

Step Out to Fight Diabetes

I'll be walking in the Step Out to Fight Diabetes event in San Diego at 9:00 AM on Sunday, October 28 at Ingram Plaza - Liberty Station, which is located at 2750 Dewey Road, San Diego, CA 92106.


View Larger Map

This event raises money to support the important work of the American Diabetes Association.

Some quick facts about diabetes:

• There is currently no cure for diabetes.
  
• 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, have diabetes.
• About 6 million of these people are unaware they have the disease.
  
• 240 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. Within 20 years, this number is expected to grow to 380 million.
  
• Many doctors consider diabetes to be the #1 health crisis in the U.S..
• Diabetes disables and kills. Uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to heart attack, stroke, blindness, amputation, inability to fight infection and more.
• Diabetes can strike anyone of any age, weight, or ethnicity.
• In addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes, 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which must be treated as soon as possible to prevent this condition from leading to diabetes. Over time, the elevated blood glucose levels of pre-diabetes can also cause damage to the body, especially to the heart and circulatory system. Almost all people who develop Type 2 diabetes first have pre-diabetes.
  

The information above is from the ADA and the International Diabetes Federation.

If you haven't had your fasting blood glucose tested within the past year, please call your doctor today to make an appointment to do so.

And please generously support the work of the ADA -- look for a Step Out event in your area.

Where I've been, where I'll be

I've been kept busy and away from the blog by real life and writing, but here are a couple of places I hope to see some of you soon!

Surrey International Writers Conference, October 19-21 (in British Columbia).

Sisters in Crime's Forensic University in St. Louis, November 1-4.


Just got back from travel with my folks to watching one my nephews play football. Sheldon's nine. He lives in Texas, and I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a place that takes the game more seriously. That said, everyone seemed to remember to have fun, too!