Runners will take to downtown McComb streets Saturday morning to race for a good cause.
Registration for the Mississippi 5K Walk/Run for Diabetes is 7:30 a.m. in downtown McComb at the corner of Railroad Boulevard and Canal Street.
The run starts at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $25 and includes a picnic afterwards. Runners may pre-register for $20 online at www.msdiabetes.org.
Irena McClain, associate director for the foundation, said the route starts and ends at Canal and South Railroad and goes through the city, looping around Hollywood Cemetery.
“Come on out and join us,” McClain said. “It’s a wonderful event.”
Dr. Henry Lewis of Amite County Medical Services is the local chairman for the event. He said the funds the organization raises are vital to Mississippians.
“The foundation is very important in getting supplies and educating people about the disease,” said Lewis, who also has diabetes. “It’s extraordinarily important.”
In 2010, there were 270,000 adult Mississippians with Type 2 diabetes — over 12 percent of the adult population.
“Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most frequent thing I see,” Lewis said.
McClain said every dollar raised is used to help Mississippians.
“It goes to help needy Mississippians get medicines or treatments, and it goes to educating people, “ she said. “One of our most important programs is the kids camp.”
Camp Kandu is where kids with diabetes learn that the condition doesn’t have to limit their lives.
McClain said diabetes cost the state of Mississippi over $2 billion in medical expenses
“We could do a lot for our state if we could curb diabetes,” McClain said.
Lewis said its an expense to businesses and healthcare providers as well.
“Treating diabetes is a tremendous expense, in treatment, in lost work days, and the cost of care is enormous,” he said.
Lewis said most diabetics in Mississippi are Type 2 — a preventable and controllable type of the disease.
“Type 2 diabetes accounts for 95 percent of diabetics in Mississippi,” Lewis said. “Because we love our food. If it tastes good it probably is bad.”
Lewis said Type 2 diabetes is a sneaky disease.
Lewis said overweight people who are inactive and have unhealthy diets are at risk.
“It’s such an insidious disease,” he said. “Type 2 diabetics can feel fine and not know they have it, and they don’t find out till there at the doctor getting blood work. That’s why it’s important for those at risk to get checked regularly.”
