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Walking the talk about diabetes in Alberni

Alberni couple sets up fundraising walk at Bob Dailey Stadium to raise awareness about diabetes.
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Sukhdev Krishan and Jen Briand are organizing the Alberni Diabetes Walk for Saturday

Walking the talk about diabetesLiving with diabetes takes more than a physical toll on a person: it can also be financially expensive.

That’s why Sukhdev Krishan and his partner Jen Briand have organized a Diabetes Walkathon for this Saturday, Nov. 16 at Bob Dailey Stadium.

Briand has type 1 diabetes, and must test her blood every time she eats. Her insulin doses vary depending on what her blood sugars are at the time.

Briand uses a lancer to prick her finger and tests her blood sugar level on a test strip. She has insulin “pens” for injecting the drug. She has to rotate the area she injects the drug so she doesn’t get too much insulin at once.

She has been doing this since she was first diagnosed when she was 12 years old.

For someone who’s life is dependent on insulin, taking the medicine is not a choice. But it’s expensive, says Briand.

One of the insulin types she uses—a longer lasting version she takes before she goes to sleep so it will last all night—used to cost $128 every two weeks, and it wasn’t covered by medical insurance at the time.

There are certain types of test strips that also aren’t covered, Krishan said.

Krishan and Briand, who also run DragonDeal22.com, a crowdfunding website, set up this fundraiser to help others who aren’t as fortunate as Briand, and who cannot afford their medication.

This is the first of what they hope will be many community fundraising opportunities.

“We hope to help someone because I know what it’s like to go through that,” Briand said.

“We welcome everybody in the community who has diabetes or knows someone who has it to come out and support the cause,” Krishan said.

The walkathon kicks off at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Krishan and Briand are asking people to make a donation at the gate in order to come in and participate.

Tim Hortons has contributed to this event, and the Alberni District Secondary School samosa tent will be set up on behalf of dry grad.

For more information, please call 250-720-0002.

editor@albernivalleynews.com