Walking group preparing for diabetes fundraiser

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walking group2 sizedA walking group, led by employees in the Division of Preventative Medicine, is preparing for the annual American Diabetes Association Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes. The group is open and accepting new members.

Andrea Cherrington, M.D., associate professor of preventative medicine, led the effort to create mydiabetesconnect.com, which helps link individuals affected by diabetes to local Birmingham and Jefferson County resources in order to promote healthy living and diabetes management. Walking group members are encouraged to join the MyDiabetesConnect team for the Step Out Walk Nov. 1, but the group is open to anyone. The group walks at 7:30 a.m. every Wednesday at Railroad Park, unless there is inclement weather.

Rebecca Honaker, research assistant for Cherrington, said the group started in June and typically has five to 15 people participating each week.

The Step Out walk has been held for more than 20 years in 125 cities nationwide and has raised more than $175 million for diabetes research.

UAB is one of seven NIH Diabetes Research and Training Centers and leads in the development of new methods to treat, prevent and cure diabetes — the seventh leading cause of death in America. It is one of several components within the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center to conduct basic, clinical and translational research, develop novel therapies and train clinicians and researchers. UAB, which opened the first public, university-affiliated diabetes hospital in the country 40 years ago, provides the most advanced, comprehensive, multidisciplinary care in its clinics for adults and children.