Fellow Cyclists!

The Madison Area Tour de Cure is this Saturday. To raise money for the
American Diabetes Association, I will be biking 50k. The ADA does a lot of
great work, it funds research for a cure, advocates for against
discrimination against people with diabetes (for example working to
eliminating the pre-existing condition policy in health care), and
educates people with diabetes, their families, and the public about the
causes, care, and complications of diabetes.

Diabetes effects almost every aspect of a person's life and it effects the
people closest to them. Things most of us never think of like eating an
apple or walking an extra mile have to be carefully considered, decisions
of what and where to eat are more complicated, doctors appointments and
blood tests become a part of live, as diabetes can effect every part of
the body from vision to dental infections and gum disease to heart attacks
and strokes, to kidney failure to impotence in men to foot pain and
amputations. When someone's blood sugar is really out of whack, things we
take for granted like driving a car can be risky. Things that are
unpleasant for most of us, like stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes,
and illness dramatically change the blood sugars of people with diabetes
in somewhat unpredictable ways, causing more ill health and additional
frustration. It is a very hard disease to manage!

There is a strong genetic component of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and
both likelihood of getting Type 2 diabetes and likelihood of complications
among people with diabetes dramatically increases for those living in
poverty. Right now, more and more children (who have little control of
their diets) are growing up with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Yet many
people point the finger and blame people with diabetes for being sick.
The ADA works to combat this prejudice while working to help educate the
public at ways to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Right now there is no cure for diabetes, but with new technologies it is
more and more feasible for people to live more or less normal lives with
less risk of complications than it ever was in the past. The ADA has been
involved in creating these technologies and advocating for access to them.
With your support, we can continue to work towards a cure and improve the
health and quality of life of people with diabetes and their families.

I know these are tough economic times so keep it mind, any amount matters.  I
would also be tremendously grateful if you would pass this email along to
family members, friends, colleagues, etc. who you think might be willing to
support the ADA.

Together we can fight this dreadful disease.

Please make a donation to the ADA for my ride:
http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TDC318018030?px=4770479...

In deep gratitude,

Sarah