A hundred people with type 1 and 2 diabetes, from locations in Spain and Portugal, have started this Sunday from Pontedeume (A Coruña) the second stage of the Camino de Santiago to Betanzos to "transmit the message that with this disease this diseaseYou can do sports. "
The objective is to exceed the 20 kilometers that are far from both locations and complete the second of the five stages that make up the challenge 'walks through diabetes', a project that has been in force for three years.The English road will lead the pilgrims in the next days to the Bruma Hospital, Sigüeiro and finally to Santiago.
This initiative is promoted by the Diabetes Foundation, which aims to "change the mentality of the greatest possible number of people with diabetes, motivating and instilling in them the need to incorporate physical exercise into their daily lives."
"Yesterday's stage helped us to heat engines, it was simple and we enjoyed incredible views of the Neda estuary and the Magdalena Beach," explained the pilgrims.
The Foundation's manager, Ana Mateo Raposo, has claimed to feel "proud of the extraordinary reception presented by this initiative that empowers and motivates people with diabetes to face without fears the challenges that arise."
In addition, he added that this group "serves as an example and inspiration for the more than five million people who are in the same situation."
Preparation and study
To overcome this challenge, the pilgrims have been preparing for six months through a progressive physical training program that has helped them improve their status and prepared to overcome the 106 kilometers and five stages they must overcome to reach Santiago de Compostela.
Throughout the journey they will be accompanied by health professionals such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and dietitians, among others.In addition, these will collect data related to the number of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia experienced by the participants to be able to "study the effects of exercise on the level of blood glucose."