Doctor Takes Diabetes Awareness On The Road

Filed in archive Inspiration on July 31, 2006

How far are you willing to go to improve life for diabetics? How about across the country?

Dr. Jairo "Ed" Castillo will soon begin a 4,200 (!) mile bicycle ride from Oregon to New York, all in the name of increasing juvenile diabetes awareness. Now that's commitment.

While fortunate enough not to be personally affected by juvenile diabetes, Castillo thinks the disease goes largely unnoticed outside medical circles.

"It's a disease that needs some public attention," Castillo said.

Barbara Rose of the Norwalk office of Juvenile Diabetes Research says that one in six Americans is affected by the disease, meaning they have a friend or relative who has the illness. She also says myths surround the illness, such as insulin is a cure. "There is no cure. This is a 24/7 disease that needs to be maintained," she said. "Insulin is not a cure, it is just a maintenance drug."

Congratulations to Dr. Castillo and all those who work every day to improve the life of diabetics.