Tucson, Arizona: American Diabetes Association
Kindergartner and Mayor Walkup Unite to Fight Diabetes
5-year-old Ellen Sipos and Mayor Walkup Raise Awareness About This Worldwide Epidemic
Tucson,
Arizona (October 25, 2007) – Four years after her diagnosis, 5-year-old
Ellen Sipos told Mayor Walkup that she is “tired of having diabetes”.
In support of Southern Arizona families
affected by diabetes, Mayor Robert E. Walkup has issued a proclamation
declaring November 14, 2007, World Diabetes Day in Tucson. Mayor Walkup
has also urged community leaders in 15 neighboring cities and towns to
join the City of Tucson in its efforts to raise awareness about
diabetes.
On October 24, 2007, Ellen and her
parents, Dr. Eric and Mrs. Heather Sipos, accepted the City of Tucson
Mayor’s proclamation on behalf of the American Diabetes Association
(ADA).
The ADA is a proud supporter of the United
Nations (UN) Resolution on Diabetes, which designates November 14,
2007, as World Diabetes Day and invites supporters to fight the diabetes
epidemic through public awareness and the development of policies for
the prevention, treatment, and care of the disease.
At the age of 1, Ellen Sipos was diagnosed with type one
diabetes. The Sipos’ were shocked and suddenly faced with questions no
parent ever wants to ask about their child. “Did we give too much
insulin, or too little? Do we set the alarm for 2 a.m. to check her
blood sugar, or can we all sleep through the night? Will she be
OK?” They’ve also had to answer heartbreaking questions from Ellen
herself. “Why did you give me diabetes? When I'm big like my brother and
sister will I still have diabetes?” “Of course we didn't want and don't
want Ellen to suffer from diabetes one year, month, week, day, hour,
minute or second longer.
Now we find ourselves on a quest. A
quest for a cure”, says Heather Sipos. Ellen and her family are not
alone. In Southern Arizona, nearly 150,000 children and adults have
diabetes, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is working
intensely to find a cure.
“Southern Arizona is comprised of many faces of diabetes,”
said Fred Gomez, Executive Director, American Diabetes Association,
Southern Arizona.
“It is vital that these many faces are
aware of the symptoms associated with diabetes and its complications to
prevent this epidemic from increasing further. It is also
important they know that resources are available to help make their
lives easier.”