GUTS TO GLORY
Newly Diagnosed Diabetic Changes
Lifestyle, Completes First Half Marathon

By Kristin Mouk

One year ago, Jan Steckler, a resident of Friday Harbor, WA, was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Today, she is walking her disease into remission.

“Now that I’m sick, I’ve never been healthier,” Steckler says jokingly.

Last June, after training for four months, Steckler walked in the San Juan Marathon, an event that takes place on San Juan Island, WA. It offers a walker-friendly half marathon option.

“I wanted it to be a sign of hope,” Steckler explains. “That’s why I walked the half marathon. I started by walking one mile around my house in the winter, and built from there.”

Steckler’s story is a sign of hope, for herself as well as others. Prior to her diagnosis, Steckler recalls being so tired she had trouble getting out of bed. She had to force herself to work two jobs and found she could do little else.

“I had no energy,” she recalls. “It was almost a relief when I found out it was diabetes, because that’s something I have control over.”

Steckler took the news of her illness seriously. She knew complications like heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage can arise from diabetes because she had watched her mother become bedridden with the disease years earlier.

“My mother would not exert herself,” Steckler says. “I didn’t want to do that to myself, and I didn’t want to do that to my kids.”

Using her mother’s experience as motivation, Steckler made the decision to begin leading a healthier lifestyle. She began by reading every book she could find on diabetes, including both medical and alternative approaches to treating the illness.

She found some authors were very discouraging, stating that there is no cure for the disease, while others were convinced that diabetes can be managed. From her research, Steckler learned that walking is one way to help keep the disease under control.

Steckler’s first step was to change her eating habits. She cut sugar and white flour from her diet and began eating more fruit, vegetables, yogurt, and whole grains, as well as lean meats and fish. She added walking to her already busy schedule, slowly increasing the distance and speed as she became more comfortable with the new exercise.
When she heard about the San Juan Marathon, Steckler believed she had built up enough stamina to take on the challenge and begin training. She started last March by following a schedule that alternated longer, slower treks with shorter, more fast-paced walks. She learned that walking buddies made the time pass quickly and made training more enjoyable.

“This is a journey, and I’ve been really blessed to have good companions on this journey,” Steckler says of her walking companions Jenny, Kristin, and Steckler’s dog, Aggie.

Steckler finished the race in under four hours, achieving her time goal. Her time: 3:57:42:3.

She is thankful for the support of her children and husband throughout her training and the race itself. “My son, Rich, even walked with me a couple of times,” Steckler says.

The younger Steckler is also making plans to join her in her next half marathon, scheduled for November in Dallas.
“I think it’s great, she’s taking good care of herself,” he says. “I thought it was pretty brave and I’m real proud of her.”

Steckler offers the following suggestions to distance walkers with diabetes:
• Take diabetes seriously. Don’t think you can just take a pill and you’ll get better. Do more, get active.
• Experiment with snacks that help keep your blood sugar up while training and remember to bring snacks with you when you walk any long distance.
• Bring friends. They provide encouragement and make the event more social. The buddy system is also a great way to increase your personal safety on the route. For added protection, be sure to carry identification or wear a Road ID.

Kristin Mouk is a Communication graduate of Louisiana State University. She is new to walking and enjoys its benefits. She recently walked her first half marathon with her friend, Jan Steckler.