The War on Diabetes has Begun Proclaims Dennis Banks

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Longest Walk 3. Discussion »

LEESBURG, VIRGINIA -

“The war on diabetes has begun, It is a killer disease among us,”

Dennis Banks was Afflicted

proclaimed Dennis Banks to the participants of the Longest Walk 3 - Reversing Diabetes at the three-day National Diabetes Summit being held at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia.

From California

A couple dozen other American Indians have come from a far away as California to attend the summit. Organizers reported that 150 people pre-registered to attend the summit.

Banks who was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago conceived the Longest Walk 3 - Reversing Diabetes. After finding out he was diabetic, Banks was determined he did not want to live on insulin. He went on a raw vegetable diet and lost 29 pounds within a three-week period.

"We are going to raise our voices, louder than the Indian Health Services, so that the American Diabetes Association hears our voices," continued Banks. He told the summit attendees that the Longest Walk 3 is just the beginning to get the message out about diabetes.

“We have declare that sugar is a drug. It is addictive like cocaine and heroin, ”

continued Banks.

Earlier in the day, the Long Walkers made testimonies of their journey across the country.

Orlando Vigil-Changed

"You have been on a long journey," said Orlando Vigil, Taos, the state coordinator for the Longest Walk 3 from California. "After you left us, we changed our diets. My wife lost 24 pounds and walks five to six miles per day. My daughter still has not had the cheeseburger she wants."

American Indians are twice as likely to be afflicted with diabetes as are their non-Hispanic Caucasian counterparts.

The Longest Walk 3 - Reversing Diabetes will walk into Washington DC on the Friday, July 8 and host a forum on diabetes at the National Mall.

posted July 6, 2011 3:30 pm edt

We have to all change  Not rated yet
I just lost my father-in law one year ago to diabetes...he had lost both of his legs and was on daily insulin as well as a combination of four other drugs...

Inspired  Not rated yet
That has really inspired me, as i too am a diabetic, it would be nice to be medication free, and be normal...