Rhonda Rahming, 11, who has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will participate in Atlantic Medical's Fun Walk and Run. She represents many of the children in The Bahamas who struggle with diabetes. All proceeds from the event on Saturday April 16th will be donated to the Bahamas Diabetic Association and the Bahamas Cancer Society. (Photos: Atlantic Medical Insurance)

People living with diabetes, or actively fighting cancer will be honored as "superheroes for a day" during the 18th Annual Atlantic Medical Insurance Fun Walk and Run.

Rhonda Rahming, 11, who was diagnosed at age eight with type one diabetes, will be one of the people honored. She will participate in the event on Saturday, April 16, from which all proceeds go to The Cancer Society of The Bahamas and the Diabetic Association of The Bahamas.

The pre-teen described her diabetes diagnosis as "frightening". She said it was an experience she would never forget as she lost her appetite, lost weight as a result and suffered constant weakness.

"I lost so much weight -- [that] one day I could've actually seen the bone structure in my hand," she said.

Her parents sought medical attention. Rhonda was hospitalized for two-and-a-half weeks. She remembers being told that if she hadn't been taken to the doctor to have her glucose level checked, she would have fallen into a diabetic coma.

The seventh grade student at S.C. McPherson Junior High School, has had to take on the responsibilities of caring for herself and managing her illness. She is required to take insulin four times a day and routinely check her glucose level four to five times a day.

"It was scary because I didn't know what to do at first, because most children don't know about diabetes, so they find it hard to prick their finger to test glucose and take their insulin. I was originally afraid of needles, but now that I give myself insulin on a daily basis I have overcome that fear. I understand that it's an important part of my health," she said.

The pre-teen has refused to let diabetes hold her back. She views herself as an advocate for children with the lifestyle disease and believes in increasing awareness. Rhonda has taken the initiative to educate her schoolmates about her illness.

"My friends already know about my diabetes because I told them, and they sometimes want to give me a hand. When I was first diagnosed in primary school, children would be afraid, but now in junior high school there are other children like me with diabetes," she said.

Rhonda said a balanced diet and exercise is another essential part of maintaining her health. Unlike many of the children at her school, Rhonda must carefully organize her meal plan and take it with her to school daily.

"I get a packed lunch with a sandwich, carrot sticks and two waters. Carrot sticks are my favorite," she said.

Two days out of the week and every weekend she also gets in exercise. She runs and engages in physical education at school.

Atlantic Medical Insurance has seen over the years that diabetes has become more prevalent in the country, particularly in adults; with the rate of childhood diabetes also increasing rapidly.

Rhonda is just one of the many people afflicted with the disease.

"Many kids in The Bahamas have diabetes, and some of them at first, they don't know how to cope with it very well, but they have the help of their parents and they get the education at the hospital."

Rhonda will participate in this weekend's fun walk and run, which is open to all. Atlantic Medical Insurance encourages individuals to participate and join Rhonda at the event that will start at Montagu Park. Registration is at Atlantic Medical

Insurance and is $25 and includes a shirt and gift. Warm-up session begins at 6 a.m. with the walk and run starting at 6:30 a.m.

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