An estimated 21.4 million people in the United States live with diabetes. Five-year-old Natalia Balbuena is one of those people.

Natalia has been living with Type 1 diabetes for two years. The disease prevents her from producing insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar into the energy required to live.

Because of this, she has to begin and end her day with a shot of insulin, along with multiple checks of her blood sugar level each day.

“From the moment she wakes up to the time when she goes to bed, we make sure her blood sugar level is in range,” said her father, Milton Balbuena. “We are constantly worried and trying to achieve a balance.”

Despite the setbacks, Natasha Balbuena, Natalia’s mother, said that her daughter leads a pretty normal lifestyle, but just needs to follow a very strict diet and lifestyle.

“(Natalia) has a great attitude,” Natasha Balbuena said.

Cycling for a cause

On Sunday, the Veteran’s Home at Yountville was host to the American Diabetes Association’s 16th annual “Tour de Cure.” Nearly 3,000 cyclists and volunteers came out to support the effort to find a cure for diabetes.

The event was sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, and had the goal of raising $1.25 million to fund research, education and advocacy programs.

The fundraising event is the biggest of its kind.

“This is our star event in the American Diabetes Association world,” said Darlene Cain, chair of the board of the ADA.

According to Cain, the annual event has grown to be the largest revenue-producing event for the association. She said approximately 25 percent of the funds raised goes directly to fund research to find a cure.

“One in three babies born after 2000 will have diabetes,” Cain said. “This is the biggest epidemic in the United States.”

Cain has her own personal experience with diabetes, as it has affected the lives of 23 people in her family, including her mother and son.

About 2,500 cyclists joined the “Tour de Cure,” even three-time Tour de France champion Greg Lemond. Because of a family emergency, Lemond had to leave the event earlier than expected. Many of the participants have diabetes themselves, and ADA officials said participants came from as far away as Texas and North Carolina.

Tom Hall, a director with the ADA, said the event is put on each year because the problem of diabetes in America keeps getting bigger.

“The problem is that diabetes is growing at such an alarming rate, it’s already swamping the health care system in certain communities, and taking a terrible price on our productivity and general health of America,” he said.

Through the cycling theme, Hall said, the association can promote a healthy lifestyle while educating many about diabetes.

At the event, cyclists could choose from riding on a 10-, 25-, 50- or 100-mile route. Company teams, family teams and couples all took part in the event.

“Cycling is a good anaerobic exercise, and an enjoyable one,” he said.