I have several. My daughter even has a few that she calls her “pumps.” (You wouldn’t believe the number of steps she can wrack up!)

The pedometer craze seems to have started with former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson. A few years ago, he created a program called Big Steps, Big Rewards. At the launch of the initiative, he gave employees of HHS pedometers and told them he was putting the Department on a diet and shaping up our country. Shortly thereafter, Secretary Thompson lost more than 25 pounds much of which he attributes to his pedometer. The rule of thumb is: 10,000 steps a day for health maintenance, 12,000 steps a day for weight loss.

Turns out that this little number gatherer is not bad for motivation too. My pedometers have encouraged competitions with family members, friends, even my child. Whoever has the most steps wins. It is great for me – and my diabetes – because at the end of the day if my step count isn’t where I want it to be, I am tempted to walk around the block or to hop on the treadmill for a few minutes.

This is especially important to me this season, because as it gets cooler I get a little less dedicated to my exercise routine. Yes, I have broken my 2008 resolutions and need to get in gear with a little more movement.

As luck would have it, as I was preparing this article, I learned about “Mr. Diabetes”, Andy Mandell. Andy runs the website www.defeatdiabetes.org and this December will complete a journey of over 10,000 miles of walking to raise awareness about diabetes. His journey began because he got fed up with diabetes controlling him and his life. After being bedridden for two years and nearly succumbing to the disease, Andy decided to take charge. Over the last eight years, Andy has walked 12-15 miles every day to complete a journey around the perimeter of the United States. In the process he has gained control of his condition and has affected the lives of thousands of others living with the disease. I wonder what Andy’s pedometer reads from his journey!

There are others who have also walked their way to better diabetes control and management. Bob Scheidt walked across America for diabetes in 1999. As Bob puts it, "I see exercise as part of the holistic therapy for optimum control of diabetes, because it affects, in almost equal measures, the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of day-to-day living." He goes on to mention, "I believe that exercise puts us in touch with our ancient nature. For our ancestors, movement was life -- they had to go out to hunt or gather or farm just to survive. In the modern world, we've lost that vital connection with physical activity."

I met Bob as he was on his diabetes awareness journey. His energy was boundless and his tales intense. Bob has had type 1 diabetes for more than 35 years.

Bob and Andy have taken the notion of walking to extreme levels. You don’t have to commit to walking across the country to get into good diabetes control and into good shape. If you walk 2 miles every day, in three years you will have walked 2190 miles! Just think what that would do for your diabetes and your waistline!

Hippocrates once said, “Walking is man’s best medicine.” Sadly, fewer than 50% of American adults do enough exercise to gain any health or fitness benefits from their physical activity.

With that in mind, here, adapted from www.MedicineNet.com, are some of the best reasons to walk:

1. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed that walking 150 minutes a week and losing just 12-15 pounds reduced the risk of diabetes and diabetes complications by 58%.
2. Walking strengthens your heart.
3. Walking is good for your brain. A recent study on walking showed improvements in cognitive function when women walked 1.5 hours per week.
4. Walking is good for your bones. Bone density is higher in women who walk at least 1 mile each day.
5. Walking helps alleviate symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression were reduced by nearly 50% when people walked over 90 minutes each week.
6. Walking reduces breast and colon cancer. Studies show an 18% reduction in breast cancer for women who walk more than 1 hour a week.

“A 150-pound man burns 100 calories per mile; a 200-pund man burns 133 calories per mile; and a 250-pound man burns 166 calories per mile. You burn virtually the same number of calories whether you run or walk a mile; you just get there faster if you run.” The point, you are burning a bunch of calories. And that either can help you lose a little weight or can give you license to enjoy an extra treat. sion and see if you can apply parts of it for your fall fitness routine.

Just remember, if you are starting a walking program, take it slow. The key is consistency. If you walk more every day, you will achieve your goal and you will see results. Remember, always talk to you medical team before starting a new exercise program.

Starting a new routine or even staying in a routine is always difficult. It is important to remember that activity should be fun! You should enjoy yourself. If you are not happy, you will not be consistent.

Here are a few tips to help you use your imagination in increasing your step count and start walking for life.

*    Take a walk with your spouse, child, or friend
*    Walk the dog * Use the stairs instead of the elevator
*    Park farther from the store
*    Better yet, walk to the store
*    Get up to change the channel
*    Window shop
*    Plan a walking meeting
*    Walk over to visit a neighbor
*    Get outside to walk around the garden or do a little weeding
*    Walk during your lunch hour
*    Get off the bus a stop early and walk to your final destination
*    Don’t forget, walking can be romantic

Nicole Johnson, MA, MPH, Miss America 1999, is an international diabetes advocate. She travels extensively promoting awareness, prevention, and early detection of the condition she has shared for fifteen years. She has written four books including her autobiography, Living with Diabetes. Nicole serves on numerous advisory boards including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Council of Public Representatives, the Florida Governor's Diabetes Advisory Council and the Tampa Bay chapters of the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She is also a past national board member for the American Diabetes Association. Over the last nine years, Nicole has helped raise approximately $20 million for diabetes research and programs.

Learn more at www.nicolejohnson.com