[One Day, One Thousand Characters] Taking Care of Health and Helping Diabetes Patients... Handok's 'Dangdang Steps'

Handok (CEO Kim Young-jin, Baek Jin-gi) has been conducting the “Bold Steps to Overcome Diabetes (hereinafter Bold Steps)” campaign to raise awareness about diabetic foot since 2009. Bold Steps was established to highlight the importance of diabetes management and one of its serious complications, “diabetic foot.” Diabetic foot is a common complication experienced by 4 out of 10 diabetes patients, but it can be fatal as even a small wound can lead to amputation. Diabetes patients have significantly reduced blood circulation, making their feet prone to wounds that heal poorly and can worsen into ulcers. To prevent diabetic foot, it is necessary not only to manage blood sugar levels regularly but also to frequently check the feet.

This year, Handok is once again conducting the “Let’s Walk Together Bold Steps” campaign on November 14, “World Diabetes Day,” where anyone can participate and donate steps. The “Let’s Walk Together Bold Steps” campaign is a step donation initiative that promotes health through walking while helping diabetes patients in need. Considering the recent sharp increase in young diabetes patients and the low level of interest and proactive treatment for chronic diseases, Handok has designed this activity to be easily accessible to everyone.

Activity of Handok Volunteer Group
Photo by Handok

The campaign, running until December 13, can be joined via the Big Walk application. Participants simply donate their accumulated daily steps to “Let’s Walk Together Bold Steps.” The target number of steps is 120 million, inspired by the post-meal 2-hour blood sugar target level of less than 120 mg/dL. Once the donated steps reach the goal, Handok plans to donate blood glucose meters to diabetes patients in need.

Handok conducted an online campaign in 2022 and earlier this year delivered 400 blood glucose meters and 4,000 straps to 400 vulnerable elderly individuals requiring diabetes management. Kim Young-jin, Chairman of Handok, stated, “With the recent significant increase in young diabetes patients, the importance of diabetes management and treatment is being emphasized more than ever. We hope this campaign will help foster a more positive perception of diabetes management and provide an opportunity to share warmth with diabetes patients in need.”

Kim Young-jin, Chairman of Handok, is participating in the Zero Single-Use Plastics Challenge.
[Photo by Handok]

“Memory Cafe” is a dementia awareness improvement campaign jointly conducted by Handok and the Seoul Metropolitan Government since 2018 under an agreement. It is a cafe where elderly individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia participate as baristas. A basic rule is to naturally accept if the wrong drink is served. “Memory Cafe” was planned to raise understanding of dementia and convey the message that people with dementia can still play active roles as members of society.

It operates in two forms: a mobile cafe and a fixed cafe. It runs year-round to support dementia awareness activities at 25 dementia safety centers across Seoul’s districts. Fixed Memory Cafes installed within dementia safety centers began in 2021 and currently operate in six districts: Guro-gu, Geumcheon-gu, Dongjak-gu, Mapo-gu, Seodaemun-gu, and Seongbuk-gu. Handok plans to open additional fixed Memory Cafes at dementia safety centers in Eunpyeong-gu, Songpa-gu, and Gangdong-gu. In 2022, Memory Cafe activities were held 450 times across Seoul, serving a total of 18,263 visitors, with 49 elderly individuals with dementia working as baristas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.