By Carmen Pellegrino

Contributor

World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness. November 14th is significant since it marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, the Canadian who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin in 1922, changing the lives of every insulin dependant person with diabetes.

Each year there is a theme to World Diabetes Day. This year, marks the first year of a five year campaign which is: Diabetes Education and Prevention.

The World Diabetes Day logo is the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes which was developed as part of the Unite for Diabetes awareness campaign. Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health. The colour blue reflects the sky that unites all nations and is the colour of the United Nations flag. The blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

As a way to show support, organizers around the world partake in the ‘Monument Challenge’. Each year on November 14th, thousands of significant buildings/monuments around the word are illuminated with blue lights. In 2008, there were 1107 including the Sears Tower (Chicago), UN Building (New York), Federation Square (Melbourne Aust), Christ the Redeemer (Reo de Janeiro, Brazil), Canada Place (Vancouver), and the Sphinx (Giza Egypt).

Show your support of World Diabetes Day – light a blue candle, or purchase a blue light and let it shine on November 14th.

Two hundred and fifty million people worldwide are living with diabetes and although there has been huge advances in research, medications, and technology, it still is an incurable chronic disease with takes a great toll on the individual, friends and family. A person with diabetes must be proactive in order to manage their condition in the healthiest way possible – this means regular lab work, attending medical appointments, taking medications on schedule, stress management, regular physical activity and healthy eating. Having a good network of skilled health professionals such as doctors, dietitians and nurses is key in successful management.

There are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes. They include:

• Obesity, overweight

• Lack of exercise

• Previously identified glucose intolerance (body has difficulty processing sugar)

• Unhealthy diet (highly processed, high fat, little fruits and vegetables)

• Increased age (over 40 years old)

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol

• A family history of diabetes

• A history of gestational diabetes

• Ethnicity - higher rates of diabetes have been reported in Asians, Hispanics, Indigenous peoples (USA, Canada, Australia) and African Americans.

If you think you are at risk of type 2 diabetes, get tested! Talk to your doctor! Remember, Up to 80 per cent of type 2 diabetes is preventable by adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity.

For more information about World Diabetes Day and other information about diabetes visit: www.worlddiabetesday.org