World Diabetes Day: November 14, 2009

World Diabetes Day aims to encourage action to further the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes as well as supporting the United Nations (U.N.) Resolution on Diabetes.

Established in 2006, the U.N. Resolution on diabetes focuses world attention on the need to stop the growing diabetes epidemic through urgent action. If governments begin now by promoting low-cost strategies that alter diet, increase physical activity and modify lifestyles, this epidemic can be reversed.

Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. The campaign calls on all those responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take control.

• For people with diabetes, this is a message about empowerment through education. 
• For governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for the prevention and management of diabetes to safeguard the health of their citizens with and at risk for diabetes. 
• For healthcare professionals, it is a call to improve knowledge so that evidence-based recommendations are put into practice.
• For the general public, it is a call to understand the serious impact of diabetes and know, where possible, how to avoid or delay diabetes and its complications. 

The key messages of the campaign are:

• Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs
• Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to
• Know how to manage diabetes and take control

Bring Diabetes Day to Light: The campaign encourages local World Diabetes Day celebrations and the lighting of local buildings or monuments in blue. In 2008, over 1000 sites participated including the pyramids in Giza, Egypt, UNESCO in Paris, Tower of London, and the Sears Tower in Chicago. Two sites in California were lit and they were City Halls in both San Jose and San Francisco.

Lighting the State Capitol Building 

This year (2009) a collaboration of organizations (including California Department of Public Health California Diabetes Program, American Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, VSP Vision Care)  concerned about diabetes has convinced the State Legislature and the office of the Governor to light the California State Capitol blue for World Diabetes Day on November 14th at 5:30pm. 

Receiving permission to light the State Capitol blue by the state government is a true testament to diabetes's extraordinary cost to our community and the commitment that we must universally have to prevent and control this epidemic.  A request of the Governor has been made to Proclaim and Recognize November 14 World Diabetes Day in California.

Petaluma, California

Grace Ceron and Genevieve Foster FNP, CDE of Petaluma are organizing local participation in World Diabetes Day. The idea of Petaluma’s first World Diabetes Day event is to plant a small seed of community education and involvement related to diabetes and healthy living. Participants in this collaborative event will come together, at 11:00 am, for a special ceremony and to form a human circle to show our unity in making a difference in the fight against diabetes. Join us for this non-competitive, free, event: ” Walk in Awareness of Diabetes “,on Saturday, November 14, 2009, 10:00 am to 12 Noon at Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility , 3890 Cypress Drive, Petaluma, CA 94954.  For more information please contact Genevieve Foster FNP, CDE, E-mail: genevievefoster@mac.com.

Make World Diabetes Day Go Viral in the USA:  Visit World Diabetes Day in the USA at www.wddusa.com

San Francisco Ferry Building going blue for World Diabetes Day

November 14, 2009, 5pm to 7pm
Location: Park between Ferry Building and Embarcadero
One Ferry Building, San Francisco, California 94111
Organized By: JDRF, Close Concerns and Diabetes Hands Foundation

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Lights up for Diabetes

The LAX series of 100-foot-high colorfully lit Gateway pylons are the most well-known example of public art in Los Angeles, and are visible to airline passengers from 3,000 feet high. The pylons are lit from dusk to dawn daily. On behalf of the request by the Coastal Area of Southern California Association of Diabetes Educators (CASCADE) LAX will recognize World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2009 by lighting the pylons blue.  

More events happening through out the state - see flyers below

California is committed to healthy living and supporting people with and at risk for diabetes. Healthy living includes providing healthy communities that support physical activity, healthy food and access to healthier choices to reduce the risk for chronic diseases. Empowering Californians about diabetes awareness and prevention is essential to reducing the burden of diabetes for all. The World Diabetes Day campaign can bring much needed attention to a disease that is crushing our health care system. It is a simple idea that can be executed in a grand way with the lighting of a monument and in a small way with thousands of people shining individual blue lights into the sky in their communities with the message that we must fight diabetes together. For more information please see PDF documents below.

World Diabetes Day PRESS KIT

For more details, facts and event information please download the press kit below. 

Information and Images from 2008 monuments courtesy of The International Diabetes Federation.