LET’S TAKE CONTROL OF DIABETES.NOW.

A campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation

World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes community. It takes place every year on 14 November. The date marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin.

The logoWorld Diabetes Day is represented by the blue circle, the global symbol of diabetes.The significance of the symbol is overwhelmingly positive. Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health. The colour blue reflects the sky that unites all nations and is the colour of the flag of the United Nations. The blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

How did it all begin?World Diabetes Day was introduced by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991, in response to concern over the escalating incidence of diabetes around the world. The disease currently affects over 300 million people worldwide.

The primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes community

World Diabetes Day is an official United Nations World Day. On 20 December 2006, the UN General Assembly passed resolution 61/225, designating the existing World Diabetes Day as an official United Nations world day. This landmark resolution also recognized diabetes as “a chronic, debilitating and costly disease associated with major complications that pose severe risks for families, countries and the entire world.”

The world is experiencing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that threatens to overwhelm healthcare systems worldwide. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases cause 35 million deaths a year, with four in every five of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

The NCD AllianceIDF has joined forces with its sister federations in heart, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease, to bring diabetes and other NCDs to the world stage and ensure that they are recognized as a global health emergency and a leading threat to human health and development. In May 2010, The United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of a UN Resolution calling for a UN Summit on NCDs involving Heads of State, to take place in September 2011. The Summit is a first step in ensuring that world leaders make the prevention and treatment of NCDs an urgent priority both globally and nationally. Active engagement from all sectors of society is now required to make sure that the Summit is a success.

World Diabetes Day: An official United Nations world day

United Nations Headquarters, New York

Bringing together millions of people

in over 160 countries!

Where does it take place?World Diabetes Day is celebrated worldwide. It brings together millions of people in over 160 countries, uniting the global diabetes community to produce a powerful voice for diabetes awareness. Every year, thousands of local and national events are organized by the member associations of the International Diabetes Federation and by other diabetes representative organizations, healthcare professionals, healthcare authorities, and individuals who want to make a difference.

Is there a theme?Each year World Diabetes Day highlights a theme related to diabetes. Recent themes have included:

• 2005: Diabetes and Foot Care • 2006: Diabetes in the Disadvantaged and the Vulnerable • 2007–2008: Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

The current theme of the campaign is ‘Diabetes Education and Prevention,’ a broad theme that covers the five-year period from 2009 to 2013. The campaign calls on all those responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take control, and encourages the global diabetes community, other concerned individuals, and the general public to take active control of their health and wellbeing.

The key messages of the campaign, developed for different target groups, are:

• People with diabetes: Enjoy an active life and prevent complications.

• People at risk of type 2 diabetes: Are you at risk? Take the blue circle test.

• Health professionals: Know the signs and symptoms of diabetes. Early diagnosis saves lives.

• Decision-makers: Diabetes prevention and treatment are simple and cost-effective. Put them on top of the agenda.

• Parents: Your child could be affected. Know the warning signs. See your doctor to measure the risk.

2009-2013: Diabetes Education and Prevention!

Diabetes Education and Prevention

How is it marked?Diabetes representative organizations, governmental organizations, companies and individuals develop an extensive range of activities tailored to a variety of groups. Activities organized each year include:

• Blue lightings • Human blue circles • Dress-up-in-blue days • Walks and cycle rides • Radio and television programmes • Public screenings

1. Light a monument in blue and exerciseA great way of raising awareness of diabetes and World Diabetes Day in your village, town or city is by lighting iconic buildings and landmarks in the colour of the blue circle, the global symbol for diabetes. The lightings provide an attractive platform to raise awareness of diabetes and communicate the key messages of World Diabetes Day to the general public and media.

Since the launch of the challenge in 2007, over 2000 landmark sites and buildings in more than 100 countries have lit in blue for diabetes awareness. To strengthen the key messages of the 2009-2013 campaign, IDF is encouraging the organization of physical activity events (eg. a walk, an aerobics workout, or dancing) in conjunction with the lightings to highlight the benefits of exercise in the management and prevention of diabetes, and convey a positive and empowering message.

How can you mark World Diabetes Day?

Visit www.worlddiabetesday.org

to find out how you can take part in the challenge

2. Promote the Blue Circle TestAn exciting new initiative – The Blue Circle Test - has been added to the World Diabetes Day campaign to encourage the general public to find out if they are at risk of type 2 diabetes and take control of their health and wellbeing. The Blue Circle Test consists of an online and offline component:

• Online: a user-friendly interactive tool that showcases the risk factors of type 2 diabetes, allows visitors to establish a personalized risk profile, and highlights the positive actions that can be taken to reduce one’s risk. The tool also allows people with diabetes to discover the complications of the disease and learn how they can manage it effectively.

• Offline: a special blue waist measuring tape that highlights the link between waist circumference and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Show your support for World Diabetes Day by promoting the online tool on your website or blog, or using and distributing the blue measuring tape at your local awareness activity.

Visit www.worlddiabetesday.org to find out more about the Blue Circle Test

3. Become a World Diabetes Day championDo you have an interesting idea that will grab public and media attention? Do you want to change the way that people think about diabetes? Are you lobbying your local or national government to improve diabetes care and prevention? Are you helping to implement change that will improve care for people with and at risk of diabetes?

If you’re active in bringing diabetes to light in your area and plan to do so on 14 November, please share your information with the World Diabetes Day team - wdd@idf.org. The activity will be promoted through www.worlddiabetesday.org and used to inspire others.

Get inspired!

Campaign book

World D

iabetes Day Cam

paign Book

Get inspired!

View and download the guide at: http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/

en/activities/campaign-book

4. Individual actionCan’t find an event near you but want to join in? There are many ways that you can get involved. Why not illuminate your home in blue or light a blue candle for World Diabetes Day? Dress up in blue for the day and organize a dress-up-in-blue day for diabetes at your workplace. Find inspiration in the World Diabetes Day campaign book, the user-friendly reference guide that has been produced to inspire and engage, and facilitate a unified global campaign across all regions and countries.

Over recent campaigns, World Diabetes Day has extended its reach through various social networking sites in order to attract new audiences and further engage the campaign’s global network of supporters. You can find and follow World Diabetes Day on:

Follow the campaign

FacebookBecome a fan of World Diabetes Day: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brussels-Belgium/World-Diabetes-Day/67935817021?ref=mf

TwitterFollow our campaign updates: http://twitter.com/wdd

YouTubeOur WDD channel showcases campaign-related videos from around the world. Upload your own video or visit the channel to get inspired:

FlickrThousands of photos at your disposal to see how WDD is celebrated around the world: World Diabetes Day group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/WDD

• World Diabetes Day Channel: http://www.youtube.com/worlddiabetesday • International Diabetes Federation Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/IntDiabetesFed

Visit www.worlddiabetesday.org for more information about World Diabetes Day as well as materials for download.

Visit www.idf.org for more information about the International Diabetes Federation.

Direct your enquiries to the IDF Executive Office:

International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Chaussée de La Hulpe 166 B-1170 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: +32 2 5385511 Fax: +32 2 5385114

For e-mail enquiries about World Diabetes Day, please contact wdd@idf.org.