Home »
Marking World Diabetes Awareness Month
To mark Diabetes Awareness Month this November East Kootenay Foundation for Health (EKFH) is erecting a large blue circle on the roof above the ambulatory care entrance at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.
The blue circle is the universal symbol for diabetes and was the brainchild of Kari Rosenfeld of the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and her daughter Clare back in 2006, when the IDF was campaigning for United Nations Resolution on diabetes (which they received). The blue colour is meant to evoke the color of the sky, and the circle is a symbol of unity.
The blue circle will be a new addition atop the roof at EKRH and is a result of a generous heart and donation from designer & builder, Dean Simpson of Reactive Welding in Cranbrook. The EKRH Starmakers leant a hand by adding the brilliant blue led lighting.
The circle will be erected and lit on November 1 and continue through to the start of EKFH’s annual Starlite Campaign which launches on November 27.
In addition to raising diabetes awareness on November 14 EKFH and the Cranbrook Diabetes Wellness Centre will recognize the World Diabetes Day 2015 by hosting a GO BLUE FOR BREAKFAST event to be held on November 14 (9:30 – 11:30 a.m.) at the Heritage Inn in Cranbrook.
The event will specifically address the topic of healthy eating and its importance both in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and the effective management of diabetes to avoid complications. For a small ticket price attendees will enjoy a healthy diabetic breakfast, hear ideas from guest presenter Dr. Ross Dawson and nutritionist Catherine Strachan and have a chance to win a few door prizes.
The latest estimates from the IDF Diabetes Atlas indicate that there are 382 million people living with diabetes worldwide. By 2035, 592 million people or one person in ten will have the disease. A further 316 million people are currently at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the number expected to increase to almost 500 million within a generation. What makes the pandemic particularly menacing is that throughout much of the world, it remains hidden. Up to half of all people with diabetes globally remain undiagnosed.
These facts and figures reiterate the importance of urgent action. Most cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented and the serious complications of diabetes can be avoided through healthy lifestyles and living environments that encourage and facilitate healthy behavior.
The key messages of the world-wide campaign aim to raise awareness of how the healthy choice can be the easy choice and the various steps that individuals can take to make informed decisions about what they eat. Special focus will be placed on the importance of starting the day with a healthy breakfast.
The campaign will continue to promote the importance of immediate action to protect the health and well-being of future generations and achieve meaningful outcomes for people with diabetes and those at risk.
The key messages of the campaign include:
– Make healthy food the easy choice;
– Healthy eating: make the right choice;
– Healthy eating begins with breakfast.
Tickets are $20 per person and available from the Cranbrook Diabetic Wellness Centre (20 23rd Ave S, Cranbrook) or at the Heritage Inn.
Tickets must be picked up and paid for before November 5. For more information on the Go Blue for Breakfast event contact Donna Grainger, EKFH Executive Director 1-877-489-6481 or 250 489-6481 or email: [email protected].
Above photo: Welcoming the new Diabetes Awareness Circle for erecting in November are members of the Cranbrook Diabetes Wellness Centre and EKFH. Joining in is EKRH Starmaker Dave King.
