World Diabetes Day 2009….Are you a Diabetes Champion?
World Diabetes Day (WDD) is an official United Nation’s World Health Day launched in November 2007. It is celebrated, globally, every year on November 14. The date was chosen because it marks the birthday of Canadian Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin in 1921.
The theme for 2009 is Diabetes Champions. We are celebrating and recognizing the commitment of Canadian Diabetes Champions whose everyday efforts make a difference in their own lives, makes a difference for others, and, inspire those around them.
Champions include people living with diabetes; families and friends of people living with diabetes; researchers; healthcare practitioners; volunteers; educators; advocates; philanthropists and donors; life science partners; community leaders; role models; mentors; and government officials.
Starting November 2nd, you’re invited to share why you are a Diabetes Champion in our online Gallery of Champions at www.worlddiabetes.ca Share your story, or to tell us about someone you think is a Champion through stories, photos, videos or links to your social network pages.
Be sure to visit our dedicated WDD website, in partnership with the Canadian Diabetes Association, and with generous support of Founding Sponsor Novo Nordisk and sanofi-aventis. Following is a top 10 list of things to do at the site:
10. Learn the recent statistics and impact of diabetes in Canada
9. Become a Facebook Friend
8. Become a friend on Twitter
7. Post your WDD photos and videos
6. Post your WDD event on our interactive map of Canada
5. Get ideas on how to celebrate WDD in your community
4. View our Gallery of Diabetes Champions
3. Watch our video of inspirational and celebrity Champions
2. Take the sanofi-aventis Diabetes Champions fundraising quiz
And the number one way to get involved…1. Post your story and photo on our Gallery of Diabetes Champions.
Did you know?
- By 2010, over 3 million Canadians will live with diabetes.
- Over 300,000 Canadians live with type 1 diabetes. This number is increasing by three to five per cent annually – the greatest rise is in children five to nine years of age.
- Globally, every ten seconds two people develop diabetes.
- Canada has the sixth highest incidence rate of type 1 diabetes in children 14 years of age or younger in the world.
- The cost of treating diabetes and diabetes-related complications is currently more than $15.6 billion dollars in Canada, and is projected to rise to $19.2 billion by 2010.
