Activity spotlight: Denmark, North America and Spain

One month to go to 14 November and awareness activities are already underway in many countries to mark World Diabetes Day 2012. Here's a look at how diabetes will be in the spotlight in three areas this November:

• In Denmark, the national chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes and Research Foundation (JDRF) will be holding a special gala and reception to mark World Diabetes Day. The reception is targeted at policy and decision makers in the health sector and aims, in an informal setting, to provide an update on the diabetes problem in Denmark and what we can do about it. It will include the presentation of concrete proposals and measures to reduce the risk of developing diabetes complications and making life easier for those affected by the disease. This will be followed by the "Rock the Cure" gala, which this year will have an 80s theme and feature the country's top artists performing to raise funds for JDRF's work in diabetes research.
  
  Both events will be held at the classic Moltkes Palæ in Copenhagen, which will light in blue for the occasion. Many prominent individuals will be in attendance and all will be asked to wear the blue circle pin and have their picture taken as part of the WDD Pin a Personality campaign.
   
• On 10 November, many cities in North America and beyond will take part in the World Diabetes Day Photo Scavenger Hunt, organised by Connected In Motion, to celebrate Diabetes Awareness Month. The purpose of the event is to get outside, connect with other people with diabetes, families and friends, and spread awareness about the disease. Teams of 4-5 individuals will be provided with a list of diabetes-themed items to find and take photos with. The photos can be uploaded online and entered to win some great prizes. In the coming weeks, team captains will have the chance to register their teams to participate. Find out how you can take part [insert link].
   
• In Spain, the Spanish Federation for People with Diabetes (FEDE) has a series of activities planned on 13-14 November: a press conference in Madrid involving political representatives and health authorities; an awareness tent in the centre of the capital promoting healthy nutrition and providing a variety of interactive tools to promote diabetes education and prevention; a nationwide television advertisement focusing on children and adolescents. In addition, the National Organisation for the Blind (ONCE) has dedicated its Lottery Cupón on 14 November to World Diabetes Day.

Please continue to visit our online events calendar to get a glimpse of the multitude of awareness activities that will take place all over the world this November. Submit your own information online or send it to wdd@idf.org.

Back to top

Protecting our future in Hong Kong schools

This year's World Diabetes Day campaign has given particular attention to promoting the importance of diabetes awareness and education among children and young people to improve the health of future generations. School-based education programmes have been implemented in several countries to tackle the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity amoung the young.

One such programme was set up in Hong Kong in 2009, initiated by the IDF member association Diabetes Hong Kong, with the aim of developing an outreach programme to educate school children, teachers and and parents about the hazards of overweight and obesity in the city. One of its objectives is to raise the awareness of diabetes among parents, teachers and social workers and equip them with the knowledge and skills to help children adopt a healthy lifestyle.The programme was developed by a committee consisting of endocrinologists, paediatrician, dietitian, diabetes nurse educators and other professionals, and was conducted by a nursing professional with volunteer support from medical professionals and people with diabetes. Through a wide range of educational activities carried out in school campuses, such as talks/workshops, exhibitions, video clips, interactive game stations and quiz competitions, the programme helps disseminate health information to school children in a fun and interactive way, through mainly experiential learning.

To date, the programme has been successfully conducted in a total of 54 primary schools across Hong Kong, reaching a total of 39,744 students. Initial results suggest that a school-based education programme is effective in bringing about healthy behavioural changes in young children, and it is hoped that onging education for local schoolchildren will serve to improve their knowledge relating to health, and reduce the risk of diabetes later in life. Read more about this inspiring programme.

Back to top

Blue Monument update: CN Tower and London Eye join the challenge

The CN Tower in Toronto, Canada and the London Eye in the UK are the latest iconic global landmarks to join the 2012 Blue Monument Challenge. Over 200 monuments and buildings from Argentina to Uruguay have joined the challenge to date. Latest confirmations include:

• Fisalyah tower, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Monumento al Libertador San Martín, San Francisco, Argentina
• Monumento de la Virgen Blanca, Victoria, Spain
• Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
• Ayuntamiento de Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain
• World's Tallest Tepee, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
• Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria, South Africa
• The Centre County Courthouse, Bellefonte, PA, USA
• CenturyLink Field, Seattle WA, USA
• Cheney Stadium, Tacoma WA, USA

Please continue to post your confirmed lightings online or send them to wdd@idf.org.

Back to top

The Big Blue Test is back!

An initiative of the Diabetes Hands Foundation, the Big Blue Test is an online platform that encourages people with diabetes to test their blood sugar, exercise for 14-20 minutes, and share their experience online - insert link - highlighting the importance of physical activity in the management and prevention of diabetes. For every test, people with diabetes in need receive life-saving supplies through Big Blue Test grants that are awarded to humanitarian diabetes charities in the US and around the world. In 2010 and 2011, over 10,000 people helped themselves while helping more than 10,000 others.

This year, the goal is have 20,000 entries recorded on the Big Blue Test website, which will translate into USD 100,000 in funding for five grassroots initiatives in the USA and two international projects. Join the movement by taking the Big Blue Test between now and 15 November.

Back to top

Campaign roundup

• Pin a Personality: the campaign continues to gain momentum with national initiatives launched in Belgium and Ireland to get local celebrities pinned and pictured with the blue circle. See the full gallery and send us your pictures of pinned personalities before 14 November!
   
• Flash mob for diabetes: Cork (Ireland) and Prague (Czech Republic) are two of the latest cities that will be hosting a World Diabetes Day flash mob this November.
   
• WDD heroes: Chris Southwell is our latest World Diabetes Day hero. Read his story.
   
• WDD video messages: Spanish mountain climber, astronaut and IDF Blue Circle Champion Josuu Feijoo is the latest individual to send in a personal video message of support for World Diabetes Day. Send us your own and we will showcase it on our YouTube Channel.
   
• Materials and merchandise: it's not too late to get your posters, pins, bracelets and other materials to mark World Diabetes Day.

Back to top