If this is not your name, click here.
| | If this is not your name, click here. | | |
| | Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague | | |
| |  November 14 Is World Diabetes Day TORONTO, Nov. 12, 1996 -- In 1921, the Charleston was all the rage. The streets were lined with Model-Ts. And in a small, overheated lab at the University of Toronto, two young researchers made one of the greatest medical discoveries of the 20th century. Seventy-five years later, the discovery of insulin by Canadians Frederick G. Banting and Charles H. Best continues to be celebrated by the thousands of people whose lives have been saved by this remarkable breakthrough in diabetes research. In celebration of the ongoing legacy of insulin, November has been proclaimed International Diabetes Month. With the theme "Insulin for Life," World Diabetes Day on November 14 will be commemorated around the world. City proclamations, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and numerous other events are being held to educate the public, the media, health professionals and people with diabetes about the prevalence and seriousness of the disease. Throughout the month, the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) will be raising awareness amongst Canadians to the epidemic proportions of diabetes as well as hosting special events. "Diabetes is prevalent in all Canadian communities," says CDA president Doug Philp. "Every event we host is an opportunity to reach out to Canadians and provide them with information that can improve the quality of their lives." Currently, over 1.5 million Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes; another 750,000 have the disease and don't know it. Worldwide, an estimated 100 million people have diabetes. And by the year 2004, one in four Canadians over the age of 45 will have the disease. Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to break down glucose (sugar) for fuel because the pancreas either does not produce insulin (Type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes), produces insufficient amounts of insulin, or cannot use the insulin that is produced (Type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes). When insulin is not available, the energy from food stays in the blood stream and blood sugars rise, causing a variety of symptoms. As the primary source of diabetes education, service and advocacy in Canada, the CDA is a national, independent, self-financing volunteer organization with 170 branches across Canada and division offices in nine provinces (CDA is affiliated with l'Association Diabete Quebec in Quebec). Dedicated volunteers and generous donors have ensured that the CDA is not only Canada's response to diabetes, but that CDA is the largest non-governmental supporter of research to help manage and find a cure for one of the leading causes of death in Canada. For more information, people can contact the the nearest branch of CDA or call 1-800 BANTING.
|
