World Diabetes Day November 14, 2011

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14th. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its association members. It joins millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness.

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007. The campaign draws attention to the issues of importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes in the public spotlight. Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. 

The Global Diabetes Plan was launched on September 18, 2011. The latest figures from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reveal that currently 366 million people have diabetes, 4.6 million deaths are due to diabetes and US$ 465 billion is spent on care for diabetes. This disease is one of the century’s greatest health challenges and remains on a relentlessly upwards trajectory.

IDF has brought together world experts to develop a coherent framework of action to respond to the diabetes challenge.  These cost-effective solutions for action by governments, health care professionals and the global diabetes community are presented in IDF’s Global Diabetes Plan 2011-2021. (The presentation is available for download or viewing on video at http://www.idf.org/global-diabetes-plan-2011-2021)

The Big Blue Test is a program of the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF). It takes place every November 14 (World Diabetes Day). People with diabetes are invited to test their blood sugar at 2 pm (local time), do 14 minutes of activity, test again and share the results.

Meet Toby Smithson, RD, LDN, CDE

Toby Smithson is a Registered Dietitian, a Certified Diabetes Educator, a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, and holds a certification in adult weight management. Toby was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October, 1968, and has managed diabetes personally every single day since with no hint of complications. Toby founded DiabetesEveryDay to share her insights into successful diabetes self-management.

DiabetesEveryDay.com members enjoy 24/7 access to weekly menu selections, recipes (developed by dietitians for heart health and carbohydrate management), grocery lists and a unique library of video clips featuring Toby Smithson. New content is added weekly, Toby draws upon her own extraordinary diabetes management success to make this overwhelming responsibility for self-care both understandable and practical. She explores not only the nuts and bolts….medical issues, food and physical activity….but also everyday lifestyle, emotional challenges, stress, and life changing motivation; the real keys to success. To learn more, visit DiabetesEveryDay.com

Blue Circle Dance

About 500 employees, families and friends of Novo Nordisk from all around the world filmed themselves while dancing to 'Move your feet' by Junior Senior. The idea is to generate awareness for diabetes on World Diabetes Day 14 November 2011.