November is Diabetes Awareness Month. November is also Diabetic Eye Disease Month. Prevent Blindness American, a not-for-profit charitable organization fighting blindness, holds events during November to highlight the increased risk of blindness that diabetics face.
In Canada, World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14 to mark the discovery of insulin. A day for reflection and education, the World Diabetes Day website has several ideas for commemorating the day (http://www.worlddiabetes.ca/join-the-hoopla-in-canada/). In conjunction with World Diabetes Day and in order to gain awareness for the severity and health threats associated with diabetes, Diabetic Connect has begun campaigning with the Blue Circle icon. The goal of Diabetic Connect is to make the Blue Circle as recognizable as the red and pink ribbons used for HIV/AIDS and breast cancer. By creating an easily identifiable symbol, it is their hope that diabetes will remain in people’s minds all the time. A social movement, Diabetes Connect is petitioning the major diabetes organizations such as the American Diabetes Association to adopt the use of the Blue Circle as the recognized icon of diabetes awareness. To sign Diabetes Connect petition visit the website: http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetes-awareness-month.
National Diabetes Awareness Month
Diabetes Awareness Month is an opportunity for individuals, organizations, communities to bring attention to the disease and its complications, there is an array of activities and programs planned each year. In the U.S. the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is a resource for smaller organizations and community associations to promote their message and events during diabetes awareness month. By subscribing to the NDEP newsletter and submitting stories to their Partner Spotlight, organizations can be up-to-date on national efforts and diabetes awareness month communications (http://ndep.nih.gov/partners-community-organization/national-diabetes-month/index.aspx?redirect=true).
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) commemorates Diabetes Awareness Month through increased outreach efforts specific to type 1 diabetes. JDRF sponsors a Youth Video Contest, with the 2012 theme of “What would you show about living with T1 that others don’t know?” as well as the opportunity to volunteer for various events held in Canada or become an Ambassador for JDRF’s local initiatives. JDRF, as with many organizations, actively promotes Diabetes Awareness Month on their Facebook page, a good way to search for local events.
Diabetes Awareness Month – International
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) honors Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day (WDD), which is celebrated by all member states of the United Nations. The IDF chooses themes for WDD. From 2009-2013 the theme is “Diabetes Education and Prevention”. In support of global efforts to commemorate World Diabetes Day and Diabetes Awareness Month the IDF has advocacy and awareness materials as well as outreach and activity ideas to get people involved (http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/news/diabetes-awareness-month-begins).
