It’s just two months off now, so brace yourselves for November, Folks: National Diabetes Awareness Month is going to be bigger than ever this year.

Once again, November 14 will be World Diabetes Day, which will be marked by the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) Blue Monument Challenge.  That is, public monuments around the globe will be lit up in diabetes-awareness blue for the day.  See the amazing photos from last year of over 300 monuments, including the Eifel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, and Niagara Falls (!) by clicking on the gallery HERE.

Thanks to the folks at Close Concerns, I was lucky to be involved in the lighting up of San Francisco’s own Coit Tower last year as well, and am hoping for another such uplifting experience this November.  The IDF has posted the 2008 WDD Events Calendar, where groups around the world can add and promote their WDD plans.

What is World Diabetes Day, and what’s it got to do with you, anyway?  The concept was introduced in 1991 by the IDF and the World Health Organization (WHO) “in response to the alarming rise in diabetes around the world.” World Diabetes Day is now recognized as an official United Nations Health day with the passage of United Nations Resolution last year.  The IDF does wonderful work around the globe promoting better diabetes care where it’s needed most. Their flagship “Life for a Child” campaign brings life-saving care and medicine to diabetic children in developing countries.  So let’s rally!

This year’s theme is “Bringing Diabetes To Light.” So the IDF is selling two-packs of candles, and asking bloggers and other web publishers to “light a virtual candle” by posting banners like the one below:

To grab these materials yourself, or order candles or other merchandise, go HERE.

Meanwhile, my buddy Manny over at the TuDiabetes community is gathering ideas: What else can we all do to bring diabetes to light?  He suggests organizing a walk, bike ride, or human blue circle in your town.  He’s also brainstorming about making it a LET’S ALL DRESS UP IN BLUE DAY.  Then we can all snap photos of ourselves donned in D-blue, and post them online to make a great community collage.

I love it.  An easy, low-investment way to partipate and show that you care.  So start planning for November now.  With any luck, we’ll all be getting the blues.

Monday, September 15th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3)