Events aim to promote diabetes awareness

The Bermuda Diabetes Association continues to raise awareness of the ­disease this month with its Denim for Diabetes Day, two walks and telethon.

November is Diabetes Month and the upcoming events aim to raise awareness of the disease, which has reached epidemic ­proportions in Bermuda, as well as raise money ­towards securing the association a new building.

The charity is holding it’s 15th annual Denim for ­Diabetes Day on Friday, ­November 26. Schools and businesses are invited to contact the association to request Denim for Diabetes stickers and to make a ­monetary donation.

Chief executive of the Bermuda Diabetes Association Kuni Black-Frith said of the event: “We were the first charity to introduce denim diabetes days. It’s not just wearing the denim — it’s like our tag day — we have stickers that look like denim pockets for people to wear. Schools and businesses will call in ask for the stickers and then make a monetary donation. It has been one of our primary fundraising events for the last 15 years. “The money raised will go towards the Bermuda Diabetes Association’s Building Fund. We would like to purchase a building, perhaps on the outskirts of Hamilton.

“We are in three different locations right now but we would like all our staff in one building. We are optimistic we can do that by early 2011.”

On the same evening, ZBM TV 9 will air a telethon from 8pm to ­midnight, which will ­include various panels of healthcare professionals.

Speakers include endocrinologist Dr. Annabel Fountain who specializes in ­diabetes, Dr. Jewel Landy, doctor of dental surgery at Smiles by Landy and there will be a pre-recorded ­message from Dr. Alicia Stovell-Washington, an eye consultant with the Bermuda Eye Centre. There will also be personal accounts of those affected by diabetes including a lady who lost her leg and her eyesight to diabetes. Finally there will be a documentary about type one diabetic children.

Ms Black-Frith added: “Approximately 25 per cent of our population are ­diabetic or at risk of ­diabetes. Diabetes can ­affect some families more than others and with Bermuda being such a small community every family is affected by it in some way. Dr. Stovell will talk about families with a history of diabetes and ­encourage them to get ­tested.

Two walks are scheduled to take place before the telethon on November 26 — one for corporate groups and the other for seniors. Anyone interestedin taking part in the walks, which includes seniors aged 70 and above, are asked to meet at the National Stadium at 6pm and the walk to ZBM will start at 6:30pm. The proceeds are also slated for the Bermuda ­Diabetes Association’s Building Fund. The association is asking people to lock in their pledges to help it to achieve its goal.

Earlier this month the Bermuda Diabetes Association organized a charity walk and a church service.

The multi-denominational service focused on the importance of prevention and proper care. It highlighted the fact that our type two diabetics are ­getting younger and younger and that our community is faced with an obesity ­problem putting them at greater risk of ­contracting ­diabetes. 

For more information call: 297-8427 or call the educator at the Bermuda ­Diabetes Association Sara McKittrick our on 236-3668.