LET’S TAKE CONTROL

OF DIABETES.NOW.

A campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation

The primary global awareness campaign
of the diabetes community
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign
of the diabetes community. It takes place every year on 14
November. The date marks the birthday of Frederick Banting,
who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of
insulin.
The logo
World Diabetes Day is represented by the blue circle, the global
symbol of diabetes.
The significance of the symbol is overwhelmingly positive.
Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health. The
colour blue reflects the sky that unites all nations and is
the colour of the flag of the United Nations. The blue circle
signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in
response to the diabetes pandemic.
How did it all begin?
World Diabetes Day was introduced by the International
Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization
(WHO) in 1991, in response to concern over the escalating
incidence of diabetes around the world. The disease currently
affects over 300 million people worldwide.
World Diabetes Day:
An official United Nations world day
World Diabetes Day is an official United Nations World Day. On 20 December
2006, the UN General Assembly passed resolution 61/225, designating the
existing World Diabetes Day as an official United Nations world day. This
landmark resolution also recognized diabetes as “a chronic, debilitating and
costly disease associated with major complications that pose severe risks for
families, countries and the entire world.”

The world is experiencing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

that threatens to overwhelm healthcare systems worldwide. Diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases cause 35 million
deaths a year, with four in every five of these deaths occurring in low- and
middle-income countries.

The NCD Alliance

IDF has joined forces with its sister federations in heart, cancer, and chronic
respiratory disease, to bring diabetes and other NCDs to the world stage and
ensure that they are recognized as a global health emergency and a leading
threat to human health and development. In May 2010, The United Nations
General Assembly voted in favour of a UN Resolution calling for a UN Summit United Nations Headquarters, New York
on NCDs involving Heads of State, to take place in September 2011. The
Summit is a first step in ensuring that world leaders make the prevention
and treatment of NCDs an urgent priority both globally and nationally. Active
engagement from all sectors of society is now required to make sure that the
Summit is a success.
Where does it take place?
World Diabetes Day is celebrated worldwide. It brings together
millions of people in over 160 countries, uniting the global
diabetes community to produce a powerful voice for diabetes
awareness. Every year, thousands of local and national events
are organized by the member associations of the International
Diabetes Federation and by other diabetes representative
organizations, healthcare professionals, healthcare authorities,
and individuals who want to make a difference.

of people
Bringing together millions !
in over 160 countries
Diabetes Education and Prevention
Is there a theme? The key messages of the campaign, developed for different
Each year World Diabetes Day highlights a theme related to target groups, are:
diabetes. Recent themes have included:
•• People with diabetes: Enjoy an active life and prevent
•• 2005: Diabetes and Foot Care complications.
•• 2006: Diabetes in the Disadvantaged and the Vulnerable •• People at risk of type 2 diabetes: Are you at risk? Take the
•• 2007–2008: Diabetes in Children and Adolescents blue circle test.
•• Health professionals: Know the signs and symptoms of
diabetes. Early diagnosis saves lives.
2009-2013: Diabetes Education and •• Decision-makers: Diabetes prevention and treatment are
Prevention! simple and cost-effective. Put them on top of the agenda.
•• Parents: Your child could be affected. Know the warning
signs. See your doctor to measure the risk.
The current theme of the campaign is ‘Diabetes Education
and Prevention,’ a broad theme that covers the five-year
period from 2009 to 2013. The campaign calls on all those
responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take
control, and encourages the global diabetes community, other
concerned individuals, and the general public to take active
control of their health and wellbeing.
How is it marked?
Diabetes representative organizations, governmental
organizations, companies and individuals develop an extensive
range of activities tailored to a variety of groups. Activities
organized each year include:

•• Blue lightings
•• Human blue circles
•• Dress-up-in-blue days
•• Walks and cycle rides
•• Radio and television programmes
•• Public screenings
How can you mark
World Diabetes Day?
1. Light a monument in blue and exercise
A great way of raising awareness of diabetes and World
Diabetes Day in your village, town or city is by lighting iconic
buildings and landmarks in the colour of the blue circle, the
global symbol for diabetes. The lightings provide an attractive
platform to raise awareness of diabetes and communicate the
key messages of World Diabetes Day to the general public and
media.

Since the launch of the challenge in 2007, over 2000 landmark

sites and buildings in more than 100 countries have lit in blue
for diabetes awareness. To strengthen the key messages of
the 2009-2013 campaign, IDF is encouraging the organization
of physical activity events (eg. a walk, an aerobics workout,
or dancing) in conjunction with the lightings to highlight the
benefits of exercise in the management and prevention of
diabetes, and convey a positive and empowering message.

day.org
Visit www.worlddiabetes the challenge
take part in
to find out how you can
2. Promote the Blue Circle Test
An exciting new initiative – The Blue Circle Test - has been
added to the World Diabetes Day campaign to encourage the
general public to find out if they are at risk of type 2 diabetes
and take control of their health and wellbeing. The Blue Circle
Test consists of an online and offline component:

•• Online: a user-friendly interactive tool that showcases the

risk factors of type 2 diabetes, allows visitors to establish a
personalized risk profile, and highlights the positive actions
that can be taken to reduce one’s risk. The tool also allows
people with diabetes to discover the complications of the
disease and learn how they can manage it effectively.

•• Offline: a special blue waist measuring tape that highlights

the link between waist circumference and the risk of type 2
diabetes.

Show your support for World Diabetes Day by promoting the

online tool on your website or blog, or using and distributing
the blue measuring tape at your local awareness activity.

Visit www.worlddiabetesday.org
le Test
to find out more about the Blue Circ
3. Become a World Diabetes Day champion
Do you have an interesting idea that will grab public and
media attention? Do you want to change the way that people
think about diabetes? Are you lobbying your local or national
government to improve diabetes care and prevention? Are you
helping to implement change that will improve care for people
with and at risk of diabetes?

If you’re active in bringing diabetes to light in your area and

plan to do so on 14 November, please share your information
with the World Diabetes Day team - wdd@idf.org. The activity
will be promoted through www.worlddiabetesday.org and
used to inspire others.
4. Individual action
Can’t find an event near you but want to join in? There are
Get inspired!

Get inspired!
many ways that you can get involved. Why not illuminate your
home in blue or light a blue candle for World Diabetes Day?
Dress up in blue for the day and organize a dress-up-in-blue day
for diabetes at your workplace. Find inspiration in the World
Diabetes Day campaign book, the user-friendly reference guide
that has been produced to inspire and engage, and facilitate a
unified global campaign across all regions and countries.

World Diabetes Day Campaign Book

View and download the guide at:

http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/ Campaign book
en/activities/campaign-book
Follow the campaign
Over recent campaigns, World Diabetes Day has extended
its reach through various social networking sites in order to
attract new audiences and further engage the campaign’s
global network of supporters. You can find and follow World
Diabetes Day on:

Facebook
Become a fan of World Diabetes Day:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brussels-Belgium/World-Diabetes-Day/67935817021?ref=mf

Twitter
Follow our campaign updates: http://twitter.com/wdd

YouTube
Our WDD channel showcases campaign-related videos from around the world.
Upload your own video or visit the channel to get inspired:
•• World Diabetes Day Channel: http://www.youtube.com/worlddiabetesday
•• International Diabetes Federation Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/IntDiabetesFed

Flickr
Thousands of photos at your disposal to see how WDD is celebrated around the world:
World Diabetes Day group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/WDD
 Visit www.worlddiabetesday.org for more information
about World Diabetes Day as well as materials for download.

Visit www.idf.org for more information

about the International Diabetes Federation.

Direct your enquiries to the IDF Executive Office:

International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
Chaussée de La Hulpe 166
B-1170 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 5385511
Fax: +32 2 5385114

For e-mail enquiries about World Diabetes Day, please contact wdd@idf.org.