News Release                           For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                  November 9, 2009

Diabetes Awareness Month - Understand Diabetes and Take Control!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. World Health Diabetes Day, celebrated on November 14, has been a United Nations World Health Day since 2007. This date marks the birthday of Dr. Fredrick Banting who, along with Dr. Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin in 1921 and forever changed the lives of people worldwide living with diabetes.

The Canadian Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and sponsor Novo Nordisk Canada are marking the month by honouring diabetes champions. Champions are people living with diabetes, family, friends, volunteers, health care practitioners, diabetes researchers and educators, community leaders and elected officials.  The campaign will encourage people to inspire, educate and raise awareness about diabetes. For people living with diabetes, this is about empowerment through education.

Are you a champion? Share your story or a story about someone you know who is a diabetes champion at www.worlddiabetes.ca. Use the Diabetes Champion Gallery to read and share stories, photos, videos and links to social network pages.

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For further information:

Lisa Miller R.N. M.Sc.N.

Manager-Grey Bruce Diabetes Program

Grey Bruce Health Services

519-376-2121 x 2717