World Diabetes Day – November 14
A blue circle is the global symbol of diabetes. Many recognize World Diabetes Day by wearing a blue circle logo or by wearing blue.
By Paul Madden, Project HOPE Senior Advisor for Noncommunicable Diseases
Today is World Diabetes Day! World Diabetes Day was created by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to concern over the escalating incidence of diabetes around the world. A blue circle is the global symbol of diabetes; it signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic. Many recognize World Diabetes Day by wearing a blue circle logo or by wearing blue.
After receiving invitations from key diabetes leaders in Latin America, senior members from Project HOPE’s Diabetes/Noncommunicable Diseases team John Bronson and Paul Madden along with Project HOPE Country Directors Mario Ortega Maliano, MD (Nicaragua) and Abraham Castaneda, MD (Mexico) are in Mexico this week working with 2,500 diabetes specialists from Latin America. They are all there to share and develop optimal solutions to meet the multiple challenges of maintaining healthier, more productive lives with diabetes as well as to prevent and delay the onset of millions of cases of type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Juan Rosas Guzman, the President of the Congress for the Latin American Diabetes Association, and several leaders from the country-wide diabetes associations and top diabetes centers throughout Latin America have been meeting with Project HOPE’s senior team to continue to explore partnerships that will allow us to bring Project HOPE’s unique IDEEL training program to a growing number of allied health professionals and primary care physicians in Latin America. The program is currently being translated into Spanish, and it will be culturally adapted to the various Latin American countries in which it will be implemented.