Auburn University is officially participating in World Diabetes Day Friday, Nov. 14.
Major Bill Ham Jr. proclaimed the city to recognize this day in a ceremony in Spidle Hall Monday, Nov. 10.
The Student Dietetic Association and Alpha Gamma Delta sorority will have booths on the Concourse to pass out fliers and sugar-free candy.
“They are combining forces to let people know what the warning signs are and what you can do to prevent it,” said Doug White, professor of nutrition and food sciences. “Type II diabetes is preventable with staying healthy and eating a healthy diet.”
The International Diabetes Federation and World Health Organization created World Diabetes Day in 1991 because of the increasing numbers of diagnosis of this epidemic, according to the WDD Web site.
The 2007-2008 theme is Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.
“Every parent, school teacher, school nurse, doctor and anyone involved in the care of children should be familiar with the warning signs and alert to the diabetes threat,” said Martin Silink, president of the International Diabetes Federation.
Suresh Matthews, professor of nutrition and food sciences, is going to Yarborough Elementary School to talk with the children about the causes and effects of diabetes, White said.
“We are hitting different student populations to try to get the word out,” White said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama is ranked in the highest category of percent of individuals diagnosed with diabetes. Lee County had 8 percent of its population diagnosed when the last survey was taken.
“Auburn’s main goal is to make people aware and to make them think,” White said.
The Student Dietetic Association said approximately one in every 10 citizens of Alabama has diabetes. Also, more than 250 million individuals have the disease worldwide.
“We are bringing together the people and the organizations that can provide not only the interim humanitarian response to save lives, but can lay the groundwork for sustainable solutions that will benefit all children with diabetes,” Silink said
Nov. 14 was selected as the day of celebration because it is the birth date of Frederick Banting. He was the discoverer of insulin in 1921, according to the WDD Web site.
“The day brings a focal point,” White said. “The International Federation of Diabetes does things all year round, but it happens to be on that day that it brings it all together and celebrates the birth of Banting which is fundamental. You have to think back to a time when people had diabetes, they died. That’s it. But when insulin was discovered, people could live fairly normal lives.”
