Lit blue for diabetes

Dear Editor:

November is upon us once again, a month best known for Remembrance Day (11th), and “Movember” (growing of mustaches for prostate cancer awareness).

In these hectic days of working at home, some home schooling, online shopping to avoid crowded stores and what not due to a global pandemic, it is hard to miss the fact other diseases and aliments are still affecting many Canadians and others worldwide.

One of these is diabetes, which affects 11 million-plus Canadians and is growing steadily. That it receives little attention news wise only helps to keep its profile low, but once diagnosed, it is with you for life.

Since 2016, when Diabetes Canada first approached the Fergus Lions Club to “Light up the Night in Blue” to promote diabetes awareness, we have, every November, illuminated the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Grand River from the Marketplace parking lot to the River Walk park in the north side  just behind the Library.

A bit of background:  the colour blue and the symbol of the circle were officially bestowed on the disease diabetes by the United Nations in 2007. The month of November was also declared Diabetes Awareness Month.

Lions Clubs International took up the cause of promoting diabetes awareness worldwide. The lighting of the bridge is our (Fergus Lions) way of promoting diabetes awareness in our community. It is hoped that we are making people stop and think about diabetes.

We light up the bridge on Nov. 14 – International Diabetes Day. It is also the birthday of Dr. Frederick Banting.

So, as you cross the bridge in the evenings, look at the light display and maybe think about Diabetes.

Take a few moments away from games and Facebook, YouTube or whatever, and go to Diabetes.ca –, and take the 10-question test. It is designed to give you an instant assessment of your personal risk factors for contracting diabetes (no personal data is collected/stored).

J. Brian Martin, Diabetes awareness chair, District A15 Lions Clubs