UK Marks World Diabetes Day With Blue Lighting on Campus Nov. 14

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 11, 2016) —  Advocates for diabetes care and prevention in Kentucky and around the world will recognize World Diabetes Day (WDD) today, Monday, Nov. 14.  The University of Kentucky will participate with blue lighting on campus tonight.

 World Diabetes Day is sponsored annually by the International Diabetes Federation, the World Health Organization and Kentucky diabetes advocates to draw attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world.

World Diabetes Day is recognized around the world with the illuminating of historic sights and buildings in blue.  Numerous sites around Kentucky will be illuminated, including many at the University of Kentucky.  Scheduled for illumination are the Main Building, Memorial Hall, W.T. Young Library, Haggin Hall/K-Lair, Gatton College of Business and Economics, Holmes Hall (formerly Limestone Park 1), Woodland Glen 1, Woodland Glen 4, Johnson Hall (formerly Central Hall 1), Donovan Hall (formerly Central Hall 2), Jewell Hall (formerly Champions Court 1), Blazer Hall (formerly Champions Court 2), and The 90.

“This is a generous expression of diabetes awareness and changing the trajectory of the diabetes crisis,” said Bob Babbage of Lexington, who heads the World Diabetes Day Activities in the region.  “UK is nationally recognized for significant grant-funded diabetes research as well as the prominent role of the Barnstable Brown Kentucky Diabetes and Obesity Center.”

Since 2007 more than 1,000 sights and buildings in 84 countries have been bathed in blue lights as part of the World Diabetes Day Blue Monument Challenge.  The celebration has included the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, the United Nations Building, Rome’s Coliseum, the London Eye, Brandenburg Gate, the Egyptian Pyramids and hundreds more locations around the world.

This year’s theme for World Diabetes Day is "Eyes on Diabetes."  Activities will focus on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications.

WDD is part of Diabetes Awareness Month in the United States, a time designated to renew efforts to combat the diabetes epidemic. World Diabetes Day is formally recognized in Kentucky state law, the only state to have done so.

An estimated 561,000 (one in nine) adult Kentuckians are diagnosed with diabetes.  Another 1,171,000 people are diagnosed with prediabetes, putting them at a very high risk for developing diabetes. 

In 2011 Kentucky became the first state to mandate a statewide, comprehensive Diabetes Action Plan and the first state to license diabetes educators.  Since then, 18 other states have passed similar legislation modeled on the Kentucky law. 

Kentucky ranks 14th in the nation for the incidence in diabetes, an improvement on previous rankings.  Kentucky has dropped to 8th for the incidence of pre-diabetes.

For a complete guide on participating in World Diabetes Day and the Blue Monument Challenge go to www.idf.org/wdd-index.