World Diabetes Day 2011

Today is World Diabetes Day!  We are off to a great start this World Diabetes Day!  Blue fingernail polish -check.  Blue shirt - check.  Blue circle hair accessory - check.   Blue circle blueberries for breakfast - check.  And best of all...Morning blood sugar of 114 - check!

I asked Ally if she'd like to help me write the blog post for World Diabetes Day and she said, "Mom, all I would say is that I'm just a normal girl!"  So, I guess I'm on my own with this one ;)

World Diabetes Day is the day that people all over the world are uniting for diabetes.  November 14 was chosen as the day to raise awareness for diabetes because it is the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting.  Banting, along with his assistant, Charles Best, discovered insulin in 1922. 

Sir Frederick Banting was one of the twentieth century's most celebrated medical heroes. His discovery of insulin, made with his assistant Charles Best and other colleagues, was one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the century. Since its discovery, insulin has saved or transformed the lives of millions of people with diabetes.

(Quoted from Library and Archives Canada)

You see, prior to his discovery of insulin, a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes was a death sentence.

I can't even find the words to justly describe how grateful I am to this man whom I never even met.  It is thanks to him that my daughter is "just a normal girl" - despite diabetes.

Happy Birthday and Thank you to Sir Frederick Banting!

So, why all the blue circles??  The blue circle is the international symbol for diabetes awareness.  You can read about the history of the blue circle here.

If you'd like to help spread awareness of diabetes and don a blue circle...check out www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday.