Two months to go to World Diabetes Day!

The WDD team is receiving more and more information about what will be organized to mark the day. Here's a snapshot of what's come in:

• In Wales, the local affiliate of Diabetes UK has arranged for the Welsh rugby team to pose for a special photo to raise awareness of and show their support for World Diabetes Day. The players will display the blue circle - the global symbol of diabetes - on their jerseys and be pictured holding a World Diabetes Day flag. In addition, the well-known Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will light in blue for diabetes awareness on 14 November.
• In Uruguay, the Asociación de Diabéticos del Uruguay (ADU) will be installing a large marquee in one of the biggest squares of the capital city Montevideo on 11-12 November. A series of awareness-raising activities will be organized there, including screening for type 2 diabetes, and information on prevention. The ADU will use the occasion to launch a new initiative - 'Unite for Diabetes Uruguay.'
• In Eritrea, the Eritrean National Diabetic Association is planning to shine blue light for diabetes on up to 125 mosques and schools throughout the country.
• Around the world, the World Diabetes Foundation will once again be coordinating the Global Diabetes Walk to promote the benefit of simple physical activity to help prevent type 2 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. The slogan for this year's Walk is 'Understand diabetes and take control,' highlighting the close alignment with the theme and key messages of the World Diabetes Day 2009-2013 campaign. Over 300,000 people joined the Walk in 2009. Find more information at: www.globaldiabeteswalk.net.

See the full list of events. Let us know what is happening in your area by contacting us at wdd@idf.org or submitting your event in our online calendar.
Need inspiration? Consult the World Diabetes Day Campaign Book to get some ideas on how you can show your support for WDD and diabetes awareness.
Blue monument challenge: over 20 countries to date have confirmed their participation in this year's WDD blue lighting campaign. Join the list by sending your confirmed lighting to wdd@idf.org.
WDD in pictures: World Diabetes Day flag on the summit of Mount Cheeseman in New Zealand.
Promote the campaign online
Help promote World Diabetes Day on your website, blog or forum by displaying one or more of the campaign banners that we have produced for you. WDD banners are now available in several formats and languages displaying the visual elements of the 2010 campaign. The banner rotation also includes a countdown to World Diabetes Day and the virtual candle. View and download what is available.
Make sure to contact wdd@idf.org if you're unsure how to use the banners or are interested in producing modified versions.
While spreading the word online, don't forget that there are also several WDD campaign videos you can embed or link to on your blogs and forums. Visit the WDD YouTube channel.
If you're on Facebook, make sure to also join our growing WDD fan page and take part in the many discussions of the diabetes online community in the lead up to 14 November.
Blue Circle Test
As we communicated to you previously, the World Diabetes Day team has developed a new initiative - The Blue Circle Test - to raise awareness of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes and encourage individuals to take control of their lifestyle.
The online version of the test, a user-friendly educational application that incorporates the icons/pictograms widely used for last year's World Diabetes Day campaign, will be launched shortly. The offline version, a special blue waist measuring tape highlighting the link between waist circumference and the risk of type 2 diabetes, is now available and can be requested from wdd@idf.org. The tape displays information in seven languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Russian, and Spanish).
WDD at EASD
Members of the World Diabetes Day team will be present at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), taking place in Stockholm, Sweden on 20-24 September. If you will be at the meeting, make sure to find some time to visit the International Diabetes Federation's booth (BG:05) in the exhibition hall, where you will be able to take home some WDD materials, ask questions about the campaign, or share your planned activities with the team.
We look forward to seeing some of you there.

This article at IDF