Canadians with diabetes urged to share their stories for Diabetes Awareness Month

Have your voice heard this October and November at whatacuremeans2me.com

TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - With more than nine million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes, chances are, many Canadians know someone living with the disease.

To mark Diabetes Awareness Month, the Canadian Diabetes Association is introducing the "What a Cure Means to Me" campaign. The goal is to give a voice to people living with diabetes in communities all across the country. Throughout the campaign, Canadians will be encouraged to:

1. Share their diabetes stories at whatacuremeans2me.com
2. Share their "What a Cure Means to Me" Facebook page with friends, family and online communities to raise awareness and funds
3. Support Diabetes Awareness Month activities in their local communities

"Diabetes Awareness Month provides an opportunity for us to bring together our community of more than nine-million Canadians who live with diabetes or prediabetes," says Michael Cloutier, president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "We want to shed light on their challenges, celebrate their triumphs, and thank them for their continuing support of each other and the Association. When we share our heartfelt diabetes stories we all win."

Getting involved in the Campaign is easy. Visit whatacuremeans2me.com to register, and then post a story from October 10 to November 30, 2012, to be eligible to win a dream vacation or other exciting prizes. Family, friends and colleagues can show their support by sharing posted stories with their online communities and by making a donation. "What a Cure Means to Me" participants can also host their own local fundraising events. "During the campaign, we will be providing Canadians with the online tools they need to tap into their social communities on Facebook and Twitter, and by e-mail. The more awareness and funds we can generate, the more people we can help," Cloutier adds.

Corporate sponsor Novo Nordisk Canada has joined the Campaign as a Presenting Sponsor, Prize Sponsor and Matching Gift Sponsor. "Novo Nordisk is extremely proud of our long history of supporting the important work of the Canadian Diabetes Association, especially during Diabetes Awareness Month, which gives all Canadians a special opportunity to take action and make a real difference in the lives of people living with diabetes in communities across the country," says Vince Lamanna, president of Novo Nordisk Canada. "Changing diabetes is the clear ambition for our company. We are committed to achieving this goal not only through research and innovation, but also through education and support to empower people living with diabetes to live fuller, healthier lives until a cure is found."

Canada has one of the highest rates of diabetes and diabetes-related mortality per capita in the world and costs our health-care system nearly $12 billion annually. Unlike other chronic diseases, diabetes can be managed effectively, allowing people with the disease to live long and healthy lives.  Until a cure is found, there is a real need to improve access to health-care to prevent devastating health complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputation. 

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

About Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.
Novo Nordisk is a health-care company and a world leader in diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to employees and customers. For more information, visit www.novonordisk.ca.

SOURCE: Canadian Diabetes Association

For more information about the "What a Cure Means to Me" Campaign or to arrange interviews and photo opportunities with storytellers and diabetes researchers, please contact:

Heath Applebaum
Director of Communications
Canadian Diabetes Association
[email protected]
Tel: [phone]