Media Advisory - DIABETES AND ENDOCRINOLOGY CONFERENCE DRAWS INTERNATIONAL
EXPERTS TO EDMONTON

OCTOBER 20 to 23, 2010

Highlights of conference include presentations on the latest in research, clinical practice, healthcare delivery, diabetes and other endocrine disorders

TORONTO, Oct. 15 /CNW/ -

What:	More than 100 Canadian and international experts will present the latest advances in diabetes research, prevention and management at the 13^th Annual Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA)/ Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM) Professional Conference and Annual Meetings
	Media are invited to attend select sessions for interview opportunities with the experts presenting at this year's conference. Advance interviews with presenters may also be available for interested media.
Where:	Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Avenue Northwest in Edmonton, Alberta
When:	Wednesday, October 20 to Saturday, October 23, 2010
Why:	The CDA/CSEM Professional Conference and Annual Meetings brings together more than 2,500 diabetes clinicians, researchers and educators from across Canada and around the world to share their knowledge, ideas and experiences in diabetes.

Select conference highlights include:

PRESS CONFERENCE: Alberta Diabetes Cost Model

Date: October 20, 2010
Location: Salon 9, Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
Time: 10:30 a.m.

The Canadian Diabetes Association is scheduled to release preliminary data from a Diabetes Cost Model developed for the province of Alberta.  Media are invited to attend a press conference as Michael Cloutier, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association discusses the burden of diabetes in Alberta and how the staggering costs represent not only a threat to the sustainability of the healthcare system, but the future prosperity of the Alberta economy.

Friend or Foe - The Skinny on Fad Diets (Thursday, October 21)
Over the years, countless commercial diet programs have promised not only rapid weight loss, but a whole-life transformation as well.  Despite their numerous claims, these programs often deliver little in the way of long-term results.  Registered Dietitian Robin Anderson (Edmonton, AB) will discuss popular fad diets, and how they can affect metabolism, cravings, body composition and risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes.

ACCORD Lipid and ACCORD BP: How Should They Change our Practice?
(Thursday, October 21)
The Action to Control Cardiovascular Outcomes in Diabetes (ACCORD) lipid trial was designed to investigate whether combination therapy with a statin plus a fibrate would reduce cardiovascular disease compared with statin monotherapy in 5,518 subjects with type 2 diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular disease who were also participating in the glycemic intervention of the ACCORD trial.  Dr. Lawrence A. Leiter (Toronto, ON) will discuss the results of the ACCORD lipid and blood pressure trials and the implications for clinical practice.

Herbal and Other Natural Products for Diabetes: Considerations for Patients and Healthcare Providers (Thursday, October 21)
The use of traditional and non-traditional medicines and therapies for diabetes has grown tremendously in the last few years.  People with diabetes are 1.6 times more likely to use some type of herbal or natural product therapy than those who do not have diabetes.  Some of these products are used to lower blood glucose, while others may be used to treat diabetes-related complications.  It is estimated that there are more than 120 of these products used to treat diabetes.  Some of the available supplements include plant-derived products such as aloe vera, bitter melon, cinnamon, fenugreek, ginseng, gymnema sylvestre and milk thistle.  Non plant-derived products include alpha-lipoic acid and chromium.  Dr. Laura Shane-McWhorter (Salt Lake City, UT) will highlight popular treatments for diabetes and will discuss the theorized mechanisms of action, side effects and potential drug interactions that may occur.

Glucose Variability and Diabetes Complications: Potential Adverse Effects (Friday, October 22)
Complications of diabetes are clearly linked to prior hyperglycemia.  Several recent large studies - including ACCORD, ADVANCE and VADT - have failed to clearly demonstrate the benefits of intensified glycemic control on mortality, specifically cardiovascular mortality, in type 2 diabetes.  Dr. Mark Cooper (Australia) will explain the link between hyperglycemia and diabetes complications and discuss the concepts of "hyperglycemic memory" and "the legacy effect."

Hypertension in People with Diabetes: A Critical Care Gap (Friday, October 22)
Hypertension is present in more than 1 in 5 adult Canadians and in more than 60% of adult Canadians with diabetes.  An estimated 1 in 28 adult Canadians have both hypertension and diabetes; 6 in 10 of these people have uncontrolled high blood pressure.  A large proportion of death and disability in people with diabetes is related to hypertension.  Dr. Norm Campbell (Calgary, AB) will share information on the role of increased blood pressure as a determinant in adverse outcomes in people with diabetes; the role of dietary sodium as a health risk and how to effectively reduce blood pressure in people with diabetes.

Avoiding the Slippery Slope: Interventions to Reduce the Risk of Obesity and Diabetes in Women with GDM and Their Offspring (Friday, October 22)
Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  As well, their offspring appear to have an increased risk of obesity.  This session, presented by Dr. Denice Feig (Toronto, ON) will review measures to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, including raising awareness, lifestyle modifications and breastfeeding.

Islet Transplantation: Past, Present, Future (Saturday, October 23)
The discover of insulin by Banting, Best, Collip and McLeod in 1922 was a remarkable discovery that has extended the lives of many diabetics, but it was not a cure.  Over the last 25 years, there have been many alternate forms of insulin delivery that have been proposed such as infusion pumps, artificial endocrine pancreas, and transplantation of islets or the whole pancreas.  The Edmonton Protocol has set the standard worldwide for 50 centres that carry out clinical islet transplantation.  The 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Lecture, presented by Dr. Ray V. Rajotte (Edmonton, AB), will detail islet transplantation and how the basic research is now being applied and what the future holds for islet transplantation.  Dr. Rajotte has received numerous honours and awards during his career; most recently he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2006 and in 2007 he was appointed Member of the Order of Canada.

Plant-based Nutritional Plans for Diabetes Management (Saturday, October 23)
Considerable evidence suggests that diabetes management can be improved by the implementation of a low-fat vegan diet.  As a group, vegetarians have a lower diabetes prevalence, compared to non-vegetarians.  They also tend to have lower plasma cholesterol levels and are less likely to be overweight.  Hear Dr. Neal Barnard (Washington, DC) explain the rationale for the use of plant-based diets in diabetes management; the effect of nutritional interventions on blood glucose, lipids and body weight; and learn how to initiate and monitor therapeutic nutrition plans for people with type 2 diabetes.

Pathways to Beta Cell Death and Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes (Saturday, October 23)
In type 2 diabetes, beta cell function and mass decline over time occurs as the disease progresses.  The causes of beta cell death and dysfunction in type 2 diabetes are not fully understood.  Dr. C. Bruce Verchere (Vancouver, BC) will explain the mechanisms by which pancreatic beta cells fail in type 2 diabetes; how the formation of islet amyloid may contribute to beta cell loss in type 2 diabetes and islet transplants; how the accumulation of cholesterol may contribute to beta cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes and share new therapeutic targets for prevention of beta cell loss in type 2 diabetes and islet transplants.

View the full conference agenda at:
http://www.diabetes.ca/for-professionals/conference/program-updates/program/

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. We are supported in our efforts by a community-based network of volunteers, employees, healthcare professionals, researchers and partners. By providing education and services, advocating on behalf of people with diabetes, supporting research and translating research into practical applications - we are delivering on our mission.  Visit diabetes.ca for more information.

For further information:

For interviews with any of the featured speakers, or for more information, please contact:

Randi Garcha
Manager, National Media Relations & External Communications
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: [phone] 
Cell/On-site: [phone]
[email protected]

Katie McLaughlin
Associate, Marketing & Communications, Alberta & NWT
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: [phone], ext. 240
Cell/On-site: [phone]
[email protected]