Canadian Diabetes Association Conference 2012
The 2012 Canadian Diabetes Association Conference wrapped up Saturday afternoon after four days of industry professionals networking and sharing innovations and research with experts from around the world.
Canada has one of the highest rates of diabetes prevalence and the third highest diabetes-related mortality rate in comparison to its peer countries. Nationwide diabetes rates have almost doubled over the past decade and it is estimated that one in three people in Canadian will be diabetic or pre-diabetic by 2020 unless action is taken now.
"We've identified steps that can be taken now that could dramatically reduce the incidence and seriousness of diabetes while we continue to work towards a cure," says Michael Cloutier, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "Our Association is committed to developing programs for the prevention and treatment of diabetes with partners such as governments, healthcare groups and industry"
Many of the leading researchers and medical professionals were in attendance at the CDA Conference this past week including Shereen Ezzat who accepted the Distinquished Service Award and Farah Ahmad who was the recipient of the Diabetes Educator of the Year Award.These were just two of many of the outstanding individuals that received awards at the Canadian Diabetes Association conference.
With multiple symposiums running simultaneously throughout the day, registrants had the opportunity to attend diabetes-focused lectures or endocrinology-focused lectures since the conference was also a partnership with the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM).
On the Thursday I attended I had the opportunity to listen to Dr Alissa Zentner, obesity expert and star of CBC's Village on a Diet. She spoke about the importance of being a good role model for her patients, getting personal as she told us how she went from 300lbs and obsessed with food, to running marathons and encouraging a healthy lifestyle in others.
Many of her facts were from a study done on obsesity in May 2012, including an alarming point that overweight or obese physicians tend to feel less competent about counselling patients towards dieting.
"I'm not suggesting that we all should get healthy, it just shows us that who we are influences how we practise. And maybe we need to actually step outside of that and be aware of that more," explained Dr. Zentner.
During "nutrition breaks" the exhibit hall provided an interactive environment where guests could mingle amongst each other while visiting different information booths. Many of the booths had take-aways such as CanolaInfo.ca with a healthy eating calendar, Kraft doling out Crystal Light and Abbott Nutrition sampling Glucerna. There was also a booth to test your A1C level a way of providing awareness and thus acting towards prevention and control.
This was the 15th Annual Canadian Diabetes Association Conference, with each year bringing more hope in reducing the incidence of diabetes, while continuing to work towards a cure.
For more photos from Thursday October 11th at the CDA Conference check out my set on Flickr.
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