Isha Foundation joined groups around the world gearing up to celebrate World Diabetes Day on 14 November and raise awareness of the growing threat of diabetes. Awareness campaigns in rural areas, free diabetes screening camps and blue lighting at the Dhyanalinga marked the UN World Diabetes Day celebrated world over in co-ordination with The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the United Nations. The Federation had issued a worldwide call for action to light monuments around the globe in blue for World Diabetes Day to raise public awareness about the perils of the disease.

Blue is the color of the global symbol for diabetes, the blue circle. The significance of the symbol is overwhelmingly positive. Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health. The color blue reflects the sky that unites all nations and is also the color of the United Nations flag. The blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

Over 15,000 visitors to the Dhyanalinga were touched by this unique campaign. Through the day, 21 Mobile Health Clinics of the Foundation covered another 25,000 people in the rural areas in 16 districts of Tamil Nadu. The campaign comprised of public talks, poster display and short film presentations.

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This year's World Diabetes Day focuses on raising awareness of diabetes and its impact on children. Diabetes is one of the most chronic diseases of childhood and can strike children of any age including infants and toddlers.

Supporting the UN's call, Isha Foundation's Dhyanalinga joined The Great Egyptian Pyramids, The Tower of London, Burj al Arab in Dubai, The Niagara Falls in Canada/USA and more than 1000 other monuments and iconic sites across the world to light up in blue and mark World Diabetes Day.

Over 15,000 visitors to the Dhyanalinga were touched by this unique campaign. Through the day, 21 Mobile Health Clinics of the Foundation covered another 25,000 people in the rural areas in 16 districts of Tamil Nadu. The campaign comprised of public talks, poster display and short film presentations.

India Development and Relief Fund and Isha Foundation have also hosted a one-day training program on 15 November, in Coimbatore for medical and paramedical professionals, thus providing them the expertise required to conduct additional Diabetes screening camps. The following day, the Isha Rural Health Clinics offered free diabetic screening camps for the public in Alandurai, Coimbatore.

In Isha's health care activities, diabetes prevention and treatment is not just a topic on and around World Diabetes Day. Throughout the year, the grassroots activities of Action for Rural Rejuvenation support those suffering from diabetes, raise awareness of the warning signs of diabetes and promote healthy lifestyles to help prevent type 2 diabetes in children and adults.