For the 13th year, Diabète Bois-Francs marked World Diabetes Day (November 14) with a symbolic march on Thursday evening. The participants, around fifty, marched from the Charles-Édouard-Mailhot library to city hall to hoist the flag on the mast.
Before departure, a few people spoke. The president of Diabète Bois-Francs, Valérie Guay, explained the logo on the pin she gave to participants. “The blue circle is the global emblem of diabetes. It symbolizes the unity of the global diabetes community in response to a growing number of people affected by the condition.
We also have a tree formed from a hand to represent the mutual aid and human approach of Diabète Bois-Francs. And finally, the leaves are formed by drops of blood, one drop has been put in red to refer to blood sugar measurements. Thank you to everyone present, all together for the cause! “, she said.
The deputy prefect of the MRC d’Arthabaska, Claire Rioux, underlined the importance of this day. “It reminds us of the reality of people suffering from this disease, the many challenges they encounter on a daily basis, but also their strength through it all. It is an important day which allows us to realize that collective commitment constitutes a precious ally in the prevention and strategies to combat this disease,” she argued.
For people with diabetes, she noted, managing the disease requires daily discipline and great resilience. “We are here this evening to show our respect for their courage, but also to reaffirm our commitment to a better informed and supportive community. To ease the journey of people living with diabetes, it is essential that they and their families have access to relevant, clear and reliable information on the disease, but also on its treatments,” she said. while saluting the Diabète Bois-Francs team which plays “a crucial educational and support role in our region”.
“By walking, we show our support. As a community, we have the power and also the duty to make a difference,” she said.
The City of Victoriaville has supported the march for 13 years, recalled Councilor Patrick Paulin. “It is truly a privilege to accompany you on this walk. It is a privilege to support Diabète Bois-Francs, an extraordinary organization that takes care of people who need it, which raises awareness and provides support. It is an essential resource in our region,” he stressed.
For this World Diabetes Day, the City lit up Notre-Dame Street East and City Hall in blue.
For his part, David Gosselin, on behalf of the Member of Parliament for Arthabaska, Eric Lefebvre, wanted to thank the Diabète Bois-Francs team. “A team made up of dynamic and active people in the region. And they cast a wide net, doing a lot of prevention and information. Their website also has a lot of information available about diabetes. It’s well done,” he said.
About diabetes
In Quebec, statistics reveal that diabetes affects some 1,200,000 people. The disease is the leading cause of blindness in adults under 65.
In Canada, 620 people are diagnosed with diabetes every day.
Worldwide, one in 10 people live with the disease.
Symptoms of diabetes include fatigue, intense thirst, excessive hunger, irritability, unintentional weight loss, dizziness and excessive urination.
