WHAT: San Fernando Cathedral, Main Plaza and the San Antonio City Council chambers will join hundreds of other world landmarks in being bathed in blue light for the Fourth Annual U.N. World Diabetes Day. Blue is the official color of World Diabetes Day and signifies the fight against diabetes around the world.
WHEN: 6:15 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 (starts with reading of the World Diabetes Day proclamation and concludes with the lighting ceremony)
WHERE: Main Plaza, San Antonio 78205
WHO: Endocrinologist Jane Lynch, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, will be available for interviews. Spanish-language interviews also will be possible. The American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the University Health System, the UT Health Science Center, and city, county and state officials put on the event to raise diabetes awareness.
VISUALS: In addition to the lighting, San Fernando will be the site of a Mass from 5 to 6 p.m. that will include a special blessing for all impacted by diabetes and recognition of the joint coalition that leads local efforts to address the disease and find medical advancements.
WHY: Diabetes is of major concern in Bexar County. According to local statistics, diabetes in Bexar County is twice the national average. An estimated 240,000 individuals, 14 percent of the 1.4 million population of San Antonio, live with diabetes. It is estimated than an additional 68,000 people have undiagnosed diabetes. In addition, the number of Hispanics with diabetes is 82,518 and the number of African Americans with diabetes is 28,170. More than 1 million Texans are living with diabetes and an additional 440,000 have not been diagnosed, it is estimated.
In recognizing World Diabetes Day in San Antonio, the organizations honor the support they have received from South Texans to fight the epidemic through policies to prevent, treat and cure the disease.