The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) started World Diabetes Day in 1991 in response to the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. It has since grown to become a globally celebrated event and an official United Nations (UN) awareness day. It is now the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, that acts like a key to let glucose from the food we eat pass from the bloodstream into the cells in the body to produce energy. All carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose in the blood. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells. Not being able to produce insulin or use it effectively leads to raised glucose levels in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia). Over the long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues. Park House students celebrated diabetes awareness day (blue day) on the 21st of December. The dress code of the day was blue. All the children dressed up in different shades and hues of blue. To make the activity more inclusive, children brought different objects like toys, decorative items, and drawings based on the theme. The students took part in a variety of tasks to raise money for the Qatar Diabetes Association. There were a variety of stalls selling anything from blue stationery, popcorn, blue squash, selfie portraits and blue hair. Even Mr Standen and Mr Adekunle got a soaking from the students to raise money for a good cause. Thank you to the Parents School Association for all your help in organising the day. If you would like more information about diabetes please visit the Qatar Diabetes Association website
