Media Advisory – Diabetes Conference Draws International Experts to Vancouver, October 24 to 27, 2007

VANCOUVER, Oct. 24 –

<> Select conference highlights include:

Changing diabetes: A worldwide perspective (Thursday, October 25)

With the passage of the United Nations Resolution on diabetes, the disease has achieved remarkable recognition and is now a world health and economic challenge. Hear renowned diabetes expert and past president of the American Diabetes Association, Dr. Frank Vinicor, position the current landscape of diabetes by examining the past 50 years and looking ahead to challenges over the next two decades. Dr. Vinicor will present seven areas of conflicts, including examining the challenging question of: should we place more emphasis on care versus prevention? Dr. Vinicor opens the conference by addressing several questions, including: where is the new epicentre for diabetes? Is diabetes two diseases? Should we think of diabetes as a single entity or is it more closely linked to other chronic conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease?

Obesity: Whose responsibility is it? (Thursday, October 25)

It is impossible to read a newspaper nowadays without coming across an article on increasing rates of obesity. An increasing number of organizations, interest groups, and government officials have put forward proposals for dealing with this epidemic. Hear a lively debate on whether governments should create and implement public policy to curb obesity or if individuals should bear the costs their lifestyle choices impose on others as a direct incentive to lose weight. Dr. Kim Raine, Director and Professor of the Centre for Health Promotion Studies, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, will argue societal intervention while Nadeem Esmail, Director of Health System Performance Studies and Manager of the Alberta Policy Research Centre at The Fraser Institute will argue for individual responsibility.

Critical role of beta cells (Friday October 26)

Whether it is regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells or conducting transplants from one person to another, North American researchers continue to lead the way in better understanding the critical role that beta cells play in the complexities of diabetes. Delivering the Banting and Best Plenary Lecture, Dr. Steven Kahn (Seattle, WA) will outline the relationship between insulin sensitivity and insulin release and how this determines glucose tolerance and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Enjoying healthy foods and meals away from home (Friday, October 26)

The percentage of food dollars spent on snacks and meals eaten away from home is dramatically rising. To help people prevent or delay the onset of diabetes or its complications by providing tips on making healthy food and beverage choices wherever they may be, the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Nutrition Education Resource Development Committee has developed a new resource: “Eating Away From Home: Tips for making healthy choices.” Kerry Schubert-Mackey, a registered dietitian and co-chair of this committee will demonstrate how this interactive tool can be used to help Canadians eat well when away from home. Registered Dietitian Patricia Chuey, another speaker at this symposium, will also address nutritional issues in the prevention and management of diabetes.

Vitamin D: A D-lightful health story (Friday, October 26)

It’s been estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of children and adults worldwide are at risk of a deficient supply of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin. Such a deficiency has been linked to type 1 diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases, cancer risk, infectious disease and hypertension. In his lecture, Dr. Michael Holick (Boston, MA) will help us understand the role of vitamin D, identify signals about vitamin D levels in patients and offer an understanding of strategies for the treatment and prevention of vitamin D deficiency. He will also review the Institute of Medicine’s adequate intake recommendations for vitamin D and the recent literature that suggests a much higher level of vitamin D intake is required to satisfy the body’s needs.

Confronting complexity: From pathways to populations (Friday, October 26)

Today’s increased caloric intake, coupled with decreased levels of physical activity is connected with changes in our social and physical environments. Over the past few decades, simple diet and exercise approaches have generally ignored the complexity of the food and physical activity environment. Hear Dr. Diane Finegood, Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes shed light on the complexities of overweight and obesity ranging from biological to social-cultural determinants, and help understand how the science of complex systems can be used to shift the way we think about obesity research, policy and practice.

Walking on the treadmill or driving to the pharmacist: Preventing type 2 diabetes (Friday, October 26)

The ever-increasing prevalence of diabetes is imposing a major stress on the healthcare system. A number of studies have now demonstrated that both lifestyle modification programs and pharmacological interventions in subjects with pre-diabetes – impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) – can prevent or delay the development of diabetes. On the other hand, several studies have now confirmed that lifestyle modifications, including a weight-reducing diet and an exercise program, are effective in preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes in high risk population with pre-diabetes. Hear two Canadian experts, Dr. Jean-Louis Chaisson (Montreal, QC) and Dr. Ron Sigal, (Calgary, AB) face-off in a debate over whether type 2 diabetes is best prevented through lifestyle modification or pharmacotherapy.

Clinical laboratory vs. national newsroom: The TZDs discussion (Friday, October 26)

In one corner, scientific evidence about the drug rosiglitazone and methodology behind clinical studies of thiazolidinediones; in the opposite corner, a media frenzy surrounding an article published on May 27, 2007 that generated a flurry of activity in headlines around the world and contributed to uncertainty among patients. Every medication has risks and benefits, but at what point does the scale tip too far in one direction to cause the biggest debate of the year in the diabetes community? Don’t miss the discussion of this hot topic lecture, facilitated by Dr. Hertzel Gerstein (Hamilton, ON) with panelists Dr. Stewart Harris (London, ON), Dr. David Fitchett (Toronto, ON), and Dr. Jean-Francois Yale (Montreal, QC).

Diabesity: Connecting obesity and diabetes in children and youth (Saturday, October 27)

Over the last three decades, there has been a three- to four-fold increase in childhood obesity rates in the US. Presently, 17 per cent of American children are obese and this has lead to an increase in the number of children developing type 2 diabetes. In pediatric clinics across the US, there has been a ten-fold increase in incident cases of type 2 diabetes over the last 10 years. Hear internationally-recognized expert on diabetes and obesity, Dr. Francine Kaufman, director of the Comprehensive Childhood Diabetes Center and Head of the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles shed light on this new term ‘diabesity’ and speak to prevention strategies relating to lifestyle modifications that benefit the patient and their entire family.

Delivering new guidelines for gestational diabetes (Saturday, October 27)

Pregnancy is a time of hope and joy for many women; however it can also be associated with some elevated blood sugar levels, leading to the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM, is defined as glucose intolerance with its first onset or recognition during pregnancy. Approximately 3.5 per cent of women, and up to 18 per cent of Aboriginal women will develop GDM. It may be harmful to the baby and identifies women at high risk for later diabetes. Dr. Edmond Ryan, of the University of Alberta, will address some of the controversies over the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Pre-publication highlights of CPGs (Saturday, October 27)

In May 2008, the Canadian Diabetes Association will release the 2008 version of the evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada. This session, through a series of case studies, will discuss selected, revised, and new chapters of the document. Presentations will focus on the areas of: the definition, classification and diagnosis of diabetes; type 1 and 2 diabetes in children and adolescents; targets for glycemic control; pharmacologic therapy for type 2 diabetes; and cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The session will be chaired by Dr. Vincent Woo (Winnipeg, MB), Chair of the 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines Revision process.

The Canadian Diabetes Association works to prevent diabetes and improve the quality of life for those affected, through research, education, service and advocacy. With a presence in more than 150 communities, the Canadian Diabetes Association’s strong network of assistance includes volunteers, employees, healthcare professionals and partners.

View the full conference agenda athttp://www.diabetes.ca/files/vancouver-reg-pkg.pdf

The CDA/CSEM Professional Conference would not be possible without the assistance of GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi aventis, Merck Frosst, Merck Frosst Schering Pharmaceuticals

For further information: or to set up an advance interview with a conference speaker under embargo: Whitney Binns, Julia Alter, Edelman, Tel: (416) 979-1120 ext. 257 and ext. 340, Email: whitney.binns@edelman.com, julia.alter@edelman.com; Onsite: Jeremy Brace, Canadian Diabetes Association, Tel: (416) 988-8327