Shining a blue light on diabetes

By Elizabeth Behrman

Photo by Maria Belen Farias

It was all bubbles, bells and blue lights at the Century Tower Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 12.

Century Tower was done up in blue in recognition of World Diabetes Day and as part of Diabetes Awareness Month. The tower remained lit until the following Monday morning.

Organizers and contributors from the American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the UF Diabetes Center of Excellence told their stories and commended researchers and families for their hard work in searching for a cure for the disease, which affects millions of Americans.

After the speeches, the crowd of more than 60 people formed a circle at the base of the tower, and as the blue light washed over the bricks, bubbles were blown up to the top as symbols of the 284 million people living with diabetes worldwide.

Tracy Milligan, an American Diabetes Association advocate from Jacksonville, said her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 4, so she understands the struggles people go through with the disease. Her son has been discriminated against because of his diabetes, one of the reasons she got involved with the ADA, she said.

“I extend my hand in asking you to help educate people and advocate for those with diabetes,” she said.