Esso is donating five cents of every gallon of gas pumped at its stations to the Bermuda Diabetes Association.The funds will be donated from sales at stations across the Island through January 11.They will be used to assist the organisation’s daily operations and educational outreach and awareness programmes.Said BDA chairman Annabel Fountain: “Bermuda has shocking statistics with regards to the number of people affected by diabetes and particularly by the devastating complications. [BDA] and the Bermuda Hospitals Board Chronic Disease Management Centre are working tirelessly to educate the public on how to prevent diabetes and its complications. Diabetes can be prevented, it can be controlled and the complications are not inevitable.”Nearly 20 percent of residents are estimated to have diabetes 160 patients were diagnosed just this year.The disease can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputations.The incidence is on the rise in countries around the world, said BDA director Debbie Jones.“People are not exercising as they once were and they are drinking far too many sugary drinks and eating high-fat fast foods,” she said. “The answer is to have everyone do 30 minutes of physical activity every day, drink water and eat healthy foods. We are so grateful to Esso for taking on this challenge of raising awareness of diabetes throughout the island and for supporting the work of the Bermuda Diabetes Association.”For more information visit www.diabetes.bm