Diabetics on dialysis cost Bermuda more than $16 million a year and nearly four diabetics a year get kidney transplants at $200,000 each because of the disease.

These numbers are why the Bermuda Diabetes Association has been working hard this year and especially this month — Diabetes Month — to raise awareness in the community. Yesterday marked the World Diabetes Day, which was started in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

To honour the day and the work they have been doing all year, more than 100 people came out in support of Bermuda's annual Sunrise Walk in the Botanical Gardens yesterday.

This year's theme is children and adolescents and kicking off Bermuda's walk was Jane Deville-Almond, a British health expert who is on the Island this month to work with the Health Department.

And Sarah Burrows, programme manager for the Association said they had more than 100 people turnout. Sara McKittrick, the Diabetes Educator at the Bermuda Diabetes Association said the startling statistics in Bermuda only further inspire them to continue raising awareness.

She said: "All of these stats only emphasise the importance of taking diabetes management and prevention very seriously in our community.

"Empowering and educating people to live healthier lives is always the goal of diabetes awareness month."

To recognise Diabetes Month the City Hall, in Hamilton, will be lit up in blue and the Diabetes Association has been providing health food options to the International Rugby Tournament this week.

They held the DIVA 4 Life community outreach programme to develop diabetes information ambassadors and they will also be holding their 13th annual Denim Day on November 28.

Ms. Burrows added: "We have been working very hard this year to raise awareness about the growing epidemic of diabetes here in Bermuda.

"November is an important month for us where we concentrate our efforts on reaching out to the community.

"There is still much work to be done to reverse the increasing incidences of diabetes in Bermuda and to bolster future partnerships with stakeholders and charities with similar goals."

For more information about World Diabetes Day and the UN resolution to address the growing crisis of diabetes around the world, visit www.worlddiabetesday.org.

And Bermuda Diabetes Association has set-up a Facebook page on the Internet social site and everyone is invited to join.