The World Diabetes Congress (WDC), organized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) every two years, is one of the world’s largest medical congresses. This year marks the 20th meeting which will be held in Montreal, Canada, on 18-22 October. It is expected to attract up to 15,000 delegates, more than 300 high level speakers, and representatives from over 200 diabetes member associations from more than 160 countries. The congress provides the opportunity to discuss a broad range of diabetes issues, from latest scientific advances to cutting-edge information on education, diabetes care, advocacy and awareness.
Participants include physicians, scientists, nurses, educators and other healthcare professionals, as well as people with diabetes, representatives from IDF member associations and members of the press. A 12,000 sqm area will be available for companies and associations to exhibit.
Congress programme
State of the art topics have been included into six programme streams:
- Association Development
- Clinical Research
- Education
- Foundation Science
- Healthcare and Epidemiology
- Living with Diabetes
Each stream includes lectures that will be held in a variety of formats to allow for constructive interaction and to share best practices:
- Symposia address latest results in diabetes research, current issues in therapy and education, and findings in the economic and personal impact of diabetes.
- Meet-the-expert sessions provide the opportunity for participants to interact with experts on a specific topic.
- Debates will see opposing teams defending and refuting proposals related to controversial topics.
- Teaching lectures are educational lectures on specific topics.
- Workshops include practical demonstrations, problem-solving or hands-on training sessions.
- Poster sessions allow authors of approximately 2000 abstracts to present their findings.
The World Diabetes Congress at a glance
- The World Diabetes Congress is held in a different location each time, allowing IDF to be present in its seven Regions – Africa, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, North America, Southeast Asia, South and Central America and Western Pacific.
- From its first congress held in Leiden, the Netherlands in 1952 to the 19th World Diabetes Congress, held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2006, the number of participants grew from a few hundred to over 12,000 delegates and over 400 speakers.
- The 19th World Diabetes Congress had over 1500 participants from South Africa thanks to the subsidized rate for South African delegates.
- The 20th World Diabetes Congress is expected to welcome 20% of Canadian delegates as the annual meetings of the Canadian Diabetes Association and Diabète Québec will be integrated into the World Diabetes Congress.
- The 19th World Diabetes Congress registered participants from more than 20 countries
- The 19th World Diabetes Congress received over 2000 abstract proposals
- The 21st World Diabetes Congress will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2011.
Congress key dates
3 April 2009 - Deadline of online abstract submission
3 April 2009 - Deadline of online grant application
30 April 2009 - Deadline Early registration rate
31 July 2009 - Deadline Standard registration rate
Congress objectives
Besides sharing the latest scientific advances and knowledge on practical aspects related to diabetes care, education and advocacy, IDF expects that the 20th World Diabetes Congress will:
- influence policy makers and local health authorities to create national diabetes plans and to make make diabetes a health priority.
- help attract resources to assist those working to improve the lives of people with diabetes.
- help the Federation’s 200 member associations to develop strategies to implement the United Nations Resolution on diabetes; and to fulfill IDF’s mission to raise global awareness of diabetes, promote appropriate diabetes care and prevention, and encouraging activities towards finding a cure.
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