Canada to host diabetes mega-congress( MONTREAL Canada and BRUSSELS Belgium...),Health

MONTREAL, Canada and BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 5, 2009 Almost 90 years ago, the Canadian medical scientist Sir Frederick Banting and a team working at the University of Toronto made the research breakthrough that resulted in the discovery of insulin. Hailed as a miracle drug at the time of its discovery, insulin remains an essential, life-saving treatment for people with type 1 diabetes. This historic connection as the birthplace of insulin is one of the reasons that the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) selected Canada as the ideal location for its 20th World Diabetes Congress.

Held in cooperation with the Canadian Diabetes Association and Diabte Qubec, the 20th World Diabetes Congress in Montreal will be one of the world's largest medical conferences a mega-event that is expected to attract over 15,000 delegates to the city from October 18 to 22, 2009. Key opinion leaders from the global diabetes community from over 160 countries - will converge on Montreal to discuss the burning issues in diabetes.

Organized by the International Diabetes Federation every two years, the World Diabetes Congress will highlight the latest developments in clinical research, showcase new data on the diabetes pandemic, and promote political action to tackle diabetes. Health ministers and officials will join the world's leading diabetes experts to share knowledge, experiences and innovative solutions to address the diabetes threat.

The World Diabetes Congress is the premier gathering of the global diabetes community. It is an honour and a privilege to bring the congress to a place of such historical importance to the diabetes world. We will be covering a wide range of diabetes-related issues, topics and so much more, making the event bigger and better than ever," said Dr. Linda Siminerio, Chair of the IDF Congress Organizing Committee.

The Congress will be held at the Palais des Congrs de Montral and will feature a 12,000 sq m exhibition
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