A four-hour telethon in aid of the Bermuda Diabetes Association takes place tonight.

The aim is to raise funds for the charity's building fund.

"The aim of the association is to have all of its resources under one roof in order to better serve the community," said the association's executive director Kuni Frith-Black. "We would like to make this happen sometime in 2011, as the numbers swell annually from persons being diagnosed with Type Two diabetes the demand for services will increase.

"The Bermuda Diabetes Association would like to be prepared to meet that demand for services by offering a number of programmes designed to educate the community and engage them in management and prevention methods."

It is estimated that approximately 25 percent of Bermuda's population has diabetes or is at risk of developing the disease. These numbers are expected to rise dramatically over the next 15 to 20 years.

"The Bermuda Diabetes Association has a lot of work to do with regards to educating the community on the risk factors involved with this disease along with teaching those who suffer with the disease the importance of managing the disease," she said.

"For those who are at risk, our job is to teach them how to implement prevention methods to ward off the disease. Lifestyle changes are key to management and prevention in both cases."

The first Bermuda Diabetes Association Telethon was held back in the 1980s; a second was held in 1993.

"The telethon will be packed with information from start to finish," said Dr Frith-Black.

"There will be panel discussions by doctors, health care professionals, a Colonial Insurance company team who will be addressing the rising cost of health care and persons suffering with Type One and Type Two diabetes.

"We encourage persons of all ages to come out and support this event."

The Bermuda Diabetes Association Telethon starts at 8pm and finishes at midnight on ZBM TV9.