GRAB your feather boa and embrace your inner diva at this weekend's DIVA 4 Life event hosted by the island's diabetes awareness group.

DIVA 4 Life, which stands for Discipline, Involved, Visible and Active - is a community outreach programme focusing on developing women into beacons of hope and sources of factual information on how to manage diabetes and to help prevent it.

"At Saturday's event we are focusing on the women of Bermuda - the pillars of strength in our community," said Sarah Burrowes, programme manager with the Bermuda Diabetes Association (BDA). "We're hoping a good turn out will signal a movement amongst women to take control of the ever-growing health crisis that is diabetes."

And a crisis it is, with experts calculating 13 percent of Bermuda's population has Type II diabetes (condition that considered preventable) and less than 100 adults patients with the Type I condition. Health authorities also estimate that the number for Type II patients is probably even higher due to the fact that many people have the condition or are pre-diabetic and don't know it. Experts are hoping this number, though, is on the decline due to increased awareness efforts and earlier screenings.

BDA's DIVA 4 Life event is one such effort and is an offshoot of similar events held in major cities across the U.S. The function combines a day of beauty: make-up sessions, hair consultations, skin analyses, silent auction and a fashion show with health information: one-on-one meetings with health professionals, diet reviews with dieticians and workout plans with fitness trainers.

According to Ms Burrowes, the event, held at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel, is open to all women, with or without diabetes, because women are considered to be the primary decision makers regarding the health and well being of their families.

"This event is a gateway to finding answers for this invasive, and in some cases preventative, condition in a fun and friendly atmosphere," she said. "We hope the doctors, educators, dieticians and fitness instructors at the event will inspire women to learn more about living a long and healthy life with diabetes, how to assist others with the condition and how to prevent the onset of Type II diabetes."

The extravaganza kicks off a full month of diabetes education activities, as November is Diabetes Awareness Month in Bermuda. A full roster of events are planned, including morning health walk on November 14 in the Botanical Gardens followed by an inspirational and educational talk given by British health expert Jane Deville-Almond that evening at BUEI, a Denim Day on November 28, and several other activities that are in the works.

"Whether you are a friend, a family member or someone who has the condition, diabetes affects all of us," Ms Burrowes said. "We invite all women to come to the event. All we ask is that they take what they learn and use it to become a leader in the community. Empowering women, empowers the world."

DIVA 4 Life event takes place this Saturday, November 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Diabetes Resource Centre (corner of Dundonald and Cedar Avenues) or at the door. Call 29-SUGAR for more details about the event or activities scheduled throughout the month.