Drug giant Novo Nordisk's big white bus will soon roll into the USA. Officially known as the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes Bus, the vehicle is scheduled to visit a selection of towns in the USA between June and November. First, though, it's the turn of those lucky Canadians. The tour kicked off in Denmark back in September 2006 and goes under the banner "Changing Diabetes." Since Denmark, the bus and its crew have visited the following countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, South Africa, Australia, China, Japan, and Canada. (Cool job, huh?) The Canada sojourn will last a few more days - 'till June 12, to be exact - then it's time to cross the border into the US. Last stop is New York City, where the tour will end on November 14, which is World Diabetes Day. Oddly, the Novo "bus" is actually a big truck, at least according to the pics I'm viewing on Novo's snazzy website. I guess calling it a bus tour makes it sound a tad folksier...more Partridge Family, less soulless pharmaceutical empire? But I digress...

The Changing Diabetes Bus tour is touted by Novo as an attitude-altering event with its high-tech educational displays that are housed on board the bus/truck. (See the website for a fun virtual tour of the bus.) A vehicle for change, if you will (yukkity yuk) designed to reach out to everyone: diabetics, their families, healthcare providers, as well as curious Average Joes. The specific purpose, says Novo, is to support the passing of a United Nations resolution on diabetes. Listen, I hate to be catty, but it's been an awareness-raising event in more ways than one, don't you agree? It's been a great promotional venture. An all around image-polishing exercise for Novo too. Hey, that's not to say this tour has not done good things to educate the public. I mean, it's good that mega-companies like that put aside money in the budget for feel-good, reach-out-to-the-community stuff. But let's be honest. Would they have put up the cash if their name wasn't plastered all over? Probably not.

In the "Have You No Shame?!" category: thieves in Johannesburg, South Africa, stole a minibus from Marang House, an institution for diabetic kids. Marang House gives children from unstable homes a safe place to live if they are diabetic or awaiting kidney transplants. The minibus was donated by the Royal Netherlands Embassy just three weeks before the theft. It was used to transport the kids to and from hospital appointments.

The children in question are all aged between eight and fourteen. The diabetic residents spend time at Marang House in order to learn diabetes management skills such as giving themselves insulin injections. Life at the House is a way to avoid putting young children in hospital for long stretches at a time, where they tend to become depressed, says a spokesperson. Sadly, the founder of Marang House was murdered last year.

And now, more diabetes-related news from my home country, New Zealand, the land of the kiwi bird, and the kiwi fruit...and lots of sheep. A young couple from South Africa who have been living and working in New Zealand have had their application for permanent residency turned down because one of them has Type 1 diabetes. Natalie Ericsen and Logan Gouws (pictured) came to New Zealand from Cape Town three years ago. Ericsen is the one with diabetes and she says that she manages her condition well and enjoys pretty good health. Although she may eventually end up needing a kidney transplant due to renal failure, she says she has four donors lined up and is willing to pay for the operation out of her own pocket. They were turned down anyway.

Of course, the United States is known for being extremely tough to get into. And I know from personal experience that getting permanent residency is a difficult and time-consuming experience. But I had to confess I have no idea whether or not the US has a similar rule barring anyone with a chronic disease like this. It seems awfully unfair. Anyway, the New Zealand immigration bosses say they're working with the couple while they appeal the decision, but also suggested the couple should have researched the rules and regulations better before moving to the country. Fair enough, too, I guess.