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Overview of World Diabetes Day

Team AckoJan 17, 2024

Diabetes is a disease that affects over 400 million people globally. It's a serious condition that can lead to many complications if not controlled, but it's also preventable and treatable. Although diabetes has no cure yet, it is possible to control it by eating well and exercising, monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly with the help of your doctor, taking insulin injections as needed, or using an oral medication called metformin, which helps lower blood sugar too. World Diabetes Day (WDD) is observed to raise awareness of diabetes as a public health issue worldwide. It also emphasises what measures should be taken individually and collectively for better diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of the disease. Continue reading to learn more about World Diabetes Day.

Contents

World Diabetes Day (WDD)
Significance of World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day 2022: The Theme
How does WDD help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

World Diabetes Day (WDD)

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) established World Diabetes Day in 1991 to address growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. In 2006, it was designated as an official United Nations Day. Since then, WDD is commemorated on 14th November every year to promote awareness on the effect of diabetes on the health of people and also spread awareness regarding the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of diabetes. WDD also emphasises leading a healthy life and educating people about diabetes.

This day is observed every year on November 14, which is the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin along with Charles H. Best and J.J.R. Macleod in the year 1921. World Diabetes Day is an awareness movement that has influence in more than 160 countries. It organises awareness campaigns and promotes superior access to treatment to tackle diabetes.

Significance of World Diabetes Day

As per International Diabetes Foundation (IDF), there were 67 lakhs deaths in 2021 due to diabetes. It has also been estimated that 1 in 10 people are suffering from diabetes today.

It has been observed that due to a sedentary lifestyle, lack of healthy dietary habits and lack of proper guidance and information to evaluate the signs and symptoms of the disease, nearly 54.1 crores of adults are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes and 10.2 lakh teenagers are affected by type 2 diabetes.

In this scenario, World Diabetes Day has emerged as a global platform for the awareness and prevention of this deadly disease.

The purpose behind celebrating World Diabetes Day is to promote the importance of taking rigorous actions to stand up collectively against diabetes as a grievous health concern worldwide. This day emphasises the issues related to diabetes and educates people regarding this disease.

World Diabetes Day 2022: The Theme

The theme of World Diabetes Day in 2022 is "Education to Protect Tomorrow," which is also the combined theme of the 2021-23 campaign "ACCESS TO DIABETES CARE". This year the theme focuses on educating healthcare professionals and diabetic people intensively to encourage early detection and adherence to healthy lifestyles and preventive measures that can fight the increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide. The theme emphasises providing better coaching and informative content to healthcare professionals for diagnosing diabetes effectively and educating diabetic patients on how to avert this dreadful disease by embracing a healthy lifestyle. The theme also urges public healthcare organisations and other global organisations to facilitate better infrastructures, manpower, opportunity, and financial support to help achieve the target which includes the following.

Diagnosing 80 percent of the people affected with diabetes
Managing their blood sugar level and blood pressure
Providing accessibility to statins (a group of drugs that helps reduce cholesterol levels) to 60% of people (over the age of 40).
Providing easy access to insulin to people having type 1 diabetes

How does WDD help?

WDD encourages everyone to join and take action to promote awareness about diabetes and raise funds for life-changing education, research, and support services. World Diabetes Day is a global campaign that aims to increase awareness about diabetes and its prevention.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an organisation of over 230 national diabetes associations representing more than 172 million people living with diabetes around the world.

If you're interested in getting involved, there are a number of ways you can help. Here are two such ways.

Use social media to share information about World Diabetes Day or other IDF campaigns.
Whether it's your time or money, any contribution will be appreciated by both IDF staff and those affected by diabetes around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions and answers related to World Diabetes Day.

Is diabetes a chronic disease?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when your pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or when your body fails to use it effectively. Diabetes is classified into two types: Type 1, which is typically diagnosed in children and young adults, and Type 2, which accounts for 90-95% of all cases.

What is The Blue Circle?

The Blue Circle, designed by the International Diabetes Federation, has become a powerful global symbol of diabetes awareness. Today, it has become the symbol of diabetes awareness in many countries and by many organisations around the world.

It symbolises the importance of the global diabetes community coming together in response to the diabetes epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) adopted The Blue Circle as part of its guidelines on good practices for health promotion campaigns in 2007. To this day, it remains one of the most important tools for raising awareness about diabetes and its complications among people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as their friends and families.

What is the impact of WDD campaigns regarding awareness?

Over the years, World Diabetes Day campaigns have reached hundreds of millions of people worldwide with messages about the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Each year, the IDF chooses a new theme for World Diabetes Day to highlight issues affecting people with diabetes globally.

Sources:

https://worlddiabetesday.org/

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. Please consult a doctor before making any health-related decisions.