Introduction:
On 14 November, millions of people around the world will unite to mark World Diabetes Day, the global awareness campaign of the diabetes community led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The IDF and the World Health Organization (WHO) set this date to commemorate the birth of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, contributed to the discovery of insulin in 1922. Diabetes is certain to be one of the most challenging health problems in the 21st century.
Facts:
- 347 million people worldwide have diabetes.
- Specialists classified diabetes into two categories: Type 1 diabetes, which is characterized by low production of insulin and type 2 diabetes, which means your body can’t use insulin efficiently.
- Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.
- Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
- One in two people with diabetes is undiagnosed. Treatment is the key to help prevent, or delay life-threatening complications.
- If type 1 diabetes is not detected early, it can lead to serious complications.
- Diabetics are three times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
- Renal failure is about ten times more common in people with diabetes.
- Every 30 seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes somewhere in the world.
- In 2017, diabetes caused 4 million deaths globally.
- The number of people with diabetes is expected to rise to 522 million by 2030.
Objectives:
- Raising awareness of the impact of diabetes on the family, encouraging early diagnosis and support those affected.
- Boosting the role of the family in health education in the treatment of diabetes and the prevention of its complications
- Increasing the family's awareness of the warning signs of diabetes.
Official Date:
Globally: November 14th, 2019.
Locally: Rabīʿ al-Awwal 17th, 1441H.
Target Groups:
- Diabetics and their families.
- Those at risk of diabetes.
- Health decision-makers.
- Health professionals including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and health educators.
- All segments of society.
Theme of the World Diabetes Day:
The Family and Diabetes