Introduction:
Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. World Diabetes Day became an official day in 2006. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
Objectives:
- Raising awareness of the impact of diabetes on the society, encouraging early diagnosis and support those affected.
- Raising awareness on ways to prevent diabetes and delay its onset with healthy diet and physical activity.
- Boosting the role of the family in health education in the treatment of diabetes.
- Preventing its complications and increasing awareness of the warning signs of diabetes.
- Providing medications, technologies, support, and care to all diabetics.
Facts:
- In 2019, approximately 463 million adults (1 in 11) were living with diabetes. This number is expected rise to 578 million by 2030.
- 1 in 2 adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed (about 232 million people).
- 1 in 5 diabetics (about 136 million people) are over 65 years old.
- 1 in 6 live births (20 million) are affected by high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) in pregnancy.
- Millions of people with diabetes around the world cannot access the care they need.
- People with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications.
- Diabetes caused 4.2 million deaths in 2019.
Official Date:
Globally: November 14th, 2022.
Locally: Rabi' Al-Akhir 20th, 1444H.
Theme:
“Education to protect tomorrow”
References:
- World Diabetes Day
- Saudi MOH – World Health Days 2021