World Diabetes Day (WDD) is a major public health event commemorated annually on November 14th, highlighting the rapid prevalence and impact of diabetes and educating people about diabetes prevention tips.
World Diabetes Day is one of the largest diabetes awareness campaigns held each year, taking place in over 160 countries, impacting the lives of over 100 million people, promoting awareness campaigns, better access, and quality of care. We advocate for high-quality information content to fight diabetes. Diabetes is a disorder in which the body is unable to process and utilize the glucose produced from the food we consume. Glucose is the body's primary source of energy. Inefficient glucose uptake can interfere with daily activities, and untreated diabetes can lead to cardiovascular problems, nerve damage, kidney damage, foot damage, skin infections, erectile dysfunction, depression, and dental problems.
Importance of World Diabetes Day (WDD)
According to International Diabetes Foundation (IDF), diabetes caused 67 lakhs death in 2021, and it is estimated that 53.7 crores (1 in 10) people were living with this disease in the same year. There is an indication that this count will raise to 64.3 crores in 2030 and 78.3 crores by 2045. It is estimated that 1 in 2 adults (44%), which is around 24 crore people, affected with diabetes remains undiagnosed, the majority of them suffered from type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented with few lifestyle changes and healthy dietary habits. Due to the lack of proper information and guidance to understand the sign and symptoms and get an early diagnosis to start the preventive measures, it is estimated that nearly 54.1 crore adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Due to the sedentary lifestyle enjoyed nowadays, it is estimated that around 10.2 lakhs teenagers (0-19 yr) are affected with Type 2 diabetes. And, 1 in 6 live births (2.1 crores) is affected with high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) in pregnancy. In 2021, 9% of global total health expenditure was attributed to the management of diabetes, to combat this widespread disease and curb the increasing risk of developing diabetes mainly type 2 diabetes among the adolescent and adults, World Diabetes Day comes out to be a global platform for the advocacy and prevention of this silent killer disease.
World Diabetes Day 2022 Theme
This year 2022, the World Diabetes Day theme is "Education to protect tomorrow" under the combined theme of the World Diabetes Day 2021-23 campaign "ACCESS TO DIABETES CARE ".
This year 2022 theme is focused on intensive diabetes education for healthcare professionals and the people living with diabetes which would enable better access to quality educational platforms educating and encouraging early diagnosis and adhering to a better lifestyle and preventive tips to fight the escalating prevalence of diabetes worldwide.
This year's theme also aims to provide better education and training for medical professionals to effectively detect and diagnose diabetes and use their valuable time to educate patients with diabetes. This disease can be prevented by making lifestyle changes. This will certainly provide emotional support to the patient and help the patient understand their current condition to help prevent any further complications.
The theme also aims to educate people and encourage them to urge their public health facilities and other global organizations to facilitate better opportunities, infrastructure, efforts, and financial support to improve diabetes education to implement the combined effort of WHO and other organizations to achieve the goal of diabetes coverage by 2030, which includes:
Diagnosis of 80% of people affected with diabetes.
80% of people diagnosed should have better management of their glycaemia & Blood Pressure.
60 % of people (40 years and above) must have access to Statin (a group of drugs that helps in reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood)
100% of Type 1 Diabetes affected people should have easy access to Insulin and proper blood glucose self-management facility.
History of World Diabetes Day (WDD)
World Diabetes Day (WDD) was founded by International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) in the collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991, and it became the official United Nations Day in 2006 under UN Resolution 61/225. The day 14 November was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of Insulin along with Charles Best in 1922. The campaigns organized on World Diabetes Day is denoted with the "Blue Circle Logo", Which was induced in the year 2007 just after the day was officially recognized by United Nation. Since then Blue Circle is considered as the global symbol of Diabetes Awareness and denotes the coalition of global diabetes communities in combating the growing cases of diabetes.
Know your risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that about 212 million people, or half of all adults currently living with diabetes, are undiagnosed. Most of them have type 2 diabetes.
The IDF has created an online diabetes risk assessment that aims to predict an individual's risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next ten years.
The test takes only a few minutes. It's a quick, easy, and secret way to find out your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Preventive Measures to Manage Diabetes
According to International Diabetes Foundation, it is estimated that around 54.1 crore adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which has become the utmost concern to address worldwide to bring the risk down by promoting awareness programs and quality diabetes educational platforms to educate them to manage and prevent diabetes in its early stage.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and managed with good living habits and good food management (diet with a low glycemic index or less than 50). Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which insulin is not fully produced and used effectively (drug resistance), which can be reversed by following a disciplined lifestyle, self-monitoring, and monitoring blood pressure fluctuations, blood sugar, consult a doctor regularly.
Some of the preventive tips to control diabetes are:
Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrate intake.
Practice eating small portions of meals at a time.
Include fibers and food which are low in Glycemic index.
Quit smoking, which promotes insulin resistance.
Make a habit of doing regular exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
Keep eye on your blood cholesterol level (Ideal should be below 200). LDL (low-density lipoprotein) below 100, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) above 20, and triglycerides below 150.
Have proper management of your blood pressure, which should be 130/80 or lower.
Avoid intake of aerated drinks and other beverages with added sugar, which can raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and make a habit of consuming normal water.
Get updated with diabetes control preventive tips.
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