World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign focusing on diabetes mellitus and is held on November 14 each year.
Led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), each World Diabetes Day focuses on a theme related to diabetes, a non-communicable disease that is rapidly increasing in numbers worldwide.[1] Topics covered have included diabetes and human rights, diabetes and lifestyle, diabetes and obesity, diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, and diabetes in children and adolescents. While the campaigns last the whole year, the day itself marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best and John James Rickard Macleod, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
There are two types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. T1D usually strikes in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, and lasts a lifetime. Just to survive, people with T1D must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump[2].
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disorder in which a person’s body still produces insulin but is unable to use it effectively. T2D is usually diagnosed in adulthood and does not always require insulin injections. However, increased obesity has led to a recent rise in cases of T2D in children and young adults. Taking insulin does not cure any type of diabetes, nor does it prevent the possibility of the disease’s devastating effects: kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart attack, stroke, and pregnancy complications.[3]
The Scale of Diabetes[4]
- Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes (8.3% of the population).
- Diagnosed: 18.8 million
- Undiagnosed: 7 million
- As many as 1.25 million Americans may have T1D.
- Diabetes currently affects more than 371 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 552 million by 2030.
- In the U.S., a new case of diabetes is diagnosed every 30 seconds; more than 1.9 million people are diagnosed each year.
History
World Diabetes Day was launched in 1991 by the IDF and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the rapid rise of diabetes around the world.[1][5]
By 2016, World Diabetes Day was being celebrated by over 230 IDF member associations in more than 160 countries and territories, as well as by other organizations, companies, healthcare professionals, politicians, celebrities, and people living with diabetes and their families.[6] Activities include diabetes screening programmes, radio and television campaigns, sports events and others.
Themes
Themes of previous World Diabetes Day campaigns have focused on different factors that influence the risk of diabetes and its complications:
- 2017: Women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future.
- 2016: Eyes on Diabetes.
- 2015: Healthy Eating.
- 2014: Go Blue for Breakfast.
- 2013: Protect our Future: Diabetes Education and Prevention.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Previous campaigns". World Diabetes Day. International Diabetes Federation. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ "Type 1 Diabetes Facts - JDRF". JDRF. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ "General Diabetes Facts - JDRF". JDRF. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ "General Diabetes Facts - JDRF". JDRF. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ World Health Organization. Promoting health through the life-course: World Diabetes Day 2016. Geneva, accessed 7 November 2016.
- ^ Diabetes.co.uk.Diabetes Week.