What is World Diabetes Day!

World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes and is held on November 14 of each year. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world. World Diabetes Day is a campaign that features a new theme chosen by the International Diabetes Federation each year to address issues facing the global diabetes community. While the campaigns last the whole year, the day itself marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.

Each year, World Diabetes Day is centered on a theme related to diabetes, The theme for World Diabetes Day 2021-23 is access to diabetes care.

100 years after the discovery of insulin, 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.

The centenary of the discovery of insulin presents a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change for the more than 460 million people living with diabetes and the millions more at risk. United, the global diabetes community has the numbers, the influence and the determination to bring about meaningful change. We need to take on the challenge.

Fundamental components of diabetes care include:

• Access to insulin: 100 years after its discovery, millions of people with diabetes cannot access the insulin they need.
• Access to oral medicines: Many people with diabetes need oral medicines to manage their condition. These remain unavailable or unaffordable in many low- and middle-income countries.
• Access to self-monitoring: Blood glucose monitoring is a fundamental component of diabetes care. Many people with diabetes do not have access to the equipment and supplies they need.
• Access to education and psychological support: People living with diabetes need ongoing education to manage their condition. Many do not have access to diabetes education.
• Access to healthy food and a safe place to exercise: People living with or at risk of diabetes need access to healthy food and a place to exercise. Both are fundamental components of diabetes care and prevention.

Facts & Figures

• 463 million adults (1-in-11) were living with diabetes in 2019 The number of people living with diabetes is expected rise to 578 million by 2030.
• 1 in 2 adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed (232 million). The majority have type 2 diabetes.
• More than 3 in 4 people with diabetes live in low and middle-income countries.
• 1 in 6 live births (20 million) are affected by high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) in pregnancy.
• Two-thirds of people with diabetes live in urban areas and three-quarters are of working age.
• 1 in 5 people with diabetes (136 million) are above 65 years old.
• Diabetes caused 4.2 million deaths in 2019.
• Diabetes was responsible for at least $760 billion in health expenditure in 2019 – 10% of the global total spent on healthcare.
• Millions of people with diabetes around the world do not have access to diabetes care.
• People with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications.

We cannot wait any longer for:

• Medicine, technologies, support and care to be made available to all people with diabetes that require them.
• Governments to increase investment in diabetes care and prevention.

 

If not now, when?