14 November: World Diabetes Day
The World Diabetes Day 2016 was observed across the world on 14 November with the theme Eyes on Diabetes.
Many activities were conducted with the main focus on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications.
About World Diabetes Day
• World Diabetes Day is an annual campaign, led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations.
• It is celebrated every year on 14 November and engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness.
• The Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to concern over the escalating incidence of diabetes around the world.
• World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225.
Background
• Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.
• It has now become a growing burden as 415 million adults were living with diabetes in 2015 and this number is expected to increase to around 642 million or one in ten adults by 2040.
• Many people live with type 2 diabetes for a long period of time without being aware of their condition.
• Up to 70 percent of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented or delayed by adopting healthier lifestyles.
• With increasing levels of poor nutrition and physical inactivity among children in many countries, type 2 diabetes in childhood has the potential to become a global public health issue leading to serious health outcomes.
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