World Diabetes Day observed on 14 November with the theme- Act on Diabetes. Now

World Diabetes Day, the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes mellitus world is held on 14 November  every year. Each year, World Diabetes Day is centred on a theme related to diabetes. The year 2011 is the third year of the five year campaign 2009-2013, that takes the main theme Diabetes education and prevention. The theme for 2011 World Diabetes Day diabetes education and prevention

The objectives of World Diabetes day 2011 focussed on diabetes education and prevention, and stress on the power of knowledge as the only way to improve management of the disease. It marked a clarion call to people in healthcare and government to relook at the strategies for diabetes management.

Various programmes were held on the occassion of the World Diabetes Day on 13 November 2011 including walk for diabetes and painting competition. The Blue Monument Lighting initiative was taken by HEAL Foundation and Via Media Group in association with health and family welfare ministry to create diabetes awareness. The monuments in Delhi were lit in blue on the occasion.

World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day 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. The day marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.

Topics covered in the past as themes include diabetes and human rights, diabetes and lifestyle, diabetes and obesity, diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, diabetes in children and adolescents.

About the disease-Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, 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. The high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).

There are three main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes: results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin
Type 2 diabetes: results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency
Gestational diabetes: is when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy.

Though Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, Type 2 diabetes can be offset by making lifestyle changes- maintaining weight, eating healthy and regular exercise.

Taking a vigorous twenty minutes walk every day can decrease a person’s risk of developing diabetes, Men and women who incorporate physical activity into their lifestyles are less likely to develop diabetes but unfortunately in India (urban area) every 22 per cent arediabetic.

Around 285 million people worldwide are victims of diabetes. In the absence of education and prevention programmes, the figure is expected to touch 435 million by 2030. IDF therefore adopted a focussed approach to prevention of diabetes for a five year period (2009-2013).