Diabetes is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide at a startling pace, affecting more individuals each year as the number of diagnoses and complications rises. This long-term illness is brought on by the pancreas’ inability to utilize insulin efficiently or its inability to create enough of it, which keeps glucose in the blood. The accumulation of glucose over time might result in hyperglycemia. Increasing awareness and putting preventative measures in place are essential to stopping the development of diabetes, since the number of cases rises every year.

The date of World Diabetes Day and its objectives

World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 of each year with the goals of increasing awareness, assisting with preventative initiatives, and advancing access to reasonably priced diabetes treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) originally started this commemoration in 1991. The day also commemorates the birth of Dr. Frederick Banting, a Nobel winner and co-discoverer of insulin.

World Diabetes Day’s history

The IDF and WHO established World Diabetes Day in 1991 in response to the rising number of diabetes cases around the globe. In 2006, it was formally recognized as a United Nations Day. It is now the biggest diabetes awareness campaign in the world and is celebrated all over the globe to commemorate Dr. Banting’s contributions to insulin, which revolutionized the treatment of diabetes. Every year, millions of people take part in events and activities aimed at raising awareness and knowledge of diabetes and its treatments.

“Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps” is the theme for 2024.

“Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,” the theme for World Diabetes Day 2024, highlights the IDF’s commitment to lowering the cost, increasing accessibility, and promoting equity in diabetes care. The emphasis is on early intervention and high-quality treatment, making sure that people with diabetes may successfully manage their illness and have healthier, better lives.

Why World Diabetes Day Is Important

The goal of World Diabetes Day is to raise awareness of the many forms of diabetes, such as type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, and less well-known forms, including LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) and MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young). The day encourages individuals to take charge of their health by raising awareness. The public is educated via events and initiatives across the globe on how diabetes may be controlled with lifestyle modifications, consistent medication, stress reduction, and monitoring.

Typical Signs of Diabetes

For diabetes to be effectively managed, early symptom recognition may be essential. Increased thirst, frequent urination, exhaustion, inexplicable weight loss, agitation, hazy eyesight, slow-healing wounds, and recurrent infections are typical symptoms. By enabling prompt treatment, early diagnosis may lower the chance of serious consequences.

Diabetes’s causes

Depending on the type of diabetes, there are many possible causes:

When the immune system unintentionally attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, type 1 diabetes results.

Insulin resistance is the usual cause of type 2 diabetes, which may be impacted by a number of variables, including nutrition, genetics, obesity, lack of exercise, and some drugs.

Pregnancy causes gestational diabetes, which usually goes away after giving birth.

One kind of autoimmune diabetes that develops later in life is called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, or LADA.

Type 3c diabetes is brought on by a disease or damage to the pancreas.

Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, or MODY, is an uncommon form of the disease brought on by genetic abnormalities that impair insulin synthesis.

World Diabetes Day acts as a crucial reminder of the significance of health awareness and action to battle the rising incidence of diabetes by focusing on its prevention and control.