World Diabetes Day 2022
World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on 14 November to raise awareness about diabetes. Patients with diabetes are found less in the rural populations than in the urban population because there is a difference in food intake. To prevent this disease, not only awareness but also lifestyle changes are important. Diabetes patients are more likely to be seen in cities due to irregular eating habits and less physical activity.
Why is diabetes awareness important?
Worldwide, the number of people living with diabetes has increased from 108 million to 420 million in the last thirty years; 62 million people with diabetes are in the Region of the Americas alone. This number has increased over three-fold in the Region since 1980 and could be even higher since 40% of people living with diabetes are unaware of their condition and undiagnosed.
The burden of disease associated with diabetes is enormous and growing: in just 20 years, mortality from diabetes has increased by 70% worldwide. In the Region of the Americas, it is the sixth leading cause of death and the seventh leading cause of years of life lost prematurely.
People living with diabetes are at higher risk of severe illness and death from other diseases:
Diabetes is among the top five health-related risk factors for tuberculosis.
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people ages 40 to 74 years.
Depression is twice as common in people living with diabetes than in those without diabetes.
The stress and anxiety produced by living with diabetes negatively impact the disease's evolution due to insufficient self-care, lack of adherence to treatment, and episodes of hypo or hyperglycemia.
People living with diabetes have up to three times the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or cancer.
Keeping blood glucose levels well controlled lowers the risk of severe illness or death; unfortunately, 50% to 70% of people living with diabetes have uncontrolled blood glucose levels.
World Diabetes Day: Significance
World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on 14 November as the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922. World Diabetes Day was celebrated in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in view of the growing concerns about this disease and to spread awareness about it. Since then it is celebrated every year. Every year there is a different theme for it.
World Diabetes Day is the world's largest diabetes awareness campaign, reaching more than 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. The campaign draws the world's attention to diabetes issues and places it firmly in the public and political spotlight. It also provides a global forum for issues related to diabetes throughout the year. Apart from this, the work of increasing the importance of concrete action against the disease is also done by World Diabetes Day.
This campaign is represented by the blue logo which was taken in 2007. It was adopted after the resolution was passed in the United Nations. It reflects the unity of global society in its response to the disease of diabetes. That's why the Diabetes Day campaign runs every year with a dedicated theme and awareness of diabetes is the main goal of this day and campaign.
