Introduction:
The World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14th; the date is fixed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) to mark the birthday of Fredrick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, which became the life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.
The observation of World Diabetes Day aims at raising the health awareness of diabetics or anyone at risk of diabetes, and providing the best possible health awareness and education services.
The World Diabetes Day is observed this year, 2015, under the theme: "Healthy Living and Diabetes." It focuses on diabetes prevention, or at least holding back its onset, by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly and maintaining normal body weight.
Key Facts:
- In 2014 the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated at about 9% among adults aged 18+ years.
- In 2012, an estimated 1.5 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes.
- More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- WHO expects that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death in 2030.
- Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking are considered effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type2 diabetes.
According to the statistics mentioned in the Saudi Health Information Survey Handbook 2013:
Results show that diabetes prevalence is estimated to be 13.4%: 14.8% among men, and 11.7% among women. Diabetes rates increase with aging. The incidence rate ranges between 7.8% in persons aged 25-34 years, and 50.4% in persons aged 65+ years. The incidence of pre-diabetes among males was 17% (1.29 million), compared to 15.5% among females (1.1 million). The total number of Saudi men with diabetes is 1.1 million, of whom 546,000 are on diabetes medication, and 275,000 have no control on their disease. The study added that there are 775,000 females with diabetes, of whom 356,000 are on diabetes medication and 196,000 with uncontrolled diabetes.
Official Date:
Globally: November 14th, 2015
Locally: Safar 2nd, 1437H
Theme of the World Diabetes Day 2015:
Healthy Living and Diabetes
Targeted Groups:
- Diabetics and their families
- Health decision-makers
- Diabetes health educators
- The public
General Objectives:
- Encouraging governments to promote and implement policies of prevention and control of diabetes and its complications
- Supporting and spreading national initiatives to combat diabetes and its complications
- Highlighting the importance of evidence-based education in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications
- Raising awareness of the warning symptoms of diabetes and encouraging early diagnosis
- Promoting measures to reduce risk factors of Type 2 Diabetes
- Promoting measures to prevent or hold back complications of diabetes
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