Introduction:
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has launched World Diabetes Day under the theme: "Women and Diabetes". The day will promote the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk for or living with diabetes to the essential diabetes medicines and technologies, self-management education and information they require to achieve optimal diabetes outcomes and strengthen their capacity to prevent gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Facts:
- Two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, accounting for over 60 million women worldwide.
- Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally.
- Women with type 2 diabetes are almost 10 times more likely to have coronary heart disease than women without the condition.
- Women with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of early miscarriage or having a baby with malformations.
Locally:
According to the statistics of the Saudi Health Information Survey Handbook 2013:
- Prevalence rate of diabetes reached 4.13% in males and females. The rate increases with age to 4.50% in the age group of 65 years and above. The study indicated that the prevalence rate of pre-diabetes reached 29.1 million cases among males and 1.1 million cases among females.
Objectives:
- Encourage governments to promote and implement policies and strategies of prevention and control of all diabetes types and complications.
- Highlight national initiatives to fight diabetes and its complications.
- Raise awareness of the warning signs of diabetes and encourage early diagnosis.
- Highlight the importance of health education to treat diabetes and prevent its complications.
- Highlight the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle to improve the health and wellbeing of next generations.
- Intensify training of healthcare professionals on early detection, management and follow-up of diabetes during pregnancy to promote women’s health.
- Prevent or delay complications of all types of diabetes.
Official Date:
Globally: November 14th, 2017
Locally: Safar 25th, 1439H.
Theme of World Diabetes Day:
Women and Diabetes: our right to a healthy future
Target Groups:
- Those at risk of diabetes, gestational diabetes and diabetics.
- Health professionals including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and health educators.
- Health decision-makers.
- Health organizations and associations.
- The public.
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