Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. World Diabetes Day became an official day in 2006. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
Facts:
- In 2019, approximately 463 million adults were living with diabetes; by 2030 this will rise to 578 million.
- 1 in 2 adults with diabetes go undiagnosed (232 million people).
- 1 in 5 diabetics (136 million people) are over 65 years old.
Objectives:
- Raising awareness of the impact of diabetes on the society, encouraging early diagnosis and support those affected.
- Raising awareness on ways to prevent diabetes and delay its onset with healthy diet and physical activity.
- Boosting the role of the family in health education in the treatment of diabetes.
- Preventing its complications and increasing awareness of the warning signs of diabetes.
Official Date:
Globally: November 14th, 2020.
Locally: Rabi' al-awwal 28th, 1442H.
Theme:
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