World Diabetes Day, commemorated every year on November 14th, is a pivotal event in the global health calendar. This date, marking the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, symbolizes a worldwide effort to combat diabetes. This day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2006 1 (adopted in 2007 2 ), underscoring its global significance. The campaign reaches over a billion people in more than 160 countries, making it the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign.

The Escalating Challenge of Diabetes

Diabetes, a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to the body’s inability to produce or effectively use insulin, is a growing global health crisis. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014, with a more rapid increase in low- and middle-income countries. This disease is a leading cause of complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.

Types and Impact of Diabetes

Diabetes is a complex condition with several types, each having distinct characteristics and impacts on health. Here’s a detailed list:

  • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Characteristics: This form of diabetes is characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin due to the immune system mistakenly attacking and destroying insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
    • Impact: Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes require lifelong insulin therapy. They are at risk for various complications, including heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, eye damage, and foot problems.
  • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Characteristics: In Type 2 Diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin properly, a condition known as insulin resistance. Initially, the pancreas makes extra insulin, but over time, it isn’t enough to keep blood sugar at normal levels.
    • Impact: It’s often associated with lifestyle factors like obesity and physical inactivity. Complications can include heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, hearing impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, Type 2 Diabetes can be managed and sometimes reversed with lifestyle changes and medication.
  • Gestational Diabetes
    • Characteristics: This type occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born. It happens when the body cannot make enough insulin to meet the extra needs in pregnancy.
    • Impact: Gestational Diabetes can increase the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy and complications during delivery. It also raises the risk of the mother developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life and the child having obesity or Type 2 Diabetes in the future.
  • Prediabetes
    • Characteristics: Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetes.
    • Impact: Without intervention, it often leads to Type 2 Diabetes. People with prediabetes are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Why is World Diabetes Day Important?

World Diabetes Day is of paramount importance for several reasons, each highlighting the critical nature of addressing diabetes as a global health issue:

  1. Raising Global Awareness: Diabetes, often termed a ‘silent epidemic,’ lacks the widespread public awareness of other major health issues. World Diabetes Day serves as a crucial platform for educating the public about the nature of diabetes, its risk factors, and its prevalence. This awareness is vital for early detection and prevention, which can significantly reduce the burden of the disease.
  2. Advocacy for Better Care and Policies: This day provides an opportunity to advocate for better healthcare policies and systems that ensure everyone, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, has access to essential diabetes care. This includes affordable insulin, diabetes medication, regular screening, and education about managing the disease.
  3. Highlighting the Urgency of the Diabetes Epidemic: With the number of people affected by diabetes rising rapidly worldwide, World Diabetes Day underscores the urgency of this growing health crisis. It brings to light the staggering statistics and the need for immediate action in terms of healthcare provision, research, and funding.
  4. Promoting Prevention Strategies: Diabetes, particularly Type 2, is often preventable through lifestyle changes. World Diabetes Day emphasizes the importance of healthy eating, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.
  5. Encouraging Community Involvement and Solidarity: The day fosters a sense of community and solidarity among those affected by diabetes. It is a day when individuals with diabetes, healthcare professionals, and advocates come together to share experiences, offer support, and work collectively towards a common goal.
  6. Inspiring Research and Innovation: By drawing attention to diabetes, World Diabetes Day also acts as a catalyst for research and innovation in diabetes care and management. It encourages ongoing research into better treatment methods, potential cures, and improved management strategies.
  7. Commemorating Achievements and Progress: This day also serves to commemorate the achievements in diabetes care, such as the discovery of insulin and advancements in treatment methods. It is a reminder of how far we have come and an inspiration to continue striving for better outcomes for those living with diabetes.
  8. Global Unity Against a Common Threat: Diabetes does not discriminate – it affects people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities across the world. World Diabetes Day unites people globally in the fight against this common threat, fostering international cooperation and sharing of knowledge and resources.
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Timeline of Diabetes and World Diabetes Day

1552 BC

Earliest Recorded Mention

The Ebers Papyrus mentions a disease that causes excessive urination, likely the first recorded mention of diabetes symptoms. 3

1552 BC
1st Century AD

Naming of Diabetes

Aretaeus of Cappadocia names the condition “diabetes,” meaning “siphon” in Greek, referring to frequent urination. 4

1st Century AD
11th Century

Recognition of Sugar in Urine

Avicenna provides a detailed description of diabetes and notes the presence of sugar in the urine of affected individuals. 5

11th Century
1889

Discovery of the Role of the Pancreas

Joseph von Mering and Oskar Minkowski discover that removing the pancreas from dogs causes diabetes, highlighting the organ’s role in the disease. 6

1889
1921

Discovery of Insulin

Frederick Banting and Charles Best discover insulin at the University of Toronto, revolutionizing diabetes treatment. 7

1921
January 1922

First Use of Insulin in Humans

Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old boy with diabetes, becomes the first person to receive an insulin injection. 8

January 1922
1980

Global Rise in Diabetes

The number of people with diabetes worldwide is estimated at 108 million.

1980
1991

Inception of World Diabetes Day

The International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization create World Diabetes Day to raise awareness about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. 9

1991
2006

United Nations Recognition

World Diabetes Day becomes an official United Nations Day, further emphasizing its global importance. 2

2006
2023

Surge in Diabetes Prevalence

More than half a billion people are living with diabetes worldwide, affecting men, women, and children of all ages in every country, and that number is projected to more than double to 1.3 billion people in the next 30 years. 10

2023

How to Observe World Diabetes Day?

Participation in World Diabetes Day is essential for its success. Here are ways to get involved:

  1. Promote the Blue Circle: The blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes awareness. Sharing this symbol helps increase public understanding of diabetes and solidarity with those affected.
  2. Risk Assessment Tools: Sharing tools that help individuals assess their risk of Type 2 diabetes can be a powerful way to encourage early detection and management.
  3. Advocacy through Letters: Writing to health ministers or the United Nations to advocate for more resources dedicated to diabetes care can influence policy and funding decisions.
  4. Educational Courses: Engaging with and sharing educational resources from the IDF School of Diabetes enhances personal and community understanding of diabetes management.
  5. Visual Campaigns: Utilizing posters, infographics, and banners in local communities can visually convey the message of diabetes awareness and prevention.
  6. Organizing Events: From walks to local health fairs, organizing events raises awareness and fosters community engagement in the fight against diabetes.
  7. Sharing Personal Stories: Personal stories about living with diabetes can be powerful. Sharing these stories can inspire others and bring a personal touch to the awareness campaign.
  8. Physical Activity Initiatives: Encouraging physical activity, such as participating in the Global Diabetes Walk, highlights the importance of exercise in diabetes prevention and management.

Official Websites

FAQ

Why is November 14th Diabetes Day?

November 14th is chosen as World Diabetes Day because it marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin, a vital treatment for diabetes, in 1922.

Is there a Diabetes Day?

Yes, World Diabetes Day is observed annually on November 14th to raise global awareness about diabetes and its impact on individuals and healthcare systems.

What to do for World Diabetes Day?

For World Diabetes Day, you can participate in awareness campaigns, share educational materials, wear the blue circle pin (the global symbol for diabetes), organize or join events and discussions, and advocate for better diabetes care and policies.

What color is World Diabetes Day?

blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes awareness

The color for World Diabetes Day is blue, and the blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes awareness.

Wrap-Up

World Diabetes Day is not just an annual event; it is a global movement that calls for collective action in the fight against diabetes. By raising awareness, advocating for better care, and promoting healthy lifestyles, this day plays a crucial role in addressing the diabetes epidemic. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, we can work towards a world where diabetes no longer poses a major health threat.

Reviewed by HolidayToday Staff

Alex’s Take on World Diabetes Day

As a parent of a child with diabetes, World Diabetes Day holds a deeply personal significance for me. It’s a day that brings a mix of emotions – there’s the gratitude for the advancements in modern medicine that allow my son to lead a full life, despite the challenges and risks associated with diabetes. Yes, managing diabetes is tough and sometimes dangerous, but with the right care and vigilance, the risks and consequences can be minimized. This day is a reminder of how far we’ve come in diabetes care, and yet, it also underscores the need for continued progress.

There’s a lot of criticism these days about modern medicine being more about treatment than prevention, and its commercialization. While there’s some truth to these concerns, I can’t help but be thankful every day for the medical advancements that keep my son healthy and active. I hold onto the hope that medicine will soon find more definitive ways to combat this disease – and there are real strides being made towards this.

But World Diabetes Day also makes me reflect on the broader picture – the alarming rise in diabetes cases globally. It prompts questions about our lifestyles and whether a more significant, global change is needed in how we live. I also wish for more genuine, less populist governmental efforts in healthcare, truly aimed at helping people. This day isn’t just about acknowledging a health condition; it’s about envisioning a world where such conditions no longer dictate the terms of one’s life.

References

  1. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/507/87/PDF/N0650787.pdf ↩
  2. https://www.un.org/en/observances/diabetes-day ↩ ↩
  3. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/118477/1/Diab-History-MPRA-5-9-23.pdf ↩
  4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03401545 ↩
  5. https://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-Diabetes.aspx ↩
  6. https://doi.org/10.4239%2Fwjd.v7.i1.1 ↩
  7. https://www.umassmed.edu/dcoe/diabetes-education/patient-resources/banting-and-best-discover-insulin/ ↩
  8. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/our-research/about-our-research/our-impact/discovery-of-insulin ↩
  9. https://greatplainsqin.org/blog/world-diabetes-day-access-to-care/ ↩
  10. https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/newsroom/news-releases/global-diabetes-cases-soar-529-million-13-billion-2050 ↩

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