All you need to know about World Diabetes Day
It is important to be aware of the symptoms of diabetes as it may take some time before the disease is diagnosed after onset, after complications have already arisen.
THIS year’s World Diabetes Day (WDD) is a call for policymakers to increase education about the disease.
Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) back in 1991, this day marks the world’s largest campaign, reaching a worldwide audience of more than a billion people in more than 160 countries.
Unlike other campaigns, this one adopts a theme that can run for one or more years. The theme for 2021 to 2023 is, ‘Access to Diabetes Care’, and is set to bridge the knowledge gap on the kinds of help available to people living with diabetes.
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Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of glucose (blood sugar). This can lead to problems with the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, eyes and nerves.
According to the World Health Organisation, the most notorious type of this disease is type two, usually in adults.
“In the past three decades, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels. Type 1 Diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself.
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“About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low and middle-income countries. For people living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment, including insulin, is critical to their survival,” they said.
Symptoms
Symptoms of diabetes include the urge to urinate often, weight loss, constant hunger, thirst, vision changes and fatigue.
It may take some time before the disease is diagnosed after onset, after complications have already arisen, and that is why it is important to be aware of the symptoms.
Prevention and Treatment
The starting point for preventing diabetes is:
- Exercising regularly;
- Avoiding smoking;
- Eating healthily,
- and controlling blood pressure and lipids.
Treatment of diabetes involves diet and physical activity, along with the lowering of blood glucose. Depending on the severity of the diabetes, insulin may be required to keep the blood-glucose levels down.
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