Raising awareness of diabetes

The world will be united on 14 November to campaign against and raise awareness surrounding the diabetes pandemic.

Dr Larry Distiller, specialist physician and endocrinologist, and executive chairman of the Centre of Diabetes and Endocrinology, said this year’s campaign would aptly focus on ‘Women and Diabetes’ and is aimed at promoting the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk for, or living with, diabetes.

Distiller added, “While we advocate an awareness of diabetes for all people, this campaign specifically aims to highlight the essential diabetes treatments and technologies, self-management education and information that women require to achieve optimal diabetes outcomes and strengthen their capacity to self-manage or prevent type 2 diabetes.”

Read: WATCH: CDE educates the public on World Diabetes Day

According to facts presented by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF):

• Currently more than 199 million women live with diabetes worldwide. This total is projected to increase to 313 million by 2040
• Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2,1 million deaths per year. Locally, diabetes is the biggest killer of South African women
• Two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, accounting for more than 60 million women worldwide
• Women with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of early miscarriage or having a baby with malformations
• The IDF estimates that 20,9 million or 16,2 per cent of live births to women in 2015 had some form of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy
• Half of all cases of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy occur in women under the age of 30
• The vast majority of cases of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy were in low- and middle-income countries, where access to maternal care is often limited
• Women with type 2 diabetes are almost 10 times more likely to have coronary heart disease than are women without the condition.

Distiller said one of the primary reasons this year’s campaign was focusing on women was that women and girls were key agents in the adoption of healthy lifestyles to improve the health and well-being of future generations.

“To achieve optimal diabetes outcomes, women need to have access not only to diabetes treatments and technologies but also to self-management education and information and to good pre-conception planning, ante-natal and obstetric services to reduce risks associated with pregnancy.”

Read: World Diabetes Day creates awareness

Up to 70 per cent of cases of type 2 diabetes and 70 per cent of premature deaths among adults could be prevented through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. These problems are largely consequent to behaviours initiated during adolescence.

“We have a huge established problem with diabetes and related cardiovascular risks and outcomes. Promoting opportunities for physical exercise in adolescent girls, particularly in developing countries, must be a priority for diabetes prevention. We must not neglect the opportunity, we now have to change the future.”

Details:www.idf.org

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