World Diabetes Day (14 November 2022): Education to Protect Tomorrow

Background Information:

Each year, 14 November is celebrated as World Diabetes Day. It was established by the International Diabetes Federation with the support of World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991, and became an official United Nations 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.

This is the second year of the 2021-2023 World Diabetes Day theme Access to Diabetes Care. The theme for this year is Education to Protect Tomorrow. This year’s campaign focuses on the need for better access to quality diabetes education for health professionals and people living with diabetes.

Between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3% increase in age-standardized mortality rates from diabetes. In lower-middle-income countries, the mortality rate due to diabetes increased 13%.

By contrast, the probability of dying from any one of the four main noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases or diabetes) between the ages of 30 and 70 decreased by 22% globally between 2000 and 2019.

One in 10 adults around the world now live with diabetes, an estimated 537 million people. Almost half do not know they have it. This is putting added strain on healthcare systems.

Healthcare professionals must know how to detect and diagnose the condition early and provide the best possible care.

Key Messages:

Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.

Between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3% increase in diabetes mortality rates by age.

In 2019, diabetes and kidney disease due to diabetes caused an estimated 2 million deaths.

A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications.

For the Public and People living with Diabetes

More than 90% of diabetes care is selfcare and requires 24/7 management.

Do you have the knowledge to make informed decisions about your condition?

Take charge of your diabetes care and protect tomorrow.

For Healthcare professionals and Policy makers

One in nine people will have diabetes by 2030. This is putting more pressure on healthcare professionals to provide the best possible diabetes care.

When did you last update your diabetes knowledge?