World Diabetes Day

Tags: Important Days

World Diabetes Day is being observed across the globe on November 14.

Important facts

• The day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue and the efforts needed to diagnose, prevent and manage it.

• This year the theme of World Diabetes Day 2022 is 'Access to Diabetes Education' and underlines the multi-year theme of 'Access to Care'.

• According to the World Health Organisation, around 422 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes and 1.5 million people die each year due to diabetes.

• According to the World Health Organisation, cases of diabetes are increasing rapidly in India, with an estimated 8.7% of the population in the age group of 20 and 70 years suffering from diabetes.

• The government and the health department are making concerted efforts to spread awareness about the disease so that it can be managed in a better way.

Background of the day 

• The day is observed every year on 14 November to mark the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin in 1922 along with Charles Best.

• World Diabetes Day was first observed in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the growing concerns about the disease and to spread awareness about it. Since then it is celebrated every year.

What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes is a disease that occurs when blood glucose is too high.

• Blood glucose is the main source of energy and is obtained from food.

• Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps glucose from food get into cells to be used for energy.

• Sometimes the body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin well. This condition is called diabetes.

Types of diabetes

• Type 1 - In type 1 diabetes the body does not make insulin. It mostly affects children of 14-16 years of age.

• Type 2 - In type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to make or use insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age. However, this type of diabetes often occurs in middle-aged and older people. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes.