November 14 – World Diabetes Day

Every year, November 14 is marked as World Diabetes Day.

It was designated as such by the International Diabetes Federation with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991, and became an official day of the United Nations in 2006. It is marked every year on November 14, in honor of the birthday of Mr. Frederick Banting, who together with Charles Best discovered insulin in 1922, and for this discovery has been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine with 1923.

Every year WHO sets a theme around which the awareness campaign is organized. This year's theme, "To break the barriers, to overcome the gaps", supports our commitment to reduce the risk of diabetes and to ensure that all people diagnosed with diabetes have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality treatment and care.

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

One in 10 adults worldwide now lives with diabetes, about 537 million people. Almost half don't know they have it.

- About 700 million people are expected to be affected by diabetes by 20453 out of 4 people with diabetes live in low or middle income countries

- Half of people with diabetes are undiagnosed

– 1 in 2 people who need insulin do not have access to it

– 7 million adults are estimated to have died due to diabetes or its complications in 2021

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 two diabetes.

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

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

Take care of your diabetes yourself and protect tomorrow!

Dr. Agron Spahija, endocrinologist at Elita Plus.