About World Diabetes Day 2024
World Diabetes Day is an important annual event observed on November 14 every year. It is celebrated to raise awareness about diabetes as a critical global health concern and emphasises the individual and collective actions needed to improve the diagnosis, management and prevention of the condition.
Theme of World Diabetes Day 2024
In 2024, the theme of World Diabetes Day is “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps” underpinning the significance of reducing the risk of diabetes and ensuring that all people diagnosed with diabetes have access to comprehensive and quality diabetes treatment and care.
Why is World Diabetes Day Celebrated?
Across the globe, people with diabetes face daily challenges in managing the condition at home and work. World Diabetes Day 2024 aims to raise awareness about the mental and physical challenges of diabetes and prioritise overall well-being. The theme of world diabetes day 2024 sheds light on the significance of effective diabetes management and improving quality of life post diabetes diagnosis.
History of World Diabetes Day (WDD)
World Diabetes Day was founded in 1991 by the International Diabetes Foundation in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. It was designated as the official United Nation Day in 2006, under the UN resolution 61/225. Additionally, 14th November was chosen to commemorate the birth of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin with Charles Best in 1922. Since then, World Diabetes Day has grown into a health awareness campaign that reaches people across the globe.
Preventive Measures for the Management of Diabetes
World Diabetes Day 2024 plays a critical role in raising awareness about diabetes and advocating improved care and prevention. Diabetes is a chronic disease that is known to occur when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body is unable to effectively use the insulin it produces. A common condition that affects people of all ages; there are several forms of diabetes, of which type 2 is most common.
Even though genetic and autoimmune forms of diabetes cannot be prevented, a few steps can help lower the risk of developing prediabetes, gestational diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. They can be as follows:
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Be physically active (aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day for at least five days a week)
Work to achieve a healthy weight
Manage stress and anxiety
Limit alcohol consumption
Maintain a healthy sleep cycle
Quit smoking
Take medications as directed by a healthcare provider to manage existing risk factors for heart disease.
Types of Diabetes
The most common types of diabetes include:
Type 2 Diabetes
In this type of diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin and/or the cells in the body do not respond normally to insulin (insulin resistance).
Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin. In fact, it is required both to control the sugars and for the patient’s survival.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in women during pregnancy. A woman with gestational diabetes is also at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes at a later stage in life.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Common symptoms of diabetes may include:
Dry mouth and increased thirst
Unexplained weight loss
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Fatigue
Numbness in the hands or feet
Slow healing cuts and sores
Frequent vaginal yeast or skin infections
Diabetes Risk Factors
While risk factors, such as age and family history cannot be controlled, some diabetes risk factors can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as being physically active. Find out your risk of each type of diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes
Potential risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:
Age: It is possible to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at any age, however it usually develops in children, teens and younger adults.
Family history: A parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes.
Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes share almost all the same risk factors. If you already have prediabetes, it is an added risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors may include:
Adiposity or being overweight
Being age 45 or older
Having a family member with type 2 diabetes
Lack of physical activity
Having metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Gestational Diabetes
You are at a risk of gestational diabetes if you:
Have gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy
Have adiposity or are overweight
Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
Have a hormone disorder called PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
Diabetes Diagnosis
A doctor diagnoses diabetes by examining the blood glucose level. Three tests that can help measure the blood glucose level are:
Fasting blood glucose test: This type of test detects baseline blood sugar.
Random blood glucose test: This test can be taken at any time, with or without fasting.
A1c: This test, also known as glycated haemoglobin test or HBA1c, provides the average blood glucose level over the past two to three months.
Type of Test | In Range (mg/dL) | Prediabetes (mg/dL) | Diabetes (mg/L) |
Fasting blood glucose test | <100 | 100 to 125 | 126 or higher |
Random blood glucose test | N/A | N/A | 200 or higher |
A1c | <5.7% | 5.7% to 6.4% | 6.5% or higher |
When to See a Doctor
If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, it is recommended to see a doctor if you have symptoms of the condition, such as dry mouth and frequent urination. If you are at a risk for diabetes, such as having a family history of the condition, book an appointment with a doctor today. The sooner the symptoms of diabetes are treated, the less likely it is to develop complications of the disease.
FAQs
1. When is National Diabetes Day 2024?
World Diabetes Day, observed annually on November 14, aims to raise awareness about the condition and promote improved access to quality care and support for those impacted by diabetes.
2. What is the theme of World Diabetes Day 2024?
The theme for World Diabetes Day 2024 is "Bridging Barriers and Bridging Gaps," focusing on the need to address the global diabetes crisis and raise awareness about its symptoms, causes, and risk factors.
3. What is the purpose of World Diabetes Day?
World Diabetes Day is observed worldwide to commemorate the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, co-discovered insulin in 1922. The day aims to raise awareness about diabetes and its broader effects on overall health and well-being.
4. What is the main goal of diabetes management?
The primary goal of diabetes management is to bring blood sugar levels back to normal, or within a non-diabetic range. This can be achieved by incorporating healthy eating and regular physical activity into daily routines, along with consistently monitoring blood sugar levels.
Article By Dr. Dheeraj Kapoor
Chief - Endocrinology
Artemis Hospitals
