• UGI USER
  • Nov 16, 2023
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WORLD DIABETES DAY

Why in the News?

  • World Diabetes Day 2023: A Global Initiative for Health Awareness.
  • Emphasizing the importance of understanding and managing diabetes worldwide.

Source: Smile India Trust

World Diabetes Day Establishment

  • In 2007, the General Assembly designated November 14 as World Diabetes Day.
  • Recognizing the global impact of diabetes and the need for heightened awareness and action.

World Diabetes Day Theme: Access to Diabetes Care

  • Emphasizing the importance of making diabetes care more accessible and available globally.
  • Encouraging communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to work together

Understanding Diabetes:

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar). This occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.

Types of Diabetes:

There are several types of diabetes, including Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.

  • Type 1 Diabetes: A chronic condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in insufficient insulin production.
  • Type 2 Diabetes: A chronic metabolic disorder characterized by the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Often linked to lifestyle factors like excess body weight and physical inactivity.
  • Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy when the body cannot produce enough insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. It typically resolves after childbirth but increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Global Diabetes Statistics

  • One in 10 adults worldwide has diabetes.
  • Over 90% of cases are type 2 diabetes.
  • Nearly half of cases remain undiagnosed.

Historical Breakthrough: Therapeutic Insulin

  • The development of therapeutic insulin in 1921 marked a significant breakthrough in medical history.
  • Insulin’s role in diabetes treatment transformed healthcare practices.

Escalating Global Prevalence

  • Global diabetes prevalence has almost doubled since 1980, increasing from 4.7% to 8.5% in adults.
  • Diabetes contributes to major health issues, including blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and limb amputations.