(Summary at the bottom)
World Diabetes Day is an annual global awareness day and is held on 14th November every year. WDD is held on Frederick Banting’s birthday, who together with Charles Best discovered insulin in 1921. There’s a diabetes related theme every year which is used to spread awareness on specific topics.

 

The first day held was in 1991, which was co-founded by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization due to diabetes cases increasing fast. In December 2006, the UN officially recognized World Diabetes Day when they adopted resolution 61/225. This designated 14th of November as World Diabetes Day, making it an official UN day from 2007 and forward. Even though there’s a designated day for diabetes awareness, the efforts go all year around.

Early Action On Diabetes

This year's theme for World Diabetes Day is; Early Action on Diabetes, highlighting the importance of an early diagnosis to reduce health issues in relation to untreated or inaccurately treated diabetes. Today, it is estimated that more than 40% of people living with diabetes are undiagnosed. And up to 50% of people with diabetes type 2 already have complications at the time of diagnosis. Early action on diabetes is essential to improve health, and life quality, as well as reducing harm and saving lives.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a serious chronic condition where your blood glucose levels get too high. There are two main types of diabetes:

 

Diabetes type 1 is an chronic autoimmune condition where one's own immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas which creates insulin. As a result, the pancreas stops producing insulin, or produces very little insulin. The lack of insulin causes the blood sugar to get too high. 

 

Diabetes type 2 is a chronic condition where the body isn't able to properly utilise the insulin that the pancreas creates, and/or where the pancreas creates less to no insulin. This causes the blood sugar to get too high. Diabetes type 2 is considered a progressive condition, where the body's ability to produce and utilise insulin may change over time. 

 

There are also multiple other types of diabetes: 

• Gestational Diabetes

• MODY 

• Neonatal diabetes

• Wolfram Syndrom

• LADA

• Type 3c diabetes

• Steroid-induced diabetes

• Cystic fibrosis diabetes

History

Throughout the years, there have been multiple milestones and breakthroughs in regards to diabetes research, discovery and healthcare. These breakthroughs have contributed to the recognition, medical care and wellbeing of individuals with diabetes. The following are some of the discoveries and creations throughout history: 

 

• Insulin was first discovered in 1921, and was proved to lower blood sugar. This was a discovery that saved numerous lives. Shortly the production of animal-derived insulin started, making insulin commercially available for the first time in history. In 1978, the first synthetic “human” insulin was produced, and became commercially available in 1982.

• In 1957 metformin, a medication commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, was first made commercially available in France. GLP-1 was first discovered in the 1980s by Joel Habener. In 2005, the first GLP-1 medication was approved for type 2 diabetes. 

• In 1950, the International Diabetes Federal was officially founded. IDF serves as a global voice of the diabetes community. 

• The first blood testing tools became available in the 1960s, allowing people to test their blood sugar levels outside of a lab. Years later the insulin pump followed, becoming available in 1974. In the early 2000s, the first continuous glucose monitoring system was released for home use, serving as a more accessible way for individuals with diabetes to monitor blood sugar levels continuously. 

In 2022, WHO member states endorsed 5 global diabetes coverage targets, with the aim of them being achieved by 2030: 

• 80% of people with diabetes are diagnosed

• 80% of people with diabetes have good control of glycaemia

• 80% of people with diagnosed diabetes have good control of blood pressure

• 60% of people with diabetes of 40 years or older receive statins

• 100% of people with diabetes type 1 have access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring 

Stigmas, misconceptions and awareness

When it comes to any chronic condition or disability, one of the most important steps is to inform people of it. Many conditions come with different types of stigmas and diabetes isn’t immune to this. A survey conducted by YouGov revealed that almost 9 in 10 people with diabetes type 1, and 7 in 10 people with diabetes type 2 experience blame and judgement for their condition. It is important to provide neutral, factual information about diabetes to people. Assumptions, negative and blaming attitudes and judgement inherently harm the mental and physical health of people with diabetes. At worst, some people might even refuse to seek care or take care of their condition due to the shame they experience from others.

Reducing stigma and providing correct information directly improve the lives of those living with diabetes. When the right, judgement free information is available, the health outcomes tend to improve.

 

The language we use matters as well. While people with diabetes can decide the language they use about themselves, people without it should avoid calling someone ”diabetic”. To some, this can feel like they’re being reduced to their condition. You should also avoid calling someone without diabetes ”normal”, as categorizing people as normal and abnormal can be stigmatizing.

 

One way to reduce these stigmas is to educate people of the facts and myths of the condition, so we’ve gathered some of the most common myths below.

 

”Type 2 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar”: 

- None of the types of diabetes is caused by excess sugar consumption. Diabetes type 2 is a complex chronic condition that can develop by multiple factors like genetics, hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, and is not caused by simply eating too much sugar. 

 

”Diabetes type 2 only affects older / heavier people”: 

- Diabetes type 2 can develop regardless of age or weight. Two people can be at the same age, weight and overall health and only one of them might develop type 2 diabetes.

 

”Diabetes type 2 is a mild form of diabetes”: 

- Diabetes type 2 or any type of diabetes is in no form a ”mild” diabetes. All types of diabetes are serious, and can cause severe health problems if untreated. Referring to diabetes type 2 as mild, takes away from the seriousness of the condition. 

 

”Diabetes type 1 or 2 can be cured”: 

- Neither diabetes type 1 or 2 can be cured. While diabetes type 2 in some cases can go in remission, that does not mean diabetes type 2 is curable. This misconception puts pressure on individuals with diabetes type 2, making one feel like they are at fault for not being able to ”cure” a chronic condition. When it comes to other types of diabetes, it depends on the specific type. Type 3c is incurable, prediabetes is often reversible and gestational diabetes resolves after delivery, though it raises the risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.

 

”Diabetes can be healed with a specific diet without the need for medications”:

- This misconception can put people in serious danger. You should always follow what your doctor has advised regarding your diabetes. While a healthy diet can help to manage diabetes in some people, it alone won’t simply ”cure” everyone. Insulin is needed to correct dangerous blood sugar levels.

During November, which also marks Diabetes Awareness Month, there are several activities related to Diabetes Awareness being hosted across parts of the world. You can find these activities, as well as learn more about World Diabetes Day on their official website: https://worlddiabetesday.org/ 

Summary

• World Diabetes Day has been held on 14th of November annually since 1991.
• The theme for 2026 is ”Early action on diabetes”.
• Diabetes is a chronic condition with multiple possible onset sources, characterized by unstable blood glucose levels.
• Diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune condition where the reasons for other types vary widely.
• All types of diabetes are serious conditions that need timely diagnosis and treatment.
• There are still a lot of misconceptions and stigmas surrounding diabetes.
  
  
  With love,

The Inclusivity Group