World Diabetes Day falls on November 14th every year on the birthday of insulin co-creator Dr. Frederick Banting, and is the annual occasion when the world’s attention turns to the growing problem that is diabetes. This awareness campaign sees events organised across 100 countries as well as in the G7, the UN General Assembly and the G20.
Behind the campaign is the International Diabetes Federation, which aims to give those suffering from the condition a powerful voice and to educate people on how to prevent it.
By the year 2035, there will be an estimated 600 million people who will live with diabetes on a daily basis. In 2014, there were nearly five million deaths associated with the condition and one in two sufferers doesn’t even realise they have it. World Diabetes Day aims to help educate people about getting checked as well as offering advice and support for those with the condition.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong condition caused by insufficient insulin secretion. Insulin acts like a key, opening the doors to your cells and letting sugar (glucose) in. In diabetes, the pancreas makes too little insulin to allow all the sugar in your blood to enter your muscles and other cells to produce energy. If sugar can’t get into the cells to be used, it builds up in the bloodstream. Therefore, diabetes is characterised by high blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes tends to occur in childhood or early adult life. It is caused by the body’s immune system destroying the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly in adulthood.
Symptoms of Diabetes
- Excessive thirst and increased urination
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
- Tingling hands and feet
- Red, swollen or tender gums
Causes of Diabetes
Although the cause of type 1 diabetes is unclear, it probably includes genetic risk factors and environmental factors. Type 2 diabetes mainly occurs due to insulin resistance, where the body’s muscle and liver cells do not effectively use insulin. On the other hand, hormonal changes and pregnancy demands combined with environmental factors cause Gestational diabetes.
Control of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes always requires treatment with insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be treated with diet and exercise, but more often, Type 2 diabetes may require antidiabetic medicine and/or insulin injections.
