Today's Edition
AHMED ABDELAZIZ (ABU DHABI)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to launch its annual awareness campaign on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, annually marked on November 14, under the theme “Diabetes Across Life Stages” to support people living with diabetes worldwide.
World Diabetes Day is an annual global awareness campaign that highlights the threats posed by diabetes. Established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) with the support from WHO, World Diabetes Day is observed on the birthday of Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
WHO said that diabetes can impact people across all life stages, including childhood, the reproductive years, working age and older adulthood.
This year's campaign recognises that every person living with diabetes should have access to integrated care, supportive environments and policies that promote health, dignity and self-management. This campaign emphasises the importance of a life-course approach to diabetes prevention, management and overall wellbeing.
In 2022, the WHO member states set five goals aimed to be achieved by 2030: 80% of people with diabetes are diagnosed; 80% of people with diagnosed 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; and 100% of people with type 1 diabetes have access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring.
Also, this year, a campaign led by the IDF in Belgium is calling on employers and employees worldwide to "know more and do more for diabetics at work" and start the change for a better diabetic life.
According to the IDF, recent statistical reports show that 589 million people have diabetes worldwide. The reports stated that three in four people living with diabetes have experienced anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition, and four in five people living with diabetes experienced diabetes burnout.
The federation urged employers to provide: A safe and private space for diabetes management, access to food, water, toilet facilities, and breaks, a trained first aider and the necessary supplies to treat a diabetes-related emergency, an inclusive environment free from fear and diabetes-related stigma, flexible part-time or remote work, mental wellbeing support for employees, healthy food and snacks in the workplace, and physical activity programmes and incentives.
