This year marks the beginning of a new two-year World Diabetes Day theme – Early Action on Diabetes. The campaign leading up to 14 November will highlight the importance of action to diagnose diabetes early and reduce risk.
Diabetes currently affects over half a billion people. Almost 1 in 2 remain undiagnosed. Without a diagnosis, people living with diabetes do not receive timely care and are at risk of serious and life-threatening complications.
Early detection is crucial. Identifying diabetes in its early stages can prevent life-threatening conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and prevent or delay serious complications including heart disease, kidney failure, vision loss and nerve damage. Strengthening awareness of the warning signs and improving access to diabetes screening, diagnosis and care is key to ensuring better health for all.
1 in 8 people worldwide are at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, yet many barriers to managing the risk factors persist. Urban environments, air pollution, limited opportunities for physical activity and easy and affordable access to unhealthy food make it challenging for many to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Understanding the risk factors and receiving early support from healthcare professionals is key to preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Communities, healthcare providers and policymakers all have an important role to play role in ensuring that early detection and risk reduction measures are available to everyone.
