World Diabetes Day is established by IDF and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. It is marked every year on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin in 1921.

World Diabetes Day is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public and political spotlight.

The United Nations passes UN Resolution 61/225 "World Diabetes Day" – the first UN Resolution for a non-communicable disease.

The first UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs is held. UN Member States unanimously pass the UN Resolution on NCDs, committing to keep diabetes and other NCDs at the top of the international agenda.

The World Health Organization (WHO) adopts the overarching goal of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025 and nine voluntary targets on NCDs. These include 0% increase in diabetes and obesity prevalence and 80% access to essential medicines and devices by 2025.

The second UN High Level Meeting on NCDs is held to assess the progress made by Member States in tackling NCDs. The Outcome Document includes four time-bound commitments:

• Setting national NCD targets for 2025 by 2015
• Considering the development of national multisectoral policies and plans to achieve the 2025 national targets by 2015
• Reducing risk factors for NCDs by 2016
• Considering the strengthening of health systems to address NCDs through people-centred primary health care and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2016.

The Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are adopted. These include the target of a 30% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2030.

The Third UN High Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs is held to assess Member States progress on achieving their international NCD commitments. IDF launches a call to action requesting governments to honour their 2011 commitments.

The UN High Level Meeting on Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) is held. IDF launches a call to action that explains why UHC is important and how it can improve the lives of people living with diabetes.