FAMILY APPROACH TO DIABETES MANAGEMENT

World Diabetes Day was observed in 1991 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 14^th November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.

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 blue circle, the global symbol for diabetes awareness, signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes epidemic.

Every year, the World Diabetes Day campaign focuses on a dedicated theme that runs for one or more years. The theme for WDD 2019 is “Family & Diabetes”.

The primary aim of the World Diabetes Day 2019 campaign is to raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and to promote the role of the family in the management, care, prevention, and education of the condition.

World Diabetes Day 2019 focuses on 3 aspects: diagnosis, prevention, and management.

1. Detecting diabetes in the early stage:

• One in every two people with diabetes is undiagnosed; Early diagnosis and treatment are key to helping prevent or delay life-threatening complications.
• If type 1 diabetes is not detected early, it can lead to serious disability or death
• Know the signs and symptoms to protect yourself and your family

2. Preventing Type two diabetes:

• Many cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle
• Reducing your family’s risk starts at home.
• When a family eats healthy meals and exercises together, all family members benefit and encourage behaviors that could help prevent type 2 diabetes in the family.

3. Caring for diabetes:

• Managing diabetes requires daily treatment, regular monitoring, a healthy lifestyle and ongoing education
• Family support is the key
• Education and ongoing support should be accessible to all individuals and families to help manage diabetes
• Essential diabetes medicines and care must be accessible and affordable for every family.