Sir Frederick Banting, the Canadian medical scientist co-discovered insulin with Charles Best in 1922, and World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14th to commemorate his birthday. World Diabetes Day is a chance to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue, and let people know what needs to be done collectively and individually to improve diabetes prevention, diagnosis, and management.
‘Access to Diabetes Care’ is the theme of World Diabetes Day 2022-23.
According to the CDC (2022), 37.3 million people have diabetes, 28.7 million have been diagnosed, and 8.5 million are undiagnosed. Prediabetes affects 96 million people aged 18 and up, and 26.4 million people aged 65 and up.
Diabetes medicines, technologies, support, and care have been available for years, but surprisingly few people have access to them. The International Diabetes Foundation is urging governments around the world to invest in type 2 diabetes prevention and ongoing care for those who already have the disease.
The goal of diabetes treatment and management is to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
The Blue Circle Logo
The blue circle is the universal diabetes symbol. It was created in 2007 to give diabetes a unified identity. The symbol aims to:
- Support all existing efforts to raise diabetes awareness;
- Inspire new activities; and bring diabetes to the general public’s attention;
- Brand diabetes;
- Give people a way to show their support for the diabetes fight.
Managing Diabetes
As a diabetic, it’s very important that you keep your blood sugar levels in your target range as much as possible to help prevent or delay chronic health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Keeping your sugar level under control will also help your mental and physical well-being.
Your blood sugar levels should always be within these targets:
- Before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL.
- Two hours after the start of a meal: Less than 180 mg/dL.
These targets may be different depending on your age, any additional health problems you have, and other factors. Talk to your healthcare team about which targets are best for you.
To a large extent, diabetes can be managed through lifestyle changes.
- Regular exercise can help keep your blood sugar levels on track. Walking and some form of light-impact aerobics on a regular basis will help a great deal.
- Take medicine as instructed by your doctor. If your blood sugar is often high or low, then your doctor will adjust how much medicine you take or when you take it.
- Ask your dietician for a diabetes meal plan. Stick to it as far as possible.
- Check your blood sugar regularly, as directed by your doctor. If you’re sick or if you’re concerned about high or low blood sugar, you should check more frequently.
- If you are on insulin shots, keep talking to your doctor about adjusting how much insulin you take and what types of insulin (such as short-acting) to use.
- Track your blood sugar levels to see what makes them go up or down. Also, track your food, drink, and physical activity, and co-relate the two so that you can understand your own body better.
- Never postpone or skip meals. Eat more foods lower in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and salt.
- Opt to drink water instead of juice or soda. Limit alcoholic drinks.
At MWT Global Academy, we do all we can to spread awareness about Diabetes control and offer education on the prevention of diabetes.