Today is World Diabetes Day. In 1991, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) worked together to establish the first official World Diabetes Day. Since then, people all over the world have used November 14th as a platform to spread awareness and education about diabetes. Diabetes is a serious medical condition that affects 422 million adults globally, a number that has doubled since 1980.
This year, the theme for World Diabetes Day is ‘Women and diabetes – our right to a healthy future’. As of 2014, approximately 1 in 10 women are living with diabetes and it is the ninth leading cause of death for women globally, resulting in 2.1 million deaths per year. In order to reverse the trajectory of diabetes, awareness campaigns like World Diabetes Day becomes critically important.
Here are some ways you can raise awareness about diabetes today and every day in your community.
Join the Conversation
Use the hashtags #WDD2017 and #Womenanddiabetes to engage with the campaign through social media. You can also visit http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/about-wdd/wdd-2017.html to learn more about how diabetes affects women all over the globe.
Make Resources Available
The IDF and the WHO have compiled resources that individuals and organizations can distribute in their communities. Visit http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/resources.html find out what resources you can use as you raise awareness about Women and Diabetes. You can also reach out to your local hospitals and health departments to find out what resources they have to help manage and prevent diabetes in your area.
Know Your Numbers
Encourage your loved ones to find out their risk for developing diabetes at www.preventdiabeteskc.com. The site also lists local Diabetes Prevention Programs that at-risk adults can join to help prevent or postpone a diabetes diagnosis. There are lots of small changes people can make to reduce their risk for developing a chronic disease. The time for prevention is now.