What is World Diabetes Day? In response to growing worries about the health and economic threat that diabetes poses, WDD was created. With a global reach of more than 160 nations, it is the biggest diabetes awareness campaign ever launched.
World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation with assistance from the World Health Organization. The General Assembly passed Resolution 61/225 in 2007, recognizing November 14 as World Diabetes Day.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is characterized by persistently high levels of blood sugar in the body. Frequent urination, an extreme appetite or thirst, and weight changes are just a few of its symptoms. It affects more than 37 million adults in the United States, and one in every five of them is unaware of their condition.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that impacts how your body converts food into energy. The majority of the food you consume is converted into sugar (glucose) by your body and released into your bloodstream.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a deadly disorder in which your blood glucose (sugar) level is abnormally high due to your body's inability to produce the hormone insulin. This occurs because your body assaults the cells in your pancreas that create insulin, causing you to produce none.
There are four main signs of type 1 diabetes: excessive thirst, tiredness or lack of energy, passing urine frequently, and weight loss. These 4 signs are also known as the "4 T's" of type 1 diabetes: thirst, tiredness, toileting, and thinness.
Known risk factors are:
Family History: Having a parent, brother, or sister who has type 1 diabetes.
Age: It can occur at any age, but it is more common in children, teenagers, and young adults.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a malfunction in the way the body controls and utilizes sugar as fuel. Your pancreas does not generate enough insulin, and your cells respond poorly to insulin, allowing you to consume less sugar.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can appear gradually; they include increased thirst, frequent urination, decreased appetite, unexpected weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision.
Known risk factors are:
Weight: Getting overweight or obese.
Family history: If your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes, your risk of developing it increases.
Age: risk rises with age, especially beyond the age of 45.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop in women who are not already diagnosed with it during pregnancy. It affects 2% to 10% of pregnancies in the United States each year.
This type of diabetes develops when your body is unable to produce enough insulin during pregnancy. Some women, however, exhibit insulin resistance even before they become pregnant. They have an elevated insulin requirement at the onset of pregnancy and are more prone to developing gestational diabetes.
If you suffer from gestational diabetes, your baby tends to be very large (9 pounds or more), which can complicate delivery. They have the tendency to be premature, which can lead to breathing problems and other difficulties, and they have low blood sugar levels.
The Importance of Early Detection
Early detection is critical for all types of diabetes. It has the potential to save lives, prevent serious illnesses, and lower the risk of life-altering consequences later on. Early treatment can avert severe repercussions. This can prevent long-term damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, blood vessels, and other vital organs.
How to Observe World Diabetes Day
Live healthily.
Improving your lifestyle may be a significant step toward diabetes prevention, and it is never too late to begin today. Lifestyle adjustments can help prevent or postpone the onset of disease. Most cases of type 2 diabetes can be avoided by maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and eating a balanced diet.
Consult your doctor regularly.
You can talk to your doctor about your worries about preventing diabetes. They will appreciate your efforts to prevent diabetes and might offer additional advice in light of your medical history or other factors. If you have a family history of diabetes, this is even more important.
Join or support fundraising campaigns.
Throughout the year, there is continuous fundraising for diabetes research, treatment, and education. Find a local support group and assist them in organizing this year's event for their cause. Volunteering at this type of event assists groups in gaining more prominence in order to disseminate their causes and gain more supporters.
Spread Awareness
Understanding diabetes is the first step toward controlling and avoiding it. Diabetes is a chronic disorder that has a direct impact on your health; therefore, there is a critical need to improve diabetes awareness in order to educate people about the indications, risk factors, and treatment options.
Raising awareness can also assist persons with diabetes in knowing best practices for daily management and debunking myths or misconceptions regarding the various types of diabetes.
Key Takeaway
Let's all keep in mind the reason why World Diabetes Day is celebrated each year. Early detection is important for you to be able to prevent the more serious effects of this illness on your health and overall well-being.
The key is education, adherence to a strict healthy lifestyle, and eating a nutritious and balanced diet. Always make it a point to visit your doctor on a regular basis, and most importantly, take part in physical activities that will help you maintain a healthy weight.
You don’t have to go to your favorite gym to get your body moving, especially if you are a busy person and don't have much time to do other stuff. You can always squeeze in a few quick exercises using your home gym equipment that you can always rely on. Spread that awareness and stay healthy!
