World Diabetes Day 2022
Today is November 14th, the World Diabetes Day 2022. Today, nearly 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year.
Diabetes affects 537 million adults (20-79 years old), or one in every ten. According to the World Health Organization, this number is expected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. (WHO). Every year on November 14th, World Diabetes Day commemorates the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered the insulin hormone with Charles Herbert Best in 1922.
Diabetes patients require ongoing support and care to manage their condition and avoid complications. Millions of people around the world do not have access to diabetes care.
According to the WHO, the following are some important diabetes facts:
- Between 2000 and 2019, diabetes mortality rates by age increased by 3%.
- Diabetes prevalence increased from 180 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.
- Diabetes-related heart and kidney diseases killed an estimated 2 million people in 2019.
- Diabetes can be treated with medication, diet, physical activity, and regular screening.
- Theme
The theme for World Diabetes Day in 2021–2023 has been retained as “Access to Diabetes Care.” Every year, World Diabetes Day focuses on a theme that lasts for one or more years.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, made the following statement on the occasion of Diabetes Day:
“Diabetes can affect everyone, irrespective of background, age, and gender. Today, one in ten adults, or more than 32 million people, have diabetes in the EU. This is twice as many as a decade ago.”
32 million Europeans are now living with diabetes.