what World Diabetes Day is?

> World

Diabetes Day

(WDD) is observed annually on

Nov 14.

> Led by the International

Diabetes

Federation (IDF) and in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes.

> About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. > Diabetes (pronounced Dye-ahbee-tees”) is a major cause of blindn ess, kidney failur re, heart attac cks, stroke and lower limb amp putation. > AAlmost half of all deaths at ttributable to t high blood glucose occur before the age of 70 ears. e The HO projects h hat diabetes will w be the sev venth lead ding cause of d eath in 203 30.

> The theme for WDD 2017 is “Women and Diabetes.” There are currently over 199 million women living with diabetes, and this total is projected to increase to 313 million by 2040.

> Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths each year.

> Various events around the world mark the day including raising awareness in the media, lectures, conferences, sporting events, and leaflet/poster campaigning. > “Going blue” is another global event to mark the day. It is when people wear blue and when landmark buildings and monuments around the world are lit up in blue, to help spread awareness of the day.