WORLD DIABETES DAY
WORLD DIABETES DAY is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
To mark World Diabetes Day 2022 under the theme “education to protect tomorrow,” the International Diabetes Federation has launched a global survey to explore the levels of access that healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes have to diabetes education.
WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, that acts like a key to let glucose from the food we eat pass from the blood stream into the cells in the body to produce energy. All carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose in the blood. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells.
Not being able to produce insulin or use it effectively leads to raised glucose levels in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia). Over the long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues.
There are two different types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented but it can be managed through a combination of medication, healthy food choices and exercise.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. For many people (but not all) it can be prevented by making healthy food choices and staying active.
WHEN YOU NEED HELP
Here in New Zealand, we have Diabetes New Zealand, a Charitable Trust that represents and supports people with diabetes. Every year hundreds of dedicated people work hard to raise awareness and funds for Diabetes New Zealand.
They have been around for over 50 years and have a National Office in Wellington, and branches across the country with staff and volunteers who help people live well with diabetes.
Diabetes NZ organise camps for youth and whānau, monthly e-newsletters, resources for teens and young children, diabetes equipment, publications and tools and their website has a wealth of material to support people who have diabetes and their families.