World Diabetes Day
The Source: hadhramut.info/www.who.inet./world diabetic day - 14/11/2010
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World Diabetes Day raises global awareness of diabetes - its escalating rates around the world and how to prevent the illness in most cases. Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, the Day
is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting
who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of
insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients
.WHO estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.
Acording to the World Health Organisation low-cost steps can be taken by all people on a daily basis to prevent diabetes or delay its onset.
Such measures include education, enjoying a healthy diet, undertaking regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco and the harmful use of alcohol.
In a statement WHO's Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Dr Ala Alwan this year's World Diabetes Day comes at a critical moment in the global fight against the disease and other chronic illnesses that are causing both untold, needless suffering and holding back the development of many of the world's poorest countries.
WHO says in 2005, an estimated 1.1 million people died from the disease, more than half being women and diabetes deaths are likely to double in the next 10 years without urgent action.In a bid to address the disease the United Nations General Assembly has called the first-ever heads of state and government summit on the prevention and control of diabetes and other NCDs, particularly cancer, heart disease and stroke, and chronic lung diseases.
"Measures grand and small can be taken to fight the global NCD crisis, which claims the lives of more than 35 million people annually, including 9 million that occur before the age of 60 years and could have been largely prevented or delayed with measures that we have at our disposal today," says WHO."It is increasingly clear that diabetes and other NCDs now account for a large enough share of premature death and poverty to make us all not just take notice, but act in a coordinated manner.
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