Hello World Diabetes Day 2022! November is diabetes awareness month … our day was started in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization and then reinforced by the United Nations in 2006.
This is all about raising awareness of diabetes. It’s so needed!
According to the IDF, over 500 million people live with diabetes today and it’s forecasted to be over 700 million by 2045. Even more, half of us living with the Big D don’t know we have it.
With so many promising methods of treatment it’s important to get word out about diagnosis, education and care. I’m reminded of a wellness event when I worked at AT&T. I didn’t think much of it until I saw one of my employees months later at a diabetes education event. I asked about his connection and he said he was diagnosed at that health care event … without it, he would not have known. He also remarked how much better he felt after getting help.
This day and month aren’t about the distinctions between type 1 and type 2. It is about our growing community, an awareness of a pancreas that won’t produce enough insulin, and education on the ways to work with it.
Here’s to getting the word out!
+ I’ve often wondered why World Diabetes day is November 14 … turns out it’s the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.