November 14: World Diabetes Day Today  
'Pakistan Times' National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Leading Diabetes Organizations will join forces to fight the disease as World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 across the globe.

Diabetes currently affects 246 million people globally, including children For all of them and the many millions more at risk, November 14, 2007 is a highly significant date as it marks the first United Nations-observed World Diabetes Day.

World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world. It was introduced by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in response to concern over increasing numbers of people with diabetes around the world.

The date marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. With the passage of the United Nations’ World Diabetes Day Resolution in December 2006, November 14 has now become a United Nations-observed day.

This first U.N.-observed day is a result of the landmark resolution recognizing that diabetes presents as great a threat to global health as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The IDF is an organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160 countries. Its mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide.

IDF is a non-governmental organization in official relations with the World Health Organization and is associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations.

People are being encouraged to dress in blue (the official colour of World Diabetes Day). All over the world, more than 85 iconic buildings will be illuminated blue on the day, including the London Eye, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building.

All over the world, more than 85 iconic buildings will be illuminated blue on the day, including the London Eye, the world’s biggest Ferris wheel, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Empire State Building in New York.

The theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day campaign is Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. It can strike children at any age, including pre-school children and even toddlers. Yet diabetes in children is often diagnosed late, when the child has diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), or it is misdiagnosed completely.

The International Diabetes Federation and WHO chose this theme to draw attention to the fact that diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. About 70 000 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every year, according to International Diabetes Federation estimates.

In many parts of the world, insulin, the main life-saving medication that children with diabetes need to survive, is not available (or is available but remains inaccessible for reasons of economy, geography or constraints on supply). As a consequence, many children die of diabetes, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Those closest to the child - family, school staff, family doctor - may not be aware of the ominous signs.

The World Diabetes Day 2007 and 2008 campaigns set out to challenge this and firmly establish the message that no child should die of diabetes’.

It is estimated that 70,000 children under 15 develop type 1 diabetes each year (almost 200 children a day). Of the estimated 440,000 cases of type 1 diabetes in children worldwide, more than a quarter live in South-East Asia, and more than a fifth in Europe.

Diabetes has a unique impact on children and their families. The daily life of children is disrupted by the need to monitor blood glucose levels, take medication, and balance the effect of activity and food. Diabetes can interfere with the normal developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence, which include succeeding in school and transitioning to adulthood.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. Early diagnosis and early education are crucial to reducing complications and saving lives.

The healthcare community, educators, parents and guardians have been urged to join forces to help children living with diabetes, prevent the condition in those at risk, and avoid unnecessary death and disability.

Like Pakistan, in UK the day will be marked by a number of charity events designed to raise both awareness and funds.●