Diabetes Awareness Month

November is recognized internationally as Diabetes Awareness Month.  For the years 2024-26, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has chosen the theme: Diabetes and Well-Being.  Managing diabetes requires ongoing access to healthcare, education and self management support.  Many of the people living with diabetes in the world, including here in Canada, do not have the support and supplies they need to stay healthy.  November 14th is World Diabetes Day, a day where people around the world can advocate for the support needed to prevent and manage diabetes, so all the world's citizens can remain as healthy as possible. 

If you need access to self management support and diabetes education, please complete a self-referral form.

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is an official United Nations World Health Day, celebrated each year on November 14th.  It is commemorated with a blue circle: a symbol of posivitity, hope, life and health. Throughout Canada, monuments will be lit with blue to celebrate and honour this day. World Diabetes Day marks the birthday of Canadian Sir Frederick Banting, who along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin in 1921 at the University of Toronto. 2021 marked a 100 years since the discovery of insulin! Dr. Banting's idea that led to the discovery of insulin occurred at his home in London, Ontario. It is now a national historic site and consider the birthplace of insulin. https://bantinghousenhs.ca/ 537 million adults (1 in 10) were living with diabetes in 2021. This number is expected rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Almost 1 in 2 adults (44%) with diabetes remain undiagnosed (240 million). The majority have type 2 diabetes. More than 3 in 4 people with diabetes live in low and middle-income countries. 541 million adults are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More than 1.2 million children and adolescents (0-19 years) live with type 1 diabetes Diabetes caused 6.7 million deaths in 2021. Diabetes was responsible for at least $966 billion in health expenditure in 2021 – 9% of the global total spent on healthcare. 1 in 6 live births (21 million) are affected by high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) in pregnancy.​

Awareness of diabetes is the first step in the fight against the disease.  Help raise awareness of diabetes by sharing your story with others.

WORLD DIABETES DAY

November 14th

The “blue ring” is the international symbol for diabetes. This circle symbolizes unity, and was developed for the campaign for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes in 2006, which resulted in declaring November 14th “World Diabetes Day”. The blue border of the circle reflects the colour of the sky and the flag of the United Nations.

In support of improving diabetes care to the residents of Waterloo Wellington region, the blue ring was incorporated into our Waterloo Wellington Diabetes logo. 

For more information on World Diabetes Day, click here