NOVEMBER 14 – INTERNATIONAL DIABETES DAY.
Since 1991 and in commemoration of the birth of Frederick Banting (discoverer of insulin together with Charles Best) the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have established November 14 as the Day diabetes international. Its purpose is to be able to generate awareness around the world about Diabetes through different community and scientific activities.
Every year there are themes to highlight. This year the motto is “Educate to protect the Future” with special emphasis on diabetes training and education as a key tool so that people who live with Diabetes can avoid and/or reduce future complications and have a good quality of life.
Undoubtedly, education about diabetes must also be extended to the families and friends of people with diabetes, as well as to the entire community, in order to generate a more just, inclusive, empathetic society that is aware of this pathology that It affects millions of people around the world.
Diabetes is a chronic disease, where the main problem is that blood sugar levels are elevated outside the normal range. Depending on the type of diabetes, the treatments to control this problem will be different. There are people who will need to take tablets daily, others will need to inject insulin once or many times a day or they will carry an insulin pump close to their body, a glucose sensor attached to their arms, they will prick their fingertips so that with a drop of blood can know their glucose levels, they will count carbohydrates before sitting down to eat each meal, and so on… all this, all day, every day, 365 days a year.
Oddly enough, some of these practices that are necessary for the very life of people with diabetes are often seen as strange, unusual or out of place. Knowing them is an important step to be more empathic with those who live with this condition. Condition that is part of their lives but that does not define them, so it is not appropriate to call them “diabetic” if not people with diabetes.
Educate to protect the future of those who live with diabetes and those who can prevent it.
Educate to raise awareness in society about one of the most prevalent diseases in the world.
Educate to be more empathetic, not stigmatize and make this world a kinder place with possibilities to access what each person with diabetes deserves and needs.
You can find more information on my Instagram and Facebook pages: @diabetesytecnología
Dra Laura López – Medical Endocrinologist – MP 2409 – ME1438
by CEDOC