Today, November 14, is World Diabetes Day, fittingly brought up during the month of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. The theme for this year is “Eyes on Diabetes,” a day to focus on “the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis”.
Here are some facts and figures from IDF:
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415 million adults were living with diabetes in 2015 and this number is expected to increase to around 642 million or one in ten adults by 2040.
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One in two adults with diabetes is undiagnosed.
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Up to 70% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented or delayed by adopting healthier lifestyles, equivalent to up to 160 million cases by 2040.
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Type 2 diabetes in childhood has the potential to become a global public health issue leading to serious health outcomes.
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12% of total global expenditure on health is currently spent on adults with diabetes.
Something many people may not know about diabetes is its effect on eyesight. From our Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month post:
“According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 29 million Americans age 20 or older have diabetes, but almost one-third don’t know they have the disease and are at risk for vision loss and other health problems”.
IDF says it best: “Screening for diabetes complications is an essential part of managing all types of diabetes.” It’s better to be safe than sorry!
While today is World Diabetes Day, it is also time for the greatest supermoon since 1948! Don’t forget to see the phenomenon for yourself all throughout today and tonight.
