World Diabetes Day will be observed this Monday, November 14. The reason for this particular date is because it coincides with the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with John James Rickard Macleod and Charles Best, conceived the idea that would eventually lead to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
For this year’s World Diabetes Day, which will be the 14th anniversary, the theme is “Eyes on Diabetes” and will focus on screening for type 2 diabetes and dealing with the complications that are suffered by millions worldwide who have diabetes.
The most recent numbers estimate around 415 million adults living with diabetes around the world last year –a number that is predicted to reach 642 million by 2040.
The International Diabetes Foundation has put together a helpful infographic:
The IDF Diabetes Atlas, Seventh Edition 2015 provides the latest figures,
information and projections on the current and future magnitude of the diabetes epidemic.
- Approximately 415 million adults have diabetes; by 2040 this will rise to 642 million
- The proportion of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in most countries
- 75% of adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries
- The greatest number of people with diabetes are between 40 and 59 years of age
- 1 in 2 (46%) people with diabetes are undiagnosed
- Diabetes caused 5 million deaths in 2015; every six seconds a person dies from diabetes
- Diabetes caused at least USD 673 billion dollars in health expenditure in 2015 –12% of total spending on adults
- More than 542,000 children live with type 1 diabetes in 2015
- More than 20.9 million live births were affected by diabetes during pregnancy in 2015 – 1 in 7 births