In 1991, the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) created the World Diabetes Day (WDD) in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. WDD is marked every year on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1992. This year’s theme “The Nurse and Diabetes” aims to raise awareness around the crucial role nurses play in supporting people living with diabetes.
Diabetes is about the body’s ability (or lack of it) to produce the required amount of a hormone called insulin to control glucose levels in the blood. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. The former type of diabetes requires daily administration of artificial insulin by means of injection or insulin pump. The other type of diabetes is more generally managed by a combination of dietary control and medication in the form of tablets.
According to WHO, the global nursing workforce is 27.9 million. However, even with the huge number of nurses around the world, there is still a shortage of nurses in low- and middle-income countries. WHO also emphasized that the number of nurses trained and employed needs to grow by 8% every year to overcome the alarming shortfall in the profession by 2030.
This year’s theme would like to emphasize how nurses play a crucial part in diagnosing diabetes early to ensure prompt treatment, providing self-management training and psychological support for people with diabetes to help prevent complications, and tackling the risk factors for type 2 diabetes to help prevent the condition. Moreover, this year’s WDD calls for the government and healthcare providers to invest in the education of nurses and appropriating funds thereof to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to support people living with diabetes. With the right expertise, nurses can make a difference to the lives of the people affected by diabetes.
It is very important that people with diabetes maintain good control of their condition to help reduce and avoid long term complications. However, it is noteworthy that people also realize the significant contribution of nurses towards the journey of diabetic individuals to effectively manage their condition. This will not only guarantee their chance to survive, but also ensure them that they can live as normal a life as possible.
AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot
References:
1. “World Diabetes Day 2020” from https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-diabetes-day-2020/
2. “About World Diabetes Day” from https://worlddiabetesday.org/about/nurses/
