WiRED Observes National Diabetes Month

BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND BERNICE BORN

November is National Diabetes Month, and November 14 is World Diabetes day. This year’s theme focuses on “Women and Diabetes — Our Right to a Healthy Future.” More than 200 million women worldwide have diabetes, and many of them live in low-resource countries without access to education, diagnosis, treatment and care. In addition one in seven births is affected by gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs during pregnancy).

 

WiRED International’s Diabetes Series includes the following topics:

 

Diabetes Overview   Keeping eyes healthy
A guide for patients   Keeping feet and skin healthy
A guide for caregivers   Keeping heart and blood vessels healthy
A guide for health care providers (three parts)   Keeping kidneys healthy
Eating and diabetes (two parts)   Keeping the nervous system healthy
Gestational diabetes   Keeping teeth and gums healthy
Keeping diabetes under control   Physical activity and diabetes

 

Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. Healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay diabetes. In addition, diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.

 

A recent WHO global report on diabetes found that since 1980, the number of adults living with diabetes has almost quadrupled. This dramatic uptick is largely due to the rise in type 2 diabetes and the factors driving it, such as obesity, aging and population growth.

 

There is no cure for diabetes, but people with diabetes can lead long and healthy lives when their diabetes is detected and well-managed.