World Diabetes Day

On 14th of November today, the entire world under the auspices of the UN joins hands together to create awareness about the killing disease of diabetes. The disease has far reaching ramification not only the life of the patient, but the entire family and the society as well. As of today, more than 250 million people are suffering at the hands of this disease. There may be many more who may not be knowing that they have silently contracted the disease. The figure is likely to soar to almost 400 million (380 million to be exact) by 2025 as each year some 7 million are added to the list of the sufferers.

As I said before, it is a killer disease, which eats up some 3.8 million patients suffering from diabetes and its related side effects. A study shows that the death rate equals that of AIDS and HIV, which we otherwise think to be the number one killer disease.

While most of the patients carry Type-2 symptoms mainly caused by obesity, stress and overwork and sedentary lifestyle, Type-1 which targets the youth is rising at an alarming rate of 3% per annum. While the AIDS has yet to find a suitable drug to harness the disease, diabetes can at best be controlled but not completely cured.

I have seen my mother in law and my brother falling prey to this disease and know how it pains to one’s near and dear ones withering away by diabetes. A stage comes when no medicine seems to be working, the kidneys slowly dying and finally leading to the painful departures.

Owing to the seriousness of the disease and it impact on people and the society, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on 20 December 2006on World Diabetes Day. The Unite for Diabetes campaign, led by the International Diabetes Federation in collaboration with the global diabetes community, has thus been able to get a UN resolution according to which 14 November has been designated as the World Diabetes Day. The day is being observed since 2007 by all members of the UN.

I also join hands with the world community to raise my voice and create awareness through this post and would appeal to everyone reading this to join the blue circle and spread the word and help people who are suffering from diabetes in any way that is possible.

PS: Originally published at Fire Within

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