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What is World Diabetes Day 2024?

Every year on 14 November, the International Diabetes Foundation and global community comes together to mark World Diabetes Day (WDD)a day dedicated to raising awareness, promoting education, and inspiring action on diabetes, a long term condition that affects millions worldwide (1).

WDD marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, one of the co-discoverers of insulin, a life-saving treatment for diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. For those living with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels can be a daily challenge.

This year, the theme for WDD is “diabetes and wellbeing”, focusing on the need to support individuals living with diabetes with appropriate access to diabetes care and wellbeing support.

What is diabetes ?

There are two main types of diabetes:

  • Type 1 – This form is usually diagnosed in childhood and occurs as a result of the body’s immune system attacking insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (a gland located behind the stomach) meaning the body cannot make insulin (2). More information about type 1 diabetes, can be found on NHS website.Gene https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-1-diabetes/
  • Type 2 – This form is more common and is often linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, although our genetics can also play a role (1). With type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the produced insulin does not work properly. This causes sugar (specifically glucose) to remain in the blood where it may cause damage (3).

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

The most common signs include:

  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Lack of energy/ tiredness
  • Needing to urinate frequently
  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Blurry vision
  • Dry skin and mouth

Living with obesity, not doing much physical activity, smoking and having high blood pressure can all increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as age, ethnicity and family history (3).

What does a diabetes-friendly diet look like?

There’s no such thing as a special diabetes diet, and there’s no need to only select foods labelled as ‘diabetic’ or ‘suitable for diabetics’.

Instead, focus on a balanced, varied diet such as the well-researched Mediterranean-style diet, which can support overall health. A Mediterranean-style diet is high in fibre which can play a role in blood sugar control (4-5), weight management (4), and heart health (4,6-8). Plus, your gut bugs will also thank you – they love fibre-rich foods!

General Dietary Tips:

  • Include more fruits, vegetables, wholegrains (e.g. brown rice, oats, whole wheat bread), nuts and legumes (e.g. chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans).
  • Aim for 2 portions of oily fish per week (e.g. salmon, mackerel, sardines).
  • Limit the amount of processed and red meats, salt and saturated fats that you eat.
  • Incorporate healthy fats and proteins (e.g. olive oil, avocado, legumes, eggs, oily fish, and lean meats such as chicken and turkey).
  • Enjoy sweet treats but try to have them less often and in smaller portions.

It’s also helpful to be mindful of portion sizes to control energy intake. To learn more about food portion sizes, check out our previous Love Your Gut blog here.

If you’re inspired to include more veggies in your diet, why not check out some of our yummy Love Your Gut recipes:

 Let’s get moving more!

Being physically active (9) can help manage diabetes, and it’s something our gut bugs love too. It’s a win-win! Physical activity helps:

  • Control blood sugar levels by helping insulin work more efficiently.
  • Lower cholesterol and protect against heart-related problems.
  • Reduce and manage weight.
  • Support mental wellbeing by releasing endorphins (happy hormones!).

Top tip: Aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, as per NHS guidance (10). This can include brisk walking or cycling.

Take Home Message

World Diabetes Day is more than just a date on the calendar – it’s a reminder l to take action. Diabetes is a major health concern, but it’s one that can be managed with the right community support, care, and knowledge. More than 5.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes (an all-time high). So whether you’re supporting someone, been recently diagnosed or living with diabetes for a long time, let’s all commit to being proactive by learning more about diabetes and aim to make healthier choices.

 

More information on WDD and this year’s theme can be found here: https://worlddiabetesday.org

Additionally, further information on Diabetes can be found on the following websites:

Diabetes UK:  https://www.diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes Ireland: https://www.diabetes.ie/

 

References:

 

  1. World Health Organisation (WHO). 2024. Diabetes. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab_1
  2. International Diabetes Federation (IDF). 2024. Type 1 diabetes. Available from: https://idf.org/about-diabetes/type-1-diabetes/
  3. International Diabetes Federation (IDF). 2024. Type 2 diabetes. Available from: https://idf.org/about-diabetes/type-2-diabetes/
  4. SACN (2015) Carbohydrates and Health. London. TSO.
  5. Silva, F.M., Kramer, C.K., de Almeida, J.C., Steemburgo, T., Gross, J.L. and Azevedo, M.J.,2013. Fiber intake and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition reviews, 71(12), pp.790-801.
  6. Ho, H.V., Sievenpiper, J.L., Zurbau, A., Mejia, S.B., Jovanovski, E., Au-Yeung, F., Jenkins, A.L. and Vuksan, V., 2016. The effect of oat β-glucan on LDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol and apoB for CVD risk reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials. British Journal of Nutrition, 116(8), pp.1369-1382.
  7. Khan, K., Jovanovski, E., Ho, H.V.T., Marques, A.C.R., Zurbau, A., Mejia, S.B., Sievenpiper, J.L. and Vuksan, V., 2018. The effect of viscous soluble fiber on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 28(1), pp.3-13.
  8. Threapleton, D.E., Greenwood, D.C., Evans, C.E., Cleghorn, C.L., Nykjaer, C., Woodhead, C., Cade, J.E., Gale, C.P. and Burley, V.J., 2013. Dietary fibre intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj, 347.
  9. British Dietetic Association 2021. Diabetes – Type 2. Available at: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/diabetes-type-2.html
  10. NHS 2024. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/