November 14, 2024 - World Diabetes Day

As of January 1, 2024, 379,510 patients with diabetes mellitus were under medical supervision in the Republic of Belarus, including 19,252 with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 356,396 with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The annual increase in the number of patients with diabetes mellitus in our country is 5-8%.

Over the past 20 years, the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus has tripled. It is assumed that every second patient remains undiagnosed.

As of January 1, 2024, 50,932 patients with diabetes mellitus were under medical supervision in the Vitebsk region, including 2,031 with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 48,265 with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In 2023, diabetes mellitus was diagnosed for the first time in 4,696 patients (including 84 with type 1 diabetes mellitus, of whom 46 were children; and 4,519 with type 2 diabetes mellitus).

World Diabetes Day in 2024: History and Traditions

World Diabetes Day 2024 in the Republic of Belarus and worldwide aims to raise public awareness about diabetes mellitus, its consequences, and treatment options.

World Diabetes Day 2024 falls on November 14. It plays an important role in society's understanding of the seriousness of this disease, the need for its timely detection, treatment, and prevention.

History

Diabetes mellitus is among the top three diseases that most frequently lead to death. Previously, there was no treatment for such a diagnosis. To prolong their lives, patients would starve themselves, but they could not count on a long and normal life. In 1922, a discovery occurred that gave hope to millions of people.

Canadian scientist Frederick Banting saved a 14-year-old teenager suffering from a severe form of the disease. He treated him with a course of insulin injections, after which the boy felt much better. Thanks to this, he was able to live a relatively healthy life. This discovery led to the creation of a new medicinal drug that saved many lives in the future. In 1979, scientists were able to synthesize human insulin using genetic engineering.

On November 14, 1991, Diabetes Day was proclaimed to commemorate the fundamental work done to bridge the gaps in public understanding of this disease. This date was chosen in honor and memory of the great scientist Frederick Banting, who was born on this day in 1891.

Traditions

On World Diabetes Day, a specific theme is always chosen, to which a whole set of events is dedicated, including conferences for patients and healthcare professionals, questionnaires and screening for diabetes and its complications, and various activities (sports relays, processions, marathons) not only for people with diabetes and medical professionals, but also for all citizens and public figures, with the aim of uniting them around the problem of diabetes and raising awareness of this disease.

World Diabetes Day is observed in 160 countries worldwide.

In 2024, the theme of World Diabetes Day is "Diabetes and Well-being," with the motto: "By uniting our efforts and capabilities, we can create a world where quality of life is not dictated by diabetes." Diabetes care is often perceived by the public as solely focused on blood glucose control and correction, while millions of people with diabetes face the daily challenge of managing their condition (at home, at work, at school), which requires physical, mental, and emotional effort. These challenges often fall outside the scope of diabetes treatment, yet they are a crucial component of their well-being. Therefore, this year's World Diabetes Day aims to initiate a shift in this approach to diabetes to improve the quality of life for people living with this disease.

About Diabetes and its Treatment

Our body produces a hormone called insulin, which is responsible for maintaining normal blood glucose levels and providing cells with energy, thereby ensuring the stable functioning of the entire organism. If insufficient insulin is produced, blood glucose levels rise sharply, disrupting the process of carbohydrate breakdown and their conversion into energy, leading to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 1). Cells begin to lack "food" and attempt to obtain it from healthy organs, causing irreparable damage to health. Without treatment or inadequate disease management, serious complications may subsequently develop: impaired kidney function, gangrene, damage to the retina, and cardiovascular system disorders. The body gradually deteriorates. However, in the modern world, this diagnosis is not a death sentence. For the treatment of the disease, insulin produced through genetic engineering or insulin analogs that closely mimic the action of the body's own insulin are used.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin-dependent) accounts for over 95% of all diabetes cases. It most often develops in people over 40 years of age who are overweight and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Insulin secretion is preserved for a long time in type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance (decreased insulin sensitivity) is typical. Treatment for type 2 diabetes is sufficient with a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, adherence to a specific diet, and glucose-lowering therapy.

At the end of the 20th century, processes began to emerge globally that had not been observed throughout the history of medicine – type 2 diabetes mellitus started being diagnosed in children. This means that diabetes is not only growing but also rapidly becoming younger.

The problem of diabetes is acquiring national proportions because the actual number of patients with diabetes is 2-3 times higher, as very few are aware of the dangers of this disease. As for healthy people, they are only superficially familiar with this dangerous illness. Due to the specifics of this pathology, people may not even suspect they have the disease and therefore do not get tested in a timely manner. According to studies conducted in various countries, upon their first visit to a doctor, patients with type 2 diabetes already exhibit signs of chronic pathology: vision impairment due to diabetic retinopathy; decreased kidney function due to diabetic nephropathy; damage to the blood vessels of the heart, brain, and peripheral blood vessels of the lower extremities. Therefore, public awareness of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors is crucial for preventing diabetes complications and detecting it at an early stage.

To keep the disease under control and live a full life, it is necessary to:

avoid excess weight;

engage in physical activity;

give up smoking and excessive alcohol consumption;

regularly monitor blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol;

undergo regular medical examinations at the local clinic;

avoid stress;

take medications strictly as prescribed by a doctor;

adhere to a therapeutic diet.

Health is an invaluable happiness in the life of an individual and society as a whole. It is inherent in each of us to be strong and healthy, to maintain mobility and energy for as long as possible, and to achieve longevity.

Human health is the most important value in life. It cannot be bought for any amount of money; it must be preserved, protected, and improved from a young age, from the very first days of a person's life.

Chief Physician of the Healthcare Institution "Vitebsk Regional Clinical Specialized Center for Medical Rehabilitation and Balneotherapy", Chief Freelance Specialist in Endocrinology of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Healthcare Department

L.M. Pedchenets