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World Diabetes Day 2023
World Diabetes Day 2023 is upon us, and it’s time to have a serious discussion about this very common but oftentimes unchecked disease and what it might mean for you and your family.
We’re proud to support and want to use today to raise awareness of organizations like JDRF that fund research for diseases like Type 1 diabetes (T1D). JDRF aims to create a world without T1D. They heavily focus on raising funds to cultivate community support, scientific research and both industry and academic partnerships. Every dollar put towards JDRF donations is allocated towards research and advancing the community’s T1D awareness.
According to statistics developed by the World Health Organization, there are over 422 million people living with diabetes, with a shocking number among them having absolutely no idea that they are carrying the disease. That’s why World Diabetes Day is committed to raising the battle standards and awareness against this harmful disease.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes can come in many forms and under many guises, so let’s start with just the basics. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when low insulin levels cannot effectively turn blood sugar or glucose into a usable source of energy for your body’s many cells. As a result, there is a buildup of blood sugar, which can lead to some nasty health complications.
There are several different ways to contract a type of diabetes, ranging in genetics, environmental factors, immune system complications, physical inactivity and obesity.
There are varying cases of diabetes to watch out for:
Type 1– This is the result of the immune system, your body’s way of battling infection, attacking cells that produce insulin. This leaves your body no way to transform sugar into energy, creating high blood sugar. Type 1 diabetics require insulin injections to live.
Type 2– This is the most common form and is caused simply by genetics or can also be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity. Extra body fat can sometimes trigger your body to use insulin ineffectively, causing a buildup of blood sugar levels.
Gestational Diabetes– High glucose levels during pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually disappears after the baby is born, it can increase the likelihood of type 2 diabetes later down the road.
Prediabetes– This is exactly what it sounds like. Prediabetes is the presence of abnormally high amounts of glucose in the blood, and if not watched carefully, can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Enter, World Diabetes Day!
World Diabetes Day is an excellent way to get involved in the fight against diabetes, with this year focusing on the importance of knowing your risk of type 2 diabetes to help delay or prevent the condition and highlighting the impact of diabetes-related complications and the importance of having access to the right information and care to ensure timely treatment and management. The symptoms of diabetes can be frightening and stressful for everyone involved. That’s why it falls upon each of us, whether we are a parent, spouse, brother, sister, son or daughter, to learn the early warning signs of diabetes (such as nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, extreme thirst, frequent urination and rapid weight loss) and to take action. Encourage healthy habits like water over soda, healthy lean meats over processed, and support research for new therapies and product innovations, like what we are seeing today from research leaders such as JDRF.
On November 14, join us and millions around the globe to fight diabetes and, in doing so, safeguard our loved ones.
