Health

World Diabetes Day Recognizes the Need for Diabetes Education

by Amy Judd | November 14, 2009 at 01:23 pm

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World Diabetes Day is November 14th and this year the day is all about bringing awareness about the need for diabetes education to prevent Type 2 Diabetes. The official theme for the day is Diabetes Education and Prevention.

"It is critical that the general public understand the devastating physical, emotional and financial toll diabetes wreaks every hour, every day, every year on tens of millions of American children, adults and their families," said R. Paul Robertson, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association.

Some landmarks are lit up in blue around the world to raise awareness for the day and events are taking place in coutries ranging from Saudi Arabia to Argentina.

The United Nations Resolution on Diabetes uses this day to focus attention about what they consider to be the Diabetes epidemic and the rise of Type 2 Diabetes. The UN wants governments around the world to promote good diets, more physical activity and a change in lifestyle to prevent the onset of this disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a few key ways that communities can help prevent getting Type 2 Diabetes is to limit less healthy food choices in public places, increase the number of grocery stores in poorer neighborhoods, make it easier to purchase from your local farm, limit advertising of less healthy foods and encourage smaller portion sizes.

If you want to make some changes yourself, you can start by exercising, eating right, losing weight if you have to, keeping in regular contact with your doctor and getting your eyes checked.