Breaking treatment barriers, bridging knowledge gaps: A global call on World Diabetes Day 2024
The 2024 World Diabetes Day theme, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,” highlights the urgent need for equitable access to diabetes prevention, diagnosis, and care worldwide. The initiative seeks to close health disparities and improve the quality of life for the millions living with diabetes, Kainform News Agency correspondent reports.
According to WHO, this day serves as “an opportunity to raise awareness about diabetes as a critical global public health issue and emphasize the collective and individual actions needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and management of the condition.”
Diabetes is a metabolic condition brought on by either insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or ineffective use of insulin by the body, therefore producing high blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia. Left unchecked diabetes can lead to major problems including renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and damage to blood vessels and nerves.
There are three primary forms: Type 1, where the body doesn’t produce insulin and daily injections are necessary; Type 2, which often develops from obesity and inactivity; and gestational diabetes, a temporary condition in pregnancy that may increase Type 2 diabetes risk later in life.
With an estimated 537 million affected worldwide now, this number is anticipated to climb to 783 million by 2045. WHO Member States approved five global diabetes targets in 2022: 80% of people with diabetes should be identified; likewise, the same number should have effective glycemic and blood pressure control by 2030. They seek to guarantee that everyone with Type 1 diabetes has access to reasonably priced monitoring devices and insulin.
With about 439,000 people and 5,132 children afflicted in Kazakhstan in 2023, diabetes is acknowledged as a socially relevant disease. Under its healthcare initiatives, the government offers free treatment for every diabetic patient, spanning a broad spectrum of drugs and contemporary diagnostic instruments. Insulin pump treatment helps many patients, especially children with Type 1 diabetes, control their condition and avoids major consequences.
Recognizing early symptoms such as persistent thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and skin irritations is crucial. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health encourages regular medical check-ups, healthy eating, and physical activity to manage and prevent diabetes, stressing that preventive lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of developing the condition and its complications.
