In 2007 the General Assembly adopted resolution 61/225 designating November 14 as World Diabetes Day. The resolution also encouraged member states to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their health care systems.
World Diabetes Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue and what needs to be done, collectively and individually, to better prevent, diagnose and manage the condition.
At the start and on 14 November, WHO will highlight not only the challenges, but more importantly, the solutions to increasing access to diabetes medicines and care.
WHO's World Diabetes Day activities will cover issues ranging from advocating for the priorities of people living with diabetes to advocating for the Global Diabetes Compact, which promotes efforts globally to reduce the risk of diabetes and provide access in treatment and care.
Some of the most common symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, dry mouth, blurred vision, dehydration, numbness of the limbs, excessive fatigue, increased appetite and drastic weight loss. These symptoms can also cause more serious health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, eye problems and dental problems.
There are three main forms in which diabetes occurs: type 1 diabetes occurs in 10-15% of cases in children and young people. In type 1 there is an absolute lack of the hormone insulin. Sufferers are insulin dependent, so they must be injected with insulin every day to survive.
Gestational or gestational diabetes occurs in 2-5% of cases in pregnant women. This type of diabetes mellitus has chances of disappearing after birth or even progressing further. Approximately 5-10% of women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy later develop type 2 diabetes.
Other types of diabetes, which are less common, are monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis diabetes. Monogenic diabetes is a disease that is genetically inherited in generations.
Over the past decade, the prevalence of diabetes has increased more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
For this day, the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo organizes a round table for World Diabetes Day, in one of the hotels in Peja, starting at 11:00. And, an hour later, a tent is set up in the town square of Peja, where citizens can measure their glucose level, give advice and distribute health educational material. Yes, preschool and school children parade in the square.