World Diabetes Day

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting human societies. In 2003, the number of people suffering from diabetes was estimated to be 194 million world over, but today it has gripped more than 425 million people in the world. It is expected that as a result of longer life expectancy, inactive life style and changed food patterns, this figure will increase dramatically by the end of 2025.

This aroused concern among world people and the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 20, 2006, calling diabetes "a very costly chronic and debilitating disease" facing families, governments and the whole world. According to the resolution, in 1991, the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), November 14 of each year coinciding with the birth anniversary of insulin discoverer Frederick Bunting was named as World Diabetes Day. The aim of naming such a day is to increase public awareness about causes, complications, prevention and treatment of this disease. On this occasion, we also have a special program.

Diabetes is a disorder caused by interruption in the production or function of insulin in the body. Insulin is a hormone or substance that is produced in the pancreas and enables the cells to absorb glucose from the blood and use it to generate energy. Doctors consider two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is insulin-dependent. In this type of diabetes, the patient produces little insulin or does not produce insulin at all. So, as a result of the lack of insulin, blood glucose control is impossible. Typically, this type of diabetes occurs before the age of 40, with most incidences around the age of 14. Diabetes type 2 is insulin-nondependent. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but not sufficiently to regulate the blood sugar. Moreover, the body cells resist against insulin. This type of diabetes usually occurs over the age of 40. Of course, sometimes it also appears in pregnant women during the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, and generally disappears after delivery. But what's common in all types of diabetes is that blood glucose levels are high and all the symptoms of both types are the same.

Diabetes may be asymptomatic in early stages. Many patients are accidentally detected in a test or during screening. As blood glucose goes up, symptoms of diabetes will become more apparent. High amount of urine, overdrinking overeating, weight loss despite much appetite, fatigue and blurred vision are the common symptoms of diabetes. Unfortunately, many patients are diagnosed with diabetes just after several years of its occurrence.

Diabetes is one of the main threats to human health in the 21^st century. Experts say that human life style and environment have altered dramatically over the past 40 years which has led to an upsurge in diabetes. There are many signs that diabetes will continue to grow over the next decade. Diabetes is one of the global health problems and the main cause of death and disability in the coming years. Vascular complications of diabetes will lead to a significant increase in heart and brain strokes, renal failure, blindness and amputation.

Statistics and figures confirm that the number of those suffering from diabetes is increasing worldwide. More than half a million children and teen-agers under the age of 14 suffer from type 1. Each year, 7 million people are added to the diabetic patients, so that by the year 2030, there will be more than 500 million diabetics in the world, 80% of which will be in countries with a moderate economic downturn. According to the released figures, every 10 seconds, one person dies of diabetes and two people also get diabetes. Annually 5 million people die as a result of this disease. Furthermore, over 318 million people suffer from impaired glucose tolerance and will often get diabetes if effective work is not done for them.

The rising spread of diabetes has turned it into one of the main challenges today. For this reason, all countries and international organs have taken important steps to prevent the spread of the disease and the UN, by highlighting its global dangers, has seems to be committed to fight diabetes. Every year, a motto is adopted for the World Diabetes Day, and the activities are mainly focused on the motto of the year. For the two years 2018 and 2019, the motto of the World Diabetes Day, Family and Diabetes, has been chosen to determine how diabetes affects not only the patient but his family.

Undoubtedly, every member in family can affect the whole family with diabetes. Therefore, it is essential that family members, while being aware of the features of the disease, to cooperate in looking after the suffering person. Today, having a happy life for diabetics does not depend only on the efforts of doctors and the curing staff, but the most important part of controlling the disease is in the hands of alert families who use every opportunity to prepare the diabetic member of the family to get along with the disease patiently. Calm, tolerant, realistic, eager and informed families who are well-informed about the manner of dealing with a diabetic, play a very important role in the health of the patient.

Diabetes has no definite cure, but there are effective ways to control and prevent its complications. By controlling diabetes, blood sugar can be kept at the normal level. Research confirms that an accurate diet, proper physical mobility and correct medicine consumption are key components of blood sugar regulation. Women and mothers play a very significant role in creating the right conditions that affect family health. Research has also revealed that women are more attentive than men toward the quality of various issues, especially in the health sector. This is especially evident among mothers who play a significant role in family health.

Another important point about a diabetic in family is that any attitude by the patient depends on the attitude of other family members and the way they behave towards the disease. Therefore, the first condition for the successful treatment of diabetes is to accept diabetes as a fact without any discomfort and anxiety. This will cause readiness and create the necessary motive to take the next steps. At the same time, the patient is helped to accept diabetes with the least stress.

Thus, family education can play an important role in controlling diabetes and reduce the complications of this disease. Everyone diabetic and his/her family are duty-bound to control this disease by increasing their knowledge about diabetes, and contributing to their health and taking steps to reduce the high expenses of the disease.

FK/RM/MG