Breaking barriers, bridging gaps: uniting to strengthen diabetes well-being.
14 November 2024, Cairo, Egypt – World Diabetes Day, commemorated annually on 14 November, provides an opportunity to raise awareness about diabetes as a global public health issue and emphasize the collective and individual actions needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis and management of the condition.
This year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps: uniting to strengthen diabetes well-being” highlights the daily challenges faced by millions living with diabetes. Managing the condition requires resilience, organization, and responsibility, affecting both physical and mental well-being.
Diabetes affects millions worldwide, leading to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes and limb amputations. In 2021, 537 million adults globally (1 in 10) had diabetes. The figure is projected to reach 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Over 75% of adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries. Nearly 36% of individuals with diabetes experience distress, 63% fear complications and 28% struggle to stay positive about their condition. These figures underscore the significant mental health challenges that have to be addressed in diabetes management and the need for comprehensive support.
The Eastern Mediterranean Region has the world’s highest prevalence of diabetes and includes 6 of the 10 countries with the highest rates globally. Currently, 73 million adults (1 in 6) are affected. By 2045, the number is expected to increase by 86%, reaching 136 million, the second-largest rise globally. One-third of cases are undiagnosed, highlighting gaps in detection and care, and 796 000 diabetes-related deaths were recorded in 2021. The Region also has the highest proportion (24.5%) of diabetes deaths among working-age individuals.
The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is committed to implementing comprehensive strategies to prevent diabetes whenever possible, to minimize complications and improve the quality of life when prevention is not feasible.
The Regional Office has developed a therapeutic patient education (TPE) curriculum on diabetes management. TPE is a critical component of strengthening diabetes well-being, offering a structured, person-centred approach that enables patients to manage their condition and improve their quality of life. Led by trained health care providers, TPE tailors learning to each patient’s needs, empowering them to make informed decisions, manage their treatment and cope with daily challenges.
By improving knowledge and skills, TPE promotes better treatment adherence, fewer complications and improved well-being. This approach is essential for managing long-term conditions like diabetes. It can help reduce health care costs, improve clinical outcomes and enable patients to take control of their health and lead better lives.
The Regional Office continues to implement WHO technical packages for the integration of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) into primary health care (PEN and HEARTS) in the countries and territories of the Eastern Mediterranean. It has launched a chronic kidney disease expert network to address challenges to renal dialysis during emergencies and developed implementation guidelines for the regional framework for addressing NCDs in emergencies.
Confronting the diabetes epidemic requires collaborative action. By raising awareness, promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting individuals with diabetes we can reduce the burden of this disease, minimize complications and improve the lives of millions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
