Investing in diabetes education can help WHO reach its targets

Andrew Boulton

President, International Diabetes Federation

Investing in diabetes education is growing in importance as the number of people around the world with diabetes continues to rise.

According to the latest research from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), more than half a billion people globally (537 million) are living with diabetes — a number that’s expected to exceed 640 million by 2030. To curb this rise, the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed on a set of ambitious, global diabetes targets to be achieved by 2030. These include ensuring that 80% of people living with diabetes worldwide are diagnosed and have good control of blood glucose and blood pressure.

Education can help stop the rise of diabetes and prevent its complications.

Severe global situation

To achieve these goals, diabetes education must be made a priority. Current estimates show nearly half of adults living with diabetes are undiagnosed. If the condition remains undetected or is inadequately treated, it can lead to serious complications including blindness, heart attack, kidney failure, lower-limb amputation and stroke. In fact, according to Dr Thedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, diabetes is now the only major non-communicable disease for which the risk of dying early is continuing to rise.

People living with diabetes need better access to education so they can have the confidence to manage their condition and avoid or delay life-threatening complications.

It is equally important that healthcare professionals have access to ongoing training to provide the best possible diabetes treatment, care and advice. Consultation time is limited, with the average person with diabetes spending less than three hours per year with a healthcare professional. Therefore, it is imperative that healthcare professionals can make the most of the time they have available.

Education today to protect tomorrow

Education can help stop the rise of diabetes and prevent its complications. This World Diabetes Day, IDF is campaigning for improved education and training for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

IDF is also asking members of the public and the diabetes community to send a letter to their health minister to request that sufficient human and financial resources be dedicated to diabetes education. In order to help achieve the WHO diabetes targets, we need education today to protect tomorrow.