Gourav Sabharwal
World Diabetes Day (WDD) was declared in 1991 by IDF and World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. It is marked every year on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922. WDD is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public and political spotlight. The World Diabetes Day campaign aims to be the platform to promote IDF advocacy efforts throughout the year. Global driver to promote importance of taking coordinated and concerted actions to confront diabetes as a critical global health issue. The campaign is represented by a blue circle logo that was adopted in 2007 after the passage of the UN Resolution on diabetes. The blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes awareness. It signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes epidemic. Every year, the World Diabetes Day campaign focuses on a dedicated theme that runs for one or more years. The theme for World Diabetes Day 2021-23 is ‘Access to Diabetes Care’. Millions of people with diabetes around the world do not have access to diabetes care. People with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications. We cannot wait any longer for Medicine, technologies, support and care to be made available to all people with diabetes that require them. Government should increase investment in diabetes care and prevention. The centenary of the discovery of insulin presents a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change for the more than 530 million people living with diabetes and the millions more at risk.
Globally, an estimated 422 million adults were living with diabetes in 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980. The global prevalence of diabetes has nearly doubled since 1980, rising from 4.7 per cent to 8.5 per cent in the adult population. This reflects an increase in associated risk factors such as being overweight or obese. Over the past decade, diabetes prevalence has risen faster in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation. Healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In addition diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications. In 2007 General Assembly adopted resolution 61/225 designating 14 November as World Diabetes Day. The document recognized ‘the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to promote and improve human health, and provide access to treatment and health-care education.’ 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. Diabetes is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia).
Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset diabetes) is characterized by a lack of insulin production.
Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes) is caused by the body’s ineffective use of insulin. It often results from excess body weight and physical inactivity.
Most, if not all, people who undergo regular yoga training experience improvements in their mental and physical health.
These benefits can include, better sleep, reduced anxiety and depression, enhanced feelings of well-being, relief from chronic illnesses, improved digestion, circulation, and immunity, improved posture, flexibility and strength, enhanced concentration and energy levels, enhanced function and efficiency of respiratory, neurological and endocrine organs etc.
Benefits for people with diabetes: Yoga is considered to be a promising, cost-effective option in the treatment and prevention of diabetes, with data from several studies suggesting that yoga and other mind-body therapies can reduce stress-related hyperglycemia and have a positive effect on blood glucose control. Controlling mental stress (stress management) is one of the keys of diabetes treatment. When we’re stressed, our blood sugar levels increase and elevated blood sugar levels increase the chances of serious complications such as heart disease. Using controlled breathing techniques, meditation and body postures, yoga and other mindfulness-based programmes train participants to invoke a relaxation response. This response helps regulate cortisol and other stress hormones, which increases blood pressure and blood glucose levels as both play a big role in the development of type 2 diabetes and related complications. Yoga can also treat diabetes, or in the case of type 2 diabetes, prevent the disease from developing by:
Rejuvenating pancreatic cells – Yoga postures that aid relaxation (Asanas) stretch the pancreas, which can stimulate the production of insulin-producing beta cells.
Exercising the muscles – Like other forms of exercise, yoga increases glucose uptake by muscular cells, which in turn, helps to lower blood sugar levels, improve circulation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Promoting weight loss – Exercising through yoga can reduce weight and improve weight control, both of which are essential for protecting against conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease, as well as diabetes management.
Improving your mental attitude – Regular yoga practice can help to focus the mind and create the right mental approach to dealing with diabetes.
