World Diabetes Day

14 November 2008

CPA President Ivan Kotzé says:

"We know that diabetes is a common condition, affecting, at least, a staggering 171 million people. A significant increase in these numbers is anticipated over the next 25 years. It is life threatening, with over 3 million deaths per year (three quarters of all deaths in those under 35 years old), attributable to it. Yet with effective treatment and control many of the complications can be minimized so that a full and comparatively healthy life can be achieved.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. It can strike children at any age, including pre-school children and even toddlers. Yet diabetes in children is often diagnosed late, when the child has diabetic ketoacidosis, or can be misdiagnosed completely. As a consequence, many children die of diabetes, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Whilst the predominate form in childhood is type 1 (insulin dependent), growing numbers of children with preventable type 2 diabetes are being seen.

World Diabetes Day will aim to raise awareness of the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and education to reduce complications and save lives.

Additionally, the International Diabetes Federation has announced a programme of high level lobbying for action to significantly improve care in children who currently have no or very limited access to treatment.

Pharmacists are key members of the health care team in providing medication, monitoring kit and associated information to diabetics and those who support them. We are also conscious of the special care that is needed when dealing with children and adolescents. A survey in my country, South Africa, recently reported in DiabetesVoice (October 2008) highlights this. Respondents stated that following a healthy diabetes-friendly diet and maintaining stable blood glucose levels were the most difficult issues to manage. Not being allowed foods that their peers without diabetes could eat was reported as particularly difficult. The children and adolescents reported having to think constantly about what to do or what not to do in order to control their blood glucose levels. It is clear from the survey findings that concerns over striving to control blood glucose levels leads to anxiety and stress for the young people and their parents.

We anticipate that, throughout the Commonwealth, all those pharmacists dealing with young diabetics and their carers will incorporate these aspects into their practice so these patients maximize effective blood sugar control with minimal anxiety so their lives develop with as few complications as feasible in the context of their specifc communities"

Ivan Kotz
President

Download the 2008 documentation, and the 2007 report, below:

World Diabetes Day 2008 (PDF)

World Diabetes Day 2008 - Your Pharmacist Cares (PDF)

Talk to your pharmacist, Poster 1 (110Kb)

Talk to your pharmacist, Poster 2 (1.4Mb)

World Diabetes Day 2007 (PDF)