World Diabetes Day - 14 November 2009

The International Diabetes Foundation provides some salutary information about the disease. It estimates, that at present there are some 245 million diabetics, some 7 times the number at the end of the 1980's and predicts that without effort this could rise to 380 million within another 2 decades. Although seen as an illness of high impact in the developed world where it is the main cause of blindness in adults the increased risks of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke and of kidney disease are universal. Because diabetes is increasing faster in the world's developing economies than in its developed ones, it is the developing world that will bear the brunt of the future cost burden.

It has been estimated that between 5-10% of total healthcare spending goes on the complications of diabetes. Additionally loss of productive capacity, due to ill health and premature death, is a great drain on all communities.

Our focus for World Diabetes Day last year was on the impact of the disease on children. This year the worldwide theme is education and it is the first in a programme that will be developed in subsequent years. A sustained approach to helping those with chronic diseases such as diabetes is one that we support and a fundamental component in this respect must be greater understanding of the impact that the condition has not only on the individual that it affects but on the whole community.

As professionals dealing with patients with diabetes we have a direct responsibility for ensuring they and their carers are provided with the necessary information and advice when using medicines and monitoring their conditions. Additionally many of us are in daily contact with the public and can encourage them to better understand health issues that reduce the risks of diseases such as diabetes. Further we may have the opportunity to spread the message by provision of information and advice to those in the wider community who deal with political, financial and general education.

Ivan Kotzé
President

For further information contact:
Commonwealth Pharmacists Association, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE 1 7JN U.K.
Email: admin@commonwealthpharmacy.org Website: www.commonwealthpharmacy.org