Focus on Early Detection of Diabetes in South Africa on World Diabetes Day

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) presented its first global guidelines concerning the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes in adults. The goal of these recommendations is to ensure that people suffering from type 1 diabetes worldwide receive higher quality, safer, and more affordable treatment.

Particular attention was paid to countries with limited resources, regions affected by emergencies, and humanitarian crises during the development of these directives. According to WHO data, approximately 9.5 million people globally lived with type 1 diabetes in 2025, with about 500 thousand new patients identified that same year.

Although type 1 diabetes has traditionally been considered a childhood illness, an increasing number of adults are now also at risk.

The new WHO guideline advises type 1 diabetes patients to administer insulin several times a day. Insulin dosage must be adjusted according to the patient's blood sugar level. The organization notes that human insulin is an effective and good alternative, and other types of insulin may be used if necessary.

WHO emphasized that insulin is a vital treatment, pointing out that in many parts of the world, patients still lack access to quality, affordable insulin.

The new recommendations also stress the importance of regular blood glucose monitoring. Such tests can be conducted in hospitals and clinics to determine the average sugar level over recent months. Furthermore, patients can check their sugar levels independently using finger-prick test strips. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices, which are attached to the skin and constantly track blood sugar levels, are also recommended.

WHO also indicated that in areas where blood glucose testing is not possible, urine tests for glucose can be used as needed.

The key objective of the new WHO guideline is to ensure that all people with type 1 diabetes have access to affordable insulin and blood sugar self-monitoring tools by 2030. WHO warns that ignoring diabetes can lead to serious health problems such as vision loss, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and the need for limb amputation.

According to the organization's data, around 830 million people suffered from diabetes worldwide in 2022, most of whom had type 2 diabetes. It is concerning that over 40 percent of people with diabetes are unaware of their condition. This year's World Diabetes Day theme was set as 'Early Action on Diabetes.'

The Ministry of Health is holding National Diabetes Week from November 11 to 17 to raise public awareness about this disease and emphasize the significance of prevention and timely diagnosis for effective management.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is a chronic condition that arises either from insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or from the body's inability to effectively use the produced insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. Hyperglycemia, also known as high blood sugar, is a common consequence of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many body systems, especially nerves and blood vessels.

Currently, over 588 million people aged 20 to 79 live with diabetes, and this number is expected to exceed 852 million by 2050. Furthermore, about 252 million people are still unaware of their condition.

Based on the results of the eighth national survey of non-communicable disease risk factors, conducted in the Iranian year 1400 (2021–2022), a ministry of health official, Jafar Jandaghi, reported that at least 14 percent of the population over 25 years old, which amounts to 7.5 million people, suffer from diabetes.

He added that when individuals with prediabetes and impaired glucose tolerance are included, the total number reaches 20 million.

Each day of the week is dedicated to a specific theme: Wednesday, November 11, is Diabetes Prevention; Thursday, November 12, is Diabetes and Effective Treatment; Friday, November 13, is Diabetes and Physical Exercise; Saturday, November 14, is Diabetes and Early Detection (World Diabetes Day), Diabetes and Education; Sunday, November 15, is Diabetes and Healthy Eating; and Monday, November 16, is Diabetes and Media.

November 14 is World Diabetes Day. It was established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) with the support of the WHO in response to growing concerns about the health threat and economic consequences posed by diabetes. In 2006, World Diabetes Day became an official UN day.

More than 40 percent of people living with diabetes worldwide do not know they have the diagnosis. Without a diagnosis, people with diabetes may not receive the necessary help, treatment, and support to manage their condition and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.

Knowing the symptoms of diabetes helps people understand when to seek help. General signs of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urges to urinate, tiredness, and hazy vision.

Type 1 diabetes often develops rapidly, whereas type 2 diabetes usually progresses gradually and may not cause any noticeable symptoms.

The theme for World Diabetes Day 2026,