🌏 World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day 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.⁣⁣⁣

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🗓 It's marked every year on the 14th of November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting - the individual who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.⁣⁣⁣

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📚 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 (hyperglycaemia).⁣⁣⁣

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Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset diabetes) is characterized by a lack of insulin production.⁣⁣⁣

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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. ⁣⁣⁣

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Gestational diabetes is hyperglycemia that is first recognized during pregnancy.⁣⁣⁣

Symptoms of hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugars)⁣⁣⁣

🔸 Dry mouth⁣⁣⁣

🔸 Increased thirst⁣⁣⁣

🔸 Headache⁣⁣⁣

🔸 Weakness⁣⁣⁣

🔸 Blurred vision⁣⁣⁣

🔸 Increased urination⁣⁣⁣

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Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugars)⁣⁣⁣

🔹 Sweating⁣⁣⁣

🔹 Pallor⁣⁣⁣

🔹 Irritability⁣⁣⁣

🔹 Hunger⁣⁣⁣

🔹 Lack of coordination⁣⁣⁣

🔹 Sleepiness⁣⁣⁣

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🏥 Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and limb amputation. Healthy diet, exercise and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In addition diabetes can be treated or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.⁣⁣⁣

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