ISA ONLINE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR WORLD DIABETES DAY 2020
Brussels, 12th November 2020: As the number of people with diabetes keeps rising across the world, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is proud to continue its support to Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day (WDD) this year. On this occasion, the ISA is excited to present its new campaign, which is also endorsed by the Brazilian diabetes association1 (ANAD), the Brazilian Federation of Diabetes’ Organisations2 (FENAD), the Brazilian Association of Diabetes Educators3 (ANBED), the Brazilian Society for Food and Nutrition4 (SBAN), and the Mexican Diabetes Federation5 (FMD).
Today, diabetes remains a serious non-communicable disease (NCD) and a major global public health challenge:6,7
- 463 million adults were living with diabetes in 2019. The number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise to 578 million by 2030;
- 1 in 2 adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed. The majority have type 2 diabetes.
- 1 in 6 births are affected by high blood glucose in pregnancy;
- 4 in 5 people with diabetes are under the age of 65;
- Depending on the global region, up to 50% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 were living with diabetes;
- Importantly, over 50% of type 2 diabetes is preventable.
With this in mind, it is more important than ever to support World Diabetes Day, celebrated on 14th November every year, to help raise awareness about the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and the lifestyle changes needed to help prevent and/ or manage diabetes. It is equally important to help raise awareness around the crucial role that nurses and other health professionals play in supporting people living with diabetes, in line with this year’s World Diabetes Day’s theme “The Nurse and Diabetes”.
What do you know about diabetes?
In an effort to continue to raise awareness about key diabetes facts including about the risks of Covid-19 in people living with diabetes at the moment, and believing that it was “time for all to know more about diabetes”, the ISA went out on the streets to ask people directly what they think and know about diabetes. Responses have been gathered into a series of 3 short video interviews which also aim to be educational as they provide more information for each question asked. Watch the compiled video with all interviews below or by clicking here.
In addition to these videos, the ISA campaign includes an interactive online quiz to allow people to test and advance their own knowledge about this non-communicable disease. For example, do you know how many main types of diabetes there are? Or if carrying too much weight increases your risk of developing diabetes? Or whether you would have to give up all sweet things if you have diabetes? Want to test your knowledge around diabetes? It’s time to take the ISA Diabetes Quiz by clicking here to find out! And don’t hesitate to share this quiz with your family, friends and colleagues so everyone can give it a try!
Type 2 diabetes is preventable!
Following a healthier diet, for example by increasing vegetable, fruit and whole grain consumption while reducing sugar, fat and salt intake, along with taking regular exercise and losing weight, if advised, are some dietary and lifestyle changes that can make a big difference and help you lower the risk of, or manage, your diabetes.
Used within this context, low/no calorie sweeteners offer people with diabetes broader food choices by providing the pleasure of sweet taste without affecting blood glucose level.8,9 Want to enjoy something sweet while keeping your blood sugar level under control? How about using low/no calorie sweeteners instead of sugar in your tea or coffee, or choosing a low-calorie yoghurt or a low/no calorie sweetened drink? These are all easy substitutions that can help you manage carbohydrates intake in your diet and control your diabetes more effectively.
Engage with the ISA campaign for World Diabetes Day 2020 on social media by using the dedicated hashtags #ISA4WDD, #WDD2020 and #DiabeTEST.
Follow @SweetenersAndU, ISA Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and subscribe to the ISA YouTube channel to find out more about this campaign and to advance your knowledge on what can be done to prevent or manage diabetes!
More information about ISA activities for World Diabetes Day is available here.
