World Diabetes Day 2016

ISA lays “eyes on diabetes” ISA supports this year’s World Diabetes Day with an integrated online activity programme themed “It’s easy to start with one simple step”

For a fifth consecutive year, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) proudly supports the effort of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to raise awareness on diabetes prevention and management, with an online dedicated campaign for World Diabetes Day 2016. For this year’s activities, the ISA is very pleased to have had the valuable scientific support of the European Specialist Dietetic Network for Diabetes of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD).

The theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated annually on 14 November, is ‘Eyes on diabetes’ and the aim is to urge individuals who may be at risk of type 2 diabetes to #test2prevent, especially as it is estimated that one in two adults currently living with diabetes is undiagnosed1.

world diabete day 2016

It’s easy to start with one simple step
ISA activity programme for WDD 2016

According to IDF, the management of diabetes and its complications begins in primary health care, and up to 70% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented or delayed by adopting healthier lifestyles2. On this basis, this year the ISA developed an integrated online programme that will be released on World Diabetes Day with the aim to communicate on the importance of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle3 and the value that starting with simple steps can bring towards living a healthier life to prevent, or manage, type 2 diabetes and its serious complications. In developing the materials for this year’s online campaign, the ISA had the valuable scientific support of the European Specialist Dietetic Network for Diabetes of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD).

The core of this online campaign consists of an insightful animated video and a dynamic infographic, which under the umbrella theme “It’s easy to start with one simple step!” explain the importance of getting small, everyday choices right in order to help people live a healthier life with diabetes without complications.

Five steps towards a healthier life with diabetes

Watch the ISA animated video in support of World Diabetes Day and find out why “It’s easy to start with one simple step”.

  • This animated video is also available with subtitles in the following languages:

The 5-step infographic takes us through simple steps towards a healthier life with diabetes

Download the infographic (please see below for more languages) to follow the story of how taking 5 simple steps can help in better glycemic control and a healthier life with diabetes. This 5-step infographic provides science-based information on dietary and lifestyle recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes, and has been developed with the scientific support of the European Specialist Dietetic Network for Diabetes of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD). More specifically, these 5 steps include:

  1. Healthier eating habits
  2. Being more active
  3. Monitoring carbs and reducing sugars’ intake
  4. Better weight management
  5. Blood glucose monitoring

You may download the infographic in different languages below:

Do not miss the video interviews with renowned experts in nutrition and diabetes

In the context of the ISA campaign on World Diabetes Day 2016, the ISA had the great honour and pleasure to interview three renowned experts in nutrition, Prof Anne Raben, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Dr Caomhan Logue, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK; and Dr Aimilia Papakonstantinou, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece.

In the video interviews, the experts are talking about the role of dietary and lifestyle interventions in diabetes prevention and management, and they translate the science on the role of these lifestyle changes in diabetes into simple messages that can help people achieve good glycaemic control. In these videos, the three experts also discuss the role low calorie sweeteners can play in the diet of people with diabetes as a safe option to enjoy sweet taste without calories and most importantly without affecting blood glucose and insulin4,5.

The ISA campaign for #WDD goes social!

Stay tuned on ISA social media profiles to find out what these key 5 steps are that can help people with diabetes manage more effectively their glucose levels and live healthier with diabetes. So don’t forget to follow @SweetenersAndU, our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and to subscribe to the ISA YouTube channel!

To read ISA press release in support of World Diabetes Day, please click here.

  1. World Diabetes Day 2016 ‘Eyes on diabetes’. Available online: http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/
  2. IDF Diabetes Atlas 7th edition, 2015. Available online: http://www.diabetesatlas.org
  3. Evert AB, et al. Position statement of the American Diabetes Association: Nutrition therapy recommendations for the management of adults with diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2013; 36: 3821-3842
  4. EFSA NDA (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies). Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to intense sweeteners. EFSA 2011 Journal 9: 2229. Available online: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2229
  5. Gardner C, et al. Nonnutritive sweeteners: current use and health perspectives: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. (2012) Aug;35(8):1798-808