ISA supports World Diabetes Day 2024
Brussels, 14 November 2024
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is proud to renew its support to World Diabetes Day (WDD). Organised every year on 14 November by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), WDD raises awareness on the collaborative endeavours to improve the lives of people living with diabetes and prevent diabetes among vulnerable communities.
A 2024 awareness campaign focused on wellbeing
Nearly 537 million people – or, 1 adult in 10 globally – live with diabetes, and 500 million others are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (IDF Diabetes Atlas). However, type 2 diabetes and its complications can be prevented or delayed by taking and maintaining healthy habits, namely a balanced diet and exercise.
WDD sheds light on the daily challenges affecting the millions of people living with diabetes who need to manage their condition at home, at work and at school. These people have to be resilient, organised and responsible, which in turn further impacts their physical and mental health.
This year ISA is thrilled to be supporting WDD with the creation of a video on wellbeing and the role of nutrition for a better diabetes life in collaboration with dietitians and nutritionists from the European Specialists Dietitians Network (ESDN) for Diabetes of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD). Four experts, namely Dr Maria Vasiloglou (PhD, Specialist in Nutrition and Digital Health at Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Switzerland, & ESDN Diabetes Committee Lead), Martina Karbanová (Methodology Lead in Vitadio, Czech Republic, Ph.D. Candidate in Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague), Dr Joanna Ostrowska (PhD, Assistant Professor at the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland) and Vicky Pyrogianni (MSc, Dietitian–Nutritionist, ISA Nutrition Science Director), will provide their insights on the importance of wellbeing and nutritional recommendations for the prevention and management of diabetes.
The helpful role of low/no calorie sweeteners for people living with diabetes
People with diabetes need to manage their intake of carbohydrates and sugars in order to effectively control blood sugar levels. This is essential as adverse health outcomes from diabetes are mainly the result of the long-term side effects of high levels of glucose in the bloodstream.
Decades of research, including meta-analyses of randomised control trials (RCTs – the highest quality evaluations of cause and effect) have confirmed that, contrary to sugar, low/no calorie sweeteners (LNCS) have no impact on glycaemic control for consumers (with or without diabetes), providing a reliable option for those needing to manage their condition (Greyling et al, 2020, DNSG-EASD, 2023).
The advantages of LNCS aren’t limited to their health effects. The psychological aspect of diet is equally important. People with diabetes often feel deprived of sweet taste, which can affect their quality of life and their willingness to change their diet. LNCS allow them to enjoy sweet-tasting foods and drinks without the risks associated with high sugar, consumption improving diet satisfaction and adherence to an overall healthy dietary pattern.
Since LNCS have no effect on raising blood glucose levels or increased insulin needs and do not add calories, LNCS can support lower energy intake and in turn help with weight loss over time (Rogers and Appleton, 2021).
An online awareness campaign for World Diabetes Day 2024
The ISA’s mission is to inform and educate on the most up-to-date nutritional and scientific information in relation to the role and benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners, including in diabetes. We encourage healthcare professionals, nutritionists and the scientific community to engage with the ISA to better understand how the consumption of low/no calorie sweeteners can help in the management of diabetes.
Join the conversation around World Diabetes Day 2024 on social media using the following hashtags: #DiabetesLife, #ISA4WDD or #WorldDiabetesDay.
More information can be found here:
- Factsheet on the role of low/no calorie sweeteners in the management of diabetes
- The chapter of our booklet on low/no calorie sweeteners, diabetes and cardiometabolic health
- Interview with Vicky Pyrogianni, Nutritionist, MSc, Nutrition Science Director at the ISA
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Media enquiries: media@sweeteners.org.org
