UN chief’s message for World Diabetes Day

(November 13, 2010) As World Diabetes Day is being observed on Nov. 14, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is urging efforts to ensure needed treatment and care for victims. World Diabetes Day this year has as its theme, 'Let's take control of diabetes now.' In a message for the occasion, Ban said it is unacceptable that people with diabetes die because they lack information, treatment or access to lifesaving drugs like insulin. He said “it is crucial to educate people at risk or those who are suffering from the disease so they can avoid complicating factors such as smoking, and understand how to manage their condition. This will prevent long-term complications which take a heavy toll in human suffering and financial cost. “Early diagnosis and effective treatment are critical,’ he added. Figures by the World Health Organization (WHO) say diabetes deaths could double between 2005 and 2030. The poorest countries are hardest-hit, with 80 per cent of cases occurring in low- and middle-income States. More than 220 million people are now affected, and no country is immune, Ban noted. He encouraged a healthy diet and lifestyle which he said can have a positive impact on the environment by decreasing consumption of highly processed foods and increasing walking, cycling and other forms of transportation that are beneficial to both our bodies and our planet.