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World Diabetes Day (WDD) is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in over 160 countries. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
WDD was created in 1991 by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization and became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of United Nations Resolution 61/225.
November 14 is World Diabetes Day, a health observance collaboration also led by the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation to raise awareness about diabetes as a public health threat and draw attention to actions people can take to prevent and manage the condition.
Closer to home some 12.5% of all New Mexicans were diagnosed with diabetes in 2023. Nearly a quarter of them are 65 years or older. The state’s Hispanic/Latino population makes up nearly 15% of all cases. And 8.46% of all cases fall within the age range of 18 to 64, according to the NM Department of Health.
Details by county on diabetes rates to include Otero County can be found at https://ibis.doh.nm.gov/indicator/summary/DiabPrevl.html
While the causes of diabetes can vary by type, it can lead to excess sugar in your blood, which can in turn lead to serious health problems.
The New Mexico Department of Health’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program is “working to increase awareness of diabetes, pre-diabetes and the factors that put people at risk,” said Lindsey Goodhue, director of the Diabetes and Heart Health Section of the New Mexico Department of Health. “Individuals who have a family history of diabetes, who are overweight, physically active less than three days a week, are 45 years of age and older, and have other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, are at higher risk of developing diabetes. It is important for these individuals to work with their medical provider to get screened so they can delay, prevent or manage their diabetes.”
There are some steps New Mexicans can take to reduce their chances of becoming diabetic. These include:
- Reduce your total carb intake.
- Exercise regularly.
- Drink water as your primary beverage.
- Quit smoking.
- Try to lose excess weight.
- Reduce portion sizes.
Diabetes is not just a health problem in New Mexico. Nationwide, over 38 million people have been diagnosed with it.
November is National Diabetes Month. Visit NMHealth online to learn more.
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