World Diabetes Day background

World Diabetes Day (WDD) was first introduced in 1991 to address the escalating worldwide prevalence of diabetes. Since then, it has grown in popularity and now brings together hundreds of thousands of people in over 160 countries, including employees, opinion leaders, healthcare professionals, the general public and people with diabetes.

WDD is celebrated every year on 14 November. The date was chosen as it is the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. Every year on WDD the World Diabetes Foundation, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, organises the Global Diabetes Walk, which is a fantastic opportunity to raise diabetes awareness and put focus on an active lifestyle.

Since the adoption of the United Nations (UN) Resolution on diabetes in December 2006, World Diabetes Day has become a UN-observed day. This means that “the UN invites all Member States, relevant organisations of the UN system and other international organisations, as well as civil society including NGOs and the private sector, to observe WDD in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness on diabetes and related complications as well as on its prevention and care, including through education and the mass media”.