World Diabetes Day 2024: Diabetes Facts & Stats & a Call to Act

World Diabetes Day, led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), was established in 1991 in response to growing and widespread concern about the health and economic threat posed by diabetes across the globe.

The day itself, November 14, marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea that led to the discovery of insulin in 1922. World Diabetes Day became an official UN day in 2006.

Topics highlighted over the years have included diabetes and human rights, diabetes and lifestyle, diabetes and obesity, diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, and diabetes in children and adolescents. The 2024 theme, Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps, reflects the need to address the mounting barriers to diabetes care, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and even middle class Americans facing financial hurdles to obtain needed medications.

This short slide show was developed to focus primary care attention, if only for a few minutes, on the scope of a public health crisis that has preventable etiologies and to promote the IDF and WHO call to action.