Today is World Diabetes Day, with the theme Protect our Future guiding events to raise awareness of the prevalence of all types of diabetes.
Blue-lighted landmark buildings around the world and Australia mark World Diabetes Day today, reflecting the power of the global diabetes movement to alter the diabetes landscape. In Australia, the following buildings are blue-lighted: Sydney Opera House (Sydney), Melbourne’s GPO (Melbourne); Queensland Performing Arts Centre (Brisbane); The Rundle Lantern (Adelaide); Launceston Town Hall and St Matthias Anglican Church in Windmere (Launceston); Perth Bell Tower, Perth Council House, Freemantle Roundhouse, Victoria Hall in Fremantle, Rottnest Lighthouse, Kalgoorlie and Boulder Town Halls, Trafalgar Bridge (Perth).
An unprecedented $3.5 million in funding for Australian diabetes research was presented at the Diabetes Australia Research Trust grants ceremony on the eve of World Diabetes Day. The largest grant of $150,000 was allocated was to a Victorian researcher, Dr Elaina Marino, who will focus on understanding the role of diet, the gut microbiota and immune cells in the development of type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes Australia CEO Prof Greg Johnson acknowledged that reducing the impact of diabetes has never been more pressing: “On World Diabetes Day we’re raising awareness of a condition that is growing in prevalence in every country and at the same time Diabetes Australia is making our largest-ever commitment to Australian diabetes research.”
World-wide, 382 million people are living with diabetes. Diabetes killed 5.1 million people around the world last year.
In Australia, 280 people develop diabetes every day, adding to the 1.7 million Australians already diagnosed and living with it every day. Hundreds of thousands of Australians have silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Over 2 million Australians have pre-diabetes and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Australia is the national body for people affected by all types of diabetes and those at risk, and is committed to reducing the impact of diabetes working in partnership with consumers, health professionals and researchers.
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