World Diabetes Day tomorrow; Bangladesh has 1.39 crore patients
The World Diabetes Day will be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh, as elsewhere across the globe, with a view to raising public awareness about the disease.
The theme of this year's observance is "Diabetes: Act Now." The day is observed annually in around 170 countries, including Bangladesh.
The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh has taken various programmes marking the World Diabetes Day.
The main objective of the observance is to raise public awareness about diabetes through different programmes.
Other affiliated organizations of the association and its affiliated associations in different districts have also chalked out various programmes to mark the day.
To raise public awareness about diabetes, initiatives have been taken to publish special supplements in daily newspapers, special editions of 'Kanti' and 'Diabetes Newsletter', as well as awareness posters, leaflets and stickers.
In 1991, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) declared November 14 as the World Diabetes Day.
At the request of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, the government of Bangladesh proposed to the United Nations that November 14 be observed as World Diabetes Day. The proposal was unanimously adopted by the UN on December 20, 2006.
The day has been observed worldwide since 2007.
Bangladesh is among the countries with the highest number of people living with diabetes in the world. According to the latest 2025 data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the number of adults with diabetes in Bangladesh stood at around 1.39 crore in 2024.
Bangladesh ranks eighth globally in terms of the number of people with diabetes. The IDF has projected that the number could reach 2.31 crore by 2050.
President of the Bangladesh Endocrine Society and Head of the Department of Endocrinology at BIRDEM, Dr Faria Afsana, said people with prediabetes and those at high risk of developing the disease need to make lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes.
She said reducing body weight by five to seven percent, engaging in brisk walking or exercise for at least 150 minutes a week and limiting the intake of rice, refined flour and sugary drinks are essential measures.
Dr Faria said everyone aged 35 or above should undergo diabetes screening. People below that age who are overweight or have a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or a history of gestational diabetes should also undergo early screening, she added.
