Today, Nov. 14, 2007, is World Diabetes Day, the first United Nations-observed day designated to draw attention to the fact that a whopping 246 million people around the globe are suffering from this debilitating disease, and if nothing is done, that figure will reach 380 million within 20 years.
Two hundred landmarks around the world, including The Empire State Building, will light up their buildings in blue to serve "as beacons of hope for the 246 million people living with diabetes worldwide," explains Professor Martin Silink, President of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the organization that leads the World Diabetes Day campaign.
"The illumination of so many landmarks is a prominent statement to governments everywhere: the global diabetes epidemic can no longer be ignored."
"The World Diabetes Day Resolution urges governments to implement national policies for the prevention, care and treatment of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their healthcare systems," according to the event’s website.
"This is the first time that a non-communicable disease has been recognized as posing as serious a global health threat as infectious epidemics like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS."
As I’ve noted here often and in my book, SUGAR SHOCK!, you may be able to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes better if you cut back on your consumption of sugary foods and refined carbs.
So on this World Diabetes Day, I urge you to begin to begin to curtail those culprit carbs that you’re ingesting. Rather than abusing sweets, why not just eat them judiciously, in very polite portions? (That is to say, think now about NOT pigging out on the upcoming Sugar Shock Day, which is better known as Thanksgiving.