An announcement from the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently captured global attention, as they unveiled a new initiative known as the Global Diabetes Compact, at the momentous Global Diabetes Summit co-hosted by the Canadian Government. This initiative is designed to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of insulin discovery and aims to enhance the world’s defenses against diabetes.
Understanding the Global Diabetes Compact
The newly introduced Global Diabetes Compact is engineered to minimize the risk associated with diabetes. It strives to make sure that individuals diagnosed with this disease have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and quality healthcare services. The compact also presents a proactive approach to prevent type 2 diabetes, primarily attributed to obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity.
A critical feature of this program is setting ‘global coverage targets’ to expand diabetes care within a broader range. By bringing together key stakeholders from private and public sectors, including people living with diabetes, the program intends to build fresh momentum and co-create effective solutions.
A Brief on Diabetes
Diabetes, a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD), arises when the pancreas fails to produce adequate insulin or when the body cannot effectively utilize the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar or glucose levels, and its shortage leads to two types of Diabetes:
– Type 1 Diabetes: Occurs when the pancreas can’t produce enough insulin.
– Type 2 Diabetes: A more common variant where the body fails to use insulin correctly, also known as insulin resistance. Obesity and lack of exercise are primary causes of Type 2 diabetes.
The Role of Insulin
Insulin, a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas, is crucial in maintaining normal blood glucose levels by facilitating cellular glucose uptake and regulating carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. Further, it also promotes cell division and growth through its mitogenic effects. Insulin was discovered in 1921 by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Frederick Banting and medical student Charles Best from the University of Toronto. This monumental discovery won Dr. Banting the Nobel Prize in 1923, along with Professor McLeod, a Carbohydrate Metabolism expert.
Global Burden of Diabetes
Currently, about 6% of the global population, over 420 million individuals, live with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Alarmingly, it is the only major non-communicable disease where the risk of premature death is increasing instead of decreasing. Diabetes has also emerged as one of the significant comorbid conditions linked with severe Covid-19 infections. The International Diabetes Foundation’s Diabetes Atlas positioned India among the top 10 countries in terms of diabetes prevalence in 2019.
Efforts by the Government of India
India’s National Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Target is focused on curbing the rise in obesity and diabetes prevalence. The country launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 to support diagnosis and cost-effective treatment at various healthcare levels.
