Tackling diabetes: how nurses can make the difference

This year, World Diabetes Day on 14 November coincides with the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, and therefore focuses on highlighting the role of nurses in the prevention and management of diabetes.

Diabetes is recognized as an important cause of premature death and disability globally and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where its prevalence has been steadily increasing since 1990. Although the annual decline of the risk of dying from a major noncommunicable disease between the ages of 30 and 70 years is slowing globally, diabetes is showing a 5% increase in attributed premature mortality. In 2016, diabetes was the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths globally and 43% of all deaths before the age of 70 years occur due to high blood glucose. Overweight and obesity are the strongest risk factors for type 2 diabetes. In addition, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and is a leading cause of blindness, lower limb amputation and kidney failure. A study conducted in 35 countries indicated that people living with diabetes are more likely to experience catastrophic health expenditures with an estimated increase of 4% between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, regardless of their insurance status.