Celebrated on 14 November, World Diabetes Day helps raise awareness of a disease that affects over 422 million people worldwide. This year’s theme is ‘Access to diabetes care’, as so many people who live with diabetes either don’t know they have it or haven’t got access to the essential care they need to treat this disease.

• Diabetes is a chronic disease that happens when the body cannot use the insulin it produces (type 2), or when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (type 1). 
• Insulin controls our blood sugar, and in diabetes the long-term effect of poorly-controlled blood sugar is nerve damage, blindness, kidney disease, and strokes.
• A healthy diet and physical activity can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
• The World Health Organization launched the Global Diabetes Compact in 2021 to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and make sure that everyone diagnosed with diabetes has access to treatment and care.

We’ve collected a range of fascinating articles about diabetes and diabetes treatments to celebrate the theme of ‘Access to diabetes care’ this year.

Back to work: A solution to the shortfall in diabetes care in the USA

There is a distinct lack of endocrinologists in the US, meaning that access to vital healthcare and treatments is difficult for patients who live in rural communities. One retired endocrinologist suggests adopting telemedicine to help plug the gap and provide more care for more patients.

Diabetes and early life IGF1 gene methylation

Genetics, nutrition, and physical activity all influence your likelihood of developing diabetes in later life, but it seems as though risk factors may even start in utero. Understanding the link between the insulin-like growth factor and blood glucose regulation in adults may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Midday naps: Effects in type 2 diabetics with reduced night-time sleep

Sleep is important for so many aspects of our health, including lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Novel findings indicate that midday naps could help improve  blood sugar control, which is vital for a healthy outcome.

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors prevent heart failure in diabetes by promoting ketone bodies as fuel

Recently developed medications for type 2 diabetes help treat insulin resistance by reducing blood sugar levels, but have the surprising side effect that they also prevent heart failure. This may be due to the way that this medication affects fuel regulation by the heart muscle.