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United Hospital Center Celebrates World Diabetes Day

By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on November 14, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com

World Diabetes Day (WDD), Tuesday, November 14, was created in 1991 by IDF and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. This year’s theme is Women and Diabetes.
 
“Women and girls are important in the adoption of healthy lifestyles to improve the health and well-being of future generations,” said Patti Cook, RN, BSN, diabetes education coordinator at United Hospital Center.  “Women are typically the gatekeepers of household nutrition and lifestyle habits; therefore, women have the potential to drive prevention.”
 
The World Diabetes Day 2017 campaign will promote the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk for or living with diabetes to the essential diabetes medicines and technologies, self-management education and information they require to achieve optimal diabetes outcomes and strengthen their capacity to prevent type 2 diabetes.
 
There are currently more than 199 million women living with diabetes and this total is projected to increase to 313 million by 2040. Gender roles and power dynamics influence vulnerability to diabetes, affect access to health services and health seeking behavior for women, and amplify the impact of diabetes on women.
 
Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths each year. As a result of socioeconomic conditions, girls and women with diabetes experience barriers in accessing cost-effective diabetes prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care, particularly in developing countries. Socioeconomic inequalities expose women to the main risk factors of diabetes, including poor diet and nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco consumption and harmful use of alcohol.
 
Two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, accounting for over 60 million women worldwide. Women with diabetes have more difficulty conceiving and may have poor pregnancy outcomes. Without pre-conception planning, type 1 and type 2 diabetes can result in a significantly higher risk of maternal and child mortality and morbidity.
 
Approximately one in seven births is affected by gestational diabetes (GDM), a severe and neglected threat to maternal and child health. Many women with GDM experience pregnancy related complications including high blood pressure, large birth weight babies and obstructed labor. A significant number of women with GDM also go on to develop type 2 diabetes resulting in further healthcare complications and costs.
Stigmatization and discrimination faced by people with diabetes are particularly pronounced for girls and women, who carry a double burden of discrimination because of their health status and the inequalities perpetrated in male dominated societies. These inequalities can discourage girls and women from seeking diagnosis and treatment, preventing them from achieving positive health outcomes.
 
“Women, as mothers, have a huge influence over the long-term health status of their children,” said Cook. “Research has shown that when mothers are granted greater control over resources, they allocate more to food, children’s health and nutrition, as well as education.”



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