American Diabetes Alert Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Diabetes

American Diabetes Alert Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Tuesday of March, which falls on March 28 this year. It aims to increase American public awareness of the hazards and symptoms associated with diabetes. American Diabetes Association is the sponsor of the holiday. Diabetes occurs when glucose levels in the blood are too elevated. This is due to a lack of the hormone insulin, which allows glucose to enter cells and be used for energy. Blood glucose levels that are too high can cause a variety of health issues. Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes are the most prevalent forms of diabetes.

The background of American Diabetes Alert Day

Egyptian physician Hesy-Ra identified frequent urination as a symptom of a disease that also caused emaciation and the production of urine that attracted insects in 1552 B.C. In the year 150 A.D., the Greek physician Arateus described diabetes as “the dissolution of flesh and limbs into urine.” In 1675, the prevalence of “sweetness” in the urine led to the naming of the disease as Diabetes Mellitus.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, physicians came to realise that dietary modifications could aid in the control of diabetes. In his 1916 book “The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus,” Elliott Joslin recommended a fasting diet and regular exercise for blood sugar control. In 1920, Canadian physician Frederick Banting was the first to consider using insulin to treat diabetes.

Insulin is currently used to treat type 1 diabetes. Other medical advances have made it possible for diabetic patients to monitor their blood sugar levels at home and precisely regulate them with insulin, medication, and diet. Diabetes currently affects approximately 34,2 million Americans, 7.2 million of whom are unaware that they have the disease. About 88 million individuals have prediabetes, a condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels that are not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

In 1988, the first American Diabetes Alert Day was held to inform the American public about the disease and its risk of development.

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5 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT DIABETES THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Diabetes ranks as the seventh leading cause of fatalities in the United States.

In addition to blindness, diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% to 95% of all occurrences of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes typically manifests in childhood.

Changes in lifestyle, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

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AMERICAN DIABETES ALERT DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2022	March 22	Tuesday
2023	March 28	Tuesday
2024	March 26	Tuesday
2025	March 25	Tuesday
2026	March 24	Tuesday