Stay super. Eat healthy. Beat diabetes.
World Health Day is Thursday, April 7 and the World Health Organization is taking a stand—the focus of its 2016 campaign is to increase global awareness about the rise in diabetes and understanding of its staggering consequences.
There’s no doubt about it—the prevalence of diabetes is increasing rapidly, even in developing countries. Currently, about 350 million people worldwide have diabetes, a number likely to more than double in the next 20 years. And these facts and figures hit closer to home—as of 2012, 10.6 percent of all Texans are affected by the burden of diabetes.
With its World Health Day 2016 campaign, the World Health Organization is specifically targeting its efforts on the eradication of Type 2 diabetes, a largely preventable disease that accounts for around 90 percent of all diabetes cases.
There is evidence suggesting that Type 2 diabetes and its complications can be alleviated and prevented by healthy diet choices, regular physical activity, weight maintenance and tobacco avoidance. Unfortunately, this evidence is not widely implemented.
An even more worrisome fact? Reports of Type 2 diabetes in children—a previously rare diagnosis—have consistently increased at alarming rates. In some countries, Type 2 diabetes accounts for almost half of newly diagnosed cases in children and adolescents.
And that is why Thinkery is taking a stand, too.
This week at Thinkery, we’re bringing you programming that promotes and supports the World Health Organization’s campaign. Test food samples for fat content during Community Night this Wednesday, April 6 from 4-8 p.m. Unleash sugar-savvy superpowers in Kitchen Lab on April 7 with activities designed to engage and educate learners. Different “Nutrition: Sneaky Sugar” stations allow visitors to explore the importance of nutrients, read nutritional labels and discover sneaky sugar hiding in everyday foods and beverages.
Ready to stay super? Follow the World Health Day 2016 conversation online with #diabetes.