Every 14 November, the world comes together to mark World Diabetes Day, a global awareness campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).

For 2025, this day holds particular importance as we recognise the broad and growing impact of diabetes across all stages of life, raise awareness about prevention, early detection, care, and the need for supportive environments.

Theme & Focus for 2025

• The WHO website notes the theme for 2025 as “Diabetes across life stages”, emphasising that diabetes can affect individuals from childhood, through working-age years, pregnancy and later life.
• Meanwhile, the IDF’s campaign framework highlights “Diabetes and Well-being” (2024-26) and points to the importance of workplaces and life-quality for people living with diabetes.
• The Latin-American region’s messaging by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) emphasises “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps” to ensure access to quality diabetes care.
• In essence, World Diabetes Day 2025 urges us to recognise that diabetes is not confined to one age, one region, or one type — our response must span the life-course.

Why it matters

• Globally, hundreds of millions of adults live with diabetes, and many more are at risk or undiagnosed.
• If unmanaged, diabetes can lead to serious complications: heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputation.
• Risk factors for type 2 diabetes — including overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, tobacco use — are rising in many parts of the world.
• From childhood to pregnancy (gestational diabetes), to older age, diabetes touches many life phases. Thus integrated care, early detection and prevention matter deeply.

Key messages for 2025

1. Diabetes can affect people at every stage of life — children, adolescents, adults, older persons.
2. Prevention, early diagnosis and care must be life-course oriented — interventions need to span from childhood and strengthen through adulthood.
3. Well-being and self-management matter — managing diabetes isn’t just about blood-sugar, it’s about mental health, social support, access to care, and dignity.
4. Equity in care — many people still lack access to insulin, monitoring devices, quality care. Bridging gaps in access is critical.

What individuals can do

• Get tested if you have risk factors (family history, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, etc.). Early detection helps.
• Adopt healthy lifestyle habits: balanced diet, regular physical activity, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol.
• If you’re living with diabetes: engage in self-care, keep up with medical appointments, monitor for complications, seek psychological and social support.
• Advocate: ask for supportive environments at work, school, community; support policies that ensure access to care, education, affordable medicines.
• Spread awareness: share information with family, friends, coworkers; participate in local events; join campaigns on social media.

What communities, employers and lawmakers can do

• Employers can make workplaces diabetes-friendly: enable screenings, health-promotion programmes, support for mental health and self-care.
• Health systems need to integrate diabetes care across age groups and settings: from schools to workplaces to elder care.
• Policymakers should aim to ensure universal access to insulin, monitoring technologies, diabetic foot care, eye care, etc.
• Communities can host screenings, awareness events, education sessions, and support networks for people with diabetes and their families.

Why November 14?

The date commemorates the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting (born 14 Nov 1891), one of the co-discoverers of insulin. That discovery transformed the lives of people with diabetes.

A personal note

Whether you’re living with diabetes, supporting someone who is, working in healthcare, or simply part of a community: World Diabetes Day 2025 is an invitation to look across the life-span, to think about what diabetes means in childhood, in pregnancy, at work, in older age — and to commit to action.
It’s about resilience, dignity, access — and the recognition that diabetes doesn’t just impact blood sugar, it touches whole lives.

How you can mark the day (or the month!)

• Join us as Junvon Lab is organising a health outreach at Ogbaku Market Sqaure on Friday, 14th of November, 2025 starting at 10am.
• Help us spread the word by sharing your “diabetes life” story on social media using hashtags #WorldDiabetesDayJunvonLab, and raise awareness.
• At your workplace: propose a health-check day, or sessions about healthy eating, activity, diabetes risk & prevention.
• Even at home: talk with your family members about diabetes risk, screening, healthy habits — empowering younger and older generations alike.
• Donate or volunteer with local diabetes associations to support people who lack access to care or education.

World Diabetes Day 2025 is more than a date — it’s a call-to-action. For every life stage. For every person. For every community. Let’s acknowledge the challenge, but also the hope: with knowledge, care, support and prevention, we can build a better diabetes life for all.