World Diabetes Day 2026

14 November 2026

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Close the detection gap. Early action changes outcomes.

World Diabetes Day is the world’s largest global diabetes awareness initiative, bringing people from across the world to raise awareness about diabetes, inspire action and promote accountability every year on 14 November since 1991.

The campaign this year highlights the need for early action on diabetes – specifically, early diagnosis, access to quality diabetes care as well as reducing diabetes stigma.

Join the conversation on social media: #WorldDiabetesDay

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a long-term disease characterized by high sugar (glucose) levels in the blood. It damages blood vessels and can affect many organs in the body including the heart, eyes, nerves and kidneys causing heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputations due to non-healing wounds.

Type 1 diabetes, which develops when the pancreas produces limited or no insulin, is usually associated with children but can develop at any age. It can be missed or misdiagnosed leading to delayed treatment and fatal consequences.

In type 2 diabetes, the body  has  difficulty using  insulin or  doesn't  make  enough insulin. Symptoms may be mild or even absent and can be undetected for years. In many cases, complications have already developed before a diagnosis is made.

Based on 2022 estimates, more than 220 million adults in the Western Pacific Region who are aged 18 years and above live with diabetes. Roughly half do not know that they have the disease.

Early diagnosis with uninterrupted quality care

reduces long-term costs, prevents or limits complications and

enables people living with diabetes to live fulfilling, healthy lives.

Symptoms of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes often develops rapidly, while type 2 diabetes typically develops gradually and may cause few or no noticeable symptoms

Illustrations of the symptoms of diabetes: feeling very thirsty, blurry vision, wounds healing slowly, peeing frequently, feeling tired, frequent infections. Credits: WHO / @missdiabetes

What we must do

All of us

Learn the symptoms of diabetes and encourage family and friends to do the same.
Don't ignore the symptoms and seek medical advice if you notice increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, tiredness or blurred vision.
Challenge negative judgement, blame or prejudice faced by people living with diabetes and offer support and understanding to them.

People living with diabetes

Share your experiences with others to help raise awareness, challenge stigma and encourage others to seek an earlier diagnosis.
Promote information from trusted sources and encourage people to seek care when needed.

Health care providers

Support timely testing, diagnosis and referral.
Communicate with empathy, avoid assumptions and involve people living with diabetes in decisions about their care.
Talk with people about diabetes prevention and management and support appropriate care for all types of diabetes.

Government policy-makers

Integrate diabetes prevention and person-centred care into primary health care.
Expand access to affordable essential diabetes medicines and supplies and ensure that these reach the people who need them most.
Work with partners to accelerate implementation of The WHO Global Diabetes Compact.

Civil society groups

Raise awareness of diabetes by sharing accurate, evidence-informed information.
Elevate the voices of people living with diabetes through meaningful engagement in communications, advocacy, programmes and policy discussions.
Connect people with trusted, evidence-informed and person-centred health services.

A family eating together with text diabetes is better managed together.