World Diabetes Day: Why Awareness and Accessibility Matter for Everyone, Including Persons with Disabilities

Every year, on November 14th, the world comes together to mark World Diabetes Day. It’s not just a date on the calendar, it’s a reminder that millions of people live every day with a condition that needs understanding, compassion, and proper care.

But while diabetes is often discussed as a health condition, there’s an important angle that doesn’t get enough attention: its connection to disability.

Many people don’t realize that diabetes and disability are linked in more ways than one. Diabetes can lead to disabilities when it is not managed properly, and people with disabilities may also face higher risks of developing diabetes because of barriers to healthcare, nutrition, or physical activity.

This article breaks down what diabetes is, why World Diabetes Day matters, and how the fight against diabetes must include disability awareness and inclusion.

What Is Diabetes?

To understand why World Diabetes Day is so important, let’s start with the basics.

Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot properly use or produce insulin, a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. When insulin doesn’t work well, or when the body doesn’t make enough of it, blood sugar levels rise. Over time, that can damage the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves.

There are three main types of diabetes:

1. Type 1 Diabetes:

   
   

    This usually starts in childhood or early adulthood. It happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the cells that make insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to survive.

   
   

2. Type 2 Diabetes:

   
   

    This is the most common type. It usually develops in adults, especially those who are overweight or inactive, but it’s becoming more common in children too. The body still makes insulin but doesn’t use it properly.

   
   

3. Gestational Diabetes:

   
   

    This happens during pregnancy and usually goes away after childbirth, but it increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

   
   

No matter the type, diabetes is serious, but it can be managed with the right care, medication, and lifestyle support.

Why Do We Celebrate World Diabetes Day?

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The goal was to raise awareness because diabetes was becoming a global health crisis.

Every year, the day has a theme,  a focus area that helps the world talk about the most pressing issues. Some past themes have included “Access to Diabetes Care,” “Nurses Make the Difference,” and “Education to Protect Tomorrow.”

But beyond themes and campaigns, World Diabetes Day is a call to action. It reminds governments, healthcare providers, and communities that people with diabetes need accessible healthcare, affordable medication, and inclusion in every area of life.

Diabetes and Disability: The Overlooked Connection

Now let’s talk about what often goes unnoticed,  the relationship between diabetes and disability.

When Diabetes Leads to Disability

Diabetes doesn’t just affect blood sugar. Over time, it can cause serious complications that lead to temporary or permanent disability.

For example:

• Vision loss or blindness: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.

  
  

• Amputation: Uncontrolled diabetes can cause poor blood circulation and nerve damage, leading to infections that sometimes require limb amputation.

  
  

• Kidney failure: Many people with diabetes develop kidney problems that may require dialysis or transplant.

  
  

• Nerve damage: This can cause loss of sensation in the hands or feet, making daily activities difficult.

  
  

These complications don’t happen overnight, but when healthcare or medication is unaffordable or inaccessible, people are more likely to experience them.

For someone who loses their sight or mobility because of diabetes, life changes completely. They now have to live with a disability that could have been prevented through early diagnosis and consistent care.

This is why awareness, education, and accessibility are so important.

When Disability Increases the Risk of Diabetes

The connection also works the other way. People who already live with disabilities, physical, intellectual, or sensory, often face higher risks of developing diabetes.

Why? Because of systemic barriers.

 Here are some examples:

• Limited access to healthcare: In many countries, clinics and hospitals are not fully accessible to wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

  
  

• Lack of information in accessible formats: Health education materials are often not available in braille, large print, or easy-to-read language.

  
  

• Economic hardship: People with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty, which makes it harder to afford nutritious food or regular medical check-ups.

  
  

• Social isolation: Inaccessible environments and stigma can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, increasing the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

  
  
  
  

So while we often talk about diabetes as a “lifestyle disease,” we must remember that not everyone has equal access to healthy lifestyles.

For many persons with disabilities, the risk is not about personal choice but about structural barriers that make healthy living harder.

Living With Diabetes and Disability

Living with both diabetes and a disability can be doubly challenging.

For example, a person who is blind and living with diabetes might struggle to monitor their blood sugar using standard devices. A wheelchair user may find it hard to follow exercise recommendations if spaces are not accessible.

In low- and middle-income countries, these challenges are even greater. Medical devices like glucometers or insulin pens are expensive, and disability-inclusive healthcare is still rare.

This means that many people are left to manage complex health conditions without the tools or support they need.

But despite these challenges, many people are living proof that it is possible to manage diabetes and disability with the right support system, education, and accessibility.

The Role of Accessibility and Assistive Technology

Accessibility is not just about ramps and wide doors. It’s also about accessible healthcare, affordable assistive devices, and inclusive policies.

Here’s how accessibility can help:

• Accessible health facilities: Clinics must be designed so that everyone.  including wheelchair users, people with low vision, or those with hearing impairments, can use them comfortably.

  
  

• Assistive technology: Devices like talking glucometers for people with visual impairments, or adaptive grips for people with limited hand function, can make diabetes management easier.

  
  

• Inclusive education: Public health campaigns should include information for people with disabilities, in formats they can understand.

  
  

• Community support: Peer groups for people with diabetes and disabilities can provide emotional support, practical advice, and motivation.

  
  

When healthcare systems are accessible, everyone benefits, not just persons with disabilities.

Affordability: The Hidden Barrier

Awareness is important, but it means little without affordability.

In many parts of the world, including much of Africa, people with diabetes struggle to afford insulin, test strips, and doctor visits. Some have to choose between buying medicine or buying food.

This is even harder for people with disabilities who already face higher living costs (like transportation, caregivers, or mobility aids).

If we want to reduce disability caused by diabetes, we must ensure that treatment is affordable for all.

Governments, NGOs, and health organizations need to include diabetes care in universal health coverage and disability-inclusive policies.

Why Inclusion Matters in the Fight Against Diabetes

The link between diabetes and disability is not just medical,  it’s about human rights.

Every person, regardless of ability, deserves the chance to live a healthy life. But right now, many people with disabilities are excluded from diabetes prevention and care programs because those programs are not designed with them in mind.

When we make health systems inclusive, we save lives and prevent avoidable disabilities.

Here’s what inclusion can look like:

• Training healthcare workers to understand disability and communicate respectfully.

  
  

• Making sure health education materials are accessible to all.

  
  

• Including people with disabilities in diabetes awareness campaigns.

  
  

• Designing assistive products that help people with diabetes live more independently.

Inclusion is not charity,  it’s a right.

Stories of Strength and Hope

Behind every statistic is a person.

A mother who checks her blood sugar before making breakfast.

 A young man learning to inject insulin for the first time.

 An older woman who lost her leg but not her will to live.

These are the faces of resilience.

Across the world, people with diabetes and disabilities are proving that health challenges do not define who they are. They are advocates, leaders, caregivers, and survivors.

On World Diabetes Day, we celebrate their strength, and we commit to building systems that support them better.

How You Can Make a Difference

You don’t have to be a doctor or policymaker to help. Here are some simple ways you can take part in World Diabetes Day:

1. Learn and Share:

   
   

    Educate yourself about diabetes and share what you learn with others. Awareness can save lives.

   
   

2. Check Yourself and Loved Ones:

   
   

    Encourage people around you to check their blood sugar levels, especially if they have risk factors like obesity, family history, or high blood pressure.

   
   

3. Support Inclusion:

   
   

    If you’re part of an organization, advocate for accessibility in healthcare programs.

   
   

4. Be Kind and Understanding:

   
   

    Living with diabetes or disability can be emotionally exhausting. A kind word or gesture can go a long way.

   
   

5. Light Up Blue:

   
   

    The color blue represents diabetes awareness. Lighting a candle, wearing blue, or sharing a blue heart online can help spread the message.

   
   

A Call for an Inclusive Future

World Diabetes Day is not just about talking, it's about acting.

We must build a world where:

• No one loses their sight because they couldn’t afford insulin.

  
  

• No one is left out of a health campaign because they have a disability.

  
  

• Everyone can access care, information, and support,  no matter who they are or where they live.

  
  

When we link diabetes awareness to disability inclusion, we move closer to a future where healthcare truly leaves no one behind.

Final Thoughts

World Diabetes Day reminds us that health is not just the absence of illness, it’s the presence of opportunity, dignity, and inclusion.

Diabetes and disability are both challenges, but they don’t define the worth or potential of anyone living with them.

With awareness, accessibility, and compassion, we can make sure that everyone,  including persons with disabilities,  gets the care and respect they deserve.

Let’s keep the conversation going, not just on November 14th, but every day after. Because when we stand