World Diabetes Day, on the 14th November every year, has grown from humble beginnings to become a globally-celebrated event to increase awareness about diabetes.

Comprising hundreds of campaigns, activities, screenings, lecture, meetings and more, World Diabetes Day is proving internationally effective in spreading the message about diabetes.

For World Diabetes Day 2011, Diabetes.co.uk are launching a UK appeal campaigning for all people with type 2 diabetes to have access to free prescriptions for blood sugar testing.

At the moment, the access to testing supplies is very variable across the UK and many people with type 2 diabetes are having prescription requests for test strips denied. Diabetes.co.uk feels this policy is short sighted and will lead to poor health for many people with type 2 diabetes in the future.World Diabetes Day was jointly introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The global diabetes awareness campaign was introduced amidst concern over an escalating diabetes epidemic.

November 14th is a significant date in the diabetes calendar because it marks the birthday of the man who co-discovered insulin, Frederick Banting.
Banting discovered insulin in 1922, alongside Charles Best.

World Diabetes Day is internationally recognised and is now an official United Nations Day.

Full story: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/World-Diabetes-Day.html