More than 40% of people living with diabetes worldwide have not been diagnosed.
World Diabetes Day is a global campaign to raise awareness of diabetes and the need for better prevention and care. The 2026 theme, “Early action on diabetes”, highlights the value of timely diagnosis and treatment, as many people present only when complications such as kidney disease, vision loss, heart disease or lower-limb amputation have developed. WHO Member States have committed to five global diabetes coverage targets for 2030, the first of which is that 80% of people living with diabetes are diagnosed. Communities are encouraged to adopt healthy diets and regular physical activity and to go for blood glucose screening, while health facilities are encouraged to integrate diabetes screening into routine services.
Authors: Winfred Nakaweesi1*, Allan Amandu1, Robert Masamba Namisi2, Irene Ayaa1
Institutional affiliation: 1Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; 2Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program-Laboratory Leadership Program; Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
*Correspondence: Email: wnakaweesi@uniph.go.ug; Tel: +256774572807