World Diabetes Day: 14th November 2026
Introduction: Global health commemorative days and scientific conferences provide platforms to raise awareness about priority public health issues and to share evidence for action. The October–December quarter includes days dedicated to mental health, breast cancer, infection prevention, pneumonia, diabetes, antimicrobial resistance and HIV, alongside national, professional and continental scientific conferences among others. These occasions offer governments, institutions, partners, communities and individuals an opportunity to strengthen advocacy, improve public understanding, and promote actions that contribute to better health outcomes.
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
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