World Diabetes Day 2025: Stigma, Prevention and Management.

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14th November marks World Diabetes Day which aims to spread awareness for people living with diabetes. Diabetes is a long-term condition that affects the body by having high blood glucose levels, either because it doesn’t produce enough of the hormone insulin or because the insulin it produces doesn’t work properly. This differentiates the two types of diabetes, with type 1 the body doesn’t produce insulin properly and type 2 the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. 90% of people with diabetes have type 2. Diabetes can occur either in childhood or teen years typically for type 1 or type 2 more commonly occurs in people over 40.

Stigma

This year's theme for world diabetes day is ‘stigma’. Diabetes has negative attitudes and beliefs associated with it which causes harm to people living with it as they feel shame and judgement. This is most commonly experienced close to home, from friends and family members. 50% of people surveyed stop getting the support they need and sometimes avoid medical appointments in fear that has come from others' misconception and misunderstanding of the realities of diabetes. Internalised stigma can lead to bad mental health in the form of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

Through campaigns seeking to reduce stigma results can lead to more empowerment, fewer days in hospital and better care. Reducing the stigma will contribute to a better life for those living with diabetes.

Preventing and Managing

Catching diabetes early is critical for preventing or delaying serious, life changing health complications. Early treatment and management can help people live longer, healthier lives by keeping blood sugar levels in a target range. Your risk of developing diabetes increases if you have a high wait measurement, using the mybvi app you scan today to find out your waist circumference. Using mybvi app you can monitor your weight and track the changes in your body composition. Maintaining a healthy weight is important when managing diabetes so having an app that can help you track is a benefit when keeping up a healthy lifestyle.

If diabetes is poorly managed it can lead to some serious health complications, it is important to adhere to treatment plans and attend regular check ups. The best ways to keep diabetes under control is to have a balanced diet, partake in regular physical activity and maintain a healthy weight. Your diet should consist of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Aerobic workouts and strength training whilst staying active throughout the day are great ways to boost physical activity. Using the mybvi step tracker to track how active you are staying in the day will help you hold yourself accountable for making an active difference to your life.

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Final Thoughts

Start by challenging some of the misconceptions and hurtful comments you hear about diabetes and that people living with it receive every day. Having diabetes isn’t just about being ill, it means adapting your whole lifestyle to give yourself a longer and healthier life. Raising awareness matters. Educating and informing those who may not know much about the condition so that they can support others or even themselves in the future.

If you have ever wondered about your own risk or looking for a tool to help you track your body composition, using the mybvi app is a great way to do just that. It helps you assess your risk and take action early because prevention can be just as important as managing.

References:

Diabetes UK. (2025). World Diabetes Day 2025. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org.uk/support-us/world-diabetes-day.

NHS. (2025). Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/

UChicago Medicine AdventHealth. (2024, October 27). Understanding diabetes: The importance of early detection and management. Retrieved from https://www.uchicagomedicineadventhealth.org/blog/understanding-diabetes-importance-early-detection-and-management.