World Diabetes Day was established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization to shed light on an extremely diverse disease that affects different people in different ways. The event has a particularly high profile in Italy, with some 500 towns and cities hosting information stands, and activities allowing specialist doctors and researchers to share knowledge and experiences.

Diabetes: the numbers.

The statistics are not very encouraging, especially for type 2 diabetes, which is partially diet- and lifestyle-related (type 1 is almost exclusively genetic). It reflects the imperfections in our daily routines, which place less and less emphasis on exercise and healthy diet. In Europe alone, 60 million people have diabetes, and its incidence is also rising in the developing countries. Fortunately, diabetes treatment is also making rapid progress. Today, it is possible to lead a reasonably normal existence with diabetes, including both work and leisure, provided you discuss it with your doctor and make a few simple adjustments in your everyday life.

Want to know what these are? We've drawn up a series of useful hints and advice on managing diabetes. You'll find them in the relevant section of this site, and on Pic Community (italian), our "virtual town square" where you can share experiences and suggestions with other people who have diabetes.