About World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day (WDD) is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in over 160 countries. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
WDD was created in 1991 by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization and became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of United Nations Resolution 61/225.
people are living with diabetes worldwide.
people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.
to 50%
of diabetes is undiagnosed.
Key messages
Diabetes challenges at work
430 million people living with diabetes are of working age. In the workplace, they face challenges such as stigma, discrimination, exclusion, anxiety and lack of access to care and support for their well-being.
Unhealthy work environment
Many workplaces are an unhealthy environment for employees. The lack of access to physical activity, healthy food choices and support for mental well-being is harmful for people at risk of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
Do more for diabetes at work
Employers must take action to create a safe, supportive and healthy work environment for people with diabetes and those at risk. Support our call to ‘know more and do for diabetes at work.’
Our partners
Partners of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) help to make World Diabetes Day a global success by providing valuable support for the development of campaign resources and activities. IDF is pleased to have the support of the following partners for World Diabetes Day 2025.
